Does Belichick see Corey Dillon part 2 in Fred Taylor?
 

New England Patriots Player Profile: Fred Taylor

The writer of this article thinks so and I would say its too very similar situations.

LOOK AT THE SIMILARITES WITH THESE TWO PLAYERS

Both players had been with their previous team all their career

Both players enjoyed much success as being the leading RB on their former teams prior to NE

Both players have the potential of being a HOFer with great acheivements to back up reason to be inducted

Both players are/were 30 or slightly older when they signed here

Both players appeared/appears to have some left in the tank

Both players were let go by their teams because they were no longer the marquee at RB and the younger guys on their former team produced enough for them to get released or traded

Both players seldom fumble


The only difference I see is that the Pats gave up a second rounder for Corey and nothing for Taylor and that Dillon left on more nasty terms than Taylor who was simply a FA

I see the 2nd coming of Corey Dillon in Fred Taylor .... Do you?

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?
 

Dillon was 30, Taylor is 33. Those extra three years are an eternity for a RB in the NFL.


Can't see it. While I do think Taylor will be effective in a 3 or 4 back rotation... he won't cpme anywhere close to contributing what Dillon did in '04.

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?
 

Actually Dillon was 29 his first year here. I do agree though that Taylor is far more along in his career and has shown signs of declining already. Dillon had one bad year due to an injury.

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?
 

Yeah, there is quite a similarity to their last seasons with their previous teams; after being the go-to guy for so long both appeared to be phased out. Dillon was coming off a season where Rudi Johnson had replaced him as the Bengal's primary running back; Taylor is coming off a season where Maurice Jones-Drew had replaced him as the Jaguar's primary running back. Both were coming off career lows for number of rushing attempts and yards per carry (excluding the 2001 season when Taylor virtually missed the entire year.)

The thing is Dillon carried the ball 345 times for the Pats in 2004; Taylor might not get half that amount. And besides the age difference, Dillon had more tread left on those tires. When he came to the Pats he had a career total of 1865 rushing attempts; Taylor has 2428. Dillon had a total of 2064 touches while Taylor has had 2714; that is 650 more times that Taylor has been hit than Dillon was.

I think Taylor is a great addition and will be a very valuable member of the team, but I see him as part of a four-headed monster at running back whereas Dillon carried the load himself in '04.

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?
 

No...as was said a difference in ages...Taylor younger MAY have been that type..BUT this is a committee type of backfield like last year.. all contributing and staying fresh...

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?
 

YouTube - Fred Taylor Sick Jukes

:07 - :36, :49 - 1:02, 1:12 - 1:45 are the best IMO.

And I love geojaguar's comment.

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?
 

While on the subject of Fred Taylor, here's a recent interview he did with Patriots All Access.
Patriots All Access - 6/12/2009

Q. Welcome. Good to have you aboard. First impression of playing here in New England.

A. First impression? Great guys on the team. It's a reason why they've been successful. I don't want to get in to the past because the future is here, the future is now. We're just a great locker room, a great group of guys. They work hard, very intense, and they try as close as they can to be perfect, and you gotta love teammates like that.

Q. When you look around the locker room, you see a Tom Brady, you see a Randy Moss, you see some of these guys.

A. I see a lot of autographs I need! Seriously, a lot of autographs I need. But a lot of terrific guys. Two of the main guys I was talking about (Brady, Moss); leadership, intensity, passion, striving for perfection, and, it's just a great feeling to be here.

Q. What do you think your main adjustment is going to be?

A. Biggest adjustment? Well, I'm already making those adjustments now. Just from learning the playbook; learning the guys names might be my biggest adjustment. You want to be as friendly as you can with your offensive line.

Q. Opening day is a ways away, but what do you think it will
be like when you put on that Patriots uniform for the first time, to take the field for that first game? It's going to be weird for you, isn't it?

A. I'm getting used to it more and more now. When I work out in south Florida, everything is Patriots; everything.

Q. Really?

A. I boxed all my Jaguar stuff up; put it in the attic. That chapter's closed. I'll open it back up when I retire. Right now, everything is Patriots first. And it'll be weird. It will be a little strange I guess at first. Monday night. Buffalo. I've played here at night a couple of times. I know what the fans are like. I'm sure the first game won't be any different for them. They're ready for football around here. But I'll be excited. I can tell you I'll be ready to play.

Q. One last question, one last name. Bill Belichick. He's your head coach. When you see him, describe him.

A. Wow. Perception is crazy. The media can give you all types of crazy ideas of people and how they are or how they seem to be. He's passionate. I haven't heard the rah-rah part yet you know, but all coaches have it. He has his approach. Maybe it's not time for that right now, but you got to respect him as a man, as a coach. He's been around a long time in this business so - just that resume alone - that's all. I mean, that should be enough.

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?
 

Awesome youtube! Thx for posting that glm.... I love where he jukes Polamalu out of his shoes.

The comparisons of Taylor to Dillon hold up on many levels. Taylor is a much, much receiver out of the backfield than Dillon. He is older too, no denying that.

Dillon carried the load in 04, Taylor will never be asked to do that.

Maroney, Morris, Taylor, Faulk is a nice RB by committee setup.

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?
 

If I am not mistaken in 2004 wasn't Kevin Faulk second leading rusher but with only 250 yards or so behind Dillons 1,700? - Thats what I call a very light group of RB depth or talent (Faulk not included),Its lucky the team had Corey ready to have a career year or we would have never won that SB - Pass and Cobbs and Addullah we barely even knew ya - were not capable

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillon part 2 in Fred Taylor?
 

Here's the difference between Fred Taylor and Corey Dillon. While they're both similar in their power running style, Fred Taylor has more speed, juke moves and acceleration. Although Fred Taylor may be 33, I believe that he is in better condition then Dillon's last season with the Pats. Also, I believe that last year was more of an aberration than trend for Fred Taylor. In fact, their O-line was terrible, their QB play was bad and Jones-Drew was clearly their #1 guy at running back. Not only did Jones-Drew have more carries but he had 62 receptions as well. I can guarantee that Fred Taylor will get close to 10 TD's on the ground this season. Morris and Taylor are going own the short yardage situations in '09.


*I have a feeling that Taylor is going to be a fan favorite of New England this season.