2016 Running Backs And The Draft

[mgteich]

The 2015 draft is about drafting starters for 2016, 2017 and beyond.

We have Blount for 2015, and no one for 2016.

Of course, maybe folks think that we need only UDFA's to compete with Gray, Lewis and Gaffney for a RB opposite Blount in 2015 and to start in 2016.
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Let's be clear. I am not discussing 3rd down or ST running back positions. Those are different roles, and we are reasonably fine for 2015 and 2016 with Cadet, White and Bolden.

 

[ausbacker]

There's about 6 RBs that can be had as mid round picks that I would be comfortable as plug and play starters from day 1. It'll be interesting to see what the Patriots do because RB is a clear need. Blount is a nice player but the Patriots could use an upgrade at the position.

 

[mgteich]

There's about 6 RBs that can be had as mid round picks that I would be comfortable as plug and play starters from day 1. It'll be interesting to see what the Patriots do because RB is a clear need. Blount is a nice player but the Patriots could use an upgrade at the position.

http://www.drafttek.com/2015-NFL-Draft-Prospect-Rankings/Top-College-RBs-2015-Draft.asp

I suspect that Belichick wouldn't consider any out of the top 6 to be potential upgrades to Blount. However, your point is reasonable. There are several RB's who will be available in the 3rd and 4th round who would be valuable opposite Blount in 2015, and as potential 2016 starter.

 

[supafly]

I think Belichick has proven that RB is a position that pretty much anyone can play. We don't even know what's going to happen for this fall/winter, let alone the season of 2016-2017.

I think we all expect a draft selection in the first 5 chances. It certainly makes a lot of sense. In the meantime, Blount/Gray/Bolden will likely be in the mix, with Cadet/White for the 3rd down role.

Gaffney will see some TC opportunities for both roles, and D.Lewis will be the darkhorse candidate without much of a chance.

 

[manxman2601]

I'm not saying he'll be picked, but the only RB that we seem to have shown any significant interest in in the pre-draft process is Mike Davis of S Carolina.

 

[Ross12]

Fair points. BB drafted White a year before Vereen hit FA likely knowing he would be gone, though the team didn't initially have a backup plan if Ridley left it seems. Of course once Blount came back, that took care of itself for one year, but now they do find themselves in the same position again to a degree... Perhaps Blount could be resigned again at a cheap rate after this year, but it's hard to think Bill wouldn't want some fresh blood at the position (outside of Gaffney who is sort of a "bonus" right now). I would expect a 3rd or 4th round selection to be a RB I think.

 

[farn]

I expect BB to select a RB. And I hope he'll be effective and durable. BB is a funny dude. I think he values the RB position, yet doesn't value breaking the bank for one. He isn't afraid of grabbing one (or two) in the first 100 picks of the draft, but seems afraid to resign them once the rookie deal expires.

I like his RB strategy. I'm fine with younger talented backs or veteran cheap ones. It has served NE well and with Brady at QB, there'll be importance placed on the short passing game than the running game.

 

[mgteich]

I expect BB to select a RB. And I hope he'll be effective and durable. BB is a funny dude. I think he values the RB position, yet doesn't value breaking the bank for one. He isn't afraid of grabbing one (or two) in the first 100 picks of the draft, but seems afraid to resign them once the rookie deal expires.

Yes, it seems that Belichick is fine with using first contract players as running backs. Belichick may not break the bank, but he traded for Dillon, used a 1st on Maroney, a 2nd on Vereen, a 3rd on Ridley and a 4th on White.

Given that Blount is not signed for 2016, it seems very likely that Belichick is looking for a running back that will be here for four years. I could see him using two picks to get this 2016 starter, perhaps a 3rd and a 2nd or 4th.

 

[IllegalContact]

The pats currently do not have an RB who you could consider every down or even a lead back that has been productive regularly. Blount is not dependable and the rest are unknown.

the one I can't figure out is Bolden......I love the way he runs, and he has shown pretty well when given opportunities in larger numbers, but the pats keep going in other directions

 

[JayNM]

If Gurley falls to the 20ies, would you trade up for him?

I think the guy can be elite and we have more picks than holes to fit rookies in. He and Garoppolo could be a fun pair to develop within our organization.


I don't think this is what BB would do, but he is not afraid to pick a RB high, having Vareen, Ridley and (*gulp*) Maroney as example, and he is not afraid to trade up for difference makers (Jones and Hightower)

 

[luuked]

If Gurley falls to the 20ies, would you trade up for him?

I think the guy can be elite and we have more picks than holes to fit rookies in. He and Garoppolo could be a fun pair to develop within our organization.


I don't think this is what BB would do, but he is not afraid to pick a RB high, having Vareen, Ridley and (*gulp*) Maroney as example, and he is not afraid to trade up for difference makers (Jones and Hightower)

Trade-up maybe. If we can use a single one of the day 3 picks to get there. If he is there at 32, I'd take him and trade up in the second to get Byron Jones (or whoever you fancy). In my mind this would cost us the opportunity to get Marpet in the second and either the 3rd round pick or the TB 4th round pick.

If Gurley plays up to his potential the offense would be a totally unpredictable chameleon out of the no huddle. It would increase the margin of error for our secondary.

Personally, I think it would be worth it. But then again I also like a lot of other scenarios (e.g. Jones/Marpet/Hardison).

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

First off, I completely agree with JayNM, if somehow the Pats could get Gurley, he is going to be something.

If Gurley is not an option, I can easily live with the stable of backs that the Pats have now. However, if they can secure a Guard and maybe a big corner (I will actually cry if we draft another 5'8" corner from a northeast school), then Ameer Abdullah from Nebraska I think would be the second coming of Kevin Faulk.

