What are your expectations for Travaris Cadet?

I am very excited to see him in a Pats uniform and i think he can be a big part of this O. I really think he can come in here and surpass Vereens #s. Vereen was usually hurt however

I agree, I think he'll be almost as good if not better. Not sure if James White can play but, it sounds like Cadet can.

Minimal to no drop off from Vereen's production. Possibly even an improvement over Vereen.

Solid receiver and runner. His potential depends on his learning to pass block. He was not asked to block at NO and will not see the field in NE unless he can protect. What to watch in pre-season.

Issue with Cadet is he's almost always been a receiver, very little pass blocking. I assume he can pick it up quickly enough; although he didn't do it much in New Orleans he probably had to know the blitz pickups. But that's the one thing that could slow the Cadet train.

He's tall and good at catching, but the dude has next to no rushing production in the NFL and not a whole lot of receptions either. I'm not the best judge of blocking, but I've read that he has a long way to go in that area as well (correct me if I'm wrong, in which case, great news). I think he could surpass Vereen, but honestly, at this point he's less proven than Bolden, even as just a third down back.

I'll be curious if Gaffney gets some pass catching chances. He caught some at Stanford; not a lot but that doesn't mean he can't. Gaffney is one of my curiosities this coming training camp.

People always biased in favor of the shiny new toys over the previous more proven players. There's no reason cadet cant be productive in the 3rd down role but do you guys honestly believe he is more talented than vereen (for those of you who think he will outproduce vereen)? I know if I had a choice between the 2 of them, and contracts/cap space wasn't an issue, I'd take vereen in a heartbeat. Unless woodhead was also available

Very intrigued by Cadet but not getting too invested. I'll be happy as long as the team can make a respectable 3rd down back out of one of Cadet, White, or maybe Gaffney. Hell, maybe even Dion Lewis.

mikey m said:

People always biased in favor of the shiny new toys over the previous more proven players. There's no reason cadet cant be productive in the 3rd down role but do you guys honestly believe he is more talented than vereen (for those of you who think he will outproduce vereen)? I know if I had a choice between the 2 of them, and contracts/cap space wasn't an issue, I'd take vereen in a heartbeat. Unless woodhead was also available

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The Pats have a history of making decent,OK players look much better then they are.

Mack Herron said:

Solid receiver and runner. His potential depends on his learning to pass block. He was not asked to block at NO and will not see the field in NE unless he can protect. What to watch in pre-season.

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Solid runner? He's got 11 carries for 37 yards in his career. Yes, I said career!! I hope we sign Ahmad Bradshaw and cut him.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CadeTr00.htm

I'm interested to see him play but not overly invested. There's a good chance he may not make the team. It will be a close battle with him and White I think. I doubt we would keep both.

I cant wait to give him a big needle
-JJ

I hate to be a downer, but I wasn't very impressed with the game tape I watched of him. Unproven pass protector and runner, and when he catches a pass, he takes a second to get his balance back. In other words, he isn't very well rounded and runs really high for a position where we've previously had Faulk, Woodhead, and Vereen.

Personally, I see him as a stopgap. If there isn't much guaranteed money (never really looked at his contact) and another back like White shows some serious stuff, I could see him being cut.

There is also a huge reason why I don't make the Pats personnel decisions. Likely scenario: he's our 3rd down back but we don't lean on him very hard (Less production than Vereen.)

I will be more than happy to be wrong when the season starts going. I hope we get to see him breaking many 30 yard screen passes throughout the season.

That his hand is going to be weighted down by a ring at the end of this season.

Schmo said:

I hate to be a downer, but I wasn't very impressed with the game tape I watched of him. Unproven pass protector and runner, and when he catches a pass, he takes a second to get his balance back. In other words, he isn't very well rounded and runs really high for a position where we've previously had Faulk, Woodhead, and Vereen.

Personally, I see him as a stopgap. If there isn't much guaranteed money (never really looked at his contact) and another back like White shows some serious stuff, I could see him being cut.

There is also a huge reason why I don't make the Pats personnel decisions. Likely scenario: he's our 3rd down back but we don't lean on him very hard (Less production than Vereen.)

I will be more than happy to be wrong when the season starts going. I hope we get to see him breaking many 30 yard screen passes throughout the season.

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I agree and disagree, based on this vid. I would say "project" because he is raw. could improve a lot, or not. Definitely room for anybody who can catch out of the backfield to start the season IMO.

Seems too one-dimensional to get serious reps at RB as even a 3rd down back (11 total rushes in his career and not much tape on him in pass protection). Only way he makes the team is if he rips it up on special teams as a kick/punt returner but that's a longshot.

I think the team views him as the lead dog to take Vereen's role and I expect him to earn it in camp.

Limited action, decent production, good KR, 3 fumbles.