Ridley being hurt is a pretty big issue for this team

[patsinthesnow]

Is Ridley better than Maroney? Of course.

Is Ridley overrated by pats fans? Of course.

Will his presence make a difference? Not really.

We need Vereen back, badly.

 

[JMC00]

We need Vereen back, badly.

Talk about a guy who has been severely overrated because of 3 games.

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

Ridley, when healthy is a high 2nd tier back, the first tier being AD, Foster, McCoy, Gore, maybe a couple others. Ridley maximizes yardage very well, breaks tackles, cuts decisively and quickly into a hole, accelerates very quickly, and very much makes the defense focus on what he's doing - and that last trait, drawing the eye of the defense, is what helps an offense open up and move with the pass. Brady and Co. could use his skills very badly right now. Blount and Bolden are not providing that kind of impact.

 

[RIpats88]

Is Ridley better than Maroney? Of course.

Is Ridley overrated by pats fans? Of course.

Will his presence make a difference? Not really.

We need Vereen back, badly.

Ridley is the best back the pats have had since Dillon. He was #2 in TD's by a RB with 12last year....yet this year he has 0, and the pats only have 1

the running game helps the passing game. Yet when the pats should run more, having rookies with limited game experience they seem to be abandoning the run

 

[RIpats88]

Maroney
45 games
582 attempts
16 runs of 20 or more yards

Ridley
36 games
424 attempts
13 runs of 20 or more yards

just from the eye test though, Ridley is a better back than maroney...hes faster, makes better cuts

 

[BAM!]

just from the eye test though, Ridley is a better back than maroney...hes faster, makes better cuts

He isn't faster than Maroney was but he does have better vision and is more decisive.

 

[Patjew]

What does Maroney have to do with anything?

 

[goheels22002]

What does Maroney have to do with anything?

I am having trouble coming up with a football reference, but I think he could win on "So You Think You Can Dance?"

 

[Ring 6]

What does Maroney have to do with anything?

Someone tried to demean Ridley by saying his 4.4 ypc is the same thing as Maroneys 4.1.
Kinda like saying a .251 batting average rounds up to .300 so its the same thing.

 

[Patjew]

Someone tried to demean Ridley by saying his 4.4 ypc is the same thing as Maroneys 4.1.
Kinda like saying a .251 batting average rounds up to .300 so its the same thing.

I get that. What I think is stupid is using Maroney as some kind of baseline. Maroney was pretty good and then he sucked. BFD. It has nothing to do with Ridley. Why don't we compare Ridley to Craig James instead?

 

[Ring 6]

I get that. What I think is stupid is using Maroney as some kind of baseline. Maroney was pretty good and then he sucked. BFD. It has nothing to do with Ridley. Why don't we compare Ridley to Craig James instead?

I agree with you completely.
The reason the poster used Maroney is because it has become Patsfanese for 'suck'.

 

[VrabelJr]

Every RB we've put back there so far has gotten it done at a decent level. Our OL is phenomenal at run blocking.

We don't lack a running game. We lack running attempts.

 

[Ring 6]

Every RB we've put back there so far has gotten it done at a decent level. Our OL is phenomenal at run blocking.

We don't lack a running game. We lack running attempts.

Not so sure. We run very well out of passing formations with Tom Brady at QB.
That is not a resounding complement to the running game.
The quality of the running game should be based upon how it runs with the QB under center rather than looking at stats that are overstated by the effect of shotgun draw plays.

 

[Rob0729]

According to Albert Breer, Ridley is playing tomorrow. Mike Reiss doesn't have him on his list of expected inactives either.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

According to Albert Breer, Ridley is playing tomorrow. Mike Reiss doesn't have him on his list of expected inactives either.

good to hear...they will need him

 

[hwc]

In a long, grueling 19 game NFL season, the Pats needs significant contributions from Ridley, Vereen, Blount, and Bolden. All of them will likely be limited or miss time due to injuries over the course of the season. You need all of them. At the end of the year, the effectiveness of the Pats' running game will be the sum total of all of their carries.

Personally, I think Vereen's absence has been the toughest hit. His receiving capablities would be valuable as the Pats try to survive through injuries to receivers/tight ends and bringing rookie WRs up to speed.

I think Blount has made a nice, solid contribution to this team so far. A couple of big runs and a big help closing out a game late.

 

[JJDChE]

The worst thing about this three headed monster we have going now is that Ridley is a rhythm back. He gets stronger as the game goes on. He really starts breaking the 12, 15, 20 yd runs once he starts getting to 13, 14, 15 carries. Giving him 10 carries a game isn't going to cut it. At least that's my perception.

 

[hwc]

Well, since he's currently been out with an injury, I'd be happy to see Ridley back on the field, getting 10 carries a game, and taking a bit of the load off Blount and Bolden.