The Case for 5 RBs

[Oswlek]

If I remember correctly, wasn't Vereen injured most of that season? But regardless, the difference there is you had two rookie unknowns and an aging Faulk. You needed more depth there because you weren't sure what you were going to get out of anyone, with the exception of BJGE (who was solid but not a threat) and Woodhead (who you knew you couldn't use for much more than 10-12 touches a game).

Good point.

I'm down for keeping 5 rb's. They get hurt all the time and miss a week or two here and there even if they don't have a major injury. How often has our qb gotten hurt and missed time? 2 times since 1993. Think about it? The odds of needing a 3rd qb are almost negligible.
And, if we do need one. I don't want him to be Tebow. Pick someone up off of waivers and they will be able to throw the ball better than the chosen one.

2 QB
5 RB
4 TE
6 WR
8 OL
5 DE
4 DT
6 LB
5 CB
5 DB
3 P/K/LS

All adds up to 53.

That's a solid case, though NE goes through DBs faster than they do RBs, so all things being equal (i.e. ignoring the ability of the 5th RB vs. the 11th DB) I'd prefer an 11th guy there.

 

[PatsFan2]

One thing of note RB: Brandon Bolden get no love on Patsfans.com all of a sudden he's dispensable. So glad BB is making the decisions and not these so called experts. Brandon Bolden runs hard hard have decent speed and doesn't put the ball on the ground...what's wrong with that? Just because we saw some lucky runs by L. Blount which wasn't the design of the run agianst Second Teamers all of a sudden he's the second coming. I like Brandon Bolden and thinks he makes it. I could easily see L. Blount being traded again if it comes to that.

 

[Froob]

Bolden was active for 10 games last season.

0 carries in 2 games
less than 3ypc in 3 games
less than 4 ypc in 4 games
More than 5 ypc in 2 games

He had more than 5 carries in 2 games, 16 for 137 against BUF and 14 for 54 v. DEN

If he doesn't make the team, the Patriots won't be cutting the next Jim Brown or anything.

Dude's gotta be one of the most overrated patsfan players ever. I like the guy and would like to see him on the team because he's decent depth and is a good special teamer but talking about cutting Slater for him?

 

[chasa]

One thing of note RB: Brandon Bolden get no love on Patsfans.com all of a sudden he's dispensable. So glad BB is making the decisions and not these so called experts. Brandon Bolden runs hard hard have decent speed and doesn't put the ball on the ground...what's wrong with that? Just because we saw some lucky runs by L. Blount which wasn't the design of the run agianst Second Teamers all of a sudden he's the second coming. I like Brandon Bolden and thinks he makes it. I could easily see L. Blount being traded again if it comes to that.

once is lucky, twice is showing that he clearly has a sense of what hes doing.

Blount had two long runs, and if im not mistaken there were two different Qb's in during each one.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Brandon Bolden had pretty much one game of note all of last season... against the Bills.

And Shane Vereen?

 

[Bruins29]

One thing of note RB: Brandon Bolden get no love on Patsfans.com all of a sudden he's dispensable. So glad BB is making the decisions and not these so called experts. Brandon Bolden runs hard hard have decent speed and doesn't put the ball on the ground...what's wrong with that? Just because we saw some lucky runs by L. Blount which wasn't the design of the run agianst Second Teamers all of a sudden he's the second coming. I like Brandon Bolden and thinks he makes it. I could easily see L. Blount being traded again if it comes to that.

Yeah, lets get rid of the guy who put up Ridley numbers a few years ago on a crap team with no QB and keep Boldin.

You are correct about the "glad BB is making the descisions."

 

[Sicilian]

One thing of note RB: Brandon Bolden get no love on Patsfans.com all of a sudden he's dispensable. So glad BB is making the decisions and not these so called experts. Brandon Bolden runs hard hard have decent speed and doesn't put the ball on the ground...what's wrong with that? Just because we saw some lucky runs by L. Blount which wasn't the design of the run agianst Second Teamers all of a sudden he's the second coming. I like Brandon Bolden and thinks he makes it. I could easily see L. Blount being traded again if it comes to that.

