Andy Benoit's SB Recap with McVay

[primetime]

Still waiting for you to categorically state that you'd rather have White run the ball than Burkhead, Michel, and what we expect Harris to be. (the big back we didn't have last year)

BTW- I'm not saying that White has NEVER had a good run, or isn't sometimes effective running the ball out of spread formations. Or that he hasn't improved from his horrific first 2 years. I just state that he, relatively speaking, the last back I want to be running the football, when we choose to run the football. He's #4. Who would you put behind him?

Burkhead, who was categorically bad last season aside from like two runs that were in important spots so everyone's giving him a pass and Harris, who isn't even yet signed to an NFL contract. Michel's the only back on the roster I would definitively trust to run the ball better than White, and Michel hasn't proven he can be a dual threat yet so he ends up off the field in certain situations.

 

[patfanken]

I would not hesitate to give the ball to James White in the most critical short yardage situations, including must-have goal line situations.

Sincerely,
Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniel, Super Bowl LI

While that might have been James White's best run as a Patriot because he actually worked his way past initial contact to make it into the endzone. But the fact of the matter he was only on the field for that play because DLewis had been hurt earlier in the game.

What's getting lost in this discussion, is I'm NOT trying to disparage White OR his important contribution to the offense. I'm not unhappy when he is running draws and delays within the passing offense. But I'm always aghast when we use him to run a 3rd and 2 between the tackles. It doesn't happen often, but WAY too often for me.

I made the statement that among the 4 guys who will be likely to be running the ball this season, I would make White my last choice. I know he will get his chances to run the ball. He'll have to just to break tendencies. I just want to limit those attempt to plays that fit within the PASSING offense, not the RUNNING offense.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

Wow, is his GF hot or what!

Woah!!

I’d imagine going home to her makes a loss a little easier to deal with lol

Wowzers.... how are some humans so insanely more attractive than the rest of the herd?

Ps. my wife is the most beautiful of them all, of course...... (is she still looking at me? Blink twice if she is)

 

[luuked]

Burkhead, who was categorically bad last season aside from like two runs that were in important spots so everyone's giving him a pass and Harris, who isn't even yet signed to an NFL contract.

I dont really have a big opinion on it but how do you quantify "categorically bad" ?

 

[primetime]

I dont really have a big opinion on it but how do you quantify "categorically bad" ?

3.3 yards per carry, long rush of 12, 50+ carries. Pretty miserable, well below a replacement level back.

That's not to say Burkhead is bad, and he turned in his best performances at the most critical times, but he certainly didn't look as good last year as he had the previous season.