Steven Jackson!

[primetime]

let's see if Jackson can hopefully become rejuvenated and contribute on a Primetime level

I'm honored that my garbage posting is held in such high esteem.

 

[Deus Irae]

To my eyes, Blount has been slower than Blount last year. And Blount has never been a battering ram at the line of scrimmage. Jackson brings a lot more toughness at the LOS and I expect him to be more effective in short yardage, which has been a rare missing piece fort the offense.

Blount's always needed 2 steps to get up to speed. This isn't new, and it's why people were saying things like "for a big back, he's not a short yardage back" when the Patriots first showed interest in him. And, just like always, when he's gotten those two steps this year, he's been a load to bring down. The problem this year has been that the OL has struggled to get him the 2 steps.

 

[Dr Pain]

New England Patriot per his Twitter

 

[JMC00]

He's only 32 and any nagging injuries have likely healed. There's a chance he's picked up some of his lost speed. I don't remember him having any major injuries.

GP over the last few years

15
12
16
15
16
15

So no major injuries just a few minor ones that made him miss 5 games in 6 years. I believe the one he missed last year was the final game of the season don't think it was injury related.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Statistics on aging running backs are not good:

Inside Slant: Running back cliff after age 27

But an individual is not a statistic. Someone who is highly motivated and experienced, good at blitz pickup and is decent at catching the ball and getting us a couple of hard yards (without fumbling) when we need it is going to be a lot better than going with an inexperienced back (like Iosefa or Ball) or one like Bolden that isn't really a between-the-tackles guy.

I think those stats on RB are dramatically tilted by the fact that there's a huge recognition lag a lot of the time. There's commonly a period of a good couple years where teams still use an aging RB as though he's at his peak, when he simply isn't. As a result, he gets a ton of carries and isn't efficient with them at all.

If the Pats were to move forward under the assumption that Jackson is the same guy he was 5-7 years ago, that's exactly what would happen here too. But as long as a team recognizes the player for what he is (not what he was) and makes appropriate demands on him based on that, then there's oftentimes still productivity to be had. He won't be the guy he used to be, but he can still be useful. At a minimum, he can do everything that Iosefa did on Sunday better than Iosefa did it, plus pass protect very well and catch out of the backfield.

 

[jah]

blount was terrible this year, indecisive and no burst at all..Iosefa looked better than he did.

I don't know if I'd go that far about Iosefa looking better, but Blount did not look like the explosive player he used to be here all year. He did seem steadier, though.

 

[meatface]

Has there been any "he's left Foxboro" or "no deal" reports? I know Rapoport said on Wednesday that nothing was imminent but he was wrong about the workout because Howe and Reiss said it was Thursday, not Wednesday. Also "nothing imminent" could has also have meant he wasn't going to be signed for the game this week.

My guess Iosfea cut Monday and Jackson gets signed.

have they announced whom they are cutting yet? Its possible they keep 4 RB's.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Blount's always needed 2 steps to get up to speed. This isn't new, and it's why people were saying things like "for a big back, he's not a short yardage back" when the Patriots first showed interest in him. And, just like always, when he's gotten those two steps this year, he's been a load to bring down. The problem this year has been that the OL has struggled to get him the 2 steps.

That seems exactly right to me. What's more, he's not got the agility to spot and burst through a tiny hole that Stevan Ridley had. I thought that he looked at his best in the game against the Texans, because he was prepared to take it to the outside as well as just trying to punch it up the middle. But it's surely clear that the O-Line has been the main problem.

 

[Patsrock]

have they announced whom they are cutting yet? Its possible they keep 4 RB's.

They haven't even announced they signed Jackson. Probably won't know till 4pm waiver transaction release from NFL.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Really hope this works out. If he has some relatively fresh legs to give it his all for a handful of games, it could end up being an outstanding signing. Always liked the guy.

In 5 playoff games, Blount has averaged 15 carries a game for 72 yards and 7 TDs. On the surface thats outstanding.

Against the teams not from Indy with decent run defenses, in 3 games he has 22 carries for 47 yards and 0 TDs TOTAL.

Not meaning to knock Blount but he (nor this o-line) did not tear up the good defenses on the ground. Some games he helped. Some he didnt

If SJax can get the tough 3rd and shorts, fall forward when nothing is there and help w/ play action and run it in the red zone it'll make a HUGE difference for this offense

 

[Deus Irae]

That seems exactly right to me. What's more, he's not got the agility to spot and burst through a tiny hole that Stevan Ridley had. I thought that he looked at his best in the game against the Texans, because he was prepared to take it to the outside as well as just trying to punch it up the middle. But it's surely clear that the O-Line has been the main problem.