Let's be clear, the argument here isn't necessarily pro-Bolden or anti-Bolden. That's a separate discussion. The question was 4 or 5 RB's. Choosing 4 would necessitate choosing between Bolden and Blount.

I'm leaning toward Blount due to past success, how he looks currently through preseason (admittedly an incomplete factor thus far), and the fact I feel he's better suited to short yardage specialties. But really what I'm arguing in this thread is that I would rather only keep 4 RB's and use the extra spot on defense. Whether they choose to keep Bolden or Blount is fairly immaterial to me in the long run.

 

[DarrylStingley]

Its not overrated. Teams with lockerroom issues have issues. It affects the team,

Hoo is good blocking TE. Bolden could be a good RB but we dont know yet. He is ST value. We will see,

So the Pats will go to pieces without Matt Slater. I tend to doubt it and what I think IS overrated is how much we on the outside really know about who is important in that regard.

Slater is well spoken, wears nice glasses and has been around. He plays well to the cameras. How important he is to the other 52...I don't think any of us here really know.

HooMan is a good blocking TE? Really? That's a bit new to me. Not arguing. Just was unaware.

 

[chasa]

So the Pats will go to pieces without Matt Slater. I tend to doubt it and what I think IS overrated is how much we on the outside really know about who is important in that regard.

Slater is well spoken, wears nice glasses and has been around. He plays well to the cameras. How important he is to the other 52...I don't think any of us here really know.

HooMan is a good blocking TE? Really? That's a bit new to me. Not arguing. Just was unaware.

Important enough that they have repeatedly voted him as a team captain.
Important enough that he makes the pro bowl playing almost exclusively as special teams.

How may probowls has bolden made recently?
What about team captain votes? how many of those does our third string running back have?

 

[Sicilian]

So the Pats will go to pieces without Matt Slater. I tend to doubt it and what I think IS overrated is how much we on the outside really know about who is important in that regard.

Slater is well spoken, wears nice glasses and has been around. He plays well to the cameras. How important he is to the other 52...I don't think any of us here really know.

HooMan is a good blocking TE? Really? That's a bit new to me. Not arguing. Just was unaware.

Slater gets voted as a ST captain every year. That should tell you something.

 

[PatsFan2]

Let's be clear, the argument here isn't necessarily pro-Bolden or anti-Bolden. That's a separate discussion. The question was 4 or 5 RB's. Choosing 4 would necessitate choosing between Bolden and Blount.

I'm leaning toward Blount due to past success, how he looks currently through preseason (admittedly an incomplete factor thus far), and the fact I feel he's better suited to short yardage specialties. But really what I'm arguing in this thread is that I would rather only keep 4 RB's and use the extra spot on defense. Whether they choose to keep Bolden or Blount is fairly immaterial to me in the long run.

People forget how injuries changes things very quickly. I like havings guys who we can insert in right away and not skip a beat. Shane Vereen is not a workhorse back. And like you said which are also my sentiment Blount seems like a very good Short Yardage Back. So if Riddler goes down who picks up the workhorse slack? Thats my case for Brandon Bolden who I feel is much better than regarded.

 

[DarrylStingley]

Bolden was active for 10 games last season.

0 carries in 2 games
less than 3ypc in 3 games
less than 4 ypc in 4 games
More than 5 ypc in 2 games

He had more than 5 carries in 2 games, 16 for 137 against BUF and 14 for 54 v. DEN

If he doesn't make the team, the Patriots won't be cutting the next Jim Brown or anything.

Not sure what that proves. When given the opportunity, he performed well. Lots of players over the years didn't do much until they were given the chance to succeed.

And let's not forget that he missed time due to suspension and was just becoming more of a factor when that happened. My point is that without the suspension, he very well may have played a bigger role the rest of the way.

