First looking to 2015: Running backs

A man named Brady said:

This draft is loaded with RBs so we should pick one up.

The reality is I simply don't trust any of our current backs running well in a playoff game against a team that isn't the colts.

Having your 38 year old QB throwing 50 times in the postseason against great defenses to win in the playoffs is not ideal

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Having a very good RB is essential. Do you really want Brady to throw 50+ times, every game?
A very good RB helps the play-action.

That said. You also need a good OL in the run game.

I don't think who the running back is would change the Pats play calling selection very much against either the Colts or the Seahawks. It is about attacking their weakness.

Blount will definitely be back and so will White since he's only on the second year of his deal. His red shirt year leaves us with huge questions about what he's capable of, but I'm sure the coaching staff has a pretty clear idea. Bolden will be back as a core special teamer and sometimes running back.

Vereen will most likely move as his price will most likely go up after his strong SB performance. In addition the team will need those dollars to pay for higher priority FAs.

Ridley could be back on a prove it deal, but he never struck me as a BB favorite so I wouldn't be surprised if he moves on.

Gray will be brought back and will need a strong camp to gain a spot.

Gaffney is an intriguing player who could possibly be part of the mix next season.

I am a Ridley fan (if he can hold onto the ball). So I hope he returns at a good price for the team.

Blount I go thru phases of liking and blah. It's hard to tell for me if it's him or the O-line.

Vereen as everyone says is gone. Great receiver, poor RB. To many jukes, not enough N/S.

Gray is the missing man. Looked good once, then poof. Probably gone if another back can do what he does.

Gaffney sounds like Grays replacement, for BB to pick him up the way he did, shows me he thinks alot of the kid.

White? Has he showed anything anytime this season? Probably draft another fast quick back in the 3rd-4th

We could have Barry Sanders, Beastmode, Jim Brown but if our guys up front can't run block any team other than the Colts it won't matter lol.....that's why I think we need to upgrade our interior O-line first.

My guess (sorry if repeating others) -
1) Will draft a Rb in first 3 rounds.
2) Vareen will be gone to highest bidder. Would fit Colts if they want to spend.
3) If Ridley wants back on an 1 year incentive contract, it will be his choice. Based on what I have heard, there is more chance of this than Shane staying.
4) Gray's lack of play is more to do with Blount's resigning and minor injury(ies) than anything else. Who would you play of the two; the guy with playoff experience, a chip on his shoulder, fresh and uninjured seems the best choice. As it was, Legarrette also knew he could be replaced at any point if he wanted to go back to any of the tricks he has played with other teams.
5) Everyone else will be on 90 man roster. Am most intrigued by Gaffney, but hope White has been showing signs of improvement so pick can be best RB available.
6) Think most important addition this year is to OL. This could improve all the RBs

ashley1992 said:

I agree, I'd love to see him back, but I just have a feeling some team is going to offer him a large pay day and he's not going to be able to turn it down.

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Yeah like in AFC East

IMHO, someone is likely to pay Vereen $4M a year, and someone is likely to pay Ridley $2M for a year. I suspect that the patriots won't be either of these teams. Belichick will have a committee of running backs, with Bolden being the highest paid (Blount and Bolden are about the same). We have White returning. Folks say the coaches know what they have in White. Somehow I doubt that. In any case, he will be on the 53.

Belichick likes bargain basement running backs. I expect that he'll draft another in the 3rd or 4th to compete with White. In addition, Belichick might pick up someone else's reject to compete for a roster spot, as we did with Blount.

In the end, Belichick pays almost nothing for his running backs, and gets some value. After all, we don't have a terrible running game.

In addition to the draftee, Belichick is likely to help the running game by adding a guard or two.

mgteich said:

In addition to the draftee, Belichick is likely to help the running game by adding a guard or two.

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They whiffed on Halapio last year. Kline is hot garbage.Wendy and Connolly could both use a good push in camp. I expect more than two guards brought in via draft and free agency before camp roster is set. IMO, a stouter interior line is a mandatory objective as Brady gets another year older.

This draft is going to be very important (like all drafts are but.... ) Situations are NOT firmed up yet. Resolution of this ridiculous deflate crap could swing either way...subtracting a pick/adding a pick. The Jets tampering decision also keeps things a little bit up in the air. Do we get a pick? A low 6th or 7th? a 3rd?

