Props to Jonas Gray

mayoclinic · Nov 17, 2014

patchick said:
Plus none of these guys...
...were drafted in the top 50 picks.

Among the current top 20 rushers in the NFL (by yardage):

1. DeMarco Murray, Dallas - 3rd round pick, 2011
2. Arian Foster, Houston - UDFA, 2009
4. LeVeon Bell, Pittsburgh - 2nd round pick, 2012 (#48 overall)
5. Matt Forte, Chicago - 2nd round pick, 2008 (#44 overall)
6. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia - 2nd round pick, 2009 (#53 overall)
7. Justin Forsett, Baltimore - 7th round pick, 2008
8. Alfred Morris, Washington - 6th round pick, 2012
9. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City - 3rd round pick, 2008
10. Frank Gore, San Francisco - 3rd round pick, 2005
11. Andre Ellington, Arizona - 6th round pick, 2013
13. Lamar Miller, Miami - 4th round pick, 2012
14. Russell Wilson, Seattle (QB) - 3rd round pick, 2012
15. Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati - 2nd round pick, 2014 (#55 overall)
16. Chris Ivory, NY Jets - UDFA, 2010
17. Eddie Lacy, Green Bay - 2nd round pick, 2013 (#62 overall)
18. Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota - 3rd round pick, 2014
19. Denard Robinson, Jacksonville - 5th round pick, 2013 (QB conversion)

Only 3 were 1st round picks: #3 Marshawn Lynch, #12 Mark Ingram, and #20 Steven Jackson. Only 2 others were top 50 picks (Matt Forte and LeVeon Bell).

RobertWeathers · Nov 17, 2014

Brady_to_Moss said:
he's pretty good because he doesn't dance around...he makes his 1 cut..sticks with it and heads downhill. Reminds me a tad of Dillon. Makes 1 cut and just heads strait on down the pipe

Dillon is in a different class than Gray but no doubt both players weren't afraid of contact.

RobertWeathers · Nov 17, 2014

patchick said:
Wow. I'm not quite ready to go that far yet.

As opposed to whom? We don't want Vereen taking those hits. Bolden or White are neither the answers.

He has a ways to go but Gray brings a physicality to the offence that is needed out of the backfield.

RobertWeathers · Nov 17, 2014

mgteich said:
We have 3 RB/FB roles: lead RB back, change of pace back/3rd down back, and fullback.

LEAD RUNNING BACK
Going forward, we are fine with Gray as our #1 RB. I would let Ridley walk. With Gray on the squad for at least a couple of years, we have our lead back. We COULD sign Gray to a long-term contract.

CHANGE OF PACE/3rd DOWN BACK
Obviously, we want to re-sign Vereen. White's skill set makes him Vereen's backup.

FULLBACK
I think that we should sign Develin to a long-term contract. But he's an ERFA like Gray, so there is no "need".

OTHERS
We could/should draft another (or sign a free agent) to replace Bolden on the roster. This will be more necessary if Vereen isn't re-signed. I don't look at youngsters on the IR, since we have never had one produce.

BOTTOM LINE
We start the 2015 roster with Gray, White and Develin (and most of our OL). In that context, I think that Vereen is worth a pretty good contract. Vereen is a major part of our passing and running game. The other "need" for the running game is to re-sign Connolly.

Don't forget Tyler Gaffney will be in camp next year. Someone to keep an eye on...

patchick · Nov 17, 2014

robertweathers said:
As opposed to whom? We don't want Vereen taking those hits. Bolden or White are neither the answers.

As opposed to someone other than Gray, Vereen, Bolden and White.

Gray looked tremendous last night. He was the perfect back for that game plan, and he took advantage of every opportunity and then some.

But I want my feature back to have a well-rounded skillset. Among other things, Gray has never caught an NFL pass. (IIRC one thrown his way against Denver clunked off his hands).

