Bolden as FB?

Idea just hit me. Seems like a natural fit. Anyone see this discussed anywhere? Feel free to merge.

Knows all the running plays. Big enough? Maybe. Can run, catch, blocks well, etc. Lead block sufficently? Maybe.

I guess I'd just rather have him on the field in this role than Hooman for example. More offensive options to account for.

He's never played it before in a game. I'm sure they've tried him in practice.

Lawfirm played FB in 09 I'm pretty sure so it wouldn't be that crazy.

robertweathers said:

He's never played it before in a game. I'm sure they've tried him in practice.

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I thought he had for a few snaps.

Anyhow, I've mentioned the idea in multiple threads, but I haven't done any analysis around it.

How do Bolden's body and style compare to Patrick Pass'?

Fencer said:

I thought he had for a few snaps.

Anyhow, I've mentioned the idea in multiple threads, but I haven't done any analysis around it.

How do Bolden's body and style compare to Patrick Pass'?

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Similar types, actually. He played it a little in 04 and 05 iirc.

He could do well at it. He's more rugged than Pass was.

Froob said:

Lawfirm played FB in 09 I'm pretty sure so it wouldn't be that crazy.

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Bolden playing FB is very reasonable.

He's giving up 40 LB to Develin. That's huge.

Calling jake Bequette.

nabwong said:

Calling jake Bequette.

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I'm still not convinced he's a real person. BB will reveal it some years down the road long after he retires in an autobiography. He took the rest of the league for fools on draft day as a mindgame. BB is playing calculus II while the rest of the league is playing hopscotch.

I think he could do it fine but you might want a DT to be the FB in short yardage and goal line if this is the case. Not sure who this would be.

signbabybrady said:

I think he could do it fine but you might want a DT to be the FB in short yardage and goal line if this is the case. Not sure who this would be.

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I'm inclined to keep it simple and use an OL in the jumbo FB role. They already know how to block while moving, and more generally they already know the offensive playbook. So to be an FB they'd have to understand certain parts of the playbook even better (and from different angles) than they already do, and they'd need to catch a football if they were left alone wide open and Brady threw it to them. Otherwise they'd mainly be using skills they already have.

He has had some great blocks in the kicking return game so it seems like an interesting idea. Also leads to some more creative formations given his skill set in a two back look.

signbabybrady said:

I think he could do it fine but you might want a DT to be the FB in short yardage and goal line if this is the case. Not sure who this would be.

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I saw someone mention Shaq Mason and it actually made some sense to me in a spot like that. He's known as a road grader and not a technician. Who knows.

Ultimately I'll probably be hoo man even tho it'd be much more fun to see Shaq or even Bolden. Hoo man can do a solid job there.

OhExaulted1 said:

I saw someone mention Shaq Mason and it actually made some sense to me in a spot like that. He's known as a road grader and not a technician. Who knows.

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When BB tried out Junior Seau in the role, he mentioned the importance of experience in diagnosing situations and making the right decision, drawing an analogy between ILB and FB as both needing large elements of that mental skill. So we'll see if he really tries a raw rookie there.

Fencer said:

I'm inclined to keep it simple and use an OL in the jumbo FB role. They already know how to block while moving, and more generally they already know the offensive playbook. So to be an FB they'd have to understand certain parts of the playbook even better (and from different angles) than they already do, and they'd need to catch a football if they were left alone wide open and Brady threw it to them. Otherwise they'd mainly be using skills they already have.

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Good call at the time when writing I was thinking back to Seymour but I think Ashworth did it before and someone else more recent too.

I agree with those who state that there are several different viable alternatives. It is also why I couldn't agree with using the IR-DTR spot on Devlin.

My guess is that Belichick will use Hooman, a second RB, an offensive lineman, and possibly even Gronkowski or Chandler at different times throughout the season. Lots of ways to go about this.

Froob said:

Ultimately I'll probably be hoo man even tho it'd be much more fun to see Shaq or even Bolden. Hoo man can do a solid job there.

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Unfortunately we will see heavy doses of Hooman whiffing on the initial penetration or edge contain. Hooman is a below average, at best, run blocker, and this is why I have hated him being carried as a te/fb/hback (figures my phone autocorrect "hback" with "hack") for years.

He us a Josh McD binky who is a C pass catcher and F blocker. We have NO fb now, and it simply means Hooman sees more time on the field (bad for the ****ing offense, go watch the afccg), BAD NEWS.

supafly said:

I agree with those who state that there are several different viable alternatives. It is also why I couldn't agree with using the IR-DTR spot on Devlin.

My guess is that Belichick will use Hooman, a second RB, an offensive lineman, and possibly even Gronkowski or Chandler at different times throughout the season. Lots of ways to go about this.

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Gotta agree with Supa.

Bolden simply doesn't have the body to lead block. A TE, OL, or even a DE/DT (Seymour) would seemingly be a better candidate. There are a few teams using big, athletic, defensive players as Goal line FB's these days (ie: Jets using Sheldon Richardson as FB).

Malcom Brown would even come to mind as a candidate, he seems to have the athletic ability, Easley even more so.

The options are endless, but I also don't see Bolden as one of those options.

Not sure I agree with most of these posts.

You don't need to be able to mow people down as a FB lead blocker, just take out one guy, the 1st LB to the hole. You don't even need to take him out, just slow him enough from making the tackle. Throw a nice block in other words.

An OL? Well I guess we know how that play is going to run. Just jam the line with 2+ LBs. With Bolden, you really don't know what the O will do. That would more than make up for that massive lead block you know is coming.

As a FB you need to lead block, run, pass block and/or catch in the flat at a decent level. But the key to strength at that position is to threaten any of the 4. Bolden fits that bill IMO.

pdangle said:

Not sure I agree with most of these posts.

You don't need to be able to mow people down as a FB lead blocker, just take out one guy, the 1st LB to the hole. You don't even need to take him out, just slow him enough from making the tackle. Throw a nice block in other words.

An OL? Well I guess we know how that play is going to run. Just jam the line with 2+ LBs. With Bolden, you really don't know what the O will do. That would more than make up for that massive lead block you know is coming.

As a FB you need to lead block, run, pass block and/or catch in the flat at a decent level. But the key to strength at that position is to threaten any of the 4. Bolden fits that bill IMO.

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I'm certainly not claiming that Bolden can't block at 6'1" 210 lbs, just that I think this role will be taken on by various avenues, that's all.

That should include some 2 RB sets, a guy like Hooman, a 6th OL, and any number of TEs. Where I tend to disagree would be the use of important defensive players, unless that could be guys like Ebner or Morris who may contribute "outside the box," and we would still be able to sustain any injury to said player.

I just thought that many were overreacting a bit with the loss of a guy who played less than 20 percent of the offensive reps. To me, he was always going to be an IR candidate, as players like that come and go--even when they're good at their roles like Devlin was.