Am I the only one that prefers Gray to Blount?

IllegalContact said:

all in all, it's a pretty good 'whatever works' situation to have........teams can't key on the passing game and that's what is most important

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Actually, with Josh "The Mad Bomber" McDaniels, they CAN.

The last 2 games against the Miami Dolphins (both, losses) Brady threw over 50 pass attempts against their fast, quick and undersized line.

Key to understand; This is a defensive line that has given up 661 yards rushing in the last 3 games. (Balt-183, NYJ - 277, Den - 201).

Hey Josh, stop putting your finger in the electric socket!!!!!

shmessy said:

Actually, with Josh "The Mad Bomber" McDaniels, they CAN.

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you mean JOSH MACDONALD?

lol at the blount "dancing behind the lines" complaint. I'd hardly call constantly getting hit in the back field as dancing behind the lines, Blount had to CARRY people to get those two yard gains. the Chargers run defense was pretty ****ing stout after the first quarter, and only gave up the occasional gash.

shmessy said:

I like using them BOTH, and for the life of me, cannot understand BB's/McD's thinking on sinking Gray.

A DOUBLE BARREL shotgun.

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Yep ,,,Gray to me looks faster and hits the hole faster,,,Blount seems to be the more patient and still pounds forward. Both can do a great 1-2 ,,,i say Gray more to begin with like others here and than in the 4th Q ,, pound the tiring defense with Blount. I want to see Gray on Sunday get 10-15 carries at least.

IllegalContact said:

you mean JOSH MACDONALD?

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NO, NO, NO, NOT TODAY!!!!!!!!! AHA!!!!

GIVE THE PIG TO JONES GRAY! AND TO LAGART BLOUNT!!!

THIS IS MY DIAGNOSIS. YOU ARE ALL WELCOME!

I prefer to see Blount in there right now but, I'd like to see Gray more if only to figure out if the guy's any good or not. Now that the really tough games are over perhaps its time to play the kid more these last 3 games in order to find out?

shmessy said:

NO, NO, NO, NOT TODAY!!!!!!!!! AHA!!!!

GIVE THE PIG TO JONES GRAY! AND TO LAGART BLOUNT!!!

THIS IS MY DIAGNOSIS. YOU ARE ALL WELCOME!

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Rating this "funny" seems like such an understatement.

Gray is relatively new, its too early to compare the two

Some really good posts here. Totally agree with the position of the game (down by 11) influencing choices and missing Fleming.

I too would like to see Gray get a few series as he does offer a different style than Blount but there might be another reason he's not getting in (maybe his blitz pickup doesn't look great in practice so it limits Brady's ability to change the play). Not much point in speculating about the why but more than anything the number of 0 or negative runs needs to be reduced which I realize is more a function of a missed block but in that Indi game, Gray ran low and would make one cut and would always get positive yards.

There are few things worse than starting a drive with a negative run and regardless of who is in there at RB, I hope to see the elimination of this if not almost elimination.

How about Edelman's reverse run against SD? He looked like he was going to be stopped for a 4 yard loss and somehow managed about 4 yards on his own. I think that drive led to a FG in the 4th and although not talked about much, that was a such a significant play; 2nd and 14 vs 2nd and 6.

chasa said:

lol at the blount "dancing behind the lines" complaint. I'd hardly call constantly getting hit in the back field as dancing behind the lines, Blount had to CARRY people to get those two yard gains. the Chargers run defense was pretty ****ing stout after the first quarter, and only gave up the occasional gash.

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I would add that they used some outside running plays for Blount, which is definitely a poor way to utilie his skills. He needs to go straight ahead or off-tackle...none of this run sideways crap.

I like Gray a little better but either way we need to use both guys. I think it should be more evenly split though

upstater1 said:

I like Gray's grind out 4 yards style, while Blount is more of a threat and is more punishing. BUT, Give Brady a 2nd and 6 or a 3rd and 3, and I have confidence he will convert and keep the drive alive.

With Blount and his dancing behind the line, you end up in frequent 2nd and 11s. Those kill drives.

The plus side is that Blount's 2nd and 1 also give you a chance to go downfield, and that opens up the game.

So, Blount gives the offense more dimensions, but I like what Gray gives them better, and that's the consistency that Brady can capitalize on.

I felt the same about Blount last year as well.

The one caveat to this is that I like to see the Patriots ride Blunt in the mid to late 3rd qtr. when the D wears down all the way until game's end.

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Preaching to the choir I think Blount for a man his size is too hit or miss in short yardage Blount cannot make a play if there is nothing there and thats what make some RB's great. Jonas Gray though he doesn't have the breakaway speed of Blount, runs with more power between the tackles than Blount. 3rd and 1 or 2 is money with Jonas Gray and a disaster with Blount. Not saying I don't like Blount but the Team should use him and Gray more evenly.

I am not convinced that Belichick hasnt used this Gray situation to not only take the wind out of Grays sails, but also to hide him a little bit from over-exposure to the rest of the league. He was a player that any team had access to, so obviously no one knew what to look for in scouting him properly. That leaves a situation where he mightWhile gray may have needed taken down a peg, its also been a perfect situation to show Blount that he was needed as well. Its been almost a perfect storm to be in week 15 with two healthy power backs hungry for carries, with our 3rd down back without extra wear.

Now, if by week 17 Gray is still getting 2 carries a game, i might take this opinion back.

I would like to use both to minimize wear on either of them. I do think however that Fleming needs to come back healthy, that kid is a beast and made the O-Line unbelievable. Hurry back Flems we need you buddy.

chasa said:

lol at the blount "dancing behind the lines" complaint. I'd hardly call constantly getting hit in the back field as dancing behind the lines, Blount had to CARRY people to get those two yard gains. the Chargers run defense was pretty ****ing stout after the first quarter, and only gave up the occasional gash.

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Go watch the first carry of the chargers game. Had me screaming at the television early with his Maroney impression. He doesn't do it often, but it is brutal when he does. He needs to remember he is most effective picking a spot, lowering his shoulders and running hard. He is 250 pounds for Christ's sake.

People are making a lot of assumptions with Gray based on a small sample size. Until Gray can prove consistency, I would go with Blount.

Rob0729 said:

People are making a lot of assumptions with Gray based on a small sample size. Until Gray can prove consistency, I would go with Blount.

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I agree with this, but with a twist. Gray had two or three tights, a FB, and an extra OL (Flemming) put in there--sometimes all at once. Let's give Blount the same opportunity in the Dolphins game. Push them off the line. Run Blount--not Gray--down their throats. Let's compare like to like.

The blocking in the SD game was zone blocking on one play, man to man the next, lead block after that, play action and so on. How can we compare?

As I said in another thread: with extra TEs and a sixth OL even I could run for -3 yards and two unforced fumbles.

Gray should get more than 2 carries.

Rob0729 said:

People are making a lot of assumptions with Gray based on a small sample size. Until Gray can prove consistency, I would go with Blount.

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Hard for him to prove consistency when he can't get on the field.

The Brandon Five said:

Hard for him to prove consistency when he can't get on the field.

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Hard to get on the field when you show up late to practice.