Oswlek · Nov 17, 2014

patchick said:
As opposed to someone other than Gray, Vereen, Bolden and White.

Gaffney?

Oswlek · Nov 17, 2014

mayoclinic said:
Peter King had what I thought was perhaps the most impressive stat regarding Gray's performance last night:

http://mmqb.si.com/2014/11/17/nfl-week-11-jonas-gray-patriots/

0 negative rushes in 38 attempts. That has to make BB very, very happy.

Technically there was one, but it was negated by penalty. It also came on NE's final scoring drive, long after the game was decided.

condon84 · Nov 17, 2014

On the same field last night:

Gray, acquired after getting cut from practice squad

Richardson, acquired via trade for a first round pick

meatface · Nov 17, 2014

Great game from Gray, but lets see how the rest of the season goes for him before making any decisions about drafting a RB. At the end of the year will send our collective wisdom to Kraft and BB

TBR · Nov 17, 2014

condon84 said:
On the same field last night:

Gray, acquired after getting cut from practice squad

Richardson, acquired via trade for a first round pick

LOL I just came here to point this out. The fact it happened right in the Colts' faces was sweet

PP2 · Nov 17, 2014

PP2 · Nov 17, 2014

patchick said:
But I want my feature back to have a well-rounded skillset. Among other things, Gray has never caught an NFL pass. (IIRC one thrown his way against Denver clunked off his hands).

You can have one if you're willing to draft in the first round. BB has never gone for that because that is a high level risk in that RBs generally have short careers.

PatsFan2 · Nov 17, 2014

mayoclinic said:
Among the current top 20 rushers in the NFL (by yardage):

1. DeMarco Murray, Dallas - 3rd round pick, 2011
2. Arian Foster, Houston - UDFA, 2009
4. LeVeon Bell, Pittsburgh - 2nd round pick, 2012 (#48 overall)
5. Matt Forte, Chicago - 2nd round pick, 2008 (#44 overall)
6. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia - 2nd round pick, 2009 (#53 overall)
7. Justin Forsett, Baltimore - 7th round pick, 2008
8. Alfred Morris, Washington - 6th round pick, 2012
9. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City - 3rd round pick, 2008
10. Frank Gore, San Francisco - 3rd round pick, 2005
11. Andre Ellington, Arizona - 6th round pick, 2013
13. Lamar Miller, Miami - 4th round pick, 2012
14. Russell Wilson, Seattle (QB) - 3rd round pick, 2012
15. Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati - 2nd round pick, 2014 (#55 overall)
16. Chris Ivory, NY Jets - UDFA, 2010
17. Eddie Lacy, Green Bay - 2nd round pick, 2013 (#62 overall)
18. Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota - 3rd round pick, 2014
19. Denard Robinson, Jacksonville - 5th round pick, 2013 (QB conversion)

Only 3 were 1st round picks: #3 Marshawn Lynch, #12 Mark Ingram, and #20 Steven Jackson. Only 2 others were top 50 picks (Matt Forte and LeVeon Bell).

Good post mayo don't forget Doug Martin Tampa Bay 3rd Rounder been banged up recently.

Brady6 · Nov 17, 2014

shmessy said:
You mean a 1st rounder like a Trent Richardson?

I don't think I would use a first on a RB but given that this is the deepest RB class in recent years I would take a RB on day 2 or early on day 3.

GaryfromTO · Nov 17, 2014

4 TD's in one game. Now that's an Al Bundy for Polk High kinda day

pazrul72 · Nov 17, 2014

Obviously it was just one game so you can't read too much into it but WOW! Giving the offense a power running game on top of GRONK, Eldeman, Vareen, and LaFell is just unfair. Keep up the good work Mr. Gray and please please please *knock on wood* still healthy which is apparently the only reason you were undrafted

mgteich · Nov 17, 2014

patchick said:
Wow. I'm not quite ready to go that far yet.

