12/15: Pats sign RB Montee Ball and WR DeAndre Carter

[PatsWickedPissah]

BB is REALLY dumpster diving at this point in the season. Not that there's much choice.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

SUPER BOWL

 

[TBR]

Only to the practice squad, thankfully:



I wonder if they promote Trey Williams to the active roster now that he's been here for over 2 weeks

 

[BradyFTW!]

if the Pats turn Ball into a productive NFL RB, that'll be such a kick in the nuts for Broncos fans. Pretty much have to root for that just on principle now.

 

[Haterproof]

I got my fingers crossed with Blount! Only time will tell!

 

[SlowGettingUp]

I think you included a fumble on a catch but didn't include the catches as attempts.

Good to know that's not high, a fumble about every 50 sounded a little high but I guess not.

Ah - good catch. So really it was 3 fumbles on 175 rushing attempts, or 1.7%

[EDIT] See analysis in subsequent post that shows this is indeed a bit high.

Montee Ball: Career Stats at NFL.com

 

[JJDChE]

In the NFL, Ball has fumbled 4 times in 175 attempts. That's a rate of 2.2% - well below the NFL average fumble rate for running backs (3.7% in 2014, 3.33% this year).

Montee Ball, RB for the Denver Broncos at NFL.com

(I see another stat quoted showing more touches - that would reduce the rate further).

Here's a story about his waiver by the Broncos:

Ball bounced: Broncos waive ex-starting RB

I think you need to re-check your data. Or your data is biased.

I took a look at all the RBs with over 100 carries thus far and they've carried the ball a total of 6,591 times with 80 fumbles. That's a rate of 1.21%.

EDIT: That data actually included Cam Newton, if you pull him out it drops to 1.18% for RBs with over 100 carries.

 

[VrabelJr]

May as well sign a few Wisconsin OL while we're at it.

 

[Mack Herron]

Weren't Ball and James White teammates for a few years in college?

Yup. 2012 Ball and White were #1 and #2. Pretty good backfield in college. Ball went early in the draft (#58) and had a promising rookie season despite ball security issues before suffering a groin injury and has not been the same guy. He has worked out for several teams, including Colts, Packers, Bears, and impressed nobody. Broncos just worked out Trent Richardson. Ball reportedly signed to PS.
Latest News, Rumors Surrounding Montee Ball

Ed Werder ?@Edwerderespn 4m4 minutes ago

Ed Werder Retweeted Mike Reiss

Interesting development. I know he worked out for #Packers and they were unimpressed with his physical conditioning

Mike Reiss @MikeReiss
RB Montee Ball has a locker set up here at Patriots team facility. With LeGarrette Blount on crutches earlier Tuesday, Ball would add depth.
5 retweets 6 likes

 

[JJDChE]

Broncos just worked out Trent Richardson.

Wow. That's when you know you're in trouble.

 

[dannydyn]

Montee (can't hold onto) Ball? I like it.... NOT

 

[ivanvamp]

Well, the Pats need RBs, so might as well be Ball. Anyone have any better ideas, really?

 

[SlowGettingUp]

I took a look at all the RBs with over 100 carries thus far and they've carried the ball a total of 6,691 times with 80 fumbles. That's a rate of 1.21%.

And indeed that is consistent with the Deadspin analysis of the Patriots "low fumble rate."
So the source I was using (linked below) must be biased somehow:

Fumble Rates: 2014 NFL Season

http://regressing.deadspin.com/why-those-statistics-about-the-patriots-fumbles-are-mos-1681805710

Appreciate the correction.

 

[JJDChE]

4 fumbles really isn't that bad on 204 touches. I'm not sure how he got the rep for being a bad fumbler. A lot of guys who have gotten that rep have done MUCH worse. Give him a shot. It's really about his ability as RB anyway. It's been proven over and over that fumbling issues can be overcome with practice.

 

[JJDChE]

And indeed that is consistent with the Deadspin analysis of the Patriots "low fumble rate."
So the source I was using (linked below) must be biased somehow:

Fumble Rates: 2014 NFL Season

http://regressing.deadspin.com/why-those-statistics-about-the-patriots-fumbles-are-mos-1681805710

Appreciate the correction.

It's probably on a player-averaged basis instead of a carry-averaged basis. If you give the same weight to a guy that carried 4 times and fumbled once as someone who carried 200 times and fumbled once, it will really screw up the "average".

 

[Tuck]

This does not bode well for Blount.

 

[meatface]

any word on the roster move for these guys?

 

[obgod3]

Pats have signed Montee Ball

Thats just awful, even Denver didnt want him back. Great....

 

[RobertWeathers]

This does not bode well for Blount.

I still have no idea how he hurt his hip.

Either way, I agree. He is either out until the playoffs or they will IR him.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Thats just awful, even Denver didnt want him back. Great....

Since when did Gary Kubiak and John Elway become astute talent evaluators?

Pats dumped Jonas Gray and people thought BB was an idiot. Gray is now working at an alarm clock company.