The Patriots will pick a RB in the first 2 rounds

Patriot Missile said:

Ok my bad. I can't remember for the life of me, Bill Belichick picking any RB in his tenure that wasn't from a major college program. Just don't see David Johnson. However I didn't see Garapolo either from Northern Illinois either.

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He wasn't a draft pick, but Danny Woodhead from Chadron St. did pretty well as our 3rd down back.

A bit different scenario since Bill gets the low down of everyone's training camps. He knew from inner circles that Danny was a tough cut and had a great camp. But yeah, that's probably as close to a non drafted running back from a very small school making this team I can recall as well. Thanks for the heads up.

Patriot Missile said:

Ok my bad. I can't remember for the life of me, Bill Belichick picking any RB in his tenure that wasn't from a major college program. Just don't see David Johnson. However I didn't see Garapolo either from Northern Illinois either.

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Wasn't there Justin Hairston from Conneticut state a long time ago?

My prediction for our rb pick is Mike Davis - South Carolina. We'll nab him at 96, 97 or 102. He's 5'9" 217lb. Ran a 4.61 40 with 4.18 shuttle and 7.0 3-cone(needs to improve that). Stevan Ridley was 5'10" 225lb and ran a 4.65 out of LSU 4.21 shuttle and 6.78 3-cone. Davis had nagging injuries his junior year. Over 1500 yards from scrimmage against a tough sked as a soph in 2013 . I think he can be a 3 down back. He's a good receiver. Missed easiest game on it too. Coastal Carolina. I'm still not sure he's 100pct. Would like to see what he can do at his pro day. I was disappointed in David Cobb's 40. 4.81 yikes!!

Zach Zenner, 5th round.

jboston19 said:

Wasn't there Justin Hairston from Conneticut state a long time ago?

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Good call -- Justise Hairston, Central Connecticut State, 2007. Given that the Pats have only drafted half a dozen RBs during BB's tenure, 1/6 small school prospects is pretty much no trend either way.

patchick said:

I'm not in love with Fisher particularly, I just think he's a very realistic pick there. I expect Clemmings to be gone, and Fisher and Erving are likely to be the most attractive OL options.

If a player like Diggy or Gurley is still around, that could certainly change the positional picture. (Or, heaven forbid, if Revis or McCourty bolts.) But otherwise, I see Fisher or Erving and an eruption of grumbling about the boring pick.

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Off The Grid said:

Excellent points, all...But can Grumbling truly be said to erupt?

I'm thinking: at most, a Surge of Grumbling.

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patchick said:

Strictly speaking, grumbling is a sign of pending eruption:

Grumbling, rumbling volcanoes signal eruption

The grumbling will start at pick 32 with the unexciting selection of Jake Fisher, presaging the eruption to follow with the selection of David Johnson at 64, since everybody with a printout of some free web draft ranking knows, knows he would have been available precisely 14 picks later and the Patriots could have parachuted into that draft slot.

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Nice Work!! An Eruption that is both pending and presaged is Fearsome, indeed!! But it was the Presumptuous ParaTrooper Reference that really got me!!

At this point if we're able to resign d-Mac and revis then I would be ecstatic if we take a linemen. But then again I would probly blow a gasket if we were able to get bud Dupree somehow

mayoclinic said:

It's all nothing compared to the grumbling/rumbling eruption that will happen when BB takes Ali Marpet as his future starting LG...

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…or, as the thread title implies, a RB in the first 2 rounds.

captain stone said:

…or, as the thread title implies, a RB in the first 2 rounds.

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Or both ...

No way. There are too many other holes to fill to waste a One or Two on a boring old running back. They are a dime a dozen. The Patriots need OL, DT, WR and safety help first.

…and help at DE (and CB?!?) before even considering RB.

Id be thrilled if Gurley fell to us, but am I the only one that has a good feeling about Tyler Gaffney?

AzorianPats said:

Id be thrilled if Gurley fell to us, but am I the only one that has a good feeling about Tyler Gaffney?

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Nope. I think with Blount and Gray under contract for a big back, James White as a 3rd down back, and Tyler Gaffney as an option in between, plus Brandon Bolden, who will be on the team regardless for ST reasons, I'll be stunned if we draft an RB, unless something ridiculous happens like Gurley falling to the 3rd round. BB might even decide a cheap one-year deal for Ridley is preferable if the market doesn't develop for him.

More likely, I think, is to sign some cheap vet free agents, such as Helu or Pierre Thomas (whom BB has tried to trade for previously), for competition for the third-down role, and sign a street free agent RB or two for the practice squad. I'm fairly certain, though, that BB feels that he got his Vereen replacement last year, and with a full year of practicing in the system, White is capable.

dryheat44 said:

Nope. I think with Blount and Gray under contract for a big back, James White as a 3rd down back, and Tyler Gaffney as an option in between, plus Brandon Bolden, who will be on the team regardless for ST reasons, I'll be stunned if we draft an RB, unless something ridiculous happens like Gurley falling to the 3rd round. BB might even decide a cheap one-year deal for Ridley is preferable if the market doesn't develop for him.

More likely, I think, is to sign some cheap vet free agents, such as Helu or Pierre Thomas (whom BB has tried to trade for previously), for competition for the third-down role, and sign a street free agent RB or two for the practice squad. I'm fairly certain, though, that BB feels that he got his Vereen replacement last year, and with a full year of practicing in the system, White is capable.

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Nice, uncle Heat makes his annual return.

Update!

Losing Revis changes everything. This position no longer holds up. So never mind.

mayoclinic said:

He wasn't a draft pick, but Danny Woodhead from Chadron St. did pretty well as our 3rd down back.

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he served a purpose but had limitations.....just good enough to be effective but just bad enough to not make much of a difference.

I think the front office miscalculated......I think they could have had vereen back for a decent number

IllegalContact said:

he served a purpose but had limitations.....just good enough to be effective but just bad enough to not make much of a difference.

I think the front office miscalculated......I think they could have had vereen back for a decent number

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4 Mi / year, that was his number, for a guy who can only catch balls in the backfield. It's an important role in our offense but BB likes versatility, if Vereen were better running between the tackles I think BB would break his rule and pay good money for a running back. Vereen is good, but replaceable.

varjao said:

4 Mi / year, that was his number, for a guy who can only catch balls in the backfield. It's an important role in our offense but BB likes versatility, if Vereen were better running between the tackles I think BB would break his rule and pay good money for a running back. Vereen is good, but replaceable.

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he could also block and picking up the blitz as an RB is an equally important skill set......brady was injured partially due to the RB inability to sustain the block......it is the less visible reason for why kevin faulk stayed for so long........he was also below average between the tackles

Kevin Faulk was probably the best inside-the-tackles third-down-back I've seen.