Report: Ridley May Not See Action vs. HOU [Edit: Officially Inactive]

[PatsDeb]

I disagree with BB on this approach and if we had lost this game, hindsight would have been more than 20/20. Hopefully he feels Ridley has been taught enough of a lesson by 1:00 p.m. next Sunday.

 

[moosekill]

I disagree with BB on this approach and if we had lost this game, hindsight would have been more than 20/20. Hopefully he feels Ridley has been taught enough of a lesson by 1:00 p.m. next Sunday.

And if they had played Ridley and he had fumbled again, what then?

 

[PatsDeb]

And if they had played Ridley and he had fumbled again, what then?

I don't know. As someone pointed out somewhere, despite his fumbles this year we've won 3 of the 4 games he's fumbled in. He's our best running back, fumbles and all. You didn't think we could have used him on some of those runs in the 1st half where Boldin & Blount couldn't get 2 yards?

 

[moosekill]

Plenty of carries where Ridley doesn't get 2 yards, people just forget them.

 

[unoriginal]

I don't know. As someone pointed out somewhere, despite his fumbles this year we've won 3 of the 4 games he's fumbled in. He's our best running back, fumbles and all. You didn't think we could have used him on some of those runs in the 1st half where Boldin & Blount couldn't get 2 yards?

Blount had runs of 7, 8, 8, 1, and 3 yards in the 1st half. That's 5 runs for 27 yards. Except for the last series, which was basically a bunch of running back kneel downs, he was an effective runner.

I know we all like Ridley because he runs fast and hard but Blount, despite being a plodder still is very difficult for defenders to wrap up and bring down.

 

[woolster22]

Re: Re: Report: Ridley May Not See Action vs. HOU [Edit: Officially Inactive]

Plenty of carries where Ridley doesn't get 2 yards, people just forget them.

How many times did Bolden actually gain two? His running made be miss BJGE's explosion. It also made it very evident just how effective of a runner Ridley is. He would have made a huge difference in this game early on.

Luckily, Blount ran effectively, and more importantly, he ran in a matter that reflects his size, something he was criticized for not doing prior to coming here. Ridley better be all ears with Faulk, if his butter fingers keep up I wouldn't be surprised to see him over come this dilemma on another team.

That said, I think he makes this offense much more dangerous. He may not be a home run threat, but he consistently gets those few extra yards or seems to make a few people miss. He is explosive enough to burn the second level but doesn't really have that final gear to take it to the house. Butt he is a runner you have to pay attention to. And with the rookie wrs being banged up lately, we are going to need all the help we can get.

 

[woolster22]

Re: Re: Report: Ridley May Not See Action vs. HOU [Edit: Officially Inactive]

Blount had runs of 7, 8, 8, 1, and 3 yards in the 1st half. That's 5 runs for 27 yards. Except for the last series, which was basically a bunch of running back kneel downs, he was an effective runner.

I know we all like Ridley because he runs fast and hard but Blount, despite being a plodder still is very difficult for defenders to wrap up and bring down.

I wouldn't call Blount a plodder. He has the speed to take one all the way. He doesn't have the quickness to make a few guys miss. His size allows him to carry a few guys for a few extra yards, but if someone is in his face in the backfield, he is toast, no moves to make him miss, and he needs a head of steam to rub through tackles.

 

[moosekill]

I wouldn't call Blount a plodder. He has the speed to take one all the way. He doesn't have the quickness to make a few guys miss. His size allows him to carry a few guys for a few extra yards, but if someone is in his face in the backfield, he is toast, no moves to make him miss, and he needs a head of steam to rub through tackles.

People keep saying this, which is fine, but Ridley gets hit and dropped in the backfield also. Once again, people just choose to ignore those.

 

[woolster22]

Re: Re: Report: Ridley May Not See Action vs. HOU [Edit: Officially Inactive]

People keep saying this, which is fine, but Ridley gets hit and dropped in the backfield also. Once again, people just choose to ignore those.

Yes he does get dropped for losses as well. How many times does he make that first guy miss though? How many times do you watch him and think "he should have been tackled five yards ago." Hell, three yards before the stop. He is dangerous. Unfortunately, his lackadaisical ball control has deemed him dangerous to the offense as well.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Ridley's drops over the last three weeks are a concern, but I don't get why people are giving up on this guy. He is a top RB in this league.

