Patriots Training Camp Primer: Running Backs

Patriots Training Camp Primer: Running Backs

Steve Balestrieri

We know Bill Belichick likes a running back by committee, which tends to keep those fantasy numbers down but keeps their legs fresh. The team lost both starters to season-ending injuries a year ago as LaGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis ended up on IR. Although they return in 2016, it isn’t a given both will be ready for the start of camp.

So who’s locked in and who’s on the bubble?

Continue reading...

PatsFans.com Article said:

Patriots Training Camp Primer: Running Backs

Steve Balestrieri

We know Bill Belichick likes a running back by committee, which tends to keep those fantasy numbers down but keeps their legs fresh. The team lost both starters to season-ending injuries a year ago as LaGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis ended up on IR. Although they return in 2016, it isn’t a given both will be ready for the start of camp.

So who’s locked in and who’s on the bubble?

Continue reading...

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Offensive Lines make RBs. DEespite the concern the Pats are building a great Offensive line, so the RB situation willl take care of itself.

AzPatsFan said:

Offensive Lines make RBs. DEespite the concern the Pats are building a great Offensive line, so the RB situation willl take care of itself.

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I get the point you're trying to make, but O-Lines don't make RB's. They make RB's better, but they don't make RB's.

PatsBoy12 said:

I get the point you're trying to make, but O-Lines don't make RB's. They make RB's better, but they don't make RB's.

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I would argue that guys like Dion Lewis show it can be the other way around.

PatsBoy12 said:

I get the point you're trying to make, but O-Lines don't make RB's. They make RB's better, but they don't make RB's.

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Well, Hannah made some, but otherwise, I agree.

This thing still seems up in the air, but one good quick burst guy added could make a real fine RB by committee. It's a Belichick trait to fill in the affordable guys, then hope for a spark plug addition.

RayClay said:

Well, Hannah made some, but otherwise, I agree.

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Hannah was probably the original Beast Mode. LOL

PatsBoy12 said:

Hannah was probably the original Beast Mode. LOL

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Many RBs had career years just following that butt.

RayClay said:

Many RBs had career years just following that butt.

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Yup. Guys like Nate Newton, Dermontti Dawson and Kevin Mawae (to name a few) also had a knack for springing guys in the running game too. I appreciate the big hogs up front. I find that I have such an appreciation for the complete game as I get older, even as my interest in the sport itself is dwindling because of all of the stupidity with the rules, Goodell and the whole bit. Leave the game alone and let the players play and decide it on the field.

Yhe typical Pats O-line has two good players, a LOT and LG, and basically try hard scrubs elsewhere. Now for the first time BB has three top line players and a blossoming Center too. Even Shaq Mason may become a superior G. He is already superb as a pulling G. Plus two great TEs too. TE to TE this augurs to be the best Offensive line BB has ever fielded.

RayClay said:

This thing still seems up in the air, but one good quick burst guy added could make a real fine RB by committee. It's a Belichick trait to fill in the affordable guys, then hope for a spark plug addition.

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Nice observation

AzPatsFan said:

Yhe typical Pats O-line has two good players, a LOT and LG, and basically try hard scrubs elsewhere. Now for the first time BB has three top line players and a blossoming Center too. Even Shaq Mason may become a superior G. He is already superb as a pulling G. Plus two great TEs too. TE to TE this augurs to be the best Offensive line BB has ever fielded.

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Curious, but which three do you mean? Solder, Vollmer, Stork? Cooper?

I think it's worth keeping James White along. Dion Lewis is just too injury prone and White easily fills in the pass catching role better than anyone else in the backfield. As we all know that is quite valuable to our offense. Even if he sucks as a runner, he is nice insurance if something happens to Lewis.

We should consider adding Ray Jennings.

reamer said:

Curious, but which three do you mean? Solder, Vollmer, Stork? Cooper?

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Solder, Volmer are great sized and talented tackles, and by reputation and where drafted Cooper. Stork is the rising Center.

This is, in its current form, one of the worst - if not the worst - RB groups in football.

Kinda like the offensive OL.