Re: Cobbs
Zuma said:
Here is the logic...why does Cobbs have to block if that's what Mills is for? Are you saying that if Mills is on the 53 man roster...he will NOT be used as a blocker? I happen to think BB is planning on using him as one. I don't see the need to platoon Evans and Mills. I think that would be a waste of a spot on the roster. Sort of like having Gostkowski and Gramatica. No...If Cobbs stays...it's because Mills will block which makes Evans expendable. As for one-demensional...Evans wrote the book.
If keeping Mills and Evans is a waste, how is keeping Cobbs AND Faulk AND Maroney AND Dillon not?
When's the last time a #4 RB made a team, nevermind got any carries?
With only 53 spots, there is enough room to keep a few guys for developmental purposes, but those spots usually go to late-round draft picks, or this year: Smith, Mincey, Stevenson, Andrews.
The high draft picks you get, the less of a chance a team can sneak them onto the practice squad. So consider Cobbs as an '8th round' pick.
If he's not on the roster to contribute on returns for special teams, and if's he's not on the roster to see time with the defense, the only logical conclusion is that he's on the roster for the sake of being on the roster, and is inactive each week for he can be active a year or two from now.
That's just what I don't get.
Unless somebody gets injured, you have to assume the Pats aren't going to carry anymore than 3 or 4 RBs. If the FB position hypothetically doesn't exist, then Mills is the 4th TE, leaving the RB position.
I suppose it depends on what happens to Pass. If he gets activated before Saturday (Bethel came off the PUP this time last year), then I think he becomes that 4th RB. Hell, the Pats only carried 3 last year (Dillon, Faulk, Pass). Pass wins because of his proven success and versatility - rushing, receiving, blocking, returning.
If Pass isn't activated, then there's 2 options. Since there are other spots on the roster where an extra spot could be used, the option is still open for only 3 RBs to start it off, then Pass to be the 4th come week 6.
Or, as I see as the less likely option, a 4th RB is kept for those 6 weeks. Since the Pats aren't going to line up D/M/F and Cobbs in the same backfield, the logical conclusion I come to is Heath. If you're going to keep a player on your roster, you're going to want to use him. Evans does bring that ability to line up him and D/M/F in the same backfield.
Since Cobbs' running ability becomes irrelevant due to the greater ability of D/M/F, and because he doesn't bring anything in the return game, you'd have to think Heath gets the edge in the passing game because of his ability to line up at FB, and also provide an option in the same stance to at least adequately lead block (as he did in Denver). The reason I say this (Evans better in the passing game than Cobbs) is because he actually has an opportunity to be on the field, unlike Cobbs, who would have to take Faulk or Maroney off the field just to get touches.
But once Pass returns, it's either Heath/Cobbs or another player on the roster that gets the axe. Pass goes into that FB role just described, and all is well. Mills sees some time as a motioning h-back on passing downs, but the regular season isn't preseason, so him, along with other rookies won't see nearly the amount of playing time they've seen so far this August. Having Pass or Evans as the FB also pigeon holes Mills into more of a receiving role, and how can that be a bad thing? Cobbs doesn't bring that ability, since he'd only be able to line up at RB, and you'd still need a Heath/Pass/Mills to lead block.
Zuma said:
Really...this Cobbs bashing reminds me of Seymour93's freakish hatred for Cassel last year at this time...
I'm not bashing Cobbs, I'm just saying he doesn't have a niche on the roster. And contrary to popular belief, what he's done in the preseason doesn't change that. As I see it, he has to beat out Faulk or Maroney or Dillon, and that just ain't happening.
I think Cobbs has done a good job and has made the most of his opportunity, but unfortunately he probably won't be reaping the rewards here in New England. With D/M/F and in a sense Pass, the RB position is locked and loaded. This offense lacks an every-down FB position, so the number of backs that need to be kept is reduced by that.
