Patriots sign RB Travaris Cadet

Gaffney plays more like Ridley than Vereen. I highly doubt he is going to be looked at for 3rd downs.

I believe the RB corps could be complete for the season, got high hopes for this guy.
Him and White probably compete for the 3rd down back role. I got a feeling Cadet is the starter and maybe White to PS again?
Bluont, Gray, Gaffney competing for the 2 lead ballcarrier spots. Might add a draftee or Ridley to the competition.
Develin as the FB.
Bolden is the all purpose spot here, for ST and emergency backup to both ballcarrier/3rd down back role.

Liked the touches reel, I think there were all of 2 negative plays total. He got all the yards in front of him, no dancing. As another poster pointed out, he does seem to run a bit high and unbalanced at times, but I think that can be cleaned up.

I think that the team will have a top RB tandem of Blount + one of Gray or Gaffney, and one of Cadet or White as the 3DRB, with Bolden being the "all purpose" backup like @PATSYLICIOUS said above me. Wouldn't be surprised if they kept one extra guy, but I would probably expect them to cut the guys who lose out in the battles mentioned and try to sign one of them to the PS. If I had to pick, I like Blount, Gaffney, Cadet, Bolden as the RB quartet for 2015. An unheralded group to be sure, but one that is versatile enough to do damage.

Schmo said:

I could see a situation where we burn through Cadet and White, and Edelman has to take 3rd down back responsibilities. You know he'll go to war for Brady while pass blocking, and he'd make shotgun draws not just exciting, but an actual threat. Then there's his running after the catch....

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What is with PatsFan wanting to move every player to a different positions. Edelman is one of the top wide receivers in the NFL. Why would you want to move him to the 3rd down back position where his snaps will be limited? Makes no sense. 3rd down backs are a dime a dozen.

hwc said:

What is with PatsFan wanting to move every player to a different positions. Edelman is one of the top wide receivers in the NFL. Why would you want to move him to the 3rd down back position where his snaps will be limited? Makes no sense. 3rd down backs are a dime a dozen.

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Read the post.

robertweathers said:

This dude has a crazy background. WR, QB, RB, KR, PR

http://www.appstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=204766603

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Seems like a belichik type of guy with his versatility, work ethic and team-first attitude

Schmo said:

Read the post.

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I did read the post. Doesn't make sense to me. Edelman is one of the best WR in the NFL and arguably THE best 3rd down WR in the NFL. And, you want to take him out of the passing game to blitz block on 3rd downs?

Who is going to play WR while Edelman is staying in to block?

hwc said:

I did read the post. Doesn't make sense to me. Edelman is one of the best WR in the NFL and arguably THE best 3rd down WR in the NFL. And, you want to take him out of the passing game to blitz block on 3rd downs?

Who is going to play WR while Edelman is staying in to block?

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Right now, LaFell, Amendola, Gronk, Chandler etc. I would assume you have access to a roster to answer your own question. I just think Edelman would eat lbs alive on screen routes and would be sufficient in pass blocking (seeing as how there's a real possibility that our new #1 3rd down can't block a lick.)

BB has played him on defense when we had no depth. Edelman used to play qb. Apparently you aren't familiar with Jules' versatility and belichick's willingness to use him in different spots. But please, flame away at a first glance reaction.

I am very familiar with how everyone on the board wants players to switch positions. Sad that I'm also familiar with the 'knowitalls' on the board that shoot down good ideas because they think they're all the same. I was prepared for your response and that's why I chose my words carefully, and I truly believe this is a plausible situation.

Schmo said:

Right now, LaFell, Amendola, Gronk, Chandler etc.

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LaFell and Gronk are already on the field with Edelman on third down plays. So, you are proposing replacing the NFL's best 3rd down WR (to use for blitz blocking) with Danny Amendola or Scott Chandler at split WR positions neither typically plays?

I'm as big an Amendola fm as there is and I think the Chandler signing was great, but playing either of them split wide at WR in place of Julian Edelman makes no sense.

Why not leave Edelman where he belongs and just go sign a halfway decent 3rd down back for a half dozen touches and a few blocks a game?

