RB Situation

We need someone that is... Quick as a cat

DaBruinz said:

So, The RB situation is starting to reveal itself. Tyler Gaffney is headed to the IR again.

Blount - The go to starter. However, he's suspended for the first game against the Packers.
Bolden - Until now, he's been a mediocre special teams player who has filled in when Vereen was injured. Supposedly has the inside track as the 3rd down back.
Jonas Gray - Will be the primary back-up.
Travaris Cadet - Was supposed to battle for the 3rd down back spot..
James White - Was supposed to battle for the 3rd down back spot.
Tony Creecy - late signing.. He's 5'10 3/8 and 200 lbs. Another 3rd down back type??
Dion Lewis - 5'6 5/8, 195 lbs. He's TINY. But supposedly a good kick returner. Not sure how he's been doing in camp.

This is an area for concern and to definitely watch during the game against the Packers.

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Pretty good run-down, but I do have an exception/addendum or two: Bolden is more than a mediocre special teamer... he's up there with Ebner for 2nd best STer behind Slater, and he contributes more in another phase of the game than the other two. As long as he doesn't fumble the ball, he's doing his job as a RB. He's proved to be a Belichick favorite.

We haven't had a high calibre RB since Dillon. The running game has become a complement to Brady - a way to change the tempo and hit the defense in the mouth. Blount is a great option for this mentality. A Brandon Jacobs or poor man's Bettis type. He's a guy that makes the defensive players sigh whenever they have to tackle him.

The big positives to this year's running game are the additions of the 2 rookie G's in the draft and Scott Chandler. I'm looking forward to a lot more Sergio Brown blocking plays from our two huge TEs. They'll require faster guys to matchup in coverage, and they will end up destroying them in the run game.

DaBruinz said:

Farn - There is a game tomorrow night. I understand it's a pre-season game, but it's still a game none the less. And it's against the Packers..

If others could chime in on what they've seen of the RBs in camp, that would be great.

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Eh. I don't expect much from this game. Tons of minor injuries, many of the offensive starters won't play. I think Bill writes this off as the cost of playing through the SB and it will start to get serious with game 2.

Brady6 said:

It's going to be a good season for Amendola this year. Momentum is a great thing for any player and he has it. That is the same reason I'm as high on Butler as I am, I think the game is a lot more mental than people think.

Amendola goes home to Kat from quick slants so he is winning either way.

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Can he stay healthy? That seems to be his biggest issue.

So who are we going to see tonight at RB? Gray, Bolden, White, Lewis, Creecy are the only ones I am pretty sure are healthy. Blount and Cadet are dinged up, Gaffney was waived. Creecy is extremely new too so he may not get a ton of work... I guess we will get a lot of comparison between the 3rd down back competitors.

How funny would it be, though, if Ryan Lindley and Tony Creecy lit it up tonight?

DaBruinz said:

So, The RB situation is starting to reveal itself. Tyler Gaffney is headed to the IR again.

Blount - The go to starter. However, he's suspended for the first game against the Packers.
Bolden - Until now, he's been a mediocre special teams player who has filled in when Vereen was injured. Supposedly has the inside track as the 3rd down back.
Jonas Gray - Will be the primary back-up.
Travaris Cadet - Was supposed to battle for the 3rd down back spot..
James White - Was supposed to battle for the 3rd down back spot.
Tony Creecy - late signing.. He's 5'10 3/8 and 200 lbs. Another 3rd down back type??
Dion Lewis - 5'6 5/8, 195 lbs. He's TINY. But supposedly a good kick returner. Not sure how he's been doing in camp.

This is an area for concern and to definitely watch during the game against the Packers.

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Compared to the beginning of 2014,

Out: Ridley and Vereen
In: Blount and Cadet

I agree that this should be an area of concern.

DaBruinz said:

Blount - The go to starter. However, he's suspended for the first game against the Packers.

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He's suspended for the first pre-season game? I thought suspensions only counted towards regular season games...

Forte is on the final year of his deal. IMO, once the Bears are 2-5/1-6, he would be a good trade candidate. He's slowing down at his age but would be a super Faulk/Woodhead/Vereen in the right role.

Ross12 said:

So who are we going to see tonight at RB? Gray, Bolden, White, Lewis, Creecy are the only ones I am pretty sure are healthy. Blount and Cadet are dinged up, Gaffney was waived. Creecy is extremely new too so he may not get a ton of work... I guess we will get a lot of comparison between the 3rd down back competitors.

