2011 Offseason Outlook - Running Back

[jmt57]

Free-Agent Fit: Running back - New England Patriots Blog - espnBoston - Mike Rodak

RATING THE NEED: Moderate

KEY CONSIDERATION: With Woodhead having emerged as the Patriots’ third-down back, there may not be room on the roster for injured Kevin Faulk, who will be a free agent. Faulk, who turns 35 in June, could decide to retire. If he returns, his roster spot would be far from guaranteed.

NOTABLE TARGETS ON MARKET: Fred Taylor (Patriots), Sammy Morris (Patriots), Kevin Faulk (Patriots), Derrick Ward (Texans), Cedric Benson (Bengals), Pierre Thomas (Saints), Michael Bush (Raiders; restricted), Darren Sproles (Chargers), Ricky Williams (Dolphins), Brandon Jackson (Packers), Ronnie Brown (Dolphins), Mike Tolbert (Chargers; restricted), Ahmad Bradshaw (Giants), Jason Snelling (Falcons), Tim Hightower (Cardinals; restricted), Leon Washington (Seahawks), John Kuhn (Packers)

MOST LIKELY TARGET FOR PATS: Pierre Thomas

SLEEPER POSSIBILITY FOR PATS: Derrick Ward

OUTLANDISH THOUGHT FOR PATS: DeAngelo Williams

WRAP IT UP: Thomas, who the Patriots reportedly tried to trade for in October, would be an ideal addition to a backfield in need of a third option, but is coming off a season-ending injury. Morris could look for more of an offensive role elsewhere, leaving a hole for the Patriots at goal-line back/fullback.

 

[RayClay]

If we'd already spent two or three picks on defense/OL, I'd have a hard time turning down Mikel Leshoure.

 

[rabthepat]

Expect no improvement at running back. It will be the same ineffective combination of tired work horses and Joe nobodies. This is one of Bill's real weaknesses. He has not be able to develop a running back during his tenure with the Pats.

It makes the Pats easy to defend come playoff time. No one respects our run game. Pass, pass, pass...we have become the New England Chargers of the Dan Fouts era.

 

[jmt57]

Heath Evans full of options - Boston Herald - Karen Guregian

“There’s only two places I’m going to play. That’s the New England Patriots. And that’s the New Orleans Saints,” Evans said. “I refuse to lose. I refuse to play for a head coach I’m not absolutely in love with, and these two head coaches (Belichick and the Saints’ Sean Payton) I’d run through a brick wall for. And that’s that.”

Evans said his ties with ownership are stronger in New England, but his foundation, which is dedicated to fostering hope and healing the lives of children and families affected by sexual abuse, has grown tremendously in New Orleans, which puts a check mark in the Saints’ corner.

“I think I still have some good football left in the tank,” Evans said, “but I’ve also got some great opportunities in the broadcasting world, but we’ll see. I’m going to do what’s best for my family. If that’s retire, that’s what it’ll be. I mean, who’s to say one of these two great organizations will want me back? That’s kind of where I’m at.

“The good thing is, I’ve played 10 years. I don’t have anything left to prove. I was a chubby white boy from Palm Beach, Fla., who’s played a decade in the NFL. There’s a lot in me that still wants to play. But there’s a lot of indecision and indecisiveness from two parties that control my future in the football world. I’m kind of planning for the worst and hoping for the best. But the difficult part is getting job offers from a major network, and I have no idea what the NFL is going to do. So I might basically have to take an offer and retire. I’m not going to sit around and wait on the league and miss out on an opportunity to get in the booth, because I have no idea what’s going to be there.”

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Heath Evans full of options - Boston Herald - Karen Guregian

Thanks for posting that.

Regardless of what he does, I certainly wish Evans the best.

 

[jmt57]

Thanks for posting that.

Regardless of what he does, I certainly wish Evans the best.

Yeah, I agree. It looks like he's a good guy who has his head on straight and has his priorities in order.

Also, though I don't always agree with her, I'm finding Karen Guregian to be a very good columnist. Up until fairly recently I had pretty much completely avoided the Herald ever since Tomasse's bogus walk-through story, but I have found her to be well worth reading.

 

[Froob]

I'd go for Ricky Williams and Kuhn. I don't think Kuhn will hit the market though.

 

[EJ Blitz]

BB should correct his mistake from 5 years ago and bring in DeAngelo Williams.

^this. I'd love it if that happened.

 

[jmt57]

It Is What It Is -- NFL Draft’s Potential Patriots: Virginia Tech RB Ryan Williams -- WEEI.com

Ryan Williams
Position: Running back
School: Virginia Tech
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 202 pounds

Achievements: Sporting News third-team All-American (2009)

What he brings: A big talent who probably could have used more time in college to boost his résumé, Williams decided to declare for the draft after his sophomore season. He runs hard and would provide that happy medium between finesse and power that the Patriots seem to lack. Some see him as a potential first-round pick, but his lack of production in 2010 make such a scenario unlikely.

Where the Patriots could get him: No. 33 or 60.

Read more (and see video) at: NFL Draft’s Potential Patriots: Virginia Tech RB Ryan Williams

 

[Patstopia]

I'd like to see the Pats get a RB that you can give the ball to and he can carry the team when it needs it. I'd like to see the Pats finish games by running the ball and not give anyone the opportunity to get it back. I'd like to see the option when Brady has a bad day, to have someone that we can hand the ball to and say 'its all yours kid'.

 

[jmt57]

Getting a feel for draft with McShay - New England Patriots Blog - espnBoston - Mike Reiss

Tough to find a starting running back. McShay views Alabama's Mark Ingram as the lone first-round talent at running back, and likes the comparison some have made between Ingram and Emmitt Smith as players who might not test well but produce because of instincts, lateral quickness and yards after contact. Overall, McShay sees the strength of the running back class in the middle rounds; he has 10 different running backs in the third/fourth rounds, and views that cluster as more specialist-types in a running back rotation.