Grant, Hightower, Addai...why not Battle?

[Lamanai]

if the Pats are really looking for RB depth, why not consider Jackie Battle, formerly of KC?

He may not have the pedigree of the other three, but he is a ST contributor, routinely playing on all four units for KC. And he's a big back, who can be used in short yardage to fill the role Green-Ellis had. I don't think he's garnered much interest in free agency, so perhaps he'd come cheap.

just an idea...

 

[Joker]

interesting...ended up KC's leading rusher even though injured at the end of the season...why not take a FA flyer and see what he's got?

 

[jmt57]

Battle had one good game against a bad team that was mentally out of it (the Colts) last year, when he ran for 119 yards. Beyond that he didn't do much, despite being given the chance on a team that was committed to running the ball. Why? Because in comparison to other running backs he is both stiff and slow; the only reason he has managed to stay in the league for five years is because he has been willing to sacrifice his body on special teams.


Ryan Grant, Tim Hightower, and Joseph Addai each have their own question marks, but they are the top three free agent running backs; there is a huge gap between those three and the rest of the available free agent running backs such as Jackie Battle in my opinion.

 

[supafly]

Battle had one good game against a bad team that was mentally out of it (the Colts) last year, when he ran for 119 yards. Beyond that he didn't do much, despite being given the chance on a team that was committed to running the ball. Why? Because in comparison to other running backs he is both stiff and slow; the only reason he has managed to stay in the league for five years is because he has been willing to sacrifice his body on special teams.


Ryan Grant, Tim Hightower, and Joseph Addai each have their own question marks, but they are the top three free agent running backs; there is a huge gap between those three and guys and the rest of the available free agent running backs such as Jackie Battle in my opinion.

I tend to agree, not that I'm knocking the idea, b/c it's been brought up before.

I think we have our potential bigger back/ goal line backs already if we want them in the FB's.

I think it's not necessarily about the 'big backs' (maybe I am getting the wrong idea with the thought of Battle), and simply more about the positive attributes that a vet RB could bring here.

Battle's attitude and work ethic are some of his bigger pluses, but I tend to agree that he doesn't really provide anything beyond what a general FB or big back RB could do.

 

[pdangle]

I thought u meant sign all three and let them battle it out. Which of course would be good for the pats but I doubt guy #2 and #3 would sign on for that.

This Battle guy on the hand, don't know much about him. let's sign all 4 and let them... Never mind. Really though it's pretty nice when a 3rd rb decision is one of our final needs. And an optional one at that. I doubt many other team boards would have multiple posts spanning weeks on a simllar personel decision.

I can only imagine what lengths the papers and media must be going to come up with any new story of importance or even entertainment.

 

[Off The Grid]

Grant, Hightower, Addai...why not Battle?

What, you mean like in Hunger Games?? Battle to the death, survivor makes the Roster??

 

[Deus Irae]

Because Battle sucks

 

[Off The Grid]

Because Battle sucks

That's right, baby!! Make Love, Not War!! :rocker:

 

[Ring 6]

Not sure why we would be looking for a 29 year old RB, who has never been higher than 4th on the depth chart, just because his team had a lot of injuries and 4th on the depth chart turned into a 100 or so mediocre rushing attempts.

 

[Lamanai]

Not sure why we would be looking for a 29 year old RB, who has never been higher than 4th on the depth chart, just because his team had a lot of injuries and 4th on the depth chart turned into a 100 or so mediocre rushing attempts.

Maybe because of one or more of the several reasons I outlined?

Cost, plays on four STs, size, fit, etc...what are you expecting from a 4th RB...? how many years did Sammy Morris kick around with that resume?

I assume you looked him up, yet you miscalculated his age and trimmed down his rushing attempts. Was that necessary? Incidentally, his mediocre rushing attempts produced a higher average than our leading rusher last year. (Oh, and He's never fumbled either!)

 

[Sicilian]

Maybe because of one or more of the several reasons I outlined?

Cost, STs, size, fit, etc...what are you expecting from a 4th RB.?
How many years did Sammy Morris kick around with that sort of package...

The problem is right now our 1-2-3 consist of a 3rd down specialist and two unknown 2nd year commodities. Battle is the type of guy you grab when you've got a couple of established guys ahead of him. As it is right now we need a guy who is going to push for playing time against the young guys for depth and insurance.

 

[Ring 6]

Maybe because of one or more of the several reasons I outlined?

Cost, plays on four STs, size, fit, etc...what are you expecting from a 4th RB...? how many years did Sammy Morris kick around with that resume?

I assume you looked him up, yet you miscalculated his age and trimmed down his rushing attempts. Was that necessary? Incidentally, his mediocre rushing attempts produced a higher average than our leading rusher last year. (Oh, and He's never fumbled either!)

He will be 29 October 1st. 100 or so and 149 are pretty much the same thing, are they not?
I don't see the need for a special teamer who could play in a pinch, I'd rather have the better RBs who can compete with Ridley and Vereen for pt or play a big role if either are injured.
Battle is no Sammy Morris.
Trying to make 4.0 sound better than it is by pointing out the 3.7 of the guy we made little effort to keep doesn't make the player sound better.

 

[Lamanai]

The problem is right now our 1-2-3 consist of a 3rd down specialist and two unknown 2nd year commodities. Battle is the type of guy you grab when you've got a couple of established guys ahead of him. As it is right now we need a guy who is going to push for playing time against the young guys for depth and insurance.

