Ridley

hwc · Feb 27, 2015

There are other running backs in the world besides Gray, Gaffney, and Blount. I expect that Bill Belichick will assemble some group of running backs that gives him the various skill sets he's looking for. Who knows if Ridley or Vereen or Gray or Gaffney will be part of that group? I don't have the faintest idea.

Blount and Bolden and White are under contract for 2015, so I expect them to be in the mix heading into camp. Beyond that? When backs are widely available in the draft and free agency? Where's my crystal ball. My gut says that Vereen has the best shot of being back with the Pats next year of the unsigned backs as I think the versatility of the 3rd down back is a little harder role to fill with an inexperienced player. But, I don't know his market value to the Pats or other potential teams.

patsfan-1982 · Feb 27, 2015

mgteich said:
On the basis on one great game and being benched for the rest of the season, folks think that Gray should be guaranteed a roster spot, and be part of the Blount-Gray tandem in our RBBC. He would be paired with a player who we discarded the year before because he was unneeded because we had a much better Rb named Ridley. If Ridley weren't injured, it is not even clear that Blount would be on the team.
================
Ridley is young and able. He is unlikely to be 100% this year. My lonely view is that we should being him back with incentives this year on a 3 year contract with a large bonus payment due before the 2016 season starts, much like Wilfork.
=================
The majority view seems to be that we are fine with Blount and Gray. Others think that since there are lots of draftees who will be starters, that we can reliably draft one in the late rounds.
=================
In my world, running backs being injured is not a reason to discard them. My nightmare is Blount being injured during the season. Counting on Gray and Gaffney is just not a good idea as our backups and as apart of a tandem with Blount is just not a good idea.

I think people miss that point that if Ridley dose not get injured the pats don't even sign Blount and Blount may have not even been picked up by a other team with all of the his a looker room cancer talk coming out of Pittsburgh when they cut him

Deus Irae · Feb 27, 2015

patsfan-1982 said:
he will have 2 games a year of 10 att and 120 yards in a blowout win vs a bad defense that make his averages look better but the guy really has done noting vs anyone but the colts the pats need a RB if that's a rookie a vet or Ridley someone has to at lest split touches with Blount

????

2014:
12 for 78 v. Lions
10 for 58 v. Packers
10 for 62 v. Bills

2013:
14 for 65 v. Bucs
9 for 64 v. Falcons
12 for 51 v. Bengals
24 for 189 v. Bills
16 for 76 v. Baltimore
11 for 47 v. Dolphins
11 for 46 v. Dolphins
10 for 49 v. Panthers

With the exception of the Falcons game, I only used games with 10 carries or more. Even tossing in the games with fewer carries, Blount only had 4 games in 2013 with an average of under 4 ypc. He's not an elite back, but he can get the job done, if the line does its job.

Deus Irae · Feb 27, 2015

patsfan-1982 said:
I think people miss that point that if Ridley dose not get injured the pats don't even sign Blount and Blount may have not even been picked up by a other team with all of the his a looker room cancer talk coming out of Pittsburgh when they cut him

And I think you're guessing about something where you might very well be completely wrong.

patsfan-1982 · Feb 27, 2015

Deus Irae said:
????

2014:
12 for 78 v. Lions
10 for 58 v. Packers
10 for 62 v. Bills

2013:
14 for 65 v. Bucs
9 for 64 v. Falcons
12 for 51 v. Bengals
24 for 189 v. Bills
16 for 76 v. Baltimore
11 for 47 v. Dolphins
11 for 46 v. Dolphins
10 for 49 v. Panthers

With the exception of the Falcons game, I only used games with 10 carries or more. Even tossing in the games with fewer carries, Blount only had 4 games in 2013 with an average of under 4 ypc. He's not an elite back, but he can get the job done, if the line does its job.

I like him on the roster but he is a RBBC type guy and I don't see gray back next year and if they don't Draft a RB or bring back Ridley IMO its a below average running game with Blount as the only lead type back on the roster

reflexblue · Feb 27, 2015

chasa said:
Your arguement is just as potent as Ridley's "potential" It's still hasn't shown up.

my reply is this...if you think ridly is an 'average' or BELOW average running back the only thing to do is put you on ignore becuase if thats what you belive and thats your judgement than you have nothing worth reading.

reflexblue · Feb 27, 2015

Oswlek said:
This is disingenuous considering that the second time they got Blount, Ridley had already been on IR for weeks. To the contrary, the fact they let Blount walk over peanuts actually refutes your point.

And it could have been ridelys fumbling issues that landed blount here the first time as insurance, not his running ability.

mgteich · Feb 27, 2015

Deus Irae said:
And I think you're guessing about something where you might very well be completely wrong.

You argue well, as always.

However, would YOU like to go into the season with Blount and Gray as our 1st and 2nd down backs?

Deus Irae · Feb 27, 2015

mgteich said:
You argue well, as always.

However, would YOU like to go into the season with Blount and Gray as our 1st and 2nd down backs?

First, just to point out.... My post was about his claim regarding Blount, not the current state of the RBs.

Second, as I'm not one of the people who are sold on Gray, my answer to you is "no". As I've said before:

Deus Irae said:
I'd be fine with bringing Ridley back on a short/small deal, even if the team were to draft Gurley.

Ridley
Blount
Gurley (PUP can be his friend)
Develin
Bolden
Vereen/Bush/White/other 3dRB TBD

JackBauer · Feb 27, 2015

hwc said:
I don't think that's an easy choice at all. Gray costs virtually nothing. Almost as little as an NFL player can cost. And he's healthy, ready to go.

