Need a bruising RB... But who?

hornetfb85 · Mar 18, 2017

Fellas fellas fellas...I think we're forgetting Tom "The Tank" Brady

FoxboroFlyer · Mar 18, 2017

hornetfb85 said:
Fellas fellas fellas...I think we're forgetting Tom "The Tank" Brady

We get 20 pounds on him, and hell yeah!
Everyone should be on board.
Gotta lower that shoulder though.

captain stone · Mar 18, 2017

BobDigital said:
Atlanta doesn't have a big bruising RB and that is plenty effective.

It is nice to have one but not needed.

And how did that work out for them in the 4th quarter?

Burkhead is an interesting if not extravagant signing; but as of today, if I'm on the opponent's 2 yard line, and I need to call a running play, I'm giving the ball to Blunt…until Burkhead proves otherwise.

I see nothing at all wrong with signing Blunt to the same deal plus incentives under which he played this past season (with maybe a liitle thank-you bump), and then drafting a Power Back of the future somewhere between 96 and 163. Possible targets already mentioned include D'Onte Foreman, Samaje Perine and James Connor; others to watch are Kareem Hunt, Wayne Gallman and the execrable Joe Mixon.

patsfan13 · Mar 18, 2017

I am fine signing Blount, if they want to get younger I would look at Mike Gillislee of the Bills he has a 5th round tender, 26 yr old led the league in yds after contact.

jboston19 · Mar 18, 2017

James Connor out of Pitt would be a great later round pick up. He was amazing as a freshman, but had a series of really bad things happen and is still recovering. But he's very talented.

SHOWTIME15 · Mar 18, 2017

The Brandon Five said:
Beastmode (supposedly he is open to un-retiring).

He's from oakland so...

Ochmed Jones · Mar 19, 2017

I am hopeful we draft Freddie Stevenson of Florida state. Big bruiser with some neat feet.

Hercules Rockefeller · Mar 19, 2017

Thelonious said:
I'm a fan, not a guy who plays a GM on a forum. Lynch is a jerk: I can't root for him. Blount seems like a good egg, he had a good season, and I'd like to see him back.

Agree that Blount is a good teammate and seems a good dude. Don't understand why Lynch is a jerk though. He just doesn't like talking to the press because he's "bout that action, boss."

rochrist · Mar 19, 2017

FoxboroFlyer said:
This guy went to the Steelers...The ****in Steelers! After the first go round...Does anyone understand that?! And they cut his ass mid season cause he quit on them, and Bill re signed him cause he was available, and better than what was in house...That's the only reason he was here. MORE than replaceable, unless he wants to come back for the minimum.

Yeah yeah, we get it that you've got a hard on for Blount. Message delivered, the horse died. You can stop beating him now.

Addictive · Mar 19, 2017

My guess is that somewhere in the third and fifth round the Pats will draft a RB knowing that currently for the 2018 season they don't have a single RB signed to the roster. Lewis and White are both scheduled to be free agents and while it is unlikely that BB will let both of them go it is proven that RBs tend to need at least one season of working with the team to learn blitz pick up and running the right routes to be able to stay on the field. Perhaps BB double dips in the draft and gets two RBs like he did the year of Ridley and Vereen.

tombonneau · Mar 19, 2017

I actually would prefer they sign a three down back. Make an offer to Gllisilee or draft a back like Mixon or Cook (not them specifically) that you don't have to take off the field.

But if we keep a bruiser I agree with the names thrown around. Perrine or Connor late would be great adds. This is the year to add a young back. Heaps of talent out there.

Honestly though, I think BB really liked Blount and brings him back.

mihap · Mar 19, 2017

Healthy Gaffney.

Tony2046 · Mar 19, 2017

FoxboroFlyer said:
I'm not even talking bout drafting a guy for THIS YEAR. if the Pats draft one I think it's gonna be for 2 years from now, because Burkhead is our guy this year.
And those 18 TD's are a mirage, my friend. Blount did not magically find the fountain of youth.

Mirage? No those 18 TD's happened. I'm fine if you favor another RB over Blount but let's not take a dump on a career year.

ChessToCheckers · Mar 19, 2017

Blount is one of my favorites players to watch, especially when he's out in space. A 250 pounder with his speed is exciting. Brings me off the couch shouting "Go Go Go" every time!

That said, I'm sure BB will sign some interesting competition for camp.

Simpelton · Mar 19, 2017

sambam94 said:
^yup, you occasionally saw Blount carrying people when he got up a head of steam.....but too often I saw him get stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage. Don't need him now.

