Brandon Bolden, That's What I'm Talking About

DarrylStingley · Sep 23, 2013

During training camp there was much roster bubble discussion about Brandon Bolden.

I believed then, as now, that he has the potential to be a big contributor to this team. He's big, fast and tough, and he can both run and catch passes.

Now yesterday was nice, and an affirmation of my beliefs on him, and showed just how foolish it would have been to cut him, but let's not get crazy...Canton is still a long ways away.

Still, it was nice to see, and here's to the Pats using Bolden a lot more as the season progresses.

My view is that the more Vereen (later, when back) and Bolden touch the ball over this campaign, the better. I'm not ready to bury Ridley, but between the fumbles and the more tentative running post-fumbles, those two are their best bets, and Blount is more of a depth, change of pace kind of guy, despite the impressive numbers yesterday.

Here's to Brandon Bolden!

Oswlek · Sep 23, 2013

It was a very good game, though he damn near impeded NE's first TD drive with a terrible effort on that faux-bad-snap play. Otherwise he looked strong.

ausbacker · Sep 23, 2013

DarrylStingley said:
During training camp there was much roster bubble discussion about Brandon Bolden.

I believed then, as now, that he has the potential to be a big contributor to this team. He's big, fast and tough, and he can both run and catch passes.

Now yesterday was nice, and an affirmation of my beliefs on him, and showed just how foolish it would have been to cut him, but let's not get crazy...Canton is still a long ways away.

Still, it was nice to see, and here's to the Pats using Bolden a lot more as the season progresses.

My view is that the more Vereen (later, when back) and Bolden touch the ball over this campaign, the better. I'm not ready to bury Ridley, but between the fumbles and the more tentative running post-fumbles, those two are their best bets, and Blount is more of a depth, change of pace kind of guy, despite the impressive numbers yesterday.

Here's to Brandon Bolden!

Without disrespecting Bolden, I cannot fathom why Blount or Bolden see considerable game time ahead of or comparative to Stevan Ridley. The only conceivable reason I can think of is preserving the health of Ridley with Vereen on short term IR.

patsinthesnow · Sep 23, 2013

I don't understand why people wrote off Bolden as a mediocre/bad RB, considering he was just entering his 2nd year. Before the injuries/suspension last year, Ridley was being phased out in favor of Bolden in the Seattle game. Sunday's start and snaps don't come to me as a surprise.

Bolden is a dual-threat RB with more speed and higher upside than Ridley. This has been noticeable in the two training camps and the regular season. I don't get why that idea ruffles so many feathers around here.

If Vereen wasn't hurt, I wish we could've fleeced the Colts for a 2nd trading Ridley instead of getting trent for a 1st. Maybe the Browns would take him for Josh Gordon straight up?

Triumph · Sep 23, 2013

patsinthesnow said:
Bolden is a dual-threat RB with more speed and higher upside than Ridley. This has been noticeable in the two training camps and the regular season. I don't get why that idea ruffles so many feathers around here.

Ive said the same thing.

Bolden hasnt gotten the playing time to show what hes capable of. Part of that has been his own fault.

ausbacker · Sep 23, 2013

patsinthesnow said:
I don't understand why people wrote off Bolden as a mediocre/bad RB, considering he was just entering his 2nd year. Before the injuries/suspension last year, Ridley was being phased out in favor of Bolden in the Seattle game. Sunday's start and snaps don't come to me as a surprise.

Bolden is a dual-threat RB with more speed and higher upside than Ridley. This has been noticeable in the two training camps and the regular season. I don't get why that idea ruffles so many feathers around here.

If Vereen wasn't hurt, I wish we could've fleeced the Colts for a 2nd trading Ridley instead of getting trent for a 1st. Maybe the Browns would take him for Josh Gordon straight up?

That would be all well and good if it were true. Ridley's carries rarely deviated from normal whereas Bolden's improved slightly.

patsinthesnow · Sep 23, 2013

ausbacker said:
That would be all well and good if it were true. Ridley's carries rarely deviated from normal whereas Bolden's improved slightly.

1st quarter, Ridley 2 carries, Bolden 6 carries. Bolden's knee goes boom, Ridley time.

ausbacker · Sep 23, 2013

patsinthesnow said:
1st quarter, Ridley 2 carries, Bolden 6 carries. Bolden's knee goes boom, Ridley time.

