Patriots sign Rex Burkhead

[RobertWeathers]

Well he has. In College (yeah i know) and in the Week 17 game of last season (29 touches, 27/2).

I meant to say200 carries . My bad.

I really don't put a lot of stock in carries at the college level

 

[jah]

Lmao

The point is valid, but Hogan and Burkhead are hardly runts.

 

[mikey m]

The point is valid, but Hogan and Burkhead are hardly runts.

True. But Hogan's eyes are too crazy to pass up

 

[Mark Morse]

Here is the key to Burkhead. When he is in the game the opposing Defense can't pre-determine it is going to be a run like they can with Blount. Same can be said about White and Lewis. I agree they pick up a big RB in the draft like James Conner of Pitt (6' 1" 233). Burkhead will get the red zone carries and he will play Special Teams too.

 

[maineman209]

Here is the key to Burkhead. When he is in the game the opposing Defense can't pre-determine it is going to be a run like they can with Blount. Same can be said about White and Lewis. I agree they pick up a big RB in the draft like James Conner of Pitt (6' 1" 233). Burkhead will get the red zone carries and he will play Special Teams too.

When Blount was on the field in 2016, the Pats passed 43% of the time.

In spite of the fact that Blount had almost 75% of all RB carries in 2016, he still posted a 3.9 YPA and scored 18 TDs. He also had seven runs of 19+ yards, including three of 40+. The only other Pats player who had a run of more than 16 yards was Brissett with one for 27.

So, defenses certainly were playing the run when Blount was on the field, but they weren't exactly smothering him. And that really helped the passing game.

BTW - Pats active RBs don't play ST unless they're returning punts or kicks. Blount, Lewis and White combined for a total of 39 ST snaps in 2016. Bolden had 277 ST snaps by himself (and 13 total on offense).

Based on Burkhead's $3.15M contract (more than Blount, Lewis and White made combined in 2016), BB is definitely planning on him being an active RB and won't have him performing double-duty on ST.

While Burkhead does appear to offer more run/pass versatility than Blount (Burkhead had 74 totes to 20 targets in 2016), my guess is that he covers the lead RB role for 200-250 carries, plus 30-40 receiving targets, if Blount doesn't return (even if they draft someone like Conner).

If Blount returns for one more season (still a possibility), I'd guess they split +/- 350 carries between them, similar to Dillon/Maroney in 2006 or Ridley/Blount in 2013.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

It'd be weird, huh, if our only black RB were named "White." ESPN's head would explode, which would be the best part of all. And Goodell would ding us a pick for having so many RB's with names ending "head." I'm sure it's a CTE risk or something.

This post reads like it was written by someone who has exposed himself to massive CTE risk.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Lmao

Yes tiny runt Chris Hogan, at 6-1, 220. Little runt Chris Hogan is the same size as DeAndre Hopkins and Michael Crabtree. Look at those cute little rugrats posterizing other professional football players! How do they do it when they're so wittle?

But he's white, yes, I'll give you that. He is white.

 

[Patjew]

Yes tiny runt Chris Hogan, at 6-1, 220. Little runt Chris Hogan is the same size as DeAndre Hopkins and Michael Crabtree. Look at those cute little rugrats posterizing other professional football players! How do they do it when they're so wittle?

But he's white, yes, I'll give you that. He is white.

Big, if true.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Big, if true.

Not sure I follow

 

[captain stone]

Seems like an overpay, at first blush. I wonder if this is more about him playing in the slot.

It's an over-pay at second blush too.
Does Rappaport still claim that this is a "team-friendly" deal, and that he left "money on the table"? Who in the world was going to pay him more than that?

I don't understand what was so wrong with just re-signing Blunt at the salary he made last year, and then drafting a Power Back in the 3rd-5th rounds.

We still need a Clock-Killer, and this guy ain't it.

 

[Thelonious]

Yes tiny runt Chris Hogan, at 6-1, 220. Little runt Chris Hogan is the same size as DeAndre Hopkins and Michael Crabtree. Look at those cute little rugrats posterizing other professional football players! How do they do it when they're so wittle?

But he's white, yes, I'll give you that. He is white.

Are you always this tedious, or do you feel something special for me?

 

[Deus Irae]

It's an over-pay at second blush too.
Does Rappaport still claim that this is a "team-friendly" deal, and that he left "money on the table"? Who in the world was going to pay him more than that?