I doubt we will lose a draft pick, they have nothing. Also, if Goodell thinks he is going to ruin our celebration and put an * in this championship he better run to the hills, I would not mess up with Kraft after that speech. Goodell is holding his job by the skin of his teeth, another **** in the fan and he is gone, he just need to lose his support from the owners and seems that he is almost there.

Id like to have ridley back but only if the price is right. He isn't worth overpaying for, obviously. We will be fine with blount and gray if it comes down to it.

LightSkinSmurf said:

Id like to have ridley back but only if the price is right. He isn't worth overpaying for, obviously. We will be fine with blount and gray if it comes down to it.

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Yup. The patriots are likely to have 6 running backs and fullbacks for a total of about $5M. There aren't many that spend less. Ridley can come back and be one of the $1M a year running backs. We have 2 in Blount and Bolden. We might add a draftee.

Belichick has chosen to spend money elsewhere. That strategy has certainly worked for this passing team.

One last bump

Joker said:

They whiffed on Halapio last year.

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Is it really possible to whiff on a sixth-round pick?

Deus Irae said:

One last bump

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It saves time to bump. Our running back situation should be a top discussion topic until at least we know whether we are keeping Vereen and/or Ridley.

I would guess that decision isnt so much Vereen or Ridley as it will be Vereen or Ayers. Whether we like it or not, DE/olb's get paid significantly more than RB's, and while Vereen had a much higher benefit to this years team, the cost of replacement is far lower at RB. At DE/olb, the pats have struggled mightily in the past 8 years to find guys we can slot in and let them play. Ayers may not be a starter, but if its a decision to pay 3.5mil a year, I would guess the Pats would put that towards defensive depth, as opposed to 3rd down back.

Just to be clear, all of these decisions are fluid and are dependent on a lot of moving parts. I would love to keep Vereen for a long time, and think his value is only growing, I just wonder if the team will value his position as highly, when pressed between different positions.

ashley1992 said:

We could have Barry Sanders, Beastmode, Jim Brown but if our guys up front can't run block any team other than the Colts it won't matter lol.....that's why I think we need to upgrade our interior O-line first.

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I don't mean to sound sarcastic, but we have more than one pick. We can do both.

I.M. Fletcher said:

I would guess that decision isnt so much Vereen or Ridley as it will be Vereen or Ayers.

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IMHO, the decision about Vereen is about Vereen, his market value and how much he is worth to the patriots. The only relevant players are ones who perform similar roles, running backs who are change of pace backs, 3rd down or receiving backs. So, what the team thinks of White is relevant. Even Bolden is relevant, since he was Vereen's backup in 2013.

With regard to Ridley, I think that the decision is also about value. The player who is relevant to a decision regarding Ridley might be Gray or Gaffney. Vereen is not relevant. Unless, the team is sold on Gray or Gaffney, I see no reason for not signing Ridley for short money. However, I would think that he might find a better deal elsewhere. I'm NOT down on Ridley. I think it would be great for the team to re-sign Ridley. He's young and competent. I think that we'd be fine with Blount, Ridley, Bolden, White plus a receiving back who can pick up the blitz.
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For me, any decision about Ayers is completely independent. I understand that there is just so much cap room, but I don't think that we are at the point of thinking that we know that we are choosing between Vereen and Ayers. BTW, if that were the decision, even the biggest supporters of Ayers on this board would likely choose Vereen. I know that I would.

manxman2601 said:

I don't mean to sound sarcastic, but we have more than one pick. We can do both.

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Hi Manx, not sarcastic at all....I was just hoping we could invest a high draft pick on one of our guards instead of having to rely on a devey or kline type(not meant to put them down).... but it would be nice to have an all pro there to help open up wholes for the running back....I envision a line like the Cowboys(might be asking too much I know lol)

ashley1992 said:

Hi Manx, not sarcastic at all....I was just hoping we could invest a high draft pick on one of our guards instead of having to rely on a devey or kline type(not meant to put them down).... but it would be nice to have an all pro there to help open up wholes for the running back....I envision a line like the Cowboys(might be asking too much I know lol)

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The choice is not between UDFA's and first round future all-pros. Obviously, if Belichick saw an all-pro quality OG at 22-31 , he'd probably trade up to get him.

More likely is that Belichick will again use a couple of 3rd or 4th round picks for offensive linemen, and a flyer in the 6th. That is the strategy that was effective in 2014. I see no reason to change strategies unless a very special player is available.