BTW, I see no reason that this Travaris Cadet kid can't replace all of Vereen's 3rd down production. IMO, Vereen was just an average NFL 3rd down back. He had a few nice games, but was generally just OK. Cadet looks like he could be OK with a little heavier workload than he got in NO.

hwc said:

Why not leave Edelman where he belongs and just go sign a halfway decent 3rd down back for a half dozen touches and a few blocks a game?

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Yes, what if Belichick left him at QB, where he had a successful college career? Good point.

You still haven't read my whole post... or don't understand it. I'm starting to think it's the latter. Edelman is great in the open field, and shotgun draws (along with jet sweeps, which he ran a lot this year, just to fill you in) is as close as you can get to a punt return on a set offensive play. That's when I want the ball in his hands. Apparently, you think that's a terrible idea, because it would shift him to a different spot a few plays per game.

I would much, much, much, much rather have Amendola in at wide receiver than an inept running back protecting Brady. You wouldn't, and that says something.

Schmo said:

Right now, LaFell, Amendola, Gronk, Chandler etc. I would assume you have access to a roster to answer your own question. I just think Edelman would eat lbs alive on screen routes and would be sufficient in pass blocking (seeing as how there's a real possibility that our new #1 3rd down can't block a lick.)

BB has played him on defense when we had no depth. Edelman used to play qb. Apparently you aren't familiar with Jules' versatility and belichick's willingness to use him in different spots. But please, flame away at a first glance reaction.

I am very familiar with how everyone on the board wants players to switch positions. Sad that I'm also familiar with the 'knowitalls' on the board that shoot down good ideas because they think they're all the same. I was prepared for your response and that's why I chose my words carefully, and I truly believe this is a plausible situation.

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Still. Edelman is probably on of the best receivers in the league to get to the first down marker. Why would we give up that to have him play as a running back? Not comparable to having him out on defense, because then you didn't remove him from doing what he was best at. If you put him as a running back then you do.

Marinlik said:

Still. Edelman is probably on of the best receivers in the league to get to the first down marker. Why would we give up that to have him play as a running back? Not comparable to having him out on defense, because then you didn't remove him from doing what he was best at. If you put him as a running back then you do.

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Playing defense doesn't affect a WR's offensive snaps? Really? I completely disagree.

At least at running back, Edelman can get the ball in his hands to do, "what he (is) best at," without being exhausted. Having him in the backfield would make the d more hesitant to back off the los.

My OP was a simple assumption that Edelman would be the best candidate and a major asset to the team at RB on third down, if our new, unproven backs turn out to be worthless. Find a problem with that if you want, but it's a pretty logical hypothetical situation to me.

Schmo said:

Playing defense doesn't affect a WR's offensive snaps? Really? I completely disagree.

At least at running back, Edelman can get the ball in his hands to do, "what he (is) best at," without being exhausted. Having him in the backfield would make the d more hesitant to back off the los.

My OP was a simple assumption that Edelman would be the best candidate and a major asset to the team at RB on third down, if our new, unproven backs turn out to be worthless. Find a problem with that if you want, but it's a pretty logical hypothetical situation to me.

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I disagree with you on Edelman, why take away your best asset from the position he's best at, but I have often wondered whether Josh Boyce should give it a go with his athleticism and size.

I'm out. I don't need to perpetuate a PatsFan.com pissing contest over moving Julian Edelman from WR to situational 3rd down running back.

I'll just go with whatever Belichick thinks is best for JE11.

hwc said:

I'm out. I don't need to perpetuate a PatsFan.com pissing contest over moving Julian Edelman from WR to situational 3rd down running back.

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Then don't whip your d!ck out in the first place.

here...let ME whip MY **** out....

I'll give you -$11,000 for an 11% equity in moving Julian Edelman to 3dRB...

Supposedly he has some impressive stats on Pro Football Focus ... which is subscription only.

Perhaps someone can post his stats from there???

Ross12 said:

I'll give you -$11,000 for an 11% equity in moving Julian Edelman to 3dRB...

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Listen, you've got a great pitch, and I like your passion. But I still don't think I see how you're going to scale up production, and for that reason I'm out...