Back of the Roster Battle: Running Back

[Armchair Quarterback]

The top four (BJGE, Ridley, Vereen, Woodhead), if healthy are assured a spot on the 53, who would you keep as the fifth?

 

[BlueThunder]

Would like the youth movement to continue with Medlin......keep Sammy on the shadow roster and keep Kevin on PUP as insurance....

 

[VJCPatriot]

Gonna say Faulk right now because Woodhead just took a huge hit in preseason game 2. I love Woody's playmaking ability, but with his smaller stature, I'm not sure his health is assured for all 16 games. Faulk gives us that 3rd down playmaker at RB. Vereen has been nicked as well so I think BB keeps the insurance and veteran presence of Faulk. Ridley looks like a very competent backup for BJGE as an all-purpose back and I think Medlin has earned a position on the practice squad. So there you go.

 

[Haley]

Would like the youth movement to continue with Medlin......keep Sammy on the shadow roster and keep Kevin on PUP as insurance....

I think this is pretty reasonable whether or not we keep Medlin. We can always pick up a JAG midseason if we need one.

 

[Wilfork#75]

I know most people think that Morris will be cut, but I think he makes it because he is so valuable on special teams. I think people underestimate how big of an impact he has, especially in the return game. He is our best special teams blocker, and when you look at Tate's early season success last year, a lot of it was due to key blocks by Morris. With the added versatility of being a short yardage back and lead blocker, I think we will see Morris on the 53 and active for most, if not all of the games. Faulk can start on PUP and come in if we have an injury. And just because he starts on PUP doesn't mean we have to activate or IR him after week 6, he has until week 9 to start practicing and then week 12 before he needs to be activated or IR'ed. So the flexibility of starting Faulk on PUP could really help this team. I like Medlin, but I think he will make it through to the practise squad.

 

[nnmnmmnn]

Assuming Woodhead, Ridley, Verneen, and BJGE are healthy...

If there was an option for "none of the above but Faulk on PUP", I would have gone for that.

Instead I went for "none of the above" since my opinion is that they will only have 4 on the 53 to start the season.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Would like the youth movement to continue with Medlin......keep Sammy on the shadow roster and keep Kevin on PUP as insurance....

I think I'm going with Medlin also, although I do think Morris will make it as well (FB, ST).

 

[serifyn]

if anyone at all, Morris. his game is more hard nosed and he is better equiped to be a blocker on special teams than any of the other runningbacks, he can play fullback on goal line plays (such as one last night where he had a nice seal)

Faulk will continue to be on the pup through all of training camp, and if anyone gets injured early on, you take add him to the roster.

i think that the patriots will only keep 4 however, as there are positions of greater potential and depth. Brandon Tate, Sammy Morris and one of Yateman or Smith will be given that last spot.

i think Slater makes the roster again as the teams best gunner, he has even shown a little bit of skill at WR in these last couple of games.

i feel like the DL is going to lose alot of young guys because of all of the talent they are bringing in. Brace and Deaderick will stay on the pup as well and take the first spots which become available.

 

[Synovia]

i think that the patriots will only keep 4 however, as there are positions of greater potential and depth. Brandon Tate, Sammy Morris and one of Yateman or Smith will be given that last spot.

I agree with this. I don't see why you'd want to cut a guy who is essentially a 2nd year WR who was pretty good last year, to keep Sammy Morris.


BJGE, Ridley, Vereen, Woodhead.

We keep 6 actual WR. - Branch, Welker, Ocho, Price, Tate, Edelman

 

[nnmnmmnn]

edit: going to reply in the WR thread instead...

 

[Synovia]

Which of your 6 receivers would be on the 46 man gameday roster? In my opinion, if you use spots on the 53 man for those 6, they all need to be active on gameday. I can't imagine wanting to use a roster spot for Tate/Edelman for kick/punt returns if they're not going to play. Also, I can't imagine Price not being active for a second year in a row. That leaves Welker, Branch, and 85.

That's basically my reasoning for carrying 5 instead of 6, with all being active. And using the extra spot for a 4th TE, keeping both Yeatman and Smith, with only one of them on the gameday roster.

And I disagree.


And I don't think you'd be carrying Tate and Edelman as returners. IMO, Welker and Branch are both gone next year.

Do you really think that Both Yeatman and Smith are going to be better/more usefull players than Tate/Edelman? I don't. I don't see any reason to have two tightends on the roster who are purely blockers.

 

[nnmnmmnn]

Doh. I responded in the wrong thread again. Moving to WR thread.

 

[Bruschi_]

I think they keep 4 not 5.

From all the reports and blogs Vereen is injured and likely heading to IR. Faulk will be on PUP. So, the 4 is BJGE, Woodhead, Ridley and Morris. Medlin might be stashed on PS like they did with Thomas Clayton for a couple years.

 

[mgteich]

I don't think that a player who has practiced for 45 minutes and has no nfl expereince is a lock for the 53.

I don't think that a rb who was injured yesterday is lock for the 53.

That being said, if everyone is healthy, I favor Morris instead of the extra returner or 9th OL. Morris would be active and usful as a blocker and on special teams.

QUOTE=Armchair Quarterback;2639303]The top four (BJGE, Ridley, Vereen, Woodhead), if healthy are assured a spot on the 53, who would you keep as the fifth?[/QUOTE]

 

[patchick]

I don't think that a player who has practiced for 45 minutes and has no nfl expereince is a lock for the 53.

I don't think that a rb who was injured yesterday is lock for the 53.

If Vereen and Woodhead don't return to practice in the next 10 days or so, I'll certainly consider that. From where we sit now, though, I think they have to be written in to every 53.

Morris is the tough one for me. He's been the only real lead blocker in the backfield and is valuable on special teams. But is he worth keeping over a Tate or Edelman? Would you risk carrying just 4 interior linemen to keep Morris? And isn't he the kind of vested vet you might cut to protect a young player on cutdown day, but tell him you want him back the minute a roster spot opens?

 

[Synovia]

Agree with Patchick here. Morris is exactly the sort of vet who you can pick up mid season, or find someone else to do his job.


Also, Morris was down ~10% of the snaps last year, he's had trouble staying healthy, and frankly, hes just not that good.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

The top four (BJGE, Ridley, Vereen, Woodhead), if healthy are assured a spot on the 53, who would you keep as the fifth?

I don't think that a player who has practiced for 45 minutes and has no nfl expereince is a lock for the 53.

I don't think that a rb who was injured yesterday is lock for the 53.

That being said, if everyone is healthy, I favor Morris instead of the extra returner or 9th OL. Morris would be active and usful as a blocker and on special teams.

You did see the part where I said "if healthy" right? I thought that would suffice. Or are you suggesting they would cut Woodhead or Vereen?