Should we anticipate a running back controversy this offseason?

[Kdo5]

White looks quite good. He would have had well over a 150 Yds receiving today if that penalty isn't called. He has more than sufficiently filled the gap at the pass catching RB role.

Obviously Dion is incredibly explosive and the better player...I just worry if the kid will ever be able to make it through a full season. He can be effective in the rushing game too which is something we haven't seen from White.

 

[DaBruinz]

White and Lewis are the only two backs who are guaranteed to be in camp barring something drastic/major happening. Iosefa showed a lot of promise and the next 2 weeks will go a long way to determining his future. The nice thing is that he will have PS eligibility next year.

Develin is going to have his work cut out for him in TC.

There will definitely be a place for at least 1 RB to be brought in, if not 2.. Be it via Free Agency or the draft.

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

White not being as good as Lewis should not be the measuring stick on whether White is good enough. Lewis was having the best pats rb season since 04 before he got hurt, so that should never be the standard for white.

That said, three weeks ago everyone was terrified that we had nothing at all in the backfield behind Blount, and now everyone is good with letting him hit the streets. The NFL comes at you fast. Theres a good chance that we will know exactly what we have in both Iosofa and White by February. Theres also we see another back added before the playoffs that could take over the lead back position yet.

 

[Froob]

Id say Vereen is a bit better than White and Lewis is easily better than both. Both White and Lewis can line up as wide out so I think both can get decent play time.

 

[rochrist]

White not being as good as Lewis should not be the measuring stick on whether White is good enough. Lewis was having the best pats rb season since 04 before he got hurt, so that should never be the standard for white.

That said, three weeks ago everyone was terrified that we had nothing at all in the backfield behind Blount, and now everyone is good with letting him hit the streets. The NFL comes at you fast. Theres a good chance that we will know exactly what we have in both Iosofa and White by February. Theres also we see another back added before the playoffs that could take over the lead back position yet.

Nobody is letting him hit the streets. He's still under contract for next year. Assuming you're still talking about White.

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

Nobody is letting him hit the streets. He's still under contract for next year. Assuming you're still talking about White.

apologies, i was talking about Blount.

 

[edboc]

I'm not sure controversy is the right word, you need depth in quantity since there are so many injuries over the course of training camp/pre-season and during the regular season. You can find undrafted free agents that can fill the roles. In my opinion it is one of few positions where you shouldn't allocate a lot resources to in terms of the salary cap. There is so much supply of RBs that you don't and shouldn't pay for them, and allocate more resources in extending Hightower, Collins, and/or Jones and other positions of need. Even if they had everyone healthy and capable, you know they would use them based on game plan and situations that it really doesn't matter who starts the game, they are going to spread around the workload amongst the group. I'd expect they wouldn't resign Blount, and look elsewhere, unless he plays for the league min. for a veteran, or he's available mid-season and he's still not signed and they have more injuries at the position.

 

[Concussion Protocol]

There's nothing special in this backfield other than Dion. Not sure you can have controversy amongst such utter mediocrity.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Trent Richardson may be enough to scare people off but if Henry is still on the board late 2 id pounce.

 

[Brady6]

At his best, White is a decent backup to Lewis. He isn't nearly as good.

Lewis can be special in this offense no doubt about it. But James White is a good 3rd down back, you're right he isn't as good as Lewis but he is as good as Vereen.

 

[Brady6]

Id say Vereen is a bit better than White and Lewis is easily better than both. Both White and Lewis can line up as wide out so I think both can get decent play time.

Vereen never had more than 52 catches in a season and he barely did anything until his 3rd season in the NFL. Vereen was a better runner inside the numbers but White is a much better receiver. Vereen had times when he made LaFell look sure handed.

 

[ausbacker]

If available, James Starks may be an intriguing option.

 

[Tunescribe]

RBs pretty much are interchangeable parts in this offense. I wouldn't mind seeing the Pats devote some draft capital to a featured back type next spring, but they probably won't do it. Like others here, I'm very concerned about Lewis bouncing back effectively. It wouldn't surprise me to see Bolden and White be the only holdovers from this season.

 

[jah]

RBs pretty much are interchangeable parts in this offense. I wouldn't mind seeing the Pats devote some draft capital to a featured back type next spring, but they probably won't do it. Like others here, I'm very concerned about Lewis bouncing back effectively. It wouldn't surprise me to see Bolden and White be the only holdovers from this season.

There's no way we don't at least keep Lewis under contract. The question is whether he can recover from this injury and not get hurt again, which he's proven to be prone to do.

 

[Rob0729]

Both Lewis and White are on the roster for peanuts next year. The only controversy will be if Belichick cuts one of them. Lewis has an $1.08 million cap hit and White has a $699k cap hit.

