The ubiquitous Vereen = Faulk talk

[patchick]

Every beat reporter seems to be equating Vereen with Faulk today, fueling grumbling on the board that the Pats spent a 2nd-round pick on "another 3rd-down back." Let's think on it...

- Kevin Faulk was a versatile inside/outside runner with terrific receiving and pass-protection skills. He wasn't a straight-line burner but had outstanding quickness and burst.

Faulk spent periods as a "feature back" for the Patriots, but his mini size limited how much inside running he could stand up to and how well he could push a pile.

- Shane Vereen is a versatile inside/outside runner with terrific receiving and pass-protection skills. He isn't a straight-line burner but has outstanding quickness and burst.

And he's 2 1/2 inches taller and 8 lbs. heavier than Faulk.

Q: What do you call a guy who has all of Kevin Faulk's skills but a bigger frame?
A: The ideal Pats running back, mayhap?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Well, the comparison is valid, especially when you consider Vereen's Special Teams contribution, and his fumbling issues. Then again people might want to consider where you draft a Kevin Faulk? In 1999 it was round "two."

Mel Kiper, Mike Mayock, et. al. may indeed have graded Vereen as a third round pick for a generic team, but if asked to go back and grade him as a "replacement" for Kevin Faulk and rank him on a NE specific board where would he stand? I've done my own thumbnail analysis, in hindsight it appears he was not "overdrafted" at all - how peculiar.

 

[Water Boy]

As some have said, he's not a 3rd down back, he's a 3 down back.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

As some have said, he's not a 3rd down back, he's a 3 down back.

Utter nonsense. :enranged:




He's a four down back. :snob:

 

[BlueThunder]

I like both RB picks.....Pats didn't need smaller faster backs...They already have Woody...they needed guys to replace Morris,Taylor,Faulk and complement BJGE...


Mission Accomplished...:singing:

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I think the lack of front 7 help is negatively influencing people's thoughts regarding the picks. Had we taken Cam Jordan or Heyward or similar at 28, then people would be thinking Vereen is a great pick and even Mallett is great value.

I think Vereen will be good and I know a lot of people in here had him targeted as a potential Pat so I don't understand the negativity around the pick itself. I can only think it's associated with other frustrations.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Every beat reporter seems to be equating Vereen with Faulk today, fueling grumbling on the board that the Pats spent a 2nd-round pick on "another 3rd-down back." Let's think on it...

- Kevin Faulk was a versatile inside/outside runner with terrific receiving and pass-protection skills. He wasn't a straight-line burner but had outstanding quickness and burst.

Faulk spent periods as a "feature back" for the Patriots, but his mini size limited how much inside running he could stand up to and how well he could push a pile.

- Shane Vereen is a versatile inside/outside runner with terrific receiving and pass-protection skills. He isn't a straight-line burner but has outstanding quickness and burst.

And he's 2 1/2 inches taller and 8 lbs. heavier than Faulk.

Q: What do you call a guy who has all of Kevin Faulk's skills but a bigger frame?
A: The ideal Pats running back, mayhap?

Kevin Faulk set SEC records in college at LSU. He too was drafted in the Second round. All I know about Vereen is a couple of YouTube highlight videos, but he seems to have that same mystical ability to get engulfed by groups of tacklers and emerge somehow unscathed and still going forward. It looks like he could try out for WR too just like KF.

 

[everlong]

If he has 90% of the career Faulk did it's an outstanding pick.

 

[xmarkd400x]

If he has 90% of the career Faulk did it's an outstanding pick.

Agreed.

10chars

 

[TheSolderKing]

it is Gr8 getting this kid!!!


how does he differ from Woody in talent???


Vereen seems like a prototypical RB, but with soft hands. I see him in the traditional RB role, but with a Faulk ability.

Woody has that Faulk to him does he not?


nothing wrong w/ 2 Faulks

our newest faulk in this draft seems like a true RB unlike woody.

 

[mgteich]

Vareen can block and pick up the blitz.

Vareen replaces Faulk in amny of his roles.
Ridley replaces Morris in his fullback role.
We now have four backs. Belichick will sort out the roles.
Belichick won't need to deal with the likelihood that 2-3 would always be out with injuries.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

Does anyone else see a little bit of Curtis Martin in Vereen?

After watching some of Vereen's highlights, he started reminding me a bit of Martin... especially in the precise moves and cuts he makes while maintaining perfect balance. He has great vision, hits the whole very quickly, uses blockers very well and uses frequent subtle changes in speed to get more yards. His height and weight are similar to Martin, but I was unable to find Martin's combine numbers.... I'll bet they are pretty similar. This kid was a great pick, and probably deserves a thread without another players name in the title.

 

[everlong]

Does anyone else see a little bit of Curtis Martin in Vereen?

He reminds me of Brian Westbrook. I do agree on the vision and his ability to run without dancing like Maroney. He also plays with great pad level and gets low.