Ridley

[VrabelJr]

Brady has gone on record many times and said he'll be damned if he loses a game because of a rookies mistakes. Barring injury and certain situations, this is likely the last we've seen of Ridley.

 

[mgteich]

Ridley has gotten his season and playoff experience. I don't expect to see much of him now; there is no need. We have Green-Ellis and Woodhead. We might even see Faulk in the backfield on some passing down, as Brady's protector and outlet receiver.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I highly doubt we will see Ridley for the rest of the playoffs. heck he didn't even come back after his fumble when the pats were up 35 pts if I recall right

 

[Clonamery]

Brady has gone on record many times and said he'll be damned if he loses a game because of a rookies mistakes. Barring injury and certain situations, this is likely the last we've seen of Ridley.

Brady's INT cost his team 7 points; Ridley's fumble did not. Brady should take care of what he can control and let his coaching staff take care of what they can.

 

[UK_Pat37]

Brady's INT cost his team 7 points; Ridley's fumble did not. Brady should take care of what he can control and let his coaching staff take care of what they can.

It did cot us 3 though if I remember correct.

Brady is Brady, this is a rookie who has a lot of flaws in his game that need coaching out of him in my eyes. I wanted him to get a chance, he's had it. He needs to run with the ball correctly and lower his shoulder into hits whilst covering up...he does neither consistently in the open field!

He's going to be awesome for us, but if he can't get those tiny nit picks out of his game he could continue to fumble. The Ravens will be stripping at that ball an awful lot!

 

[BaltimorePatsFan]

Meanwhile...will Shane Vereen make the roster next season?

 

[Clonamery]

It did cot us 3 though if I remember correct.

Brady is Brady, this is a rookie who has a lot of flaws in his game that need coaching out of him in my eyes. I wanted him to get a chance, he's had it. He needs to run with the ball correctly and lower his shoulder into hits whilst covering up...he does neither consistently in the open field!

He's going to be awesome for us, but if he can't get those tiny nit picks out of his game he could continue to fumble. The Ravens will be stripping at that ball an awful lot!

So what caused the Denver fumble?

 

[Metaphors]

Ridley's first fumble was a lack of focus. His fumble Saturday was a judgement issue. He was struggling for more yards when the risk vs. reward didn't justify it. He had a good hold of the ball but took a helmet right on it. Just about anyone would have fumbled in that situation. The real issue is that he allowed himself to be put in that situation...which just can't happen in the playoffs.

You take him out of the game so that hard lesson burns into his brain. You certainly don't deactivate him (effectively) because of it. Particularly against a team that shut down BJGE the last time they met. Ridley has the speed to the edge which is where the Ravens can be attacked with the run. He just needs to get what he can, wrap up the ball and hit the turf.

OT a little...if there ever was a time to roll out Vereen, this is it. A package of Vereen, Gronk, Hernandez, Welker and Branch can morph from a power running set (that you can still throw out of) to a 5-wide with mismatches all over the field...and a million things in between. I don't think it happens but I would rather see Vereen active and have a few packages for him than give Faulk a gameday active spot.

 

[Clonamery]

Ridley's first fumble was a lack of focus. His fumble yesterday was a judgement issue. He was struggling for more yards when the risk vs. reward didn't justify it. He had a good hold of the ball but took a helmet right on it. Just about anyone would have fumbled in that situation. The real issue is that he allowed himself to be put in that situation...which just can't happen in the playoffs.

You take him out of the game so that hard lesson burns into his brain. You certainly don't deactivate him (effectively) because of it. QUOTE]


Fair. Bunkley knocked himself out on the hit.

 

[supafly]

Meanwhile...will Shane Vereen make the roster next season?

Good lord, you cannot even be remotely serious...

 

[supafly]

It did cot us 3 though if I remember correct.

It didn't cost us anything, as the defense had held our opponents to 0 points off of turnovers in the second half of the year prior to Brady's INT on Saturday night.

Your point however, is well taken.

There isn't much of a need to give Ridley the ball when:

1. They won't run all that much against BAL to begin with, besides setting up play action and keeping them honest. We've seen BB refuse to try and play into the oppenents strengths by not running the ball much before, I see no reason why he won't utilize his #1 strength which is the pass

2. They will use BJGE, his experience and ability to prevent the ball from reaching the ground--especially in this situation

3. Woodhead and/or maybe even Faulk will see the carries in the hurry-up, not Ridley

I can't imagine any sceanrio where Ridley sees more than about 5 carries, and that includes playing with a lead in the 4th quarter, trying to run out the clock.

