Is >>RUNNING<< Back a priority for next season?

I'd rather they just draft RBs to get cheap contracts, but some realistic veteran names that stick out to me for potentially affordable prices are;

Chris Johnson
Jacquizz Rodgers
C.J. Anderson
Ronnie Hillman
James Starks
Charcandrick West
Matt Asiata
Chris Ivory
Stevan Ridley
Reggie Bush
Alfred Morris

Some top tier guys that we won't be able to afford but are fun to dream about are;
Doug Martin
Matt Forte
Lamar Miller

When was the last time a smart team payed big money to a free agent running back? I expect they will draft someone but I can't imagine they go into next season with a rb and a guy coming off an acl tear as their primary backs

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Hell yes, RB is a priority for next season. As a matter of fact, some of us were practically screaming (well actually, I probably was literally screaming) to take a guy like Jeremy Langford in 4th round this year. Trey Flowers it was, though. Can never have enough promising DEs and I guess we need to prepare for the possibility of not being able to retain Jones after next year, as well as the fact that Ninkovich is getting older.

Boy, would I have loved to have seen Langford here though. Personally, I would've probably pulled the trigger in the 3rd round, let alone the beginning of the 4th. That kid had a very good career at MSU against top talent, and now he's looking like the heir to the Matt Forte throne over in Chicago. Sonofa*****.

Brady may be the best QB to ever play the game, but he'll be 39 next season, I don't care HOW talented he is or isn't at that age, I want Brady for another 5 years, the best way to assure that he's our QB for that long is giving him a top tier RB. You can NEVER stack the box against TB, give him a 4.5-5.0 ypc RB and you're begging for more MVP caliber seasons from TB regardless of his age.

We rarely ever draft a high RB but I almost hope that our first pick next year is a trade up for an RB, especially with the likelihood that comp picks will be tradeable.

strngplyr said:

Brady may be the best QB to ever play the game, but he'll be 39 next season, I don't care HOW talented he is or isn't at that age, I want Brady for another 5 years, the best way to assure that he's our QB for that long is giving him a top tier RB. You can NEVER stack the box against TB, give him a 4.5-5.0 ypc RB and you're begging for more MVP caliber seasons from TB regardless of his age.

We rarely ever draft a high RB but I almost hope that our first pick next year is a trade up for an RB, especially with the likelihood that comp picks will be tradeable.

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I know this comment won't be relevant to our draft situation, but a kid like Ezekiel Elliot doesn't come around too often. You just don't get that kind of pro ready pass protection, insane blocking for the other skill position players, positive attitude, and pure talent many years. I would have to guess that he'll go in the top 15 for sure. Certainly not out of the top 20.

Agree on all counts re: the need for a better running game in Brady's twilight years. Kind of surprised that we haven't gone that route already, to be honest.

supafly said:

I know this comment won't be relevant to our draft situation, but a kid like Ezekiel Elliot doesn't come around too often. You just don't get that kind of pro ready pass protection, insane blocking for the other skill position players, positive attitude, and pure talent many years. I would have to guess that he'll go in the top 15 for sure. Certainly not out of the top 20.

Agree on all counts re: the need for a better running game in Brady's twilight years. Kind of surprised that we haven't gone that route already, to be honest.

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BB just seems to devalue the RB position, the fact that Lewis was even close to as insanely good as he was for us is incredible, thats BB being lucky, not good, and thats rare that anyone should say that.

Lewis has gone through enough to make me honestly believe that next year, given the chance, he'll be just as good as he was this year, but we need a guy who is fresh. BB has to see that. Blount is one of the best closers in the NFL, give him time to beat down a beaten defense and he's a stud, force him to win and he's nothing.

We need a guy who can hit holes decisively like Ridley and with his acceleration and balance on early downs, Lewis, and a Blount type finisher. We have two of the 3 for next year, the first guy shouldnt be too hard to find given the other two on the roster,

It's kind of sad that we're still one of the best, if not THE best offense in the NFL, and we're still thinking about critical needs. And this is further proof that Brady is the GOAT. No team can ever need as much as we do and still be the best offense in the league. That's how good Brady is, we're truly blessed whether you believe in that type of thing or not.

strngplyr said:

BB just seems to devalue the RB position, the fact that Lewis was even close to as insanely good as he was for us is incredible, thats BB being lucky, not good, and thats rare that anyone should say that.

Lewis has gone through enough to make me honestly believe that next year, given the chance, he'll be just as good as he was this year, but we need a guy who is fresh. BB has to see that. Blount is one of the best closers in the NFL, give him time to beat down a beaten defense and he's a stud, force him to win and he's nothing.

We need a guy who can hit holes decisively like Ridley and with his acceleration and balance on early downs, Lewis, and a Blount type finisher. We have two of the 3 for next year, the first guy shouldnt be too hard to find given the other two on the roster,

It's kind of sad that we're still one of the best, if not THE best offense in the NFL, and we're still thinking about critical needs. And this is further proof that Brady is the GOAT. No team can ever need as much as we do and still be the best offense in the league. That's how good Brady is, we're truly blessed whether you believe in that type of thing or not.

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Blount's in a contract year IIRC, so it's quite possible that he may not return.

We may need to hit on someone in the draft/FA for number one and number three, and that's unfortunate since Blount and White are currently playing like...number two.

Just imagine if we had taken Duke Johnson RB from Miami we wouldn't skip a beat in the Third Down RB department. I think many on this board liked him too as a Shane Vereen replacement. That said, there is no upside to James White's game its obvious our evaluation of him was wrong. BB mo is playing the guys who gives us the best chance to win...I am confused as to why White's still on the active roster.

strngplyr said:

BB just seems to devalue the RB position, the fact that Lewis was even close to as insanely good as he was for us is incredible, thats BB being lucky, not good, and thats rare that anyone should say that.

