Will Ridley be inactive Sunday?

[Brady6]

I'm a huge Ridley supporter but I would not be surprised to see him off the 46 man game day roster this week.

Ridley has to figure out this fumbling situation and Belichick could leave him undressed to send a real clear message that his resolving this issue is priority #1.

Thoughts?

 

[SVN]

Not going to help solve his problems. Will kill his confidence more. So no.

 

[Brady6]

Not going to help solve his problems. Will kill his confidence more. So no.

Depends sometimes if you step away from something you can gain some perspective and work out the issues, Thompkins has been significantly better since they left him off the 46 man roster in week 9.

 

[RayClay]

Thomkins wasn't being punished, they had Collie and other players they wanted to deploy. He's a rookie.

 

[brady199]

Depends sometimes if you step away from something you can gain some perspective and work out the issues, Thompkins has been significantly better since they left him off the 46 man roster in week 9.

Thompkins has been significantly better then the ATL game? I think he's probably improving every week, just like most players on the Pats and esp. rookies and young players.

I don't think anyone is more frustrated and upset about that fumble then Ridley is. The kid already has GREAT perspective compared to most players his age. He's as humble as they come. He also has an AWESOME Mohawk, so he needs to play, the Pats need him to play, so I hope he does play, and I hope the Pats feed him the ball.

I also hope they cut Blount and stop pretending he's our 2nd best back between the tackles. Those carries should be going to Bolden!

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

I doubt that happens. If he's undressed, it will be even easier for defenses to find and bat the ball away.

"Doubt"? Unless he is injured there is zero point zero percentage chance that Ridley will be inactive. With due respect to the OP in order, this is a fool hardy question.
Brady, BB and JM all came out this week with comments in some way supporting Ridley. That isn't because they love this young a man like a son (well they might), it is because they know what Ridley brings to the table. Every Patriot fan with a TV and a set of eyes knows what he brings to the table (when not fumbling). They know what he can contribute is a B!F!D! for winning. What a god damned waste of excellent running production (by far our best running production) if BB was to make him inactive.

Lastly, the fact is the Texans are a mess right now. Doesn't mean they can't win but they are a mess. At this point some Texans probably are not giving their best (once they fall behind this team's day is mentally over). This is the perfect game to get Ridley some touches, maybe 10 or maybe 15, and allow him to produce without a fumble (one Ridley fumble should absolutely not keep the Patriots from winning). With two or three games like that? It should put him back on track. We need Ridley! He makes the running game MUCH more potent and is main component of the run game that makes a complimentary offense that can be a very significant two way potent threat. To make him inactive would be galacticly stupid IMHO and something I'll bet my house BB doesn't do this week. Provided his fumbling doesn't continue its increase, it won't be something BB even considers on any week this year.

 

[chasa]

Not going to help solve his problems. Will kill his confidence more. So no.

we are passed confidence issues, Riddley is not going to be here past his current contract.

 

[Ian]

we are passed confidence issues, Riddley is not going to be here past his current contract.

Disagree here and I'm guessing this isn't a long-term problem since previous players have overcome it, although I've avoided the other thread because I don't want to get into arguing that fact. As for the point of the game day inactive, they're not as deep at running back as they are at receiver, which is a less physically taxing position by comparison. So it's too risky a move to make him inactive since all it takes is one or two injuries to cause a major problem there and then they're undermanned. I could see him potentially being a spectator, but to leave him home is unlikely. If he doesn't start or play early in the game, should it become a blowout he could see action just to get his feet wet and gain a little confidence. Or if they have a decent lead if nothing else he could spell the other guys who would likely have accumulated plenty of carries by then.

 

[chasa]

Disagree here and I'm guessing this isn't a long-term problem since previous players have overcome it

its not just the fumbles, He just hasn't shown himself to be a top tier back, certainly not anything we cant replace with someone cheaper and younger.

 

[Jackson 2]

Just my opinion, but that would serve no positive purpose. I do think he should go to the bottom of the RB rotation and prove himself all over again, so to speak. The fumbling problem has plagued a number of fine RBs over the years who in time became very reliable in terms of ball security. I just think it's too early and he's too talented to give up on him right now.

 

[supafly]

As for the point of the game day inactive, they're not as deep at running back as they are at receiver, which is a less physically taxing position by comparison. So it's too risky a move to make him inactive since all it takes is one or two injuries to cause a major problem there and then they're undermanned. I could see him potentially being a spectator, but to leave him home is unlikely.

This is exactly what I was coming into the thread to post also.

I'd be very surprised to see Stevan Ridley as an outright inactive come Sunday.

May we try a game or two with Bolden and Vereen as the 2 main backs? Possibly, possibly not; but there are reasons not to make Ridley one of the inactives in my opinion.

 

[Ian]

its not just the fumbles, He just hasn't shown himself to be a top tier back, certainly not anything we cant replace with someone cheaper and younger.