Absolutely, and it's shown in the pass blocking, as well as the run blocking. Brady's been getting his ass kicked in recent weeks, because he hasn't had the receivers that allow him to get rid of the ball in less than two seconds. This OL can't hold up for 2-2.5 seconds, never mind 3 seconds, and it can't consistently hold up in the running game either. That's why Lewis was such an important addition early on. His step one elusiveness allowed him to dodge the player shooting through the line, whereas Blount would still be trying to get up to speed when he was getting hit.

 

[BradyFTW!]

And yet, somehow, despite all our pronouncements, he still averaged 4.3 yards a carry.

On top of 4.3 YPC, he was also fifth in the league in success rate at 52%. If you go by Football Outsiders metrics, he was an above average RB who excelled in getting exactly the yards he needed to get to keep the chains moving. In other words, a great complimentary piece in a pass-first offense.

Granted, that success rate is at least partly inflated by the fact that he was playing in a really good offense that spent a ton of time in manageable down/distance situations, but he deserves a good amount of the credit for that too. Honestly, I think the real problem with perception is just that he's being compared to Dion Lewis. Making people miss in the backfield and ripping off effective runs is a weakness in Blount's game and a strength in Lewis', and through no particular fault of his own that happened quite a bit in the early part of the season. Partly due to facing good defenses, partly due to growing pains and injuries on the OL. It's no coincidence that the running game has finally started looking like a weapon now that the line has settled down a bit and become as healthy as it's going to get. Still not a strength, but not the massive liability that it was a few weeks ago.

It is interesting, though, because every year there seem to be a couple guys where the fan perception is not mirrored at all by the advanced stats. With a guy like Blount, I think it's as simple as 'get stopped a couple times on third and short, and suddenly nobody remembers the five yard gains and everyone just remembers the one yard losses where you were hit in the backfield'.

 

[Deus Irae]

blount was terrible this year, indecisive and no burst at all..Iosefa looked better than he did.

You're talking crazy. That such a thought would even cross your mind tells me all I need to know about you on this issue.

 

[primetime]

Iosefa looked exactly like any running back who was halfway decent in college whom you'd call up and sign off the street, with the added bonus that he can lead block. He's a Develin replacement, not a Blount or Lewis replacement.

 

[Foxypats]

If he can help this team then I am happy with the signing. We have to trust that BB knows what he is doing. Yesterday the running game worked quite well but we will need more if we want to beat the Jets this weekend as well as teams with stout defenses in the playoffs !

 

[SlowGettingUp]

There's commonly a period of a good couple years where teams still use an aging RB as though he's at his peak, when he simply isn't. As a result, he gets a ton of carries and isn't efficient with them at all.

Fits this tweet - he did much better when limited to around 10 carries per game:

 

[BradyFTW!]

Blount's always needed 2 steps to get up to speed. This isn't new, and it's why people were saying things like "for a big back, he's not a short yardage back" when the Patriots first showed interest in him. And, just like always, when he's gotten those two steps this year, he's been a load to bring down. The problem this year has been that the OL has struggled to get him the 2 steps.

Exactly this. Blount will never make a bad run-blocking interior line look good. It's not who he is, because contact in the backfield is his kryptonite. He will make a capable run-blocking interior line look better than it is, though. To the extent that he looked worse than last year, that has a lot more to do with this year's interior not performing to nearly the level that Wendell-Stork-Connolly did once they got locked down in their roles in 2014.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

I suggested bringing in Jackson in the beginning of the year and was roundly booed.

He is a big man, with tremendous skills. Granted he is not the guy he was say five years ago. But he basically has a two game pre-season, and then three games (to glory?). He should be able to go full tilt for those games and provide at the very least, what you would have gotten from Blount.

I hate that Blount went down, he has shown himself very capable in the playoffs and doesn't fumble. But hopefully Jackson can get the job done.

 

[DaBruinz]

I hate that Blount went down, he has shown himself very capable in the playoffs and doesn't fumble. But hopefully Jackson can get the job done.

Where do people get this idea that Blount doesn't fumble? He does. He's had 4 fumbles during his time with the Pats. That is actually pretty good.

Also, I question the idea that Blount is capable in the play-offs. Look at the 3 games against teams that weren't Indy.

2013 - Denver - 5 rushes - 6 yards
2014- Baltimore - 3 rushes - 1 yard
2014 - Seattle - 14 rushes - 40 yards.

That's 22 rushes for 47 yards. Anyone else and people would be demanding a replacement.

 

[Dr Pain]

Where do people get this idea that Blount doesn't fumble? He does. He's had 4 fumbles during his time with the Pats. That is actually pretty good.

Also, I question the idea that Blount is capable in the play-offs. Look at the 3 games against teams that weren't Indy.

2013 - Denver - 5 rushes - 6 yards
2014- Baltimore - 3 rushes - 1 yard
2014 - Seattle - 14 rushes - 40 yards.

That's 22 rushes for 47 yards. Anyone else and people would be demanding a replacement.

The SB was looking like a disaster till they took him out. Blount is good against bad teams we need to run the clock out on, not good playoff teams.