Brady's RB Protector

[mgteich]

Let's assess how well each of the running backs protect Brady. We don't have a Faulk out there. It seems that having a RB that is awesome at picking up the blitz will be mean success for our passing game.

I just don't see anyone stepping up in this role. Some suggested running a 4 wide. That's fine as long as Brady has a protector.

 

[Big-T]

Vereen is fairly decent at it, had a couple of good blocks today.

If they ran the run & shoot for a week or 2, have it something like this:
Dobson/Thompkins & Boyce outside
Edelman & Amendola inside
Vereen at HB

Have Boyce go deep most plays then mix in a curl or slant every so often, use his 4.3 speed to blow the top off a defense, Let Dobson/Thompkins run an intermediate route then have one or both of Amendola & Edelman run a short route and Vereen as the safety valve.

It should protect against most outcomes because with 4 wide a team isn't going to blitz too heavily so Vereen as the safety valve is viable, the DBs will be down field with Boyce & Dobson so he will have running room too.

But I have a suspicion that Gronk plays Thursday night.

 

[supafly]

Vereen is supposed to be pretty good at this, or at least that was the word coming out of Cal.

If you can't pick up the blitz, you won't make it on this team--or most other NFL teams. That is the RB's #1 priority here, and should be everywhere.

Is Devlin on the team again currently (I can't keep up but I believe he is)? If so, what is his purpose?

 

[mgteich]

1) Vereen seems to be the perfect 3rd down and long down (say 2nd and 10) back. To me, that means that he isn't our starters, but may get as many reps as the starter.

2) Develin is our fullback. He got 18 reps. Apparently, Josh wants to have a FB on the team. Hooman was in that role last year. One of them can go when we have enough TE's to be able to entertain that option. For now, Hooman is our starting tight end (80 reps) and Develin is our FB. We RAN the ball more than any team but TENN yesterday. We need blocking TE's and can use a fullback.

3) I don't object to our use of a fullback (18 reps). We want the team to run more. Having a fullback helps in that effort.

Vereen is supposed to be pretty good at this, or at least that was the word coming out of Cal.

If you can't pick up the blitz, you won't make it on this team--or most other NFL teams. That is the RB's #1 priority here, and should be everywhere.

Is Devlin on the team again currently (I can't keep up but I believe he is)? If so, what is his purpose?

 

[supafly]

1) Vereen seems to be the perfect 3rd down and long down (say 2nd and 10) back. To me, that means that he isn't our starters, but may get as many reps as the starter.

2) Develin is our fullback. He got 18 reps. Apparently, Josh wants to have a FB on the team. Hooman was in that role last year. One of them can go when we have enough TE's to be able to entertain that option. For now, Hooman is our starting tight end (80 reps) and Develin is our FB. We RAN the ball more than any team but TENN yesterday. We need blocking TE's and can use a fullback.

3) I don't object to our use of a fullback (18 reps). We want the team to run more. Having a fullback helps in that effort.

I didn't realize that he got 18 reps. That makes more sense now.

As far as Vereen being a halfway decent pass protector, it looks like we'll be at a loss for 3-4 games without him.

 

[mgteich]

My hope is that Develin can do some this heavy lifting.

I didn't realize that he got 18 reps. That makes more sense now.

As far as Vereen being a halfway decent pass protector, it looks like we'll be at a loss for 3-4 games without him.