Patriots Draft Profile: Texas RB D'Onta Foreman

[PatsFans.com Article]

Patriots Draft Profile: Texas RB D'Onta Foreman

Steve Balestrieri

He posted excellent numbers for the Longhorns with 323 carries for 2028 yards with a 6.3 yards per attempt average. And 15 touchdowns in 2016.

Continue reading...

(If you enjoyed this entry - hit the Thumbs Up/If not, hit the Thumbs down in this thread)

 

[maineman209]

It's good that Foreman's poor ball security is mentioned. He's fumbled once every 56 touches during his college career. For comparison, Ridley fumbled once every 80 touches with the Pats.

Amidst all the "wow-factor" measurables and on-field production numbers, fumble rates are typically ignored. Perhaps they shouldn't be.

 

[captain stone]

He's in the group of Power Backs for whom I will be looking in the 96-131-163 range, after our need at DE has been met, that includes Samaje Perine (my first choice), Kareem Hunt, Brian Hill, Wayne Gallman & James Connor. Foreman's production cannot be denied, but his fubling issues cannot be ignored. With hands > 10", those issues should be able to be corrected if he's willing to learn how to correct them. The same is true for pass-blocking. So basically, it's all on him how much he wants to play.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

It's good that Foreman's poor ball security is mentioned. He's fumbled once every 56 touches during his college career. For comparison, Ridley fumbled once every 80 touches with the Pats.

Amidst all the "wow-factor" measurables and on-field production numbers, fumble rates are typically ignored. Perhaps they shouldn't be.

I'll add some context to the fumbling issue. He fumbled once every 95 touches his previous season, which is pretty close to average. This year, he had 5 fumbles, yes, but 4 of them came in the last 4 games as he was dealing with a broken hand. He's aware it's an issue to turn the ball over, and he's working on it.

Foreman revealed the injury while talking on SportsRadio 610 in Houston Monday and said the injury undoubtedly contributed to his ball security issues last season. Foreman suffered five lost fumbles in 2016 - all of them in the final seven games of the season vs Oklahoma, Iowa State, Texas Tech, West Virginia and Kansas.


"There is always something you've got to work on - ball security and pass protection," Foreman said on 610 in Houston. "I played during the season with a broken hand that nobody knew about. I just kept it under wraps."

Furthermore, there's video of him in tears on the field after a loss because he fumbled and felt like it was his fault that they lost the game. Texas ended up firing the coach at the end of the year, and Foreman has said a few times he felt like it was his responsibility, because if he had run better and held on to the ball, they might have won enough games to keep their coach around. He's held himself accountable and worked hard to improve. I believe he's going to be great.

EDIT: Texas uses laser timing, so the 40 is verifiable:

 

[captain stone]

Thanks. I had no idea about the broken hand. It's encouraging to know that there's a physiological reason for his fumbles, and that he seems genuinely upset about them too.

 

[long distance]

I'll add some context to the fumbling issue. He fumbled once every 95 touches his previous season, which is pretty close to average. This year, he had 5 fumbles, yes, but 4 of them came in the last 4 games as he was dealing with a broken hand. He's aware it's an issue to turn the ball over, and he's working on it.




Furthermore, there's video of him in tears on the field after a loss because he fumbled and felt like it was his fault that they lost the game. Texas ended up firing the coach at the end of the year, and Foreman has said a few times he felt like it was his responsibility, because if he had run better and held on to the ball, they might have won enough games to keep their coach around. He's held himself accountable and worked hard to improve. I believe he's going to be great.

EDIT: Texas uses laser timing, so the 40 is verifiable:

his bigger issues are the things besides running: pass protection, blocking, getting off blocks to receive, play action..