Why so little concern at RB?

BJGE is not going to be a guy who runs over people or breaks three tackles. But he will always take the hole that's their, gain positive yards, hustle, and hold onto the ball. A lot of the running game is up front at the line of the scrimmage, and a good portion of the rushing attack is not in the hands of the ball carrier but the blockers in front of him. Now, the interior line-man of the Patriots, particularly RG and C struggle against larger and more physical DT. There is no sense in drafting a RB in the first round when we have needs on the offensive line. I'd rather see an upgrade up front before we draft a high profile RB. I'd rather see the team target a FA RB under 30 than draft in the first round, but there aren't many available.

Ronnie Brown
Pierre Thomas
Cedric Benson
Michael Bush

A lot of these guys have a history of injury that scare me. DeAngelo Williams would be awesome but probably expensive.

Good RBs are a dime a dozen and one is certainly not worth a top pick with the other needs on the team. I guess I'm not that crazy about Ingram either.

Crazy Patriot Guy said:

Good discussion guys. To clarify my stance, I'm not saying picking a RB high in the draft is a must, just that I wouldn't call it a mistake either. I get the sense at this point though that regardless of it was a value pick or not, RB in the first 2 rounds would anger a lot of people.

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Frankly I don't care if it 'angers' people if the Pats take a RB early. If BB does it means that he has a good reason to do so. A lot of people were 'angered' by the McCourty pick and it turns out they were dead wrong. All the kid does is make the pro bowl his rookie year, be in legitimate contention for DROY, and start all 16 games for us.

People seem to think drafting a RB is a slam on BJGE. Was draftng McCourty a slam on Bodden? If BJGE goes down to injury, we have who behind him? Faulk and Woodhead? Both are 3rd down backs. Morris and Taylor? They spend more time on the DL than in uniform.

Considering that the Pats have two 1st rounders, two 2nd rounders, and two 3rd rounders they have a LOT of flexibility in addressing their needs. And to me it almost doesn't matter when they select the players as long as they get the right ones.

Something to consider, and I think is not being heavily discussed, is Belichick will probably want someone who can actual block and pick up the blitz. Not all RBs can do that. Faulk can do that. Maroney? Not so much. This is true for any RB in the NFL, just like TE, if you can't block, you don't play as much, often you play quite a bit less.

IMHO, take any RB in the draft and in the FA market out there, eliminate all the craptastic blockers and what's left is what Belichick, IMHO, will pick from. Steve Young's career ended because Lawrence Phillips ( I feel like throwing up now) completely missed a block like a knucklehead.

Brady is one vicious blindside hit from having his career end. Most QBs are.

I don't care where the Patriots get a RB, as long as he's a value for his slot/cost and he can actually block somebody.

Commit to the O line and good things will happen to your running game. Look at Shaun Alexander, he was a decent runner, IMHO not as great as his stats say but he was running behind Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson. Hell I might be able to grind out 4 yards a carry behind those two guys.

Titanium Coate Hanger said:

Something to consider, and I think is not being heavily discussed, is Belichick will probably want someone who can actual block and pick up the blitz. Not all RBs can do that. Faulk can do that. Maroney? Not so much. This is true for any RB in the NFL, just like TE, if you can't block, you don't play as much, often you play quite a bit less.

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That's why Leshoure interests me. Not only is he a load at RB with his 6' 230 lbs frame. But he has the speed and burst to make big plays. And his scouting reports say that he's an excellent blocker. I like Woodhead, don't get me wrong. He gives it his all, but he just doesn't have the bulk to stop cold linebackers like Ray Lewis, etc. on the blitz.

"Does not shy away from contact. Soft hands, can catch the football. Does a great job of pass blocking. Has good ball security. Reports of his improved his work ethic and maturity have really been evident this season. He is a playmaker."
Scouting Report: Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois - The Football Expert.com

Titanium Coate Hanger said:

Something to consider, and I think is not being heavily discussed, is Belichick will probably want someone who can actual block and pick up the blitz.

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We have Bingo.

And the better the blocker the better. (E.g., Morris vs. hypothetical Faulk in blocking Bernie Pollard.)

VJCPatriot said:

That's why Leshoure interests me. Not only is he a load at RB with his 6' 230 lbs frame. But he has the speed and burst to make big plays. And his scouting reports say that he's an excellent blocker. I like Woodhead, don't get me wrong. He gives it his all, but he just doesn't have the bulk to stop cold linebackers like Ray Lewis, etc. on the blitz.

"Does not shy away from contact. Soft hands, can catch the football. Does a great job of pass blocking. Has good ball security. Reports of his improved his work ethic and maturity have really been evident this season. He is a playmaker."
Scouting Report: Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois - The Football Expert.com

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NFL Draft Prospect Profile, Mikel LeShoure, RB, Illinois - Big Blue View disputes all the negatives in that profile except one (his Maroney-like-ness).

Fencer said:

NFL Draft Prospect Profile, Mikel LeShoure, RB, Illinois - Big Blue View

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I'm not a draftnik, but it looks like this guy could be available at a draft position that's a great value for us, since we have our 1st and Carolina's second.

We have two fine young role players, which allows us to use different combinations for a much stronger backfield.

The idea that, because we like somebody, we can't draft to strengthen that position is just silly, stop it.

I do like the pick of Engram. A 1-2 punch of BJGE and Engram could equal us with the Jets run game, probably even make us better (and younger). The Jets have outran us the last 6-7 games.

Fencer said:

NFL Draft Prospect Profile, Mikel LeShoure, RB, Illinois - Big Blue View disputes all the negatives in that profile except one (his Maroney-like-ness).

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"Often tries to break the big play rather than settle for a short gain, is prone to some negative yardage plays."

Unless he's Barry Sanders than I don't want another back that does that.

patsinthesnow said:

"Often tries to break the big play rather than settle for a short gain, is prone to some negative yardage plays."

Unless he's Barry Sanders than I don't want another back that does that.

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Living in the Houston market, I watched a lot of Arian Foster this season. While I wouldn't say it was a severe problem by any means, he at times lost a yard or two instead of gaining a yard or two because of that same desire to hit the home run. I can't quite say I wouldn't love to have him on our team because of that though.

Only if Green Ellis could pass block, catch, drag the pile, or have the speed to get to the outside; then we would have no concern at RB. With a blue chip running back, maybe we could run a sweep someday.