I don't understand what was so wrong with just re-signing Blunt at the salary he made last year, and then drafting a Power Back in the 3rd-5th rounds.

We still need a Clock-Killer, and this guy ain't it.

I'm taking a patient approach to this offseason. There have been a couple of curious moves already, to go along with more obvious calls. I think 2 SB wins in 3 seasons entitles BB to a "Point out, but wait" approach to questionable decisions.

Burkhead doesn't make sense to me as a bellcow RB. However, he makes more sense as a guy who's looked at to play a lot of slot WR along with his RB duties.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Are you always this tedious, or do you feel something special for me?

What you are quoting is me responding to someone who is not you. This prompts you to ask this question?

 

[Thelonious]

What you are quoting is me responding to someone who is not you. This prompts you to ask this question?

LOL. I believe the "conversation" to which my post is at this point perhaps only tangentially relevant began with a facetious little ditty of a post written by yours truly. Let's stipulate that if anyone HAS insulted me in connection with this post - you or any other cowpoke in this here saloon - I hereby insult him back. If you are this person, please forward immediately a few salient personal details about yourself so that I can contrive a particularly penetrating insult back. Failing this, I would only note that your mother DID wear army boots. Thank you.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

LOL. I believe the "conversation" to which my post is at this point perhaps only tangentially relevant began with a facetious little ditty of a post written by yours truly. Let's stipulate that if anyone HAS insulted me in connection with this post - you or any other cowpoke in this here saloon - I hereby insult him back. If you are this person, please forward immediately a few salient personal details about yourself so that I can contrive a particularly penetrating insult back. Failing this, I would only note that your mother DID wear army boots. Thank you.

This legit made me laugh, that's not a pithy rating you just earned.

The CTE comment I made was in reply to a bizarre post of yours in which you envisioned a world where the Pats only black running back was named White and how BSPN's heads would explode. I commented with extra snark because 1)ESPN wouldn't care and 2) Dion Lewis exists, and there simply aren't a lot of other white tailbacks in the league. It was a strange post. You did just make up for what was a nonsense post earlier with some well worded debauchery which I fully endorse, so I'd say all is well on my end.

 

[mikey m]

Yes tiny runt Chris Hogan, at 6-1, 220. Little runt Chris Hogan is the same size as DeAndre Hopkins and Michael Crabtree. Look at those cute little rugrats posterizing other professional football players! How do they do it when they're so wittle?

But he's white, yes, I'll give you that. He is white.

Makes you wonder certainly, must be adderall.

In all seriousness that was addressed a few posts after. Well aware Hogan is above average size. The level of craziness in his eyes made up for it though and put him on the list

 

[TommyD4207]

Rex Burkhead may possibly be the whitest name I've ever heard.

Christian McCafferey?

 

[Patjew]

Not sure I follow

It's just a silly internet thing. A sarcastic response to something that is clearly true.

My b. I'm a jerk.

Brick by brick

 

[PWRxWLF]

LOL. I believe the "conversation" to which my post is at this point perhaps only tangentially relevant began with a facetious little ditty of a post written by yours truly. Let's stipulate that if anyone HAS insulted me in connection with this post - you or any other cowpoke in this here saloon - I hereby insult him back. If you are this person, please forward immediately a few salient personal details about yourself so that I can contrive a particularly penetrating insult back. Failing this, I would only note that your mother DID wear army boots. Thank you.

Oh my goodness that was some funny ish right there.

 

[PWRxWLF]

After reading a lot of the posts, I can't quite figure out why some people don't think Burksy can be a lead back. Is it his size? Does he have some injury history that I might not be aware of? Maybe I'm overly optimistic but I really feel like we just found ourselves a diamond in the rough. IMO he has great size, he looks to me to be very compact and well built to take a punishment. He also looks to be someone that you can (as Deus pointed out) line up in the slot or even line up wide and expect him to beat a LB in coverage. He has also shown when given the opportunity that he can take it up the gut and run hard. I agree that he does seem to lean a lot which can cause him to fall, but I have no doubt that Mr. Fears can fix those types of issues. Heck, the guy has been a key ST's player for Cinci, and you have to remember how fast those guys jam down the field and take crushing blows. I'm excited, and can't wait to see the production we get from this guy. He adds another chess piece for Josh to play with.