I'm interested to read your explanation for the following numbers being used in support of Ridley being phased out. These were his carries for each game during the 2012 season - 21, 18, 13, 22, 28, 16, 17, 15, 22, 13, 21, 19, 18, 9, 18, 20.

There's no discrepancy there to support your claim.

cmasspatsfan · Sep 23, 2013

ausbacker said:
Without disrespecting Bolden, I cannot fathom why Blount or Bolden see considerable game time ahead of or comparative to Stevan Ridley. The only conceivable reason I can think of is preserving the health of Ridley with Vereen on short term IR.

I see your point on Blount but Bolden's a good runner and can catch passes, not Ridley's forte.

Oswlek · Sep 23, 2013

ausbacker said:
I'm interested to read your explanation for the following numbers being used in support of Ridley being phased out. These were his carries for each game during the 2012 season - 21, 18, 13, 22, 28, 16, 17, 15, 22, 13, 21, 19, 18, 9, 18, 20.

There's no discrepancy there to support your claim.

You are correct.

kmac14 · Sep 23, 2013

Anyone notice on several occasions Bolden was lined up as an outside receiver? During one long throw from Brady; Bolden seemed to be completely unaware the ball was thrown his way and had stopped running a sideline route. Says more about the current group of receivers than Bolden himself.

ausbacker · Sep 23, 2013

cmasspatsfan said:
I see your point on Blount but Bolden's a good runner and can catch passes, not Ridley's forte.

That goes without saying cmasspatsfan but Ridley is clearly the most talented back on the roster as it stands (with Vereen on ST IR). Vereen is perhaps the most explosive and complete back on the roster. Those two, in my mind have clear separation from Bolden who is further separated from Blount (who IMO is a curious trade case and not showing much more than being a plodder).

The Patriots must run Ridley more. I'm at perfect ease with Bolden coming on and taking his turn, but the Patriots need to stop this piss farting around with Ridley because he's fumbled the football and just play their best players.

PATSYLICIOUS · Sep 23, 2013

Bolden just needs to stay healthy, which has been an issue with him.

He's definitely suitable for the #2 role behind Ridley and Vereen, may even be a better runner than Ridley at full strength. Problem is again, he's rarely full strength. Limiting Ridley's carries will help a ton down the stretch.

JJDChE · Sep 23, 2013

Ridley is the surperior runner, plain and simple. If he hadn't had a few bad fumbles Bolden never sees the field. As soon as Bolden makes a boneheaded play, his carries will drop. It is nice to have two quality backups to Ridley, though.

Oswlek · Sep 23, 2013

kmac14 said:
Anyone notice on several occasions Bolden was lined up as an outside receiver? During one long throw from Brady; Bolden seemed to be completely unaware the ball was thrown his way and had stopped running a sideline route. Says more about the current group of receivers than Bolden himself.

NE regularly puts the RB out wide and has for years because it is one of the easiest ways to tell what kind of set the defense is running, particularly if you motion him out wide.

Ivan · Sep 23, 2013

If they end up with all four healthy the Patriots will have the deepest and one of the best running back units in football, and they will have all the bases covered from the true first down back in Ridley and the bangers in Bolden and Blount to the 3rd down back and outside threat in Vereen. Great job by Belichick in building this running back corps.

PatsFan2 · Sep 23, 2013

Where are all the Le-Slowest Blount supporters now? The Patriots are using Bolden on Third Downs now if you all haven't noticed. I still cannot believe that some people thought that Blount was better than Bodden.

PatsFan2 · Sep 23, 2013

Ivan said:
If they end up with all four healthy the Patriots will have the deepest and one of the best running back units in football, and they will have all the bases covered from the true first down back in Ridley and the bangers in Bolden and Blount to the 3rd down back and outside threat in Vereen. Great job by Belichick in building this running back corps.

Blouunt adds "NOTHING" to our dept at RB!

Fencer · Sep 23, 2013

kmac14 said:
Anyone notice on several occasions Bolden was lined up as an outside receiver? During one long throw from Brady; Bolden seemed to be completely unaware the ball was thrown his way and had stopped running a sideline route. Says more about the current group of receivers than Bolden himself.

Patriots have always done it a lot; so do other teams.

Wax Frog · Sep 23, 2013

ausbacker said:
The Patriots need to stop this piss farting around with Ridley

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