Gillislee and Burkhead vs. Blount: the analytics factor

Interesting stuff from the analytics nerds. Sort of confirms my concerns about Blount where so many people have been blinded by his 18 touchdowns last season. Assuming the Gillislee signing sticks, it'll be fascinating to watch this supposed tag team of super-efficient RBs in action.

Link: With Burkhead and Gillislee signings, Patriots buy into analytics

Adapt or die.

Tunescribe said:

Interesting stuff from the analytics nerds. Sort of confirms my concerns about Blount where so many people have been blinded by his 18 touchdowns last season. Assuming the Gillislee signing sticks, it'll be fascinating to watch this supposed tag team of super-efficient RBs in action.

Link: With Burkhead and Gillislee signings, Patriots buy into analytics

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Even a broken clock is right once a day I always though Blount was overrated. I hope Brady never tries a QB sneak ever again at his age. Without Blount I am confident with Blount I fear the worse.

PatsFan2 said:

Even a broken clock is right once a day I always though Blount was overrated. I hope Brady never tries a QB sneak ever again at his age. Without Blount I am confident with Blount I fear the worse.

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Blount was good for the $ and came up huge while Tom was out.

His limitations are what they are.

Your New England Patriots Mensa Society strikes again..

Just because Bill says he is dismissive about analytics websites, does not mean he really is...

PatsFan2 said:

Even a broken clock is right once a day I always though Blount was overrated. I hope Brady never tries a QB sneak ever again at his age. Without Blount I am confident with Blount I fear the worse.

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Do you have one of those fancy 24 hour military clocks?

You could definitely see a very stark regression with Blount as the season and playoffs wore on. He wasn't bouncing the outside zone like he was early in the season and earlier in his career. Might have been injury or general wear and tear, maybe he lost his rhythm, but he spent the last few games of the year running into the backs of his linemen. I want him back because I like him and I think he has another good season in him, but he could also fall off a cliff. Looking for replacements is a good idea, Burkhead is a great zone runner as I said in another thread, and Gillislee has the size, footwork and speed to be a starter, with very little wasted motion. He hits the creases that crack and blows them open, Blount needs the crease to be opened up for him sometimes.

Blount wore down as the season went on. He looked really good at the start, but those last few regular season games, even with Lewis and White taking a lot of snaps, he just looked slower.

DarrylS said:

Your New England Patriots Mensa Society strikes again..

Just because Bill says he is dismissive about analytics websites, does not mean he really is...

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He said he never looked and one and won't be looking at any. He is too high up for that he has other people to do that for him, in the way he likes it done.

Wow.
Gillislee's rushing stats really jump off the page. Burkhead shows up great on a per-carry basis, but a really small sample size. Any stats guys are going to have some concerns based on that. Both would offer a significant boost to the rushing game.

That said, both he and Burkhead have really poor receiving stats.
Neither is especially versatile as a receiver. Could give defenses significant cues.

Urgent said:

That said, both he and Burkhead have really poor receiving stats.
Neither is especially versatile as a receiver. Could give defenses significant cues.

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Not even remotely true. Burkehead is a very good receiver and Gillislee is a fine receiver too, their stats are just low due to playing time.

BelichickFan said:

Not even remotely true. Burkehead is a very good receiver and Gillislee is a fine receiver too, their stats are just low due to playing time.

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The advanced stats say that Gillislee is pretty bad as a receiver.

DarrylS said:

Your New England Patriots Mensa Society strikes again..

Just because Bill says he is dismissive about analytics websites, does not mean he really is...

Click to expand...

Maybe he is dismissive because he doesn't think their analytics are relevant.

Or maybe he just thinks Burkhead and Gillislee are good football players and good fits.

Most likely that they use their own analytics...but with the added relevant football related information like what play was called that the websites don't factor in.

PatsFan2 said:

Even a broken clock is right once a day I always though Blount was overrated. I hope Brady never tries a QB sneak ever again at his age. Without Blount I am confident with Blount I fear the worse.

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A broken clock is actually right twice a day.

It's not just Gillislee and Burkhead - Lewis too (and White as a receiving back). Lots of good stuff here:

Patriots running backs are group made in advanced analytics heaven

Tunescribe said:

Interesting stuff from the analytics nerds. Sort of confirms my concerns about Blount where so many people have been blinded by his 18 touchdowns last season. Assuming the Gillislee signing sticks, it'll be fascinating to watch this supposed tag team of super-efficient RBs in action.

Link: With Burkhead and Gillislee signings, Patriots buy into analytics

Click to expand...

Advanced stats or not you had to figure Blount was gone after fumbling in the Super Bowl (especially given how the Mic'd Up footage included Fears reminding LG about how they talked about Atlanta forcing fumbles by keeping the RB on his feet).

The Brandon Five said:

The advanced stats say that Gillislee is pretty bad as a receiver.

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First, he lumped him with Burkhead which is why I said it's not remotely true. Period.

As for Gillislee, I believe he's an OK receiver but the sample is very small so it's tough to say. If he's Blount's replacement, absolute worst case he's status quo in terms of usage and quality as a receiver.

The Brandon Five said:

Advanced stats or not you had to figure Blount was gone after fumbling in the Super Bowl (especially given how the Mic'd Up footage included Fears reminding LG about how they talked about Atlanta forcing fumbles by keeping the RB on his feet).

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Meh. I don't think the fumble had anything to do with it.

This was all about performance, ago, contract demands and better, younger options available.

BelichickFan said:

First, he lumped him with Burkhead which is why I said it's not remotely true. Period.

As for Gillislee, I believe he's an OK receiver but the sample is very small so it's tough to say. If he's Blount's replacement, absolute worst case he's status quo in terms of usage and quality as a receiver.

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I am just saying that if we are looking at advanced stats that Gillislee was not great as a receiving back last year. From FO:

The Brandon Five said:

I am just saying that if we are looking at advanced stats that Gillislee was not great as a receiving back last year. From FO:

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I know, I saw it. I may have mis-stated a few things but overall the point I responded to was bad. Burkehead is versatile as a receiver and even if Gillislee ends up as another Blount (non factor receiving) he isn't a downgrade in that respect from where we were last year.