Would Fred Taylor be an upgrade for our RB collection?

[Richter]

You cant be serious.

Lets look at the age/health of Taylor vs. Morris over the last three seasons:

Taylor (33) -
G GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD FUM Lost
13 13 143 556 3.9 34 1 16 98 6.1 17 0 1 1
15 15 223 1,202 5.4 80T 5 9 58 6.4 18 0 2 1
15 15 231 1,146 5.0 76 5 23 242 10.5 36 1 3 2

Morris (32*)

G GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD FUM Lost
13 7 156 727 4.7 35 7 17 161 9.5 42 0 1 1
6 2 85 384 4.5 49 3 6 35 5.8 18 0 0 0
12 4 92 400 4.3 55 1 21 162 7.7 44 0 4 2


You are gonna sit there and tell me with a straight face that Morris is the better back of the two right now?? Come-on man!

I love Sammy, but Taylor has been the much better back over the last few seasons and there is no logical reason to believe that he would not be an upgrade over Morris (if the $$ was right).

All I can say is that context matters. Morris has less wear and tear. Taylor carried a heavy load for plenty of seasons. On top of that, he played for a run-first team that focused on grinding out games. Since Morris has been here, he's been in more of a vertically-oriented offense. When he's been asked to carry the load, he's produced. Taylor has ceded carries to Maurice Jones-Drew, and was clearly benefiting from that arrangement. It's easier to run when you have a miniature wrecking ball wearing down the defense for you first. I think Taylor is fantastic, but his 33 with a ton of wear versus Sammy's 32 with a lot less wear, combined with the fact that Taylor averaged less than 4 yards per carry last season and generally looked a lot older and slower leads me to believe that RIGHT NOW, Morris is a better back. Over the course of their careers, that's obviously not true, but at this moment in time, all the evidence points in favor of Morris as the guy I'd rather have toting the rock next season. Morris hasn't been the most durable guy either, but I'll take my chances with him versus a damn near over the hill Taylor.

 

[SamusAranX]

All I can say is that context matters. Morris has less wear and tear. Taylor carried a heavy load for plenty of seasons. On top of that, he played for a run-first team that focused on grinding out games. Since Morris has been here, he's been in more of a vertically-oriented offense. When he's been asked to carry the load, he's produced. Taylor has ceded carries to Maurice Jones-Drew, and was clearly benefiting from that arrangement. It's easier to run when you have a miniature wrecking ball wearing down the defense for you first. I think Taylor is fantastic, but his 33 with a ton of wear versus Sammy's 32 with a lot less wear, combined with the fact that Taylor averaged less than 4 yards per carry last season and generally looked a lot older and slower leads me to believe that RIGHT NOW, Morris is a better back. Over the course of their careers, that's obviously not true, but at this moment in time, all the evidence points in favor of Morris as the guy I'd rather have toting the rock next season. Morris hasn't been the most durable guy either, but I'll take my chances with him versus a damn near over the hill Taylor.

Perhaps you should acknowledge the fact that the Jaguar's O-Line was decimated last year. They lost both starting guards, was without their starting center for six games, and their tackles underperformed. There is no definitive proof that he "over the hill". Last year's stats are a result of the O-Line and it's poor run blocking.

 

[Deus Irae]

Perhaps you should acknowledge the fact that the Jaguar's O-Line was decimated last year. They lost both starting guards, was without their starting center for six games, and their tackles underperformed. There is no definitive proof that he "over the hill". Last year's stats are a result of the O-Line and it's poor run blocking.

Yep.... the Jaguars' season, even more so than the Patriots' season, was over in week one.

 

[jmt57]

The Pats ranked 6th in the NFL in rushing last year, and it appears that the line and running backs will all be the same, with the possible exception of LaMont Jordan. While Fred Taylor is a better player than Jordan or Morris, how much would he improve the running game? Probably not all that much, which means his value to the Pats is not much more than a vet minimum contract. I'm guessing that Taylor wants more than that, and also that there's at least one team out there willing to pay him $2 - $3 mil per year for a couple of years.