The only way both are not on the roster come training camp next year is if someone offers a ridiculous trade for one of them that is too good to pass up. Unlikely to happen though.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

I do expect a RB controversy. That controversy is: will we have a conventional running game that is actually successful? And If we do it will be (write name here) who steps up to be that solidly productive #1 RB. No one currently on the roster -- including Blount -- strikes me as a good bet to be that #1.
The third down RB spot is diamond solid, however, Lewis' durability may be an issue. So even the third down back spot is open for White or _____ to show they are needed on the roster.

2016 RB roster guess: Lewis, Develin or Iosoefa (Sp?), Bolden, New Guy, White or _____. (injuries always a wildcard).
-Shockingly, Lewis is a 100% lock (noting durability may be an issue).
-Boldin is very close to a lock due to his relatively cheap expense, BB like level of commitment, solid STs play and ability to fill in both RB spots sometimes/semi-adequately when needed. (BB loves his commitment and flexibility)
-Either Iasoefa (SP?) or Develin will be a lock. Develin proved his worth so it is hard to see him losing out, however, while it is early to declare Iosoefa 'arrived', Iasoefa's beginning looks like a guy BB correctly identified as a Patriot type player that is perfect for the position the Patriot staff has been grooming him for. If Iosoefa is a sure 2 to 5 yard hand off, can plow a hole in the line, and can every so often contribute pass blocking with a catch here and there, this will be a hell of a camp competition between the two. What is Develin's cap cost is an other question to ask. If it's close then the cheaper guy probably wins.
-Blount, unless he has been hampered by some ailment most of the season, he doesn't look close to the Blout of old. This is where the new guy comes in. Patriots can really use that feature back in the ballpark of a Dillon type contribution.
-With Lewis being a lock and White-Lewis filling virtually the same position, hard to say if White is a sure roster spot (how is his STs contrbutions?). The excellent news for White is the Patriots badly need an effective third down back. Therefore White has that singular opportunity every low-ish round pick sitting behind an effective starter (Lewis) wants; on a team that may go to the SB and the third down back is crucial to their offense he is going to get a lot of of meaningful snaps. Now is when he gets to put his name on the stat sheet to establish he is too productive to be relegated to that infrequently used backup.
My gut says White is going to look better and better each week. He is hitting that confidence level that will allow him to better showcase his abilities.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

No on Iosefa, IMO. He broke some tackles but all in all looked like a PS player who had a pretty good game.

For White/Lewis, it'll definitely be a battle to see who wins the starting job, but neither makes significant money so there's no real pressure on the Pats. Just let em compete, best man wins the job, and from there you get to feel good about your depth.

No on Iosefa? What he showed today is pretty close, in part, to what we need. Straight forward, North-South un-fancy power that hits the hole quick-ish, rarely if ever loses yards, most of the time will pick up 2 to 4 yards, and dishes out unmistakable punishment to the secondary when they have to make the tackle. So if he can show he can contribute by picking up a blitzer/catch a couple of shorter throws? Well, isn't this exactly why we have Develin?
Wayyy too early to say yes or no to Iosefa, however, if what he showed today is a sign of things to come? Iosefa is clearly making a case for him instead of Develin. STs and cost will be factors also.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

My gut says White is going to look better and better each week. He is hitting that confidence level that will allow him to better showcase his abilities.

I think Lewis is going to need time to bounce back from his injury. But does that mean he loses his role as a starter in 2016? That's why I'm jumping the gun and calling this a controversy

There's no way we don't at least keep Lewis under contract. The question is whether he can recover from this injury and not get hurt again, which he's proven to be prone to do.

That didn't keep us from drafting Gronk and putting him out on the field. Like Gronk, Lewis has proven to be a phenomenal player. The question is, will the Pats let him play as starter if he isn't fully 100%?

 

[jah]

I think Lewis is going to need time to bounce back from his injury. But does that mean he loses his role as a starter in 2016? That's why I'm jumping the gun and calling this a controversy



That didn't keep us from drafting Gronk and putting him out on the field. Like Gronk, Lewis has proven to be a phenomenal player. The question is, will the Pats let him play as starter if he isn't fully 100%?

I think you're replying to my post as if it were more of a knock on Lewis. My point was more that he's an absolute lock but might get/stay injured.

 

[patchick]

After the 2013 debacle when Woodhead left and they had nobody behind Vereen, they were NOT going to go without a backup receiving back again. And that's what White is, a good reliable backup. I was delighted when they drafted him because of his uncommonly polished receiving skills, but he was never a special athlete.

Knocking wood that Lewis can return to a reasonable semblance of his old self, he and White have the receiving side of the RB corps in good shape. Then they'll just need a Blount replacement. Not much of a controversy, IMO.