J.J. Taylor - Anyone else impressed by him?

[luuked]

He was surprisingly effective and if his body holds up and he can give us a dozen snaps like that each game he might be one of the best UDFA finds on offense in a while.

I love the versatility and different skillsets each of the backs brings to the table. It taxes a defense so much to be prepared for all of them and their tendencies.

 

[mgteich]

he did a fine job for a roookie

However, he is a very welcome addition. RB's and returners are always needed.

 

[Boston Boxer]

Small workload on Sunday but I liked the way he ran the ball and he did a good job not going down on initial contact. He was pretty good in college at Arizona, totaling 3,263 rushing yards on 587 carries along with 18 touchdowns. He also caught 62 passes for 487-yards and 5-touchdowns.

I feel like if he can build off that and continue to play well, we've got a pretty deep group that should give us a pretty solid ground game this season.

i liked him a lot in the time he was in. Hit the holes without hesitation. Would like to see more of him

 

[Pape]

this cannot be a coincidence...

 

[Mack Herron]

He can certainly run, and he can also catch the ball. Until Harris returns, I think he is our biggest breakaway threat out of the backfield. His limitation is blocking, as physics says he will struggle against LBs and DLs.

 

[patsinthesnow]

What is impressive to me is there was no need to play him. They have White & Burkhead as receiving RBs. He’s earned playing time due to ability rather than necessity.

White & Vereen didn’t play as rookies so I find him getting in the game at all notable.

 

[Kdo5]

I really liked him. My initial impression was that he reminded me a bit of Dion Lewis. A bit of a stretch but similar physique and quickness. Need to see much more in terms of shiftiness and pass catching. He could definitely become something good for our offense.

 

[Uptown]

Da Burkmeister & Da Torpedo..

 

[PP2]

Wouldn't be surprised to see him push Michel off the top of the depth chart.

 

[jmt57]

I was thinking back to the play just before the end of the half, when White probably should have gone out of bounds but did not - and then came limping off the field after being tackled with 25 seconds left.

Prior to that Taylor had just one touch, but then on the Pats second possession of the second half he got the ball three straight times, and on four out of six snaps (before the Harry fumble).

It makes me wonder if Taylor's playing time was part of the game plan - or an attempt to utilize White less frequently, considering the lead and the Pats seeming to be in control of the game.

 

[Wozzy]

IMO they will continue to use a RB by committee approach, Sony faces the starting defense, he faces the goal line defense and wins. They use a group. Rex, Taylor come in later in the game after Sony has softened them up. I like what I've seen from Taylor though, Fears was right in that he has some Dion Lewis in him. He's incredibly shifty, but what also made Dion great was you couldn't see him until he was already deep into the defense's second layer. He hides behind linemen, reads blocks well and knifes in.

Sony is cheap, in fact the entire RB group is cheap. If Sony doesn't accept a team friendly deal by the time his rookie contract is up he's gone, they may decide his knees aren't worth that. But he's a good runner, he has a nose for the end zone, they're all good and cheap. We're putting too much thought into this, BB doesn't care what pick he used on Sony, he only cares he got a starter for cheap and he did. Taylor is a kick returner, it doesn't happen often but you still need someone back there so he provides that. Add up the salaries of all the Patriots RB's and they don't equal one Leveon Bell.

 

[Flash]

Yep, JJ Taylor was pretty good. Some beat writers didn't have him making the team due to fumbles in training camp, but lucky for him, Damien Harris got injured and an RB spot opened up.

I do wonder what Belichick plans to do with him when Damien Harris comes back. Harris was by far the best RB during training camp, and I believe he will be a major part of the running game or even the passing game. Sony Michel, James White, and Rex Burkhead are all ahead of JJ in the depth chart. Maybe he will be going back to the PS.

 

[rochrist]

Wouldn't be surprised to see him push Michel off the top of the depth chart.

I would. If they try to overuse this guy he'll be dead by Halloween.

 

[n6249c]

What is impressive to me is there was no need to play him. They have White & Burkhead as receiving RBs. He’s earned playing time due to ability rather than necessity.

White & Vereen didn’t play as rookies so I find him getting in the game at all notable.

I recall seeing one pre-game commentator suggesting that Belichick would give him some touches to see what he did with them, that BB would not have put him on the active roster if he wasn’t going to put him on the field. Makes sense to me.

if Bill runs true to form JJ will get more opportunities now that took advantage of the ones he’s been given. Question is, if he keeps on the present arc will Harris even come back? Or will it depend on how Sony et al are doing?

 

[DropKickFlutie]

JJ looks good. He has major trucking ability. Burkhead is 30 yrs old so give those carries next year to JJ


.

 

[Scotty]

He does not appear to be lacking in awareness !....In the play where Cam says he was saved by Harry who made a first down (on Evan Lazar twitter feed) ...the back is JJ Taylor and he tried to block two Dolphins from getting to Cam. OK he got levelled but at least he recognised the danger and tried to block for his QB

 

[Nunchucks]

IMO they will continue to use a RB by committee approach, Sony faces the starting defense, he faces the goal line defense and wins. They use a group. Rex, Taylor come in later in the game after Sony has softened them up. I like what I've seen from Taylor though, Fears was right in that he has some Dion Lewis in him. He's incredibly shifty, but what also made Dion great was you couldn't see him until he was already deep into the defense's second layer. He hides behind linemen, reads blocks well and knifes in.

Sony is cheap, in fact the entire RB group is cheap. If Sony doesn't accept a team friendly deal by the time his rookie contract is up he's gone, they may decide his knees aren't worth that. But he's a good runner, he has a nose for the end zone, they're all good and cheap. We're putting too much thought into this, BB doesn't care what pick he used on Sony, he only cares he got a starter for cheap and he did. Taylor is a kick returner, it doesn't happen often but you still need someone back there so he provides that. Add up the salaries of all the Patriots RB's and they don't equal one Leveon Bell.

Exactly this. The Patriots are going to run the shiznit out of the ball and don't want to get any RB worn out. They essentially switch RBs every series, with Sony as the short yardage and White as the 3rd down/passing RB. They are also doing a lot of 2 back stuff with White and a 2nd RB.

I like it.

 

[PP2]

I would. If they try to overuse this guy he'll be dead by Halloween.

I'm not so sure about that- Taylor runs pretty small and that way evades direct contact. Michel on the other hand still runs too large, and is easily wrapped up. He continually invites contact. Taylor reminds me of Lewis in that both of them have a talent for squeezing through small space.

 

[luuked]

Thinking about it the running back position is a fairly interesting subplot right now.

With Keene not being limited in practice what do you do with JJ this week (and in the upcoming weeks). Is he even active ? Now that he actually looked kinda impressive and the cat is out of the bag you will most probably not be able to move him onto the PS anymore.

How do you make space for Harris when comes off IR ? I mean you can maybe delay that decision into the BYE but unless there is another injury and they can stash another RB on IR there will have to be a RB move coming. Do you trade one of Burkhead or Michel ?

 

[n6249c]

What is impressive to me is there was no need to play him. They have White & Burkhead as receiving RBs. He’s earned playing time due to ability rather than necessity.

White & Vereen didn’t play as rookies so I find him getting in the game at all notable.

I recall seeing one pre-game commentator suggesting that Belichick would give him some touches to see what he did with them, that BB would not have put him on the active roster if he wasn’t going to put him on the field. Makes sense to me.

if Bill runs true to form JJ will get more opportunities now that took advantage of the ones he’s been given. Question is, if he keeps on the present arc will Harris even come back? Or will it depend on how Sony et al are doing?