How funny would it be, though, if Ryan Lindley and Tony Creecy lit it up tonight?

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I think that we'll see a lot of Gray and Bolden.

isnt james white suppose to be like vereen?

Gronkowski123 said:

isnt james white suppose to be like vereen?

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Like Vereen?

Vereen was a star, and an important piece of our offense.

White is a second year player that has shown absolutely nothing so far.

Yes, the same position. Yes, when White was drafted, it was hoped that he could step in when Vereen left.

Anybody know anything about Creecy? Maybe he will be a diamond in the rough.
I hope to see White emerge in some capacity, he was great in college. But then again, so are all Wisconsin RBs.

Ross12 said:

You're both wrong - our next third down back is currently employed at a Bojangles

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People (mostly white people living in suburbia) hate on Bojangles but their chicken baskets are actually very tasty.

There are rumors going around that Christian Michael may be available for a 4th or 5th round pick.

I don't expect the Seahawks to trade with us, but I would love to see Christian Michael on the Patriots.

Michael is a 3rd year player who was a 2nd round pick in 2013. He has been stuck behind Lynch & Turbim who are both bruiser type backs.

Seattle has another bruiser in UDFA Thomas Rawlings who they really like & fits their scheme more than Michael.

When I have seen Michael play in limited appearances, he has flashed superstar potential, but I am baffled why Seattle has not played him Moore.

I would love to see this guy on the Patriots.

mgteich said:

Like Vereen?

Vereen was a star, and an important piece of our offense.

White is a second year player that has shown absolutely nothing so far.

Yes, the same position. Yes, when White was drafted, it was hoped that he could step in when Vereen lefot.

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Vereen was a star? 907 yards rushing in 4 seasons? Caught 107 passes for 1023 yards. He was A jag. I don't even think he was as good as Woodhead. Agree that White is un-proven and an unknown. Vereen is replaceable though. He was a good receiver. Which can be Chandler or a 4th wr like Dobson or Gibson. Maybe, even Bolden.

KontradictioN said:

People (mostly white people living in suburbia) hate on Bojangles but their chicken baskets are actually very tasty.

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I've never actually had it since there aren't any near me, but I've heard good things.

cupofjoe1962 said:

There are rumors going around that Christian Michael may be available for a 4th or 5th round pick.

I don't expect the Seahawks to trade with us, but I would love to see Christian Michael on the Patriots.

Michael is a 3rd year player who was a 2nd round pick in 2013. He has been stuck behind Lynch & Turbim who are both bruiser type backs.

Seattle has another bruiser in UDFA Thomas Rawlings who they really like & fits their scheme more than Michael.

When I have seen Michael play in limited appearances, he has flashed superstar potential, but I am baffled why Seattle has not played him Moore.

I would love to see this guy on the Patriots.

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I would trade a 5th for Michael.

patsfaninpa said:

Vereen was a star? 907 yards rushing in 4 seasons? Caught 107 passes for 1023 yards. He was A jag. I don't even think he was as good as Woodhead. Agree that White is un-proven and an unknown. Vereen is replaceable though. He was a good receiver. Which can be Chandler or a 4th wr like Dobson or Gibson. Maybe, even Bolden.

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A wide receiver cannot replace a pass-catching RB. They are different positions. It is NOT just a matter of counting receptions. Are we really going to go to 4 WR sets with an open backfield because we don't have a solid #3 RB who is a good receiver? Of course not. Someone will be the 3rd down back, and be expected to catch passes out of the backfield. Bolden did it (not really well) when Vereen was injured.

And yes, I understand message board poster protocols. When Vereen was here, he was a star. After we decided not to pay for his return, he was a JAG. it has been that way with regard to many, many patriot players.

I loved Vereen and still will root for him to do well in Jersey. But to classify him as a star is a big stretch. Important? Absolutely. Clutch? For sure. But a star? Ehhhh....

That being said, I also don't think that any non-star is by default a JAG. Vereen is not a JAG, but he is certainly replaceable.

RPCity said:

I loved Vereen and still will root for him to do well in Jersey. But to classify him as a star is a big stretch. Important? Absolutely. Clutch? For sure. But a star? Ehhhh....

That being said, I also don't think that any non-star is by default a JAG. Vereen is not a JAG, but he is certainly replaceable.

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I agree. Almost everyone on the offense is replaceable, everyone but Brady and Gronk.