 

[Big-T]

Wouldn't be surprised if Vereen got the nod and Ridley was inactive this week. against the Ravens having pass catching RB's in will be a bonus with the pass rush they have so having Vereen, Faulk & Woodhead active will give the team more options.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Considering that BJGE never fumbles,I am surprised that they did not ask him to be a mentor to our two new RBs and show them how he himself avoids getting fumbles or forced ones.

Kevin Faulk who came into the league with some of the worst butterfingers has not been nearly as turnover prone the past several years and he might help out as well in teaching.

 

[supafly]

Wouldn't be surprised if Vereen got the nod and Ridley was inactive this week. against the Ravens having pass catching RB's in will be a bonus with the pass rush they have so having Vereen, Faulk & Woodhead active will give the team more options.

I wouldn't expect that at all.

Now is not the time to play with fire for no particular reason, and Vereen is a RB for next year. He will almost certainly be inactive again, and for good reason. He does not have a good enough grasp on the playbook, the audibles and calls, and most importantly the blitz pickups.

No way in hell that Vereen plays this week, but I can understand your reasoning at the same time.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Wouldn't be surprised if Vereen got the nod and Ridley was inactive this week. against the Ravens having pass catching RB's in will be a bonus with the pass rush they have so having Vereen, Faulk & Woodhead active will give the team more options.

I would be shocked. Vereen is a rookie and by all accounts blitz pickups/pass protection is something he is still learning.

Not the time nor the place for him in this game.

 

[UK_Pat37]

It didn't cost us anything, as the defense had held our opponents to 0 points off of turnovers in the second half of the year prior to Brady's INT on Saturday night.

Your point however, is well taken.

There isn't much of a need to give Ridley the ball when:

1. They won't run all that much against BAL to begin with, besides setting up play action and keeping them honest. We've seen BB refuse to try and play into the oppenents strengths by not running the ball much before, I see no reason why he won't utilize his #1 strength which is the pass

2. They will use BJGE, his experience and ability to prevent the ball from reaching the ground--especially in this situation

3. Woodhead and/or maybe even Faulk will see the carries in the hurry-up, not Ridley

I can't imagine any sceanrio where Ridley sees more than about 5 carries, and that includes playing with a lead in the 4th quarter, trying to run out the clock.

I thought they scored 3 off of the Ridley fumble in the 3rd Quarter? I may have been mistaken as it was well past my normal bed time over here though so if I'm wrong, excuse me I haven't re watched the game yet which I have normally done by now!

I don't think we'll be as balanced as we were against the Broncos, I would be amazed if we do and delighted if we get anywhere close to the same results! So there may be limited opportunities...but I would expect 20-25 touches for the running backs...as close to 25 as we can get the better...and I would like to see a huge chunk of those go to BJGE rather than Ridley...he's a liability because of some of his techniques in my eyes.

Some still see him as the key, I really see LawFirm having the big role in this game. Still give him some touches...but around 5 would the max I want to see from him. I'd trust Woodhead more.

 

[ATippett56]

Welcome to the NFL Stevan Ridley. You are not playing against Vanderbilt anymore and you'd better hold on to the football when gang tackled.

 

[ATippett56]

Wouldn't be surprised if Vereen got the nod and Ridley was inactive this week. against the Ravens having pass catching RB's in will be a bonus with the pass rush they have so having Vereen, Faulk & Woodhead active will give the team more options.

Vereen has been nursing a hamstring injury this season. I seriously doubt Vereen will be even active for the game against the Baltimore Ravens.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I thought they scored 3 off of the Ridley fumble in the 3rd Quarter? I may have been mistaken as it was well past my normal bed time over here though so if I'm wrong, excuse me I haven't re watched the game yet which I have normally done by now!

I don't think we'll be as balanced as we were against the Broncos, I would be amazed if we do and delighted if we get anywhere close to the same results! So there may be limited opportunities...but I would expect 20-25 touches for the running backs...as close to 25 as we can get the better...and I would like to see a huge chunk of those go to BJGE rather than Ridley...he's a liability because of some of his techniques in my eyes.

Some still see him as the key, I really see LawFirm having the big role in this game. Still give him some touches...but around 5 would the max I want to see from him. I'd trust Woodhead more.

Woodhead ran well vs BAL last year ave about 6 yards per carry. BJGE not so much ave 2 yds per carry in 10 touches.

Historically the Pats haven't set the world on fire vs the D. Passing, running etc but have still averaged 23ppg.

 

[strngplyr]

Everyone will get their touches who is active, I expect Faulk to be in the backfield for blitz pickup, we know that if anyone is going to send extra defenders this post season, it will be Baltimore. If we happen to get past them we'll be dealing with 4 man rushes primarily.