Opportunity for Gillislee?

[maineman209]

It's not that he's running bad, it's just that he can't catch **** in the passing game so whenever he's in, other teams just stack the box every single time they see him, and he's just not good enough to overcome that.

In one-RB sets, obviously. Pair him up with White, Lewis or Burkhead with some 3-headed combo of Gronk, Cooks, Hogan and Amendola and defenses need to think twice about leaving their nickel guy on the sidelines and stacking the box.

Anyway, it's maybe not that Gillislee can't catch, it's just that he hasn't been targeted very often in his previous career (and not at all with the Pats - yet). Still, he's 15 of 18 (83%) and has one for 29 yds and another for 50 yds.

I can't imagine that McD hasn't designed a pass play or two for Gillislee that he'll spring on an unsuspecting defense at some point soon.

 

[turkeyneck]

All well and good...



Just don't let the man return kicks.

Outsmarted by the JETE; not a good look...

 

[maineman209]

I think the loss of Bennett has more of an impact on Gillislee than the loss of Ebnar. Wouldn't shock me with with all of our injuries and with Bennett gone, if we see Gillislee this week in Buffalo.

Possibly. This seems certain to be a tricky week for roster management.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

I hope so, I want to limit lewis' reps. its not like Gillislee was running bad before he got benched. would be nice to rotate lewis/burkhead/gillislee running the ball throughout the game

Agreed. Save Lewis for the playoffs.... at the very least, keep him healthy for the Steelers game.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Good post.

Re:James White. That is a whole other discussion as he has been de-emphasized in this offense.

Before the bye he was averaging about 40ish snaps a game and now he's in the teens. Also his targets are a 1/4 of what they were.

I'm not sure it's a hot hand thing but rather McD wants more run/pass unpredictably in the offense.

James White was never as skilled or talented as Dion, but he was supremely dependable and durable, and came through BIG TIME in Super Bowl LI.

I don't know which RBs the Pats will keep long-term, but White is clearly part of this team's future.

Hope I can say the say for Lewis (my favorite Pats play other than Butler)

 

[RobertWeathers]

James White was never as skilled or talented as Dion, but he was supremely dependable and durable, and came through BIG TIME in Super Bowl LI.

I don't know which RBs the Pats will keep long-term, but White is clearly part of this team's future.

Hope I can say the say for Lewis (my favorite Pats play other than Butler)

Me neither. Both DLew and Burk are FAs after this year and Gillislee can be cut with zero 2018 cap hit.

For all we know it could be a whole new backfield next year.

 

[ALP]

I think the loss of Bennett has more of an impact on Gillislee than the loss of Ebnar. Wouldn't shock me with with all of our injuries and with Bennett gone, if we see Gillislee this week in Buffalo.

Gillislees inactivity began moment Bennett started being active

however this last game they were both inactive, so it started being a RB to TE switch, and now i think its due to injuries on DL and OL were we need more bodies so need that last RB slot

i expect after guys start getting healthy Gillislee starts being active again

 

[ALP]

Me neither. Both DLew and Burk are FAs after this year and Gillislee can be cut with zero 2018 cap hit.

For all we know it could be a whole new backfield next year.

possible, but i dont think Rex will command big money by anyone else, and we like him, so we will return him...its possible we cut Gillislee and give Rex that salary

Dion will get attention as an FA (rightfully so), so it will take more money to keep him here, but it seems were down a path were we're more willing to invest big money on RBs, so i prob see it as 50/50 Dion returns

Overall the cap hit for RB will prob stay the same b/c White stays same, Rex takes hit from Gillislee, Dion has a higher hit than current but the difference is made up by the 4th RB, who will be paid much less than Rex currently is

 

[RobertWeathers]

possible, but i dont think Rex will command big money by anyone else, and we like him, so we will return him...its possible we cut Gillislee and give Rex that salary

Dion will get attention as an FA (rightfully so), so it will take more money to keep him here, but it seems were down a path were we're more willing to invest big money on RBs, so i prob see it as 50/50 Dion returns

Overall the cap hit for RB will prob stay the same b/c White stays same, Rex takes hit from Gillislee, Dion has a higher hit than current but the difference is made up by the 4th RB, who will be paid much less than Rex currently is

Overall agree but I see some idiot team thinking the Patriots Gold will rub off on them subsequently they will pay above market for Burk and DLew

 

[maineman209]

Overall agree but I see some idiot team thinking the Patriots Gold will rub off on them subsequently they will pay above market for Burk and DLew

IDK. It seems like about 1/3 to 1/2 the teams in the league hit on some very good RBs in the past two drafts who they're paying a lot less. And it's not as if Burkhead or Lewis have established themselves in the same class as guys like McCoy, so I'm not sure that any competing offers will be all that extravagant.

OTOH, I'm sure that lots of other teams will try to copy what the Pats are doing with the guys they have.

Interesting factoid: Lewis and Gillislee are #31 and #33, respectively, in rushing yards per game.