Last year, in I think the opening week, his team was losing to a inferior team (forget the name), but with less than a minute left, he caught a swing pass and basically willed himself to the endzone on a brilliant 50 yard play.

 

[mgteich]

I think that Belichick would give up our second to move up for Gurley, but I don't see him being there are 20.

The offense could do OK with the addition of a 3rd round OG to compete with Kline.

I could see Belichick not seeing value in the top corners, and waiting for a corner in the 3rd.
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We have Blount to count on at RB. Belichick was in this situation a couple of times before. Once he used a 1st for a running back; the other time, he used a 2nd and a 3rd.

 

[manxman2601]

I look at Mike Davis as a bit of a Todd Gurley-lite and he's the one back they've shown some significant interest in. I wonder if they're looking at him in that light.

 

[mgteich]

I look at Mike Davis as a bit of a Todd Gurley-lite and he's the one back they've shown some significant interest in. I wonder if they're looking at him in that light.

There are lots of choices that might be available at the end of the 3rd, in addition to Davis. Some are Johnson, Langford, and Allen.

I could see Alayi at 64.

 

[unoriginal]

I look at Mike Davis as a bit of a Todd Gurley-lite and he's the one back they've shown some significant interest in. I wonder if they're looking at him in that light.

If anything he's Todd Gurley-heavy. He is a fat little bastard.

He is fall-down-on-his-own miserable in the open field with no home-run ability (BJGE) and is not a back that can take a full load in the NFL (added weight to be more durable in 2014 and still hurt his ribs).

But on the flip side he played the year with bruised ribs, and the Pats took Jon Halapio last year on the theory that a guard who played the year with a torn pectoral muscle might (1) be a Logan Mankins tough sob and (2) be a lot better than he showed. Running inside the tackles he gets solid yards and does not go down easy. Lots of rugby scrums. (BJGE again)

Davis does everything - block, run, and catch - decently. South Carolina even used him as a fullback occasionally. All out of a pistol formation, so he is well-versed working out of a shotgun formation. The Pats took James White last year because he was one of the best pass-blocking RBs and Mike Davis is more of the same.

Basically it seems like the Pats want a RB who can catch, block, and run inside out of the shotgun. Maybe they have Davis slim down like Vereen, since he is a pure RBBC member and won't need to carry the load. Can he knife through a hole like Ridley? The Pats seem to be looking for a guy who is 90% Ridley/110% BJGE with pass-catching skills. Davis could be that guy.

Another thing to consider is that, if the Pats are going for mammoth OGs, a short, squat back like Davis typically does well behind those sort of lines. They are hard for the LBs to locate. Think Ray Rice with the Ravens. A bunch of scouting profiles liken him to Ray Rice so perhaps that's what the Pats see as his ceiling.

 

[manxman2601]

If anything he's Todd Gurley-heavy. He is a fat little bastard.

He is fall-down-on-his-own miserable in the open field with no home-run ability (BJGE) and is not a back that can take a full load in the NFL (added weight to be more durable in 2014 and still hurt his ribs).

But on the flip side he played the year with bruised ribs, and the Pats took Jon Halapio last year on the theory that a guard who played the year with a torn pectoral muscle might (1) be a Logan Mankins tough sob and (2) be a lot better than he showed. Running inside the tackles he gets solid yards and does not go down easy. Lots of rugby scrums. (BJGE again)

Davis does everything - block, run, and catch - decently. South Carolina even used him as a fullback occasionally. All out of a pistol formation, so he is well-versed working out of a shotgun formation. The Pats took James White last year because he was one of the best pass-blocking RBs and Mike Davis is more of the same.

Basically it seems like the Pats want a RB who can catch, block, and run inside out of the shotgun. Maybe they have Davis slim down like Vereen, since he is a pure RBBC member and won't need to carry the load. Can he knife through a hole like Ridley? The Pats seem to be looking for a guy who is 90% Ridley/110% BJGE with pass-catching skills. Davis could be that guy.

Another thing to consider is that, if the Pats are going for mammoth OGs, a short, squat back like Davis typically does well behind those sort of lines. They are hard for the LBs to locate. Think Ray Rice with the Ravens. A bunch of scouting profiles liken him to Ray Rice so perhaps that's what the Pats see as his ceiling.

Good post. Note that I said "lite" and not "light" - I believe you did notice that and we're playing on words. The main similarities I see between Davis and Gurley is the 3 down capability that you mentioned and the quick burst through a hole. But that's as far as the similarity goes.

 

[manxman2601]

There are lots of choices that might be available at the end of the 3rd, in addition to Davis. Some are Johnson, Langford, and Allen.

I could see Alayi at 64.

Yes they could draft any number of RBs, but people were discussing Gurley and I think, at least in terms of style and functionality, that Davis is soimilar which is why I brought him up.

 

[Gwedd]

I'm still convinced that if TJ Yeldon is available towards the bottom of the 3rd, then the Pats should take him. Yeldon is a solid back who played extremely well for Alabama. he can find the hole and run to daylight. He might not have a sprinter's speed, but he rarely ever lost yards, or went for no gain.

Yeldon is smart, quick and cunning. He played under Saban, who runs a pro-style offense VERY similar to New England's, and with similar terminology, so the learning curve and transition would be easier for him.

There are a number of fine RB's available in this draft, but to my mind, Yeldon is the best fit for New England.

 

[patchick]

There are a number of fine RB's available in this draft, but to my mind, Yeldon is the best fit for New England.

I see the fit, but personally I can't mock him to the Patriots because his two biggest weaknesses are items BB takes VERY seriously: pass protection and ball security.