I understand your position if you have serious reservations about the current stable of fishers. But I am sold on the Ridley-Vereen-Woohead trioka, especially for a very heavily pass-oriented team like the Pats. Worst case scenario, BB has had a history of plugging all sorts of guys in at RB in a pinch. Heck, didn't Heath Evans roll for 100+ yards one game as a 4th option at RB?

I don't think we're getting Grant or Hightower on the cheap, like we could for a guy like Battle. I'd rather spend the cap $$$ elsewhere. JMO.

 

[supafly]

I understand your position if you have serious reservations about the current stable of fishers. But I am sold on the Ridley-Vereen-Woohead trioka, especially for a very heavily pass-oriented team like the Pats. Worst case scenario, BB has had a history of plugging all sorts of guys in at RB in a pinch. Heck, didn't Heath Evans roll for 100+ yards one game as a 4th option at RB?

I don't think we're getting Grant or Hightower on the cheap, like we could for a guy like Battle. I'd rather spend the cap $$$ elsewhere. JMO.

I am also optimistic about the RB's, as I assume many are; however there are still a lot of questions/concerns that come with having 2 young RB's who by all intents and purposes are basically rookies.

I don't think that Grant or Hightower will be that much, when you look at the average type of deal that many RB's are getting lately. Even if our vet RB is a little bit more costly than originally assumed, the cost effectiveness of the position itself is wonderful (extremely cheap).

We need a guy who can push the rookies for carries and playing time, being able to start in a pinch if an injury occurs. We need a guy who can step into the #1 role if/when needed.

It's my opinion that Battle doesn't really offer anything more than what one of the FB's could potentially offer, and we already have that option if Belichick chooses to keep a FB/ST player.

 

[Lamanai]

He will be 29 October 1st. 100 or so and 149 are pretty much the same thing, are they not?
I don't see the need for a special teamer who could play in a pinch, I'd rather have the better RBs who can compete with Ridley and Vereen for pt or play a big role if either are injured.
Battle is no Sammy Morris.
Trying to make 4.0 sound better than it is by pointing out the 3.7 of the guy we made little effort to keep doesn't make the player sound better.

The 4.0 rushing average was factual, and exceeded the average of our leading rusher who had about only 32 carries and 80 yards more than Battle.

No, the Pats did not re-sign BJGE, but I suspect it had to do with the price tag, no?

Your error in calculating his actual current age and underestimation of his rushing attempts appeared to be a weak attempt at supporting your opinion.

 

[Ring 6]

The 4.0 rushing average was factual, and exceeded the average of our leading rusher who had about only 32 carries and 80 yards more than Battle.

No, the Pats did not re-sign BJGE, but I suspect it had to do with the price tag, no?

Your error in calculating his actual current age and underestimation of his rushing attempts appeared to be a weak attempt at supporting your opinion.

Why would I misstate age to try to make his sound worse? Thats silly.
I'm sorry if you think 100-some is an insult to a guy who had 149.

I don't care for a special teamer who could fill in as a 4th string RB even if he is cheap, instead of a guy who actually could be effective as a #2.

 

[Lamanai]

Why would I misstate age to try to make his sound worse? Thats silly.
I'm sorry if you think 100-some is an insult to a guy who had 149.

It is precisely the reason you misstated it, to make him sound worse. So, yes I agree you were being silly.

I never said anything about it being an insult. Just inaccurate by about 33-50%.

You may not care much about a guy who contributes on ST, but I know someone who does.

 

[supafly]

You may not care much about a guy who contributes on ST, but I know someone who does.

I would assume that we're more than fine on ST's, as we have a plethora of players who can fill out the ST roster with no problem.

Your opinion on acquiring Battle doesn't agree with my thinking personally, but anything is possible of course.

We'll know soon enough what Belichick thinks is best.

 

[Sicilian]

I understand your position if you have serious reservations about the current stable of fishers. But I am sold on the Ridley-Vereen-Woohead trioka, especially for a very heavily pass-oriented team like the Pats. Worst case scenario, BB has had a history of plugging all sorts of guys in at RB in a pinch. Heck, didn't Heath Evans roll for 100+ yards one game as a 4th option at RB?

I don't think we're getting Grant or Hightower on the cheap, like we could for a guy like Battle. I'd rather spend the cap $$$ elsewhere. JMO.

That's fair. If you believe Ridley and Vereen are going to take that next step this year, Battle would be sufficient. I'm hopeful they will too, I actually really like Ridley, and Woodhead has proven himself in his specific role. I just try not to expect too much out of a young player until they've actually done it consistently on the field, and would like a legitimate back that can carry the load if they're not ready.

One point though, I think it might be the pass happy offense that gives me the most pause regarding Ridley/Vereen. Most backs come out of college knowing how to run, a lot come out knowing how to receive, but pass protection at the NFL level is a whole different animal. I think the most important thing I want out of a 4th running back is the ability to sub in for Woodhead on passing downs and know he's got Brady's back.

 

[supafly]

Most backs come out of college knowing how to run, a lot come out knowing how to receive, but pass protection at the NFL level is a whole different animal. I think the most important thing I want out of a 4th running back is the ability to sub in for Woodhead on passing downs and know he's got Brady's back.

I think this is one of the most understated aspects of the number of live reps that a young RB gets, especially in this particular offense.

Many here seemed to forget this aspect entirely when complaining about the lack of playing time from the rookie RB's last yr. I believe that you will not see the field unless you are effective in your blitz pickups as a RB of the NEP.