Running Game Without Vereen For 10 Weeks

[Rob0729]

A couple of things:

• The Pats lose him for 8 games. Although ten weeks is technically correct, he is eligible to return for the 10th game of the season.
• Vereen's loss is bigger this year because Woodhead had a lot of carries last year that Vereen was going to take up the slack on. Woodhead had 301 yards and 4 TDs on 76 attempts.
• I think Leon Washington can replace Vereen over this period of time better than most expect. Not expecting him to be what Vereen was going to be, but he won't be horrible either.

 

[PatsFan2]

Remember, the short passing game to the backs is part of our running attack. Ridley has shown himself to not be much of a receiver. Not sure about Bolden and, although Blount can catch, I'm not so sure he can run effectively enough to justify being out there all of the time. Washington might help but flip a coin.

I am looking at Blount as a player who needs to justify his roster spot. If he shows something tomorrow fine if he lays an egg...we need to sign someone off another Teams PS and cut Blount.

 

[PatsFan2]

A couple of things:

• The Pats lose him for 8 games. Although ten weeks is technically correct, he is eligible to return for the 10th game of the season.
• Vereen's loss is bigger this year because Woodhead had a lot of carries last year that Vereen was going to take up the slack on. Woodhead had 301 yards and 4 TDs on 76 attempts.
• I think Leon Washington can replace Vereen over this period of time better than most expect. Not expecting him to be what Vereen was going to be, but he won't be horrible either.

I hope Washington's Pass Blocking is not like what I saw in the preseason almost nonexistent...I would not want to see Brady carted off because of some washed up journeyman scat back.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

It's still a pretty good attack with Ridley alone, even if you're like me and not counting one bit on Blount and Bolden other than to give Ridley a breather here and there. Aside from the fumbling, he was looking pretty good on Sunday. He had 45 yards in a little over a quarter, just protect that football and he has a chance to have an even better season than last. Vereen coming back will just be icing on the cake.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

A couple of things:

• The Pats lose him for 8 games. Although ten weeks is technically correct, he is eligible to return for the 10th game of the season.
• Vereen's loss is bigger this year because Woodhead had a lot of carries last year that Vereen was going to take up the slack on. Woodhead had 301 yards and 4 TDs on 76 attempts.
• I think Leon Washington can replace Vereen over this period of time better than most expect. Not expecting him to be what Vereen was going to be, but he won't be horrible either.

Still not sure how much playing time Washington gets in the regular offense. Bolden might get first crack at the 3rd down role as well as backing up Ridley.

 

[RayClay]

Vereen had 8 career receptions and 77 rushing yards before Sunday. If Ridley's OK, the running game should be pretty much what it was.

I'm excited about Vereen too, but you have to realize at this point what we are losing is mostly in your imagination. Since we did stock up on RBs including vet Washington, we should be handing out carries differently, mostly.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Vereen had 8 career receptions and 77 rushing yards before Sunday. If Ridley's OK, the running game should be pretty much what it was.

I'm excited about Vereen too, but you have to realize at this point what we are losing is mostly in your imagination. Since we did stock up on RBs including vet Washington, we should be handing out carries differently, mostly.

Not really. We've seen him produce at a very high level in the playoffs, the preseason, and in game 1 of this season. It couldn't be more obvious that he is a focal point in this offense.

The reason why he didn't have a greater regular season statistical impact prior to this year is because he was in the process of proving that he deserved Woodhead's job. Which he proved. That's why Woodhead's gone, and that's why he's a very important part of this offense.

 

[patsfan-1982]

IMO its still top 10 talent as long as Stevan Ridley is out there but Brady had over 4800 yards and 34 TD's I don't know if he will get that this year with the guys he has right now throw to so teams will be looking to stop the run a lot more, I see them having less yards then last year but still being good

 

[patsfan-1982]

Vereen had 8 career receptions and 77 rushing yards before Sunday. If Ridley's OK, the running game should be pretty much what it was.

I'm excited about Vereen too, but you have to realize at this point what we are losing is mostly in your imagination. Since we did stock up on RBs including vet Washington, we should be handing out carries differently, mostly.

I agree with this that was a career game for Vereen he's season stats would have looks something like Woodhead's last years 800 to 900 total yards and about 7 TD's great numbers for a 3rd downs back but not the Marshall Faulk type numbers some think he would have got

 

[Christian]

Vereen looked like a guy that was really ready to break out. And by break out, I'm talking 700 yds rushing, 700 receiving type #s....maybe even more.

He is a do it all back. It is a MAJOR blow to an offense already with deficiencies. No other way to slice it.