Average running backs don't average 4+ yards per carry or rush for 1200+ yards, so he's already proven to be a very good back. And he's already young and cheap. So he already fits what they need. He just needs to play like the guy we saw last season. When he holds on to the ball he's been fine. He just needs to work this issue out the same way others have had to.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Average running backs don't average 4+ yards per carry or rush for 1200+ yards, so he's already proven to be a very good back. And he's already young and cheap. So he already fits what they need. He just needs to play like the guy we saw last season. When he holds on to the ball he's been fine. He just needs to work this issue out the same way others have had to.

As a point of comparison, if you look at all the RBs who had 500+ rushing yards in 2012, they averaged something on the order of one fumble every 80 carries or so.

 

[patsinthesnow]

I wouldn't make Ridley inactive. However, I would start Bolden and play him and Vereen the entire game. A message needs to be sent to Ridley.

 

[Kdo5]

Hell no. Keep him active, limit his carries perhaps. Deactivating will make the problem worse. He needs to learn how to fix his problems, not be punished. Plus he is too talented to just forget about regardless of what Felger is saying. If we get a comfortable lead going, I say let Ridley run for a little bit. In the meantime he needs to work on this. It's not too late for him. Ideas to sit him for the season are just crazy.

 

[Ian]

I wouldn't make Ridley inactive. However, I would start Bolden and play him and Vereen the entire game. A message needs to be sent to Ridley.

This I don't disagree with. I think starting Ridley would be tough and might send the wrong message, so I think he first needs to re- earn the trust of the coaching staff and his teammates. And keep in mind, I've been really vocal in my support for him. Watching the two the last two weeks has been tough and I agree with another post that his fumbles aren't completely careless, he's been the victim of perfect technique on the hits from each defensive player that forced it.

Either way, he's got to fix it. So I'm curious to see how it plays out, but I'm hopeful this is just an ugly blip to the early part of his career.

 

[supafly]

As a point of comparison, if you look at all the RBs who had 500+ rushing yards in 2012, they averaged something on the order of one fumble every 80 carries or so.

Which is exactly right around Ridley's average coming into this season: 1/73 touches. In comparison, Blount's fumbling rate was 1/43 coming into the season.

Going into the game on Sunday night, Ridley's had dipped down to 1/64 due to the 3 fumbles this season. I haven't re-done the numbers since the 4th fumble occurred on Sunday night, but I'd think it'd be safe to assume that it's likely around 1/60 at the moment, maybe a bit higher at 1/61 or 1/62.

 

[andrewgarrr]

Activate the best 46 players to win @ HOU.

I don't know how you go through the NE roster without including Ridley in the 46. Maybe you don't start him... but going in the game with only Vereen, Bolden, and Blount at RB is comically irresponsible.

 

[Brady6]

"Doubt"? Unless he is injured there is zero point zero percentage chance that Ridley will be inactive. With due respect to the OP in order, this is a fool hardy question.
Brady, BB and JM all came out this week with comments in some way supporting Ridley. That isn't because they love this young a man like a son (well they might), it is because they know what Ridley brings to the table. Every Patriot fan with a TV and a set of eyes knows what he brings to the table (when not fumbling). They know what he can contribute is a B!F!D! for winning. What a god damned waste of excellent running production (by far our best running production) if BB was to make him inactive.

Lastly, the fact is the Texans are a mess right now. Doesn't mean they can't win but they are a mess. At this point some Texans probably are not giving their best (once they fall behind this team's day is mentally over). This is the perfect game to get Ridley some touches, maybe 10 or maybe 15, and allow him to produce without a fumble (one Ridley fumble should absolutely not keep the Patriots from winning). With two or three games like that? It should put him back on track. We need Ridley! He makes the running game MUCH more potent and is main component of the run game that makes a complimentary offense that can be a very significant two way potent threat. To make him inactive would be galacticly stupid IMHO and something I'll bet my house BB doesn't do this week. Provided his fumbling doesn't continue its increase, it won't be something BB even considers on any week this year.

Bolden caught an inactive 2 weeks ago and if Ridley struggles in practice protecting the football he could receive a week off. Belichick might support him that doesn't mean he will play him right away though.

 

[Brady6]

Average running backs don't average 4+ yards per carry or rush for 1200+ yards, so he's already proven to be a very good back. And he's already young and cheap. So he already fits what they need. He just needs to play like the guy we saw last season. When he holds on to the ball he's been fine. He just needs to work this issue out the same way others have had to.

Agreed I think Ridley is a terrific running back with potential to be a top 5 rusher in the NFL. I think he loses focus of protecting the football when making his cuts or a move and the defenders take advantage and swat it away to his surprise, many young backs struggle with that it could be as simple as learning to chew gum and walk at the same time for them. I think in college many are superior in terms of strength so they can get away with holding the ball like a loaf of bread then the get to the NFL and they have the best of the best and their strength is not enough their technique must be equally as good.

I have no doubt Ridley will work it out, based on his significant weight gain in the offseason, overall conditioning and the way he almost put his helmet through the ground on Sunday he clearly cares about the game and strives to be the best at it. I wouldn't put it past Bill to give him a week off however just to show the significance and even give Ridley a chance to work out what's going on in his head a little bit. Him not being active won't help in many peoples minds but in my opinion his going out and fumbling again this week could be catastrophic so I'm not sure, it will be interesting to see how it plays out.