Kevin Faulk is an excellent guy to be working with Ridley. There haven't been many RBs who fumbled more over their first three or four years in the league than Faulk did. Faulk found ways to cure his fumble problems and became one of the most sure-handed RBs in the league almost never laying the ball on the turf. Riley can cure his problems too.

Ridley has skills that are rare in NFL RBs. It would be stupid for the Pats to write this guy off. They need to work with him and fix what is wrong with him.

BTW, don't bet on this report being correct. I wouldn't be surprised if the Pats leaked out that they are limiting Ridley and turn around and make him a focal point of the offense.

I agree that it would be dumb to give up on the guy, and I'm sure Belichick realizes that as well. He shouldn't be carrying the ball until we can trust him not to fumble it, but in the mean time he's talented enough to keep around.

 

[Sticky Caulk]

Ridley is the best pure rusher the team has. He will be back once the coaching staff sees what they want out of him. Maybe that's a few weeks of working on his ball handling or maybe it is nothing more than a preschool timeout. Either way, this is one of those areas where only the team knows what they should do. They know Ridley and how Ridley thinks. What it takes for him to get better. If he can get better. They know. We don't.

Ridley has a great personality. He is everything a Patriot should be. He wants it. How he gets 'it'? Only the coaches know.

 

[Kdo5]

Yes he does get dropped for losses as well. How many times does he make that first guy miss though? How many times do you watch him and think "he should have been tackled five yards ago." Hell, three yards before the stop. He is dangerous. Unfortunately, his lackadaisical ball control has deemed him dangerous to the offense as well.

Indeed he can make more than just the first guy miss too. And he is very good and getting extra yardage. His determination to get the yardage however, may be one of his issues when it comes to fumbling.

Stevan Ridley is easily the best runner on our team. And the rushing game is clearly inferior when Ridley isn't playing.

 

[moosekill]

Ridley is the best pure rusher the team has. He will be back once the coaching staff sees what they want out of him. Maybe that's a few weeks of working on his ball handling or maybe it is nothing more than a preschool timeout. Either way, this is one of those areas where only the team knows what they should do. They know Ridley and how Ridley thinks. What it takes for him to get better. If he can get better. They know. We don't.

Ridley has a great personality. He is everything a Patriot should be. He wants it. How he gets 'it'? Only the coaches know.

Perhaps he has a great attitude, and he is saying the right things, but I never met him before. Hernandez always seemed like a good guy on TV too, until he killed some guys, so I am not really sure about anyone.

 

[Deus Irae]

If Belichick hadn't been so mean, and he'd allowed Ridley to play today, the Patriots might have beaten the Texans...

 

[Sticky Caulk]

Perhaps he has a great attitude, and he is saying the right things, but I never met him before. Hernandez always seemed like a good guy on TV too, until he killed some guys, so I am not really sure about anyone.

Hernandez is an extreme outlier.

 

[JackBauer]

How many damn chances do you want to give him, how many games does he have to lose for us before we say, boy he is a little better than Blount, who gives a crap if he fumbles every game and loses it for us.

Is this a joke?

 

[PP2]

Why would you say something like that about a Patriot Great like Kevin Faulk?

Show a little respect!

He's talking about Ridley, not Faulk.

 

[moosekill]

Is this a joke?

No it is the truth, he fumbled three games in a row. He isn't worth having in there if he continues to fumble. I imagine Bill is at wits end trying to figure out what to do. I imagine this is the last attempt before he is shut down for the year.

Some people just don't get how devastating losing a fumble can be, lots of times it is a 14 point swing. How many games in the league are decided by less than 14 points? That is what Ridley costs us. So the poor Ridley, mean Bill stuff is foolish.

How much better is he really than Blount? If neither of them fumble, is Ridley worth an extra yard? His numbers don't show that, but I will give you a yard. If he is worth a yard more than Blount, but fumbles every game how much is he worth at that point?

 

[moosekill]

He's talking about Ridley, not Faulk.

He was trying to be silly and turn my quote around to make it seem like I was talking about Faulk.

 

[PP2]

He was trying to be silly and turn my quote around to make it seem like I was talking about Faulk.

Well then her peculiar sense of humor went over my head.