I don't think he's Jim Brown. I think he's a guy who made the most of his limited chances and averaged almost 5 yards per carry over 50 plus carries. I'm not ready to make him a center piece but I think he's a guy you keep before other guys. Remember, the players we're comparing him to are likely not on the game day roster either. So this is not an argument about Bolden versus a starter. It's Bolden versus other depth guys.

In short, no one is claiming that we're risking an All Pro. I just like his upside more than other guys who are second and third stringers on this team.

 

[Sicilian]

People forget how injuries changes things very quickly. I like havings guys who we can insert in right away and not skip a beat. Shane Vereen is not a workhorse back. And like you said which are also my sentiment Blount seems like a very good Short Yardage Back. So if Riddler goes down who picks up the workhorse slack? Thats my case for Brandon Bolden who I feel is much better than regarded.

And that's a fair argument, I just feel that if Ridley goes down, we can use a combination of Blount and Vereen to keep the running game going. If TWO guys go down (say, Ridley and Blount), I think we can pick up a street FA and go pass heavy and be fine. I would rather the extra body on defense, personally.

 

[Deus Irae]

Not sure what that proves. When given the opportunity, he performed well. Lots of players over the years didn't do much until they were given the chance to succeed.

It proves that he's not been anything special. At all.

 

[TB12_laser designator]

Maybe it's just me, but I get the vibe that after the PED issue, Bolden still isn't in Bill's goodbook. Yes it was preseason, but Blount surprised me with his performance the other night. I thought Blount would be a guy,who came on when we have 3-4 yards to go to the endzone. But he proved he's not so one diemensional.

It's up to bolden himself to win back the spotlight during the next few games. But I can't see us keeping both Blount and Bolden. Right now, my gut is telling me that Blount will just Bolden out. Now I like both these guys and would like to keep them both, but I can't see that happening

 

[BTTA]

Offense is sexy but not when you give up 35 points a game.

Which they did once last year, and by most accounts, have strengthened all three of the defensive units this year.

 

[chasa]

Maybe it's just me, but I get the vibe that after the PED issue, Bolden still isn't in Bill's goodbook. Yes it was preseason, but Blount surprised me with his performance the other night. I thought Blount would be a guy,who came on when we have 3-4 yards to go to the endzone. But he proved he's not so one diemensional.

It's up to bolden himself to win back the spotlight during the next few games. But I can't see us keeping both Blount and Bolden. Right now, my gut is telling me that Blount will just Bolden out. Now I like both these guys and would like to keep them both, but I can't see that happening

agreed, Prior to the game i was on the Blount doesnt have a spot on the 53 man roster, but seeing him on those two long runs the way he finished them was really impressive, he saw the endzone and he went for it, even if he had to go through someone to get there. very excited to see if he continues that trend this week. but right now i have blout ahead of bolden on the depth chart.

 

[goheels22002]

They also had only 2TEs for much of that season and didn't have to carry Faulk until later when injuries opened up some room.

If you want NE to go with 4TEs, for instance, it will be very difficult to have 5RBs and still retain necessary defensive depth.

On my roster - the one Belichick never consults before final cut down day - I have only three TEs and five RBs (Ridley Vereen, Blount, Washington and Bolden).

The TEs for opening day are Fells, Sudfeld and Ballard until Gronk comes off of PUP. Hooman is the loser in pre-season on my list. That could be wrong, of course.

I agree with the previous poster that it comes down to Hooman or Bolden in those two position groups. I'd keep Bolden.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Washington is the one who has to play himself onto the team and it won't be for his play at RB. You don't cut a RB who averaged 5 yards per carry his rookie year.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Is Matthew Slater a must? Is he THAT valuable that he gets a WR spot even though he blows as a receiver? Maybe that's a yes.

He "gets" a WR slot only because the NFL refuses to create a "ST" position.

(A) He's already a two-time Pro Bowler for his ST ability.
(B) How important is he in the locker room? After the Boston Marathon bombings, BB asked Slater to address the team.