Regardless of how well Taylor played in 2006 and 2007, I would be very concerned about depending on him for production. At this point he has carried or caught the ball more than 2700 times in his NFL career. That's a whole lot of hits to his body. Running backs go from elite to not worthy of a roster spot very quickly at his age - look at what happened to players like Shaun Alexander, Marshall Faulk, Eddie George, etc.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I've always liked the guy. As I recall, he was cruising along pretty good, and then had a couple of injuries.
He's been somewhat under the radar ever since.
Am I thinking of the right guy?
He was a beast when he first showed up, right?

Taylor's one of those Curtis-Martin-type career backs. Actually early on they called him "fragile Fred" because he was injury prone. If he led the league in rushing, it was maybe 1 time, if that, ever. He's always one of the top 10 backs in the league and never the super-mega-star. There are always say 3 guys that are just like "oh crap" when you see them on the schedule. He's never been one.

Last 2 years the absolute beast has been Adrian Peterson. In 07 he was still neck and neck with Tomlinson. Before him for a year or so, Alexander. Before him, Priest Holmes. Before him.... I think still Marshall Faulk? Now I don't take Taylor over Faulk in 2001. I don't take Taylor over Holmes in what, 2004? I don't take him over Alexander in 2005, I don't take him over Tomlinson in 2006, and I don't take him over Peterson in 2008.

I DO take him over whole 1-decade period. Interesting huh?

Unfortunately, we'd be renting whatever's left in the tank at this point. Perhaps another year, perhaps 2?

Not bad if he comes cheap. If not, well, we're in no position to make a run anyway.

Larry Johnson may be a classic "buy low" story, since he doesn't look long for KC. But again, he's a high-ticket proposition, even at this low point. I don't see him coming at a price the Pats would pay.

Sign me up for another year of Maroney. When he's on the field his numbers are just fine, even if his style is maddening. One thing I love about Sammy is how decisively he hits the hole... but something tells me they're tolerating the dancing for a reason, and we're close to seeing the "special" side of Maroney at every turn.

Well, hope springs eternal, anyway LOL.

PFnV

 

[CrazyDave]

I like your attitude VA.

 

[Richter]

Perhaps you should acknowledge the fact that the Jaguar's O-Line was decimated last year. They lost both starting guards, was without their starting center for six games, and their tackles underperformed. There is no definitive proof that he "over the hill". Last year's stats are a result of the O-Line and it's poor run blocking.

Hey, I'm well aware of that fact, if for no other reason than it nearly submarined one of my fantasy football teams early on. Still, MJD didn't fall off nearly as much as Taylor did, even with the busted up offensive line. Running backs have short shelf lives, and Taylor is pretty close to his expiration date in my eyes. You can disagree, but Taylor's age, injury history and recent statistics don't help your case.

 

[Jackson 2]

We are not in need of running backs. Our needs lie in the secondary and in our pass rush.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

NO, he wouldnt. Besides, you can't forget about "the lawfirm"

 

[PatsFanInVa]

LOL but after watching the Pats over the years, I've just come to realize that need means precisely **** for these guys. They do form a "plan" at need positions (someone else summed it up pretty nicely, draft + internal promotion possibility + reasonable FA pickup, at position of true need), but they draft for value and if the money's not an object, they shop for value too. If the value's too good to pass up, they pull the trigger.

I guess the big question mark underlying all speculation right now is whether we hold onto Cassel or move his (theoretically) redundant buttocks.

Woo hoooo!

 

[billdog3484]

i think he would be a great addition. he has always run very hard and has had the ability to break big plays. i wonder how he would perform out of the shotgun formation running the ball. its defnitely different than the normal pro set. Maroney has struggled in it, but i think taylor is a more straight ahead 1 cut runner like morris, but with a little more explosiveness.

 

[brdmaverick]

Let's keep in mind that when RB's get old, they get OLD REALLY quickly.

Look how fast guys like Sean Alexander go from MVP caliber to free agent caliber. Eddie George is another guy who went from stud to a dud in what seemed like a single offseason.

 

[j00fek]

Let's keep in mind that when RB's get old, they get OLD REALLY quickly.

Look how fast guys like Sean Alexander go from MVP caliber to free agent caliber. Eddie George is another guy who went from stud to a dud in what seemed like a single offseason.

dont say this, every player that is released could have a great impact on our team