Bengals FA RB Rex Burkhead at Gillette Stadium visiting Patriots 3/13

[SHOWTIME15]

Why all the excitement?

 

[The Gr8est]

Ufa

So vs Mike Gillislee he saves a draft pick.

Important in a deep draft.

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

Why all the excitement?

Untapped potential
Pats kinda guy at a position of need

 

[maineman209]

Burkhead numbers:

Round 6 pick by CIN in 2013.

#3 RB behind Jeremy Hill and Giovanni Bernard.

5102/214 ... 4.69/40, 1.63/10 yd ... 21 reps ... 39 vert/125 broad
4.09 shuttle ... 6.85 3-cone
30.8 arm, 9.7 hand

Draft comps include Kareem Hunt, Elijah McGuire, Alvin Kamara.
Best recent former Patriot comp might be Shane Vereen.

Averaged 9 attempts and 43 yards per game for the 8 games in which he had carries in 2016, + had 17 receptions on 20 tgts for 145 yds on the season .

Highest production was Wk-17 v. BAL (his first start)
= 27/119 (4.41 ypa) with 2 rushing TDs (his only TDs of the year),
+ 2 receptions on 2 tgts for 25 yds.

Also returned 6 KOs in 2016 at a 19 yd avg.

Only 1 fumble in 97 touches which is better than a lot of UFA backs who are available.

 

[BelichickFan]

Why all the excitement?

Because we haven't done anything in, like, 48 hours

 

[Uptown]

 

[BelichickFan]

Burkhead numbers:

Round 6 pick by CIN in 2013.

#3 RB behind Jeremy Hill and Giovanni Bernard.

5102/214 ... 4.69/40, 1.63/10 yd ... 21 reps ... 39 vert/125 broad
4.09 shuttle ... 6.85 3-cone
30.8 arm, 9.7 hand

Weird numbers, the straight line speed is really bad. Everything else is good.

 

[Jimke]

He might be a replacement for Branden Bolden. Has special teams experience. Better
runner and pass catcher.

 

[nabwong]

Linda?

 

[oldrover]

https://imgflip.com/memegenerator

 

[maineman209]

I'm not opposed to signing him but I'm not seeing how he replaces Blount. IIRC, he's not really a power runner and doesn't really break tackles. He's more of an evasive RB. What am I missing here? I don't really recall seeing him block or play ST, but I assume he can do both.

Certainly not the same style as Blount, but he might be more suitable as the "lead rusher" than anyone else currently on the roster. All he really needs to do is average 15 carries and 60 yards per game.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Yikes.... what a hot take!

My guess is... he's more a replacement fot Brandon Bolden. Burkehead is no doubt, a solid special teamer

 

[long distance]

good read about the guy:
Evaluating Rex Burkhead’s upcoming free agent status

quotes:

Rex Burkhead is not your typical third string running back. Against most predictions, his talent and ability to find unique ways to contribute have given the Bengals plenty of reason to keep him on their roster.

Burkhead’s incredible performance in his improbable lone start in addition to his play during the second half of the season .. Bengals might want to consider paying and playing him like a starting running back. If they don’t, some other team likely will.

For example, consider Burkhead’s performance in 2016. Whenever the Bengals featured him on a play as a rotational back, he would make something interesting happen. Unfortunately, he was too far down on the depth chart that he never had a chance to truly showcase his talent until Week 17 against the Baltimore Ravens.

An injured Bernard and Hill forced the Bengals to start Burkhead against one of the NFL’s best defenses against the run (ranked No. 2 in the NFL after Week 16). He seized the opportunity and put up 119 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries in addition to 25 yards on two catches. It was one of the best performances from a running back this season for the Bengals and potentially the perfect excuse to give him a large extension, relegating Hill to a previously inconceivable third string spot.

Priority to re-sign: Medium to high

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

He should have gotten more run during his time in cincy. Don't understand why they insisted on force feeding Jeremy hill, he sucks. Served them right when hill cost cincy a playoff win vs Pitt a year ago with that late fumble.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I don't know much about Rex but seems like a Pats kinda pickup.

I'm done with Bolden. Excellent STer but offensively hes fallen off a cliff.

I don't think this signing precludes them from grabbing a downhill hammer in the draft

 

[BobDigital]

Why not. With the running game unless you get something really good it is all the same to me.

Also after the Cooks/Allen additions I was wondering what was going on. Here comes a white skill player and the world makes sense again

 

[maineman209]

Weird numbers, the straight line speed is really bad. Everything else is good.

Ridley only posted a 4.66/40. Blount had a 4.74 at the Combine and 4.59 at his pro day.

Seems to me that the Pats' schemes only require a lead rusher to consistently make 2nd and 3rd down more manageable and pick up some first downs rather than be a all day threat to break a long run at any time.

And hang onto the damn ball.

 

[PrairiePat]

Watched him for several years out here @Nebraska. Good, reliable, unspectacular, tough type running back. Can run it or catch it. Nice piece, not a centerpiece.

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

Watched him for several years out here @Nebraska. Good, reliable, unspectacular, tough type running back. Can run it or catch it. Nice piece, not a centerpiece.

That's all they need.
A nice reliable piece to join the committee

 

[mariomega]

Just sign the beast.