Brandon Bolden

I think he's going to have a big game. Over 100 AP yards. 15 carries, 70 yards. 5 rec, 40 yards.

Discuss...

I've liked the guy since his game against Buf 3 years ago. I think the dropoff won't be as dramatic as people are making it out to be. He's also a little more versatile than Blount.

Reason he didn't repeat the BUF game is that he wasn't asked to play that role, others did it while he was a master at special teams. I expect he'll have a breakout season in the next half dozen games.

I'd be as happy as anyone else here if he has a big game. That said we don't have much depth at RB position. I was hoping we sign Steven Jackson 'coz we use Bolden for special teams too...

I wouldn't be surprised if Jackson or Ball are brought up and just thrown against the line 20 times for 100. Basic plays, but using those fresh legs who haven't played. Similar to Jonas Gray against Indy.

Was Jackson signed????

BlueThunder said:

Was Jackson signed????

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No

New England Pride said:

I've liked the guy since his game against Buf 3 years ago. I think the dropoff won't be as dramatic as people are making it out to be. He's also a little more versatile than Blount.

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He's definitely a lot more versatile than Blount; his TD reception after Lewis went down proves that pretty well. He isn't nearly as good at what Blount does well, though.

If we need to grind out 2 tough yards at midfield, I'm a lot less confident in Bolden to do it. Then again, I haven't been too confident in Blount to do it this year either, although the issues we've had with health/talent on the interior have had a lot to do with that.

With no new signings, he knows he's the #1 back, and he's ready to prove he can handle it.

He is therefore branded and emboldened.










I'm here all week... try the veal!

BradyFTW! said:

He's definitely a lot more versatile than Blount; his TD reception after Lewis went down proves that pretty well. He isn't nearly as good at what Blount does well, though.

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That's fair. Even as a pure runner, I don't know how much of a drop off there will be behind this offensive line. Maybe Peterson could do well behind this line but it's a short list.

oldrover said:

He is therefore branded and emboldened.

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*golf clap*

New England Pride said:

That's fair. Even as a pure runner, I don't know how much of a drop off there will be behind this offensive line. Maybe Peterson could do well behind this line but it's a short list.

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I agree that to this point the struggles of the line (particularly interior) have made Blount's strengths an overall team weakness, and I think it's fair to say that Blount's been at least some part of the problem as well. At best, his talents just don't mesh all that well with the lines that we've been putting in front of him up to this point, and as a result even on short yardage plays Bolden might not have been dramatically worse.

Prior to Blount's injury, though, I was still holding out some optimism that the line would get healthy, stabilize, and become better at that. Especially as Mason gets more game snaps under his belt, considering how beastly of a run blocker he was in college. Still could happen, and maybe as a result of it Bolden will end up looking better running for those tough yards than Blount did, but either way losing Blount lowers our ceiling (and floor) in that department.

I like bolden too. Blount was ok, he lost a step from last year though. I know the numbers say he was good but when you have a passing game like we do and don't have as many run defenders to rush against he should have done better. It was only the last couple games where he would kick to the outside when there was a wall in front of him, before that he would just run into the wall and get stopped.

This Pats homo is a big Bolden fan. Hope he does well.
But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't pursue Jackson or some such.

Its clear that the team values his role as a "4 down" player.

Its also clear that they view him with a limited skill set and not a starter as either a runner or a passing back.

I'd love to see them sign Jackson and play the hot hand. I don't know if the window has passed on that though. Usually these signings happen pretty quick, or at least news of a 'tentative agreement' pops up quickly.

Not sure if people are following but Panther's RB Jonathan Stewart is in a walking boot and will most likely miss the remainder of the regular season. I'm assuming he should be ok for the playoffs but who knows....

While they do have Tolbert aand Whittaker, I'd put Bolden ahead of them.

PatsWickedPissah said:

This Pats homo is a big Bolden fan. Hope he does well.
But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't pursue Jackson or some such.

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Not sure that's the word you were looking for.

Nobody works harder than Brandon.

robertweathers said:

Not sure if people are following but Panther's RB Jonathan Stewart is in a walking boot and will most likely miss the remainder of the regular season. I'm assuming he should be ok for the playoffs but who knows....

While they do have Tolbert aand Whittaker, I'd put Bolden ahead of them.

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And maybe the Pats will have competition for Steven Jackson?