The Annual Tease - The Fifth Running Back

[mgteich]

Could our 5th running back be Develin? It seems that Develin was getting a tryout with the 1st unit.

For me, the 5th running back should have a clear purpose. I know that Develin would have a purpose, Bolden not so much.

 

[supafly]

Could our 5th running back be Develin? It seems that Develin was getting a tryout with the 1st unit.

For me, the 5th running back should have a clear purpose. I know that Develin would have a purpose, Bolden not so much.

I personally doubt it would be Devlin. I think they already went the route of the fullback attempts, which failed with much better fullbacks. That said, if they decided to keep Devlin as the RB5, it would immediately answer your question as to who plays H-back when Hooman is cut, not that I am really all that concerned myself. I don't advocate keeping Hooman as the 5th TE just to play H-back.

 

[mgteich]

We can afford to have 5 RB's and 4 TE's (2 QB, 8 OL and 6 WR). So, one question is how to fill the h-back spot. Some would have Hooman as the 4th TE instead of Fells. It seems that Josh has opened another option with the play of Devlin with the 1st unit..

I personally doubt it would be Devlin. I think they already went the route of the fullback attempts, which failed with much better fullbacks. That said, if they decided to keep Devlin as the RB5, it would immediately answer your question as to who plays H-back when Hooman is cut, not that I am really all that concerned myself. I don't advocate keeping Hooman as the 5th TE just to play H-back.

 

[supafly]

Some would have Hooman as the 4th TE instead of Fells.

Are they crazy folk amongst us?

Fells is currently the TE1 in the absence of Gronk, and his blocking is leagues ahead of Hooman. He's been on the first team unit ahead of any other TE so far all of TC. Even during his bad season last year when he was injured his blocking was leagues ahead of Hooman.

Hooman served his purpose last year when all of Gronk, Hernandez, Fells, and Ballard missed time to the injury + prior to the arrival of Sudfeld. He was worth tendering early on. I think his time has run out with the recent developments at the position this year. We'll have to see.

Regarding Devlin--we've seen plenty of times where different players get reps with the first team unit, so I'm not so sure I'd read as much into it as you may be doing; not that I'm necessarily trying to say that you're wrong and I'm right.

 

[supafly]

One would definitely have to think that Devlin is on the outside of the bubble. It may be difficult enough to try and determine between Blount and Bolden (although it seems to be getting easier) since Bolden offers all 4 ST roles.

Throwing Devlin into the mix is understandable, but I don't think you'd find too many who feel that he has much of a chance at making it. He's definitely the 6th RB at the moment, and most of us are assuming keeping 4.

 

[Danger Zone]

Re: Re: The Annual Tease - The Fifth Running Back

He's definitely the 6th RB at the moment, and most of us are assuming keeping 4.

Im assuming 5!

With such a high attrition-rate with NFL running-backs, I think a 5th RB (Bolden or Blount) is worth the roster slot.

That and Vereen looks like he might straddle the roles of RB and WR.

If we dont need him (knock on wood) someone will come asking about either of the two soon enough.

 

[SacPete1]

If you're 4th on the list, you better be playing on ST's and notably coverage units. Hooman can play in the backfield, can Devlin play on the line? If not, Hooman has more flexibility. Still don't see a dedicated fullback on the roster.

And I certainly want to see 4 TE's and I'm making the assumption right now that Gronk will be PUP'd which makes the decision easier as to who to keep but what happens when he returns (injuries not withstanding)? I think Fells or Ballard would be odd man out. Regardless, too early to be worrying about that.

On a side note, doesn't the receiver position strike you as a position of strength now particularly relative to the past few years? Never thought I'd be thinking that in mid-August. Its unfortunate that we have seen so much of tebow in the pre-season since we really don't get to see much production from the WR's as a result. I'm expecting Brady into the 3rd qtr next week (unless the Lions treat this like their NFC championship like they did a few years back) and hopefully Mallett the rest of the way. Please stop the Tebow insanity, Bill!

 

[pencilneckgeek]

The premise of a 5th running back is flawed. It's more a question of starting wing on the punt coverage team or starting wedge blocker on the kickoff return team. The 5th running back gets an average of maybe 2 snaps a game. The starters on special teams get dozens of snaps.

I tried to take notes on the first team ST personnel last night, but I'm going to have to watch the game over (and over), because the TV angles aren't ideal for picking that out. However, we'll do a much better job at picking the back-end of the roster, if we start filling out ST depth charts to go with the ubiquitous offense/defense depth charts used to mis-predict the roster each pre-season.

 

[everlong]

Considering special teams and especially kick coverage look to be the weak spot right now they're not going to further weaken those units by cutting the better performers thus I believe Bolden is going to make it, ditto Ebner.

 

[Brady6]

Could our 5th running back be Develin? It seems that Develin was getting a tryout with the 1st unit.

For me, the 5th running back should have a clear purpose. I know that Develin would have a purpose, Bolden not so much.

