RB's this year...

[stcjones]

BB is going to have some tough decisions at RB....Ridley and Vereen are locks....but Blount showed a ton this preseason and I was especially impressed with George Wynn last night. Bolden has been erratic and feel like he is going to get cut.....Develin gone too I'd imagine.....but again, Wynn looked good last night ...great instincts, hard runner...hope he sticks!! What do y'all think is going to happen with RB situation? Thanks

 

[Big-T]

Winn might have played himself into a roster spot, especially with Washington (unfortunately) appearing to play his way out of a roster spot.

Bolden was always going, for me, he's shown nothing since his PED suspension so isn't worth a roster spot, again IMO.

The only problem with cutting Washington is having another year of poor kick returns.

Develin could get a roster spot at the expense of a TE (Hooman) and do a similar job.

 

[chasa]

Winn might have played himself into a roster spot, especially with Washington (unfortunately) appearing to play his way out of a roster spot.

Bolden was always going, for me, he's shown nothing since his PED suspension so isn't worth a roster spot, again IMO.

The only problem with cutting Washington is having another year of poor kick returns.

Develin could get a roster spot at the expense of a TE (Hooman) and do a similar job.

Washington didn't really light it up, hell blount showed more shiftyness on returns then he did.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Bolden's not getting cut and Winn's not making the 53.

 

[Brewskies]

Winn might have played himself into a roster spot, especially with Washington (unfortunately) appearing to play his way out of a roster spot.

Bolden was always going, for me, he's shown nothing since his PED suspension so isn't worth a roster spot, again IMO.

The only problem with cutting Washington is having another year of poor kick returns.

Develin could get a roster spot at the expense of a TE (Hooman) and do a similar job.

I watched all the pre season games I must have missed his powerful kick returns. I will have to watch the replays, like not.

 

[Gronkandez]

Bolden's not getting cut and Winn's not making the 53.

I disagree. Winn has shown enough to keep around IMO. Cut Ballard,Tebow and Develin...or whatever it takes.

Washington looked fine to me. If Mallett was any good LW would have had a 70-yard TD reception plus he had a very good punt return.

 

[Big-T]

I watched all the pre season games I must have missed his powerful kick returns. I will have to watch the replays, like not.

It was pre-season, we don't know how much work was actually put into the blocking schemes on kick returns etc.

I don't see how Washington could have fallen off a cliff so quickly from the end of last season? Or is the reason that the other 10 guys in Pats unis on the field at the time are hopeless at blocking on kick returns? Which could be why for the most part there hasn't been much success in that part of the game for a few years.

 

[dales804]

It was pre-season, we don't know how much work was actually put into the blocking schemes on kick returns etc.

I don't see how Washington could have fallen off a cliff so quickly from the end of last season? Or is the reason that the other 10 guys in Pats unis on the field at the time are hopeless at blocking on kick returns? Which could be why for the most part there hasn't been much success in that part of the game for a few years.

I've often wondered the same thing about the kick return team. We read and hear analysts talk about how a guy plays on the return units and that helps to solidify their roster spot if they're not so much a part of the offense or defense. But the kick return game has sucked since Tate left and perhaps being a part of the kick return unit doesn't do much to help solidify a roster spot since they often have trouble getting to the 30.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

I disagree. Winn has shown enough to keep around IMO. Cut Ballard,Tebow and Develin...or whatever it takes.

Washington looked fine to me. If Mallett was any good LW would have had a 70-yard TD reception plus he had a very good punt return.

We'll see tomorrow but Winn only played in game four, looked OK, averaged less than 4 YPC against mostly backups. Was he on any special teams? Practice Squad.

 

[PatsFan2]

Riddler is getting the lions share of snaps so losing Winn is no biggie RB's are a dime a dozen. The competition at WR is more intriguing.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Are y'all thinking 4 or 5 spots at this point? I'm personally hoping 4 (Ridley, Vereen, Blount, Washington) with the situations at WR, TE, CB, S - all could require 5+ except maybe TE, and I'm guessing 6 at WR. And if Tebow is kept, woah boy.

 

[dales804]

Are y'all thinking 4 or 5 spots at this point? I'm personally hoping 4 (Ridley, Vereen, Blount, Washington) with the situations at WR, TE, CB, S - all could require 5+ except maybe TE, and I'm guessing 6 at WR. And if Tebow is kept, woah boy.

Yes, four or five RBs. I hope they keep four (Ridley, Vereen, Bolden, Washington).

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Yes, four or five RBs. I hope they keep four (Ridley, Vereen, Bolden, Washington).

To clarify I was asking which one, four or five... but I think you ended up answering it anyways

I just think 5 would be a waste unless there are injuries. Hopefully one can make it to PS.

 

[ausbacker]

I don't care who fills in spots 3, 4 or 5 at RB. Any mix of Blount, Boldin, Washington, Develin, Winn will do me just fine. Ridley and Vereen are going to be the two stars and deservedly so.

How sentiment changes from WTF picks to geez the Patriots hit on them in a few years.

 

[303PatsFan]

Are y'all thinking 4 or 5 spots at this point? I'm personally hoping 4 (Ridley, Vereen, Blount, Washington) with the situations at WR, TE, CB, S - all could require 5+ except maybe TE, and I'm guessing 6 at WR. And if Tebow is kept, woah boy.

Totally agree. My opinion this team doesn't need no more then four at RB.

 

[Wilfork#75]

53 Man Roster- Ridley, Vereen, Blount and Bolden

PS- Winn

Cut- Washington (as much as I would have liked him to make the team I can't justify a spot for a pure kickoff returner, especially with the decrease in kick returns after the rule change.)

 

[BTTA]

Cut- Washington (as much as I would have liked him to make the team I can't justify a spot for a pure kickoff returner, especially with the decrease in kick returns after the rule change.)

This is an issue I hadn't considered. Having an extra 5 yards on average or an extra TD return over the course of the year was a lot more important before. But now, how many returns will we truly have? And how many of them will start at or near the goal line, so a return much past the 20 is a likelihood? Far fewer than when Washington was making his mark as a return guy.

So I suppose his value as a back up 3rd down back will be a larger part of the equation than I'd been thinking.

 

[dales804]

This is an issue I hadn't considered. Having an extra 5 yards on average or an extra TD return over the course of the year was a lot more important before. But now, how many returns will we truly have? And how many of them will start at or near the goal line, so a return much past the 20 is a likelihood? Far fewer than when Washington was making his mark as a return guy.

So I suppose his value as a back up 3rd down back will be a larger part of the equation than I'd been thinking.

Here's the breakdown of kick returns for the past four seasons. Note the rule change went into effect for the 2011 season:

2012: Patriots - 38 Opp - 60
2011: Patriots - 46 Opp - 60
2010: Patriots - 56 Opp - 81
2009: Patriots - 54 Opp - 70

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

53 Man Roster- Ridley, Vereen, Blount and Bolden

PS- Winn

Cut- Washington (as much as I would have liked him to make the team I can't justify a spot for a pure kickoff returner, especially with the decrease in kick returns after the rule change.)

Yeah, that's what I got too. Ridley the starter and Vereen the 3rd down back, Bolden capable of backing up both plus all 4 ST. Blount spells Ridley. Washington would have to make it on his return game only. Winn to PS.

 

[Kontradiction]

I'm not so sure Winn played himself into a roster spot, but the only three locks I have right now are Ridley, Vereen, and Blount. After that, no clue. And I agree that the WR competition is much more intriguing.