Vereen could be considered the #1 RB. That doesn't change the issue at hand. There are 3 positions. The starting RB is Gray or Bolden. I'm ready to consider Gray good enough so that I would not even tender Bolden. Do you disagree?

So, when the SB is over, we will be making offers to Vereen and Ridley. I'm fine with Ridley on the team, but I don't expect an offer that will be in any way attractive to Ridley. Do you disagree?

When the off-season starts, I think that we will likely be looking for a RB. I hope that we will have re-signed Vereen. I don't see Belichick spending big bucks looking for a running back, although I'm fine with adding a draftee and/or free agent to fill out our RB group.

BOTTOM LINE
We have lots of needs after the SB. IMHO, I don't think that we need to spend a lot of those resources looking for a starting RB (including Ridley). I am NOT saying that Gray is better than Ridley. In some sense, that is somewhat irrelevant. IMHO, the question is how many $$$ better is Ridley.

So, for me, I would like to go into the off-season with Gray, Vereen, White, and Develin. I would expect to add a player or two to compete with Gaffney for the last RB roster spot. Obviously, if the player is good enough, he could beat out Gray and White for reps. I just don't RB as high need (AFTER WE RE-SIGN Vereen).

patsinthesnow · Nov 17, 2014

2015 RBs:

Gray
Vereen
Woodhead
White/Gaffney/late round/UDFA

pazrul72 · Nov 17, 2014

patsinthesnow said:
2015 RBs:

Gray
Vereen
Woodhead
White/Gaffney/late round/UDFA

patsinthesnow said:
2015 RBs:

For the same reason that Gray is now getting his oppurtunity I hope the Pats offer Ridley a one year prove it deal with incentives. If he regains his form, if he starts a certain number of games, I think a one year 2 mil deal that could become a 5 mil (probowl caliber starter all year). I think that would be an excellent back field with depth and potential.

RobertWeathers · Nov 17, 2014

mgteich said:
Vereen could be considered the #1 RB. That doesn't change the issue at hand. There are 3 positions. The starting RB is Gray or Bolden. I'm ready to consider Gray good enough so that I would not even tender Bolden. Do you disagree?

So, when the SB is over, we will be making offers to Vereen and Ridley. I'm fine with Ridley on the team, but I don't expect an offer that will be in any way attractive to Ridley. Do you disagree?

When the off-season starts, I think that we will likely be looking for a RB. I hope that we will have re-signed Vereen. I don't see Belichick spending big bucks looking for a running back, although I'm fine with adding a draftee and/or free agent to fill out our RB group.

BOTTOM LINE
We have lots of needs after the SB. IMHO, I don't think that we need to spend a lot of those resources looking for a starting RB (including Ridley). I am NOT saying that Gray is better than Ridley. In some sense, that is somewhat irrelevant. IMHO, the question is how many $$$ better is Ridley.

So, for me, I would like to go into the off-season with Gray, Vereen, White, and Develin. I would expect to add a player or two to compete with Gaffney for the last RB roster spot. Obviously, if the player is good enough, he could beat out Gray and White for reps. I just don't RB as high need (AFTER WE RE-SIGN Vereen).

Agree w/your post. Bolden has value on STs so depending how the draft and FA shakes out, the team might be managing risk by signing him and cutting him if he gets caught in a numbers game.

Props to Jonas Gray

PatsFans.com Supporter

Member of the Seattle 7 & Roadie for Metallica

Member of the Seattle 7 & Roadie for Metallica

Member of the Seattle 7 & Roadie for Metallica

Moderatrix

Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal

Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal

Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract

Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract

Pro Bowl Player

Hall of Fame Poster

Hall of Fame Poster

Hall of Fame Poster

Pro Bowl Player

2nd Team Getting Their First Start

2nd Team Getting Their First Start

PatsFans.com Veteran

PatsFans.com Supporter

2nd Team Getting Their First Start

Member of the Seattle 7 & Roadie for Metallica

Similar threads