I do not think Devlin is in competition against the other RB’s on the team, I think he is fighting for a roster spot against Hooman and Fells. I do believe he has a chance to make the final roster; he spent time on the 53 man roster last season and was solid in his role last night as lead blocker while also picking up a few 1st downs on 3rd and short. There is a part of me that likes the concept of having a true FB on the roster for the first time in many years.

I have to respectfully disagree on your statement surround Bolden lacking purpose; Bolden plays all 4 core special teams units, and last night he was used on 3rd down and long in the backfield with Brady and Vereen several times and that look was very successful for the Patriots, when you combine those 2 things with Bolden being a solid depth RB behind Ridley if there was ever an injury I think he has plenty of purpose.

 

[mgteich]

Do you believe that Bolden not Blount is the backup to Ridley? Obviously, if we keep only one of them, he would need to be the backup.

I do not think Devlin is in competition against the other RB’s on the team, I think he is fighting for a roster spot against Hooman and Fells. I do believe he has a chance to make the final roster; he spent time on the 53 man roster last season and was solid in his role last night as lead blocker while also picking up a few 1st downs on 3rd and short. There is a part of me that likes the concept of having a true FB on the roster for the first time in many years.

I have to respectfully disagree on your statement surround Bolden lacking purpose; Bolden plays all 4 core special teams units, and last night he was used on 3rd down and long in the backfield with Brady and Vereen several times and that look was very successful for the Patriots, when you combine those 2 things with Bolden being a solid depth RB behind Ridley if there was ever an injury I think he has plenty of purpose.

 

[captain stone]

The best-case scenario for 5 RBs would've been:
Ridley,
Vereen,
The winner of Bolden v Blount,
Washington,
and Vonta Leach.

 

[jmt57]

The premise of a 5th running back is flawed. It's more a question of starting wing on the punt coverage team or starting wedge blocker on the kickoff return team. The 5th running back gets an average of maybe 2 snaps a game. The starters on special teams get dozens of snaps.

I tried to take notes on the first team ST personnel last night, but I'm going to have to watch the game over (and over), because the TV angles aren't ideal for picking that out. However, we'll do a much better job at picking the back-end of the roster, if we start filling out ST depth charts to go with the ubiquitous offense/defense depth charts used to mis-predict the roster each pre-season.

Good point.

I haven't gone back to re-watch who played when, or on which units, but I do have the collective number of snaps:

Snaps - Special Teams - Preseason Game 2 vs Bucs
16 - S Tavon Wilson
15 - S Duron Harmon
13 - LB Niko Koutouvides
13 - LB Mike Rivera
12 - WR Kamar Aiken
12 - RB Brandon Bolden
12 - CB Marquice Cole
12 - LB Jeff Tarpinian
11 - LB Jamie Collins
11 - S Kanorris Davis
10 - K Stephen Gostkowski
10 - ST Matthew Slater
9 - CB Logan Ryan
9 - DE Jake Bequette
8 - P Zoltan Mesko
8 - TE Michael Hoomanawanui
8 - TE Zach Sudfeld
8 - DE Justin Francis
8 - DE Marcus Benard
8 - LB Steve Beauharnais
7 - RB James Develin
6 - LB Dane Fletcher
6 - CB Brandon Jones
6 - RB Leon Washington
5 - LS Danny Aiken
5 - LS Mike Zupancic
5 - WR Josh Boyce
5 - WR Julian Edelman
5 - OL Chris McDonald
5 - OL Luke Patterson
5 - OL Brice Schwab
5 - OL Matt Stankiewitch
5 - DE Michael Buchanan
5 - DT Michael Forston
5 - CB Kyle Arrington
4 - CB Justin Green
3 - CB Aqib Talib
3 - CB LeQuan Lewis
3 - S Adrian Wilson
3 - RB LaGarrette Blount
3 - FB Ben Bartholomew
3 - DT Cory Grissom
3 - DT Joe Vellano
3 - OL Will Svitek
2 - OL Josh Kline
2 - RB Shane Vereen
2 - RB George Winn
2 - P Ryan Allen
1 - DE Rob Ninkovich




While we are at it, here are the offensive snap counts for the RB:

28 - Shane Vereen
20 - Brandon Bolden
13 - James Develin
12 - Stevan Ridley
10 - LeGarrette Blount
6 - Ben Bartholomew
0 - Leon Washington
0 - George Winn

 

[Brady6]

I don’t know that I see either one as the defined backup; if you consider the fact that last season we ran the ball 484 times (breakdown below) and most expect us to rush the ball even more this season, I think we will have a enough snaps for all the backs to see a fair amount of carries in 2013 (breakdown below), I do not consider Washington to be an offensive player I label him strictly as a kick returner, and I think Bolden would serve as the backup to Vereen as the 3rd down back if Vereen was to go down with an injury.

2012 Carries
Ridley 290
Woodhead 76
Vereen 62
Bolden 56
Total 484

Potential 2013 Carries
Ridley 280
Blount 120
Vereen 75
Bolden 75
Total 550

**2013 projections are based upon an increase of 4-5 rushing attempts per game.

Do you believe that Bolden not Blount is the backup to Ridley? Obviously, if we keep only one of them, he would need to be the backup.