 

[RayClay]

Not really. We've seen him produce at a very high level in the playoffs, the preseason, and in game 1 of this season. It couldn't be more obvious that he is a focal point in this offense.

The reason why he didn't have a greater regular season statistical impact prior to this year is because he was in the process of proving that he deserved Woodhead's job. Which he proved. That's why Woodhead's gone, and that's why he's a very important part of this offense.

Yes Really. That's his regular season total. He had 7 in the playoffs too.

Like I said, I'm excited about his potential too, but the fact is, the running game and passing, without Vereen in the regular season has been what we've had most of the time. Quite a bit different than asking about the running or passing game if we lost someone who in fact had 20 carries a game, 10 targets for two years.

 

[detpatsfan]

When did Shane Vereen become the resurrection of Barry Sanders? Steven Ridley was outstanding for us last year and is still the featured back of the offense.

 

[Christian]

Yes Really. That's his regular season total. He had 7 in the playoffs too.

Like I said, I'm excited about his potential too, but the fact is, the running game and passing, without Vereen in the regular season has been what we've had most of the time. Quite a bit different than asking about the running or passing game if we lost someone who in fact had 20 carries a game, 10 targets for two years.

I understand what you are saying. But as the previous poster said, Vereen was in the process of winning Woodhead's job. Vereen's ceiling is much higher than Woodhead's ever was...and we were just getting a glimpse of that Sunday. Couple losing a very reliable Woodhead, with a better version of Woodhead in Vereen...and you're talking a major loss. Vereen's numbers the last 2 years really have zero to do with this equation.

 

[IllegalContact]

We were the #7 running team in the NFL last year, with a minimal contribution from Vereen. His part year production this year should be greater than his 2012 production. Besides, we'll have his fresh legs for the playoff run and the playoffs.

We replaced Woodhead with Blount and Washington. Bolden could also be a factor when he is healthy.

Is our running game still top 10 this year?

is this a question or an answer?

 

[RayClay]

I understand what you are saying. But as the previous poster said, Vereen was in the process of winning Woodhead's job. Vereen's ceiling is much higher than Woodhead's ever was...and we were just getting a glimpse of that Sunday. Couple losing a very reliable Woodhead, with a better version of Woodhead in Vereen...and you're talking a major loss. Vereen's numbers the last 2 years really have zero to do with this equation.

Like I said, I'm very excited about Vereen, I was for moving from Woodhead to him. I'm just saying we haven't grown dependent on him yet, because he hasn't played much. We need a 3rd down back/receiver and we have a stable of running backs. He'll be back and hopefully can stay healthy.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Yes Really. That's his regular season total. He had 7 in the playoffs too.

Like I said, I'm excited about his potential too, but the fact is, the running game and passing, without Vereen in the regular season has been what we've had most of the time. Quite a bit different than asking about the running or passing game if we lost someone who in fact had 20 carries a game, 10 targets for two years.

In this past that you refer to, was Julian Edelman our top receiver?

 

[RayClay]

In this past that you refer to, was Julian Edelman our top receiver?

"Running Game Without Vereen For 10 Weeks" is the thread title. For that period of time we have two RBs who have run more in the past on the Pats, one elsewhere. We have a vet who has been a receiver out of the backfield, though not a lot lately.

How about our passing game and run blocking without Gronk? If that was the thread title, it would probably be more of a hole to fill.

 

[mgteich]

If I wasn't clear, I think that the patriots are a top 10 running team in 2013. Perhaps we might have been top 5 with Vereen available all year, maybe not.

is this a question or an answer?

 

[wolverinejoe80]

in Ridley we trust.

 

[Christian]

Like I said, I'm very excited about Vereen, I was for moving from Woodhead to him. I'm just saying we haven't grown dependent on him yet, because he hasn't played much. We need a 3rd down back/receiver and we have a stable of running backs. He'll be back and hopefully can stay healthy.

Maybe we haven't seen how dependent we've become on him, but I guarantee you the coaches were extremely dependent on him becoming a major factor. See how often he was on the field Sunday? Even if Ridley didn't get benched, you would've seen a TON of Vereen...because he can do it all. He is a major blow to lose. Any player who has the ability to give you 100 yds rushing and/or receiving in any given game, is a major, major blow to lose. Maybe if we had Gronk, Hernandez, a healthy Amendola, Ridley not fumbling...and Dobson showing us he's ready to be a threat on the outside, then yeah...we wouldn't be so dependent on him. But given the circumstances, you better believe we are dependent on Vereen.