We need a RB

Last week against Chicago, Gray ran very well. Denver has a real good run defense. I would give him some more touches. Too me, he looks like he runs hard, picks up the blitz and hasn't fumbled at all.

ashley1992 said:

Last week against Chicago, Gray ran very well. Denver has a real good run defense. I would give him some more touches. Too me, he looks like he runs hard, picks up the blitz and hasn't fumbled at all.

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The way the passing game is going, that is all we need. Tom is the primary 3rd/4th and one runner anyway.

I like gray. We can win with him if he keeps picking up blitzers.

There's no one to get now that Belichick would feel is better for us than Gray and/or White.

Belichick had two potential opportunities to add a running back: in the couple of weeks before and after season started, and trying to trade for one.

Belichick chose to rely on Gray. I have seen nothing to make me question that decision. We played the top run defense in the NFL. DEN shut down the run as they do against almost everyone. What even this top defense couldn't do was to stop our passing game.

I have no issue with Gray but I would love to have Blount back.

RayClay said:

Gray is not an NFL caliber running back.

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You are able to reach that conclusion after seeing him in only two games, one of them against the best run D?

I think we need to be more patient and let him develop.

From what I saw, I actually felt that he was trying too hard, not having any patience, not waiting for the hole to open or giving himself space for cutbacks. The game hasn't slowed down for him, yet.

With the bye coming up, the team will be doing quite a bit of self-scouting, Gray included.

Wouldn't be surprised to see a much better performance in two weeks.

mosi said:

I have no issue with Gray but I would love to have Blount back.

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FYI, Blout rushed 5 times for a whopping total of 6 yards in the AFC championship vs. Denver.

#1 run D...lets wait and see a few more week before jumping off the bridge

Gray is improving with each game IMO

A lot of runs today weren't the best of playcalls either. Our hurry up runs seem to work well less than half the time. And sending Vereen up the middle a few times was a waste of a down. Plus, I hate that stupid draw play where Brady awkwardly hands the ball off to Vereen. It never works.

I'd like to see Bolden get some touches as well

Just for comparison Vareen had a 2.6 average vs Gray's 2.8 ...

That says what some are saying in this thread ... Denver is tough to run on.

I like Gray and he will improve enough to help as we move along.

We won a Super Bowl with Pokey Walker ... just think about that.

How do you think Denver feels...sheesh, Hillman had 10 carries for 16 yards...against one of the bottom-of-the-barrel run defenses in the NFL.

We haven't run well against Denver int he past three outings, including Blount when he was hot as ever at the end of last season. Gray and Vereen are not the problems IMO. When they've had room they can make defenses pay, that's all you really need at the RB spot.

Reintegrate Brandon Bolden. (At least part time.)

I'd give Gray a bit more of a chance. Really showed some potential the game before albeit against Chicago. I think it's just harsh saying he's not an NFL caliber RB after one bad performance.

During Vereen's rookie year, I liked the strength he showed at the combine and felt he could be an undersized all-purpose RB in the mold of MJD or Ray Rice. But after seeing enough of Vereen trying to run north-south, I'm not comfortable with him in that capacity. I guess his upside is Kevin Faulk, which is still plenty useful but isn't a closer like Corey Dillon was.

That having been said, I want to see a little more from Gray before rushing to any conclusions. His running style is supposed to resemble Law Firm's, and he looked great last week and not so great against the #1 run defense this week.

When Ridley went down I tempered my expectations for our running game. I'm not convinced yet that Gray can do his job as the big back, but the Pats don't have much choice right now. I'm choosing to keep an open mind about it.

Mikel LeShoure. At least for goal line carries. Give him a shot. 3.0 ypc in 2012 but most carries were goal line. He hits the hole hard

ashley1992 said:

Last week against Chicago, Gray ran very well. Denver has a real good run defense. I would give him some more touches. Too me, he looks like he runs hard, picks up the blitz and hasn't fumbled at all.

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Very solid points for sure.

That said, I can see Ray Clay's point as well. In the end, I agree with those who claim that it's probably too early yet to make much of a determination one way or the other, so we'll have to hope for some progress in the next couple/few games from Gray.

I'm not so sure about going back to giving Bolden chances, but we may end up seeing that.

As far as "who" is out there in terms of free agents that may be worth kicking the tires on:

Andre Brown is a physical 6'0" 227 lb RB who is quite capable of picking up the blitz, running with force, and also catching passes out of the backfield.

He had an 8 game suspension earlier in the year, but that has concluded. I'm not saying that he's the second coming of 2004 Corey Dillon, but if we're throwing out names, he's worth mentioning.

I'm guessing that the NYG may end up bringing him back at some point, though.

jeezus krist....look, Jonas Gray ran hard today. He took VICIOUS hits with Broncos defenders ripping at the ball. He MAINTAINED possession every time. He busted an 8 yard run in the 4th quarter that broke Denver's back. In essence, he did what the team asked of him and the Pats WON 43 -21? How do you people NOT see this? Denver is number one at plugging the A and B gaps, their LB's are stellar at run defense...and until they got ripped apart by Brady today, they were upper echelon pass defense too. Gray provided the threat of a running game that opened the game up for their passing attack. I see other rookie running backs with high draft slots come in to games like this and STB, put the ball on the ground and put their teams in positions to LOSE the game. Gray is playing over Bolden because he has EARNED IT. Stop with this idiotic "grass is greener" syndrome BS.

the pats are not a great run team even with Ridley at RB so the 66 yards they had today vs the 71 a game Denver gives up is not to bad. do I think the pats need a RB yes I do but there is no one out there better then gray IMO