Every running back will get stuffed at times. That's almost more on the OC or the Offensive Line than it is on the RB. Blount leading the league in rushing touchdowns says a lot about:

1: When he was used
2: Why he was used
3: how much he was trusted

He got us that critical yard-plus far more often than he didn't. He's not a superstar but he was a good efficient power RB for us, and if we're not going to have Blount, I'd like a Blount type on the roster just to make sure we give BB maximum options.

BTTA · Mar 19, 2017

I'm having a hard time seeing space on this roster for a RB that's only there for short yardage situations, particularly that when they had those situations late in the SB they used White effectively. Unless Lewis' hamstring is a complete tear and there's concern that he'll never return to be a strong player, and Burkhead replaces him on the roster rather than supplements him.

On the other hand, all this talk that Belichick is planning on using Burkhead more than other backs because of his contract is silly. The contract amount is just a reflection of the marketplace situation. The coach isn't going to plan to play one player over another because of how much money he's making, any more than he would play a player more because of his draft position. They had to pay a certain amount to get Burkhead on the roster; some analysts were saying he was the best FA RB available, if you look beyond the superficial. Now he's here, and he's on equal footing with everyone else. I'm sure the team would love for an UDFA to come in and make every other RB on the roster unnecessary, including Burkhead.

maineman209 · Mar 19, 2017

FoxboroFlyer said:
************! Blount is not the key to this offense!
This "gotta have a banger over 240", stuff is comical. Get a damn grip already! If BB deemed him a necessity we certainly have the cap space, that it would have been done already. Good god.

I agree that Blount won't be "the key" to the 2017 offense. But he could certainly be helpful splitting lead snaps with Burkhead, helping both stay fresh.

I also think that, while Blount's size certainly helps him situationally, it doesn't define him. He brings more to the table than just power.

OTOH, in the past, Pats' re-signings of older, relatively inexpensive contributors like Blount have occurred fairly late in the process - sometimes up to a month after the start of FA. The fact that he hasn't been re-signed yet doesn't necessarily mean he's not coming back for 2017.

maineman209 · Mar 19, 2017

betterthanthealternative said:
I'm having a hard time seeing space on this roster for a RB that's only there for short yardage situations, particularly that when they had those situations late in the SB they used White effectively. Unless Lewis' hamstring is a complete tear and there's concern that he'll never return to be a strong player, and Burkhead replaces him on the roster rather than supplements him.

On the other hand, all this talk that Belichick is planning on using Burkhead more than other backs because of his contract is silly. The contract amount is just a reflection of the marketplace situation. The coach isn't going to plan to play one player over another because of how much money he's making, any more than he would play a player more because of his draft position. They had to pay a certain amount to get Burkhead on the roster; some analysts were saying he was the best FA RB available, if you look beyond the superficial. Now he's here, and he's on equal footing with everyone else. I'm sure the team would love for an UDFA to come in and make every other RB on the roster unnecessary, including Burkhead.

Blount wasn't used just for short-yardage and I don't think he'd be used exclusively that way if he comes back. I think he'd split lead snaps with Burkhead to keep both fresh.

I also don't think Burkhead's contract necessarily means "more" usage for him per se. It's more about how he's likely to be used - as the lead RB in preference to White/Lewis.

BTW - Lewis said after the SB that the sideline thing was just a cramp. IIRC, he took snaps after that and seemed okay.

I agree, though, that, BB would love to have a late-pick/UDFA on the 53-man who makes renewing Burkhead at $3M+ for 2018 completely unnecessary. I mean, it's entirely possible that Blount gets re-signed for one year relatively cheap (with not much guaranteed money) and then doesn't beat out the rookies in Camp.

AzPatsFan · Mar 19, 2017

captain stone said:
And how did that work out for them in the 4th quarter?

Burkhead is an interesting if not extravagant signing; but as of today, if I'm on the opponent's 2 yard line, and I need to call a running play, I'm giving the ball to Blunt…until Burkhead proves otherwise.

I see nothing at all wrong with signing Blunt to the same deal plus incentives under which he played this past season (with maybe a liitle thank-you bump), and then drafting a Power Back of the future somewhere between 96 and 163. Possible targets already mentioned include D'Onte Foreman, Samaje Perine and James Connor; others to watch are Kareem Hunt, Wayne Gallman and the execrable Joe Mixon.

If y'all forget. That is the Belichick way. Do Both. Sign and Draft...

maineman209 · Mar 19, 2017

FoxboroFlyer said:
Waste of a roster spot.

For the 90-man offseason roster?

Need a bruising RB... But who?

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