Michael Bush to visit with Patriots

[JR4]

Sharing notes on RB Michael Bush - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Good Goal line Physical back? and can catch.
Thoughts?

 

[Sicilian]

Not my first choice (not sure who is, but it's not Bush). Ideally we'd like someone who can be a situational back, while also providing depth in case of injury to Ridley. Bush would help at the goal line, yes, but no way you want him carrying the rock more than 4-6 times a game, if that.

 

[Froob]

Is Michael Cloud or Patrick Pass still available?

 

[Peachhead]

Eh, big guy who should do well on the goal line. We could do worse.

 

[Spiral]

We need a thumper--either someone on the vet minimum or 3rd-day pick. The advantage of a rookie would be on ST.

 

[DefenseRules]

Meh, won't hurt to take a look.

 

[BelichickFan]

I'd prefer to do this through the draft but Bush would presumably come at close to league minimum with no guarantee of making the team; assuming that he's worth signing and letting compete.

 

[mgteich]

By not signing a veteran running back, we would be forced to do this through the draft. To me, it makes sense to sign a running back and also bring in rookies.

I'd prefer to do this through the draft but Bush would presumably come at close to league minimum with no guarantee of making the team; assuming that he's worth signing and letting compete.

 

[Brady6]

By not signing a veteran running back, we would be forced to do this through the draft. To me, it makes sense to sign a running back and also bring in rookies.

Ridley and Vereen are entering their fourth seasons, and Bolden is entering his third we have plenty of tenure at the position, we do not need to sign a veteran, we may want to if the player offers value but we do not need to.

 

[captain stone]

Michael Bush is terrible. He has no burst whatsoever to plod through whatever holes
this OL would provide him. I'd rather bring Andre Brown or Felix Jones to Foxborough
for workouts and see what they have left in the tank, if anything.

Edit: Brian Leonard would also be an improvement; he's a willing blocker & capable
receiver as a 3rd-down FB, has possibilities as a short-yardage RB, has never fumbled,
and...is a Rutgers alum.

 

[Ring 6]

No thank you.

 

[patsinthesnow]

1. He's too old to help us in 2015 and beyond, considering Ridley/Vereen/Bolden are all 2015 FAs.

2. He isn't good enough to split carries with Ridley.

As a vet min. camp body, fine. But keeping Bush for the 53 man roster would seem like a waste of a roster spot. An UDFA rookie RB would be cheaper and probably be more useful to us in the longterm.

 

[Froob]

In the end, it doesn't really matter that much. Not that it doesn't help to have a talented runner, it can be a huge boost. But, as long as you have a good run blocking line like we have and a good running back system you should be fine. We've kinda been like a poor man's version of Shannahan's system. Where he can make any running back look like a star we can make almost anybody look like a pretty good back. Probably grab a running back with a late pick to split carries.

 

[Sicilian]

I also feel like if we're going to carry a big bodied back who's only good for certain goal line packages, we already have one in Develin, and he can play FB the rest of the time. There just have to be better options out there than Bush.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I'd prefer to do this through the draft but Bush would presumably come at close to league minimum with no guarantee of making the team; assuming that he's worth signing and letting compete.

Yeah, I like that RB kid from Boston College. Though we very rarely pick guys from BC.

 

[BelichickFan]

Yeah, I like that RB kid from Boston College. Though we very rarely pick guys from BC.

He'd be an interesting second RB pick in the later part of the draft. Regarding the draft it really depends on the plans for Ridley and Vereen. If they may be gone we need another one much higher - personally Sankey is the guy I love but it's a deep RB draft. If R & V are likely to stick around, Williams would be a nice later pick (and he'd be a nice later pick regardless just not by himself if R & V are likely gone).

 

[Jimke]

Why not sign him on a prove it type of contract? A couple of years
ago he was pretty good. I would be disappointed though if we didn't
draft a running back and sign a couple of UDFAs. It would be nice to
have a running back on the 53 man roster and another on the practice
squad whose contracts extended beyond 2014.

 

[mgteich]

The team does NOT have anything but a marginal fullback in Develin. He had FOUR carries in 2013. He is NOT a player to count on as a goal-line ball carrier.

There may very well be better options than Bush, in free agency and in the draft. One question is the resources that Belichick is willing to spend.

We certainly need to build for 2015. We also need a #3 RB for 2014 (Bolden is an OK #4, a backup for Vereen). Unless Vereen is a major ball carrier on first and second down, we are taking a step back in replacing with Ridley/Blount with Ridley or Ridley/Bolden. Bolden didn't show much last year.

Many here prefer to sign a 6th rounder and an UDFA and having an improved 2014 and 2015 running offense. I think this position is unreasonable.

I also feel like if we're going to carry a big bodied back who's only good for certain goal line packages, we already have one in Develin, and he can play FB the rest of the time. There just have to be better options out there than Bush.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Always wanted to see Marion Butts reincarnated...

 

[Sicilian]

The team does NOT have anything but a marginal fullback in Develin. He had FOUR carries in 2013. He is NOT a player to count on as a goal-line ball carrier.

As the primary GL guy? No. But in combination with Ridley (who's not bad on the GL either), he's fine. The addition of Bush would be a negligible improvement IMO.

There may very well be better options than Bush

This is my real point. I don't believe Bush brings much to the table for us at all. Vet min with no commitment? Sure, why not, we've got 90 slots let's load them up with whatever. But I wouldn't be counting on him making the 53. This isn't someone like Blount where the talent was there but needed to be put all together. This was a niche talent that has been steadily declining every year. He's not the answer to any of our questions.