Ridley is going to cost at least league minimum for a 5th year vet and he's almost certainly looking for more than that. He's coming off ACL surgery.

I view Ridley as no better than an average NFL running back -- basically replacement value. Nice player, but no nicer than a couple dozen other players -- figuring 64 players at his position see game action.

When it comes to JAG value players, money counts. If Gray costs a third of Ridley, then that has to be figured into the equation in a salary cap league. At what point does a little incremental improvement in a platoon RB justify a million or two in additional cost?

Those are not "easy" choices.

They are when you characterize the choices accurately. Claiming Ridley offers "a little incremental improvement" over Gray is preposterous.

mgteich · Feb 27, 2015

Deus Irae said:
First, just to point out.... My post was about his claim regarding Blount, not the current state of the RBs.

Second, as I'm not one of the people who are sold on Gray, my answer to you is "no". As I've said before:

Yes, but each post stands on it own. I certainly don't expect everyone to take my posts in the context of every else I've posted on the subject.

I believe that we both understand that we need a 1st down running back and a 3rd down running back to add to Blount, Bolden and White.

Deus Irae · Feb 27, 2015

mgteich said:
Yes, but each post stands on it own.

Many posts need context. By taking my post out of context, you manufactured a response that had nothing to do with what I'd been posting about.

In this particular instance, for example, the point I was trying to make was simply that we have no idea if the Patriots would have brought in Blount had Ridley not been IR'd, and that the person claiming they would not have might well have been wrong.

It had nothing, at all, to do with what I think the team needs going forward, which is where your response went.

mgteich · Feb 27, 2015

Deus Irae said:
Many posts need context. By taking my post out of context, you manufactured a response that had nothing to do with what I'd been posting about.

In this particular instance, for example, the point I was trying to make was simply that we have no idea if the Patriots would have brought in Blount had Ridley not been IR'd, and that the person claiming they would not have might well have been wrong.

It had nothing, at all, to do with what I think the team needs going forward, which is where your response went.

fair enough

Deus Irae · Feb 27, 2015

mgteich said:
fair enough

Thanks. I'm not trying to be an ass, though it may have come off that way. I'm just trying to avoid misunderstandings, since it's already feeling like we're in for a long off season.

hwc · Feb 27, 2015

JackBauer said:
They are when you characterize the choices accurately. Claiming Ridley offers "a little incremental improvement" over Gray is preposterous.

I don't think it's preposterous at all to think that the Pats can find a complementary back to Bount, a guy who can get 3.6 yards a carry or more 8 to 10 times a game, for cheaper than it would cost to resign Ridley. It's just not that many touches on this team, with Blount signed. My guess is that it could well be somebody whose name has never even come up around here. A veteran free agent left without a chair when the music stops before training camp? A draft pick. I don't know. It's just not a big deal, one way or the other, on my radar screen. Ridley's a JAG. Gray's a JAG. I figure Belichick will find a capable JAG somewhere.

Heck, it could be Bolden who gets the carries for all I know.

Marinlik · Feb 27, 2015

PatsFan2 said:
Blount have something Ridley doesn't have and thats called Break-away speed! Also BB doesn't have to worry about Blount putting it on the ground. I think the Ridley N.E. Patriots ship has sailed. Hard to believe that both Ridley and Vereen might not be on a Team coming off a Super Bowl.

I think Ridley has much better acceleration and can hit a whole better than Blount, resulting in more consistent yards with fewer stuffs behind the line of scrimmage and fewer drive killers.

The whole Ridley fumbles all the time thing has really gotten a life of it's own that is so overdone compared to reality. In 2013 Blount had fewer carries per fumble than Ridley, both fumbles 3 times, but Ridley had 178 carries, Blount had 153 carries. But we can consider that a draw as it's prettty close in carries. But through their careers Blount has a fumble per every 54 carries. Ridley on the other hand has a fumble per every 81 carries. So in reality Blount is actually more likely to fumble than Ridley.

Zuma · Feb 27, 2015

"I have something to prove."

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-.../stevan-ridley-says-he-has-something-to-prove

varjao · Feb 27, 2015

By the tone of this interview he is ready to go and knows it's probably better go to another team to get a one year deal in hopes to hit the 1000 yards mark again.

hwc · Feb 27, 2015

I haven't heard the interview yet (I'm listening for him). Earlier in the show, Kirwin and Miller discussed his situation viz-a-viz the large number of free agent RBs and the soft demand. They seemed to think that he would find a tough market, as will RBs in general.

hwc · Feb 27, 2015

I just listened to Ridley's interview (he had been out hunting). It sounded to me like he's gone. Just the way he talked, I don't think the Pats have shown him any love. It was all about the where he might go. What kind of team he would be looking for, etc.

My take: if he's back with the Pats, it'll be a late signing after he's struck out in free agency. Honestly, I don't think the Pats are interested.

Ridley

In the Starting Line-Up

In the Starting Line-Up

PatsFans.com Retired Jersey Club

PatsFans.com Retired Jersey Club

In the Starting Line-Up

PatsFans.com Supporter

PatsFans.com Supporter

PatsFans.com Veteran

PatsFans.com Retired Jersey Club

Hall of Fame Poster

PatsFans.com Veteran

PatsFans.com Retired Jersey Club

PatsFans.com Veteran

PatsFans.com Retired Jersey Club

In the Starting Line-Up

Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job

Hall of Fame Benchwarmer

Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract

In the Starting Line-Up

In the Starting Line-Up

Similar threads