Lewis has gone through enough to make me honestly believe that next year, given the chance, he'll be just as good as he was this year, but we need a guy who is fresh. BB has to see that. Blount is one of the best closers in the NFL, give him time to beat down a beaten defense and he's a stud, force him to win and he's nothing.

We need a guy who can hit holes decisively like Ridley and with his acceleration and balance on early downs, Lewis, and a Blount type finisher. We have two of the 3 for next year, the first guy shouldnt be too hard to find given the other two on the roster,

It's kind of sad that we're still one of the best, if not THE best offense in the NFL, and we're still thinking about critical needs. And this is further proof that Brady is the GOAT. No team can ever need as much as we do and still be the best offense in the league. That's how good Brady is, we're truly blessed whether you believe in that type of thing or not.

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That's why knowing how critical the position is to our Offense how could we only go in with one good player Dion Lewis and none of us knew he was that good. Injuries are a part of the game and he had a injury history. Our Brass knew that based on his play from the position Shane Vereen priced himself out of our range so the postion was a NEED in Offseason 2015. The Patriots should have covered the bases better via the Draft and like I said previously Duke Johnson or Ameer Abdullah would have been viable candidates. White is sadly not the answer! Thank goodness for whipping boy Brandon Bolden who has been a ray of hope.

Yep, have to feed the RB pipeline here. I too was a little surprised more wasn't done this offseason--feel like it's always a mistake to rely on something that maybe worked the previous year but wasn't a home run by any stretch.

If I had to guess, Blount won't be back next year. (Of course, this conversation just starts to piss me off more about not having our draft picks...)

aluminum seats said:

Yep, have to feed the RB pipeline here. I too was a little surprised more wasn't done this offseason--feel like it's always a mistake to rely on something that maybe worked the previous year but wasn't a home run by any stretch.

If I had to guess, Blount won't be back next year. (Of course, this conversation just starts to piss me off more about not having our draft picks...)

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Don't even go there I will make sure I'm on vacation somewhere very far without internet on Draft day. Thank you very much Robert Kraft!

robertweathers said:

They missed Lewis horribly last night. Shame.

Bolden is what he is.

Blount needs some room to operate. Was hoping this years line could provide a bigger push.

I'd really like to see them get a RB who has a quick burst and make his own yards. Of course, who wouldn't.

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good rb's seems to grow on trees with some teams (denver)

I think it is one of the major needs - which thankfully we don't have many of. In no order:

CB depth
Rb - shouldn't be hard to upgrade but I think it needs to B done through draft so cost is minimal.
De if Jones cannot be kept around

If there's any year we can afford the loss of a 1st rounder this is it. I doubt a running prospect luke gurley would have lasted to us anyway. At 30 and lower I think it tends to become a crapshoot with rbs.

meatface said:

When was the last time a smart team payed big money to a free agent running back? I expect they will draft someone but I can't imagine they go into next season with a rb and a guy coming off an acl tear as their primary backs

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2004, NE Patriots Corey Dillon, worked out OK

BB was asked about not having a running game and specifically mentioned the year that Dillon ran for 1600 yards. I remember when the trade was made Dieon Sanders chastising Marvin Lewis, saying,"they just won the Super Bowl, and the only thing they didn't have was a RB, and you just traded them the best one in the league!!"

All that being said, nobody close to Dillon is/would be available, the best would be maybe Forte, but he will be 30 which is usually death for a RB.

The draft is always a crap shoot, you can find a quality back anywhere in the draft. There is no Todd Gurley coming out this year, so I doubt anyone takes a RB in the first round. Elliot and Henry will be the top rated backs, but I think everyone will look at Henry via Trent Richardson colored glasses.

My two cents would be to take Keith Marshall from Georgia in the later rounds, he came in with Gurley as a top rated back, had a great freshman year, got hurt the next two and then got stuck behind Gurley and Nick Chubb. Good size 5'11' 212, fast and tough and not much tread off his tires.

TinhWoodhead said:

good rb's seems to grow on trees with some teams (denver)

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I attribute the issue more to the inconsistent personnel groupings on the line than LB

I would absolutely take a RB early and agree with those who say a 220ish pounder who hits the holes fast. We don't need a homerun threat we have Lewis for that but a guy who can consistently get 3-5 yards would be HUGE for this offense. Sign me up for another Ridley type that you can get in the 3rd.

pazrul72 said:

I would absolutely take a RB early and agree with those who say a 220ish pounder who hits the holes fast. We don't need a homerun threat we have Lewis for that but a guy who can consistently get 3-5 yards would be HUGE for this offense. Sign me up for another Ridley type that you can get in the 3rd.

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4ypc avg is fine with me. they need to be consistant, not a bunch of 2ypc that is skew by the occasional long runs (blount)

Are we there yet? To me the only reason the running game is a concern now is there isn't anyone to throw to. This has been a throw-first offense most of the year, and no one was complaining. Now that they can't throw, everyone notices the run game isn't that good, and defenses can stack the line to make it look even worse.

I don't believe as long as Brady is here that we will spend any $ or high picks for an upgrade in the backfield. When everyone is healthy, no offense is more effective at spreading the ball around, and I don't believe there will be any push to change this.

Blount will probably be gone next year, but I don't envision a top-tier back being brought in to replace him.

D.J Foster and James Conner or Devon Johnson will do it.

TinhWoodhead said:

4ypc avg is fine with me. they need to be consistant, not a bunch of 2ypc that is skew by the occasional long runs (blount)

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Guess you weren't a Barry Sanders fan.