Patriots philosphy on RB's

[CowboyChris]

Can someone explain the Patriots way of using RB's? first of all, you never who starts, just to prove that, let's see if anyone can correctly name the starter for the SB. add the fact they rotate between 3-4 of them per game. it's truly unorthodox.

Next question, would the Patriots have picked Zeke #4 overall? a couple of years ago.

We struggled during the 6 games that Zeke had to sit, infact we may have made the playoffs if he wasn't suspended.

Are we too reliant on having a bell cow running back? Is this the right philosophy going forward? and last but not least, should we re-sign Zeke to a mega deal...in couple of years?

 

[jrumann59]

When you have Brady and their passing game which uses RB and slot guys for short passes a front line runner is not really needed.

 

[Idgit]

Pats spend resources up the middle. They ignore WRs and edge players and are only opportunistic when they have a chance to do so.

They’d never have wasted the #4 overall on a running back. It was a mistake for us to.

 

[kskboys]

Pats spend resources up the middle. They ignore WRs and edge players and are only opportunistic when they have a chance to do so.

They’d never have wasted the #4 overall on a running back. It was a mistake for us to.

Yes, they would have, if they didn't have Brady.

Agree w/ resources up the middle.

 

[kskboys]

Can someone explain the Patriots way of using RB's? first of all, you never who starts, just to prove that, let's see if anyone can correctly name the starter for the SB. add the fact they rotate between 3-4 of them per game. it's truly unorthodox.

Next question, would the Patriots have picked Zeke #4 overall? a couple of years ago.

We struggled during the 6 games that Zeke had to sit, infact we may have made the playoffs if he wasn't suspended.

Are we too reliant on having a bell cow running back? Is this the right philosophy going forward? and last but not least, should we re-sign Zeke to a mega deal...in couple of years?

Patriots have a big, immobile QB who can dissect D's in miliseconds. That's why they don't need a great RB. However, they do always try to make sure they have a good one. They're always on the lookout for a Blount, a Ridley, a Maroney, a Kevin Faulk. And they did use Corey Dillon for several years.

Thing is, due to Brady being immobile, they must have a great OL w/ depth and many weapons on O so Brady can get rid of the ball quickly. So, that's where they must spend their resources and draft picks.

Pats prolly would have picked EZ. Why? Are you kidding? A top 5 RB who does everything well including pass blocking and catching and Belly would get him for peanuts for 5 years. Yes, absolutely yes.

A team must rely on something. In NE's case, it's a great QB. Since we don't have a great QB, yes, a great RB/running game is important to our super bowl chances.

 

[Idgit]

Yes, they would have, if they didn't have Brady.

Agree w/ resources up the middle.

But they do have Brady.

Regardless, they’d never spend the #4 overall on a RB. Look at how they actually fill the position. It will tell you how they value it. RBs are a commodity.

 

[MonsterD]

I will never understand why the Cowboys need a top 3 RB to be able to run successfully and several other teams can do RBBC with plug and play free agents and never miss a beat.

 

[aria]

I will never understand why the Cowboys need a top 3 RB to be able to run successfully and several other teams can do RBBC with plug and play free agents and never miss a beat.

They don’t. He definitely adds another dimension but we’d still be fine without him and the back ups proved that.

 

[cowboyblue22]

the reason dallas drafted a rb with the number four pick is to sell tickets and make money for jerry

 

[kskboys]

But they do have Brady.

Regardless, they’d never spend the #4 overall on a RB. Look at how they actually fill the position. It will tell you how they value it. RBs are a commodity.

I don't think you can say that.

Don't forget, the reason they don't have a top tier RB is because the funds need to be spent elsewhere to stay in super bowl contention. Getting a top tier RB for 5 years for a decent price? I believe they'd jump at the chance.

The Pats understand that super bowls are won in the trenches and at QB. So, that's where they spend their money. However, they jump at the chance to get guys like Blount and Randy Moss and Ochocinco for a bargain rate. The Pats love to have players of that caliber, they simply understand that you cannot overpay them.

They jumped at the chance to get Cooks. Why? If I remember correctly, isn't his contract reasonable?

 

[kskboys]

They don’t. He definitely adds another dimension but we’d still be fine without him and the back ups proved that.

Didn't prove it.

Morris is a top 10-15 RB if you can keep him motivated. While he filled in ably, our O was not the same w/ him due to his lack of explosiveness and HR ability.

 

[kskboys]

I will never understand why the Cowboys need a top 3 RB to be able to run successfully and several other teams can do RBBC with plug and play free agents and never miss a beat.

Name those teams. NE, yes, they just happen to have a top 10 all time QB. When you have that, no, you don't need a great RB.

What a team really needs is a tough yds RB, the RB who still gets positive yds when there's no hole. And in today's NFL, that RB must be a complete back, and esp at least a decent pass blocker.

Along w/ Wentz's improvements, Philly's rise was also due to Blount/Ajayi.

MINNY has Latavius Murray, a fine tough yds RB.

NE uses the short passing game to get those tough yds. However, you must have a top 10 QB to even be able to do it this way. Those short passes are ripe for pick 6's if your QB doesn't see the field and read the D at very high level.

 

[Pape]

Can someone explain the Patriots way of using RB's? first of all, you never who starts, just to prove that, let's see if anyone can correctly name the starter for the SB. add the fact they rotate between 3-4 of them per game. it's truly unorthodox.

Next question, would the Patriots have picked Zeke #4 overall? a couple of years ago.

We struggled during the 6 games that Zeke had to sit, infact we may have made the playoffs if he wasn't suspended.

Are we too reliant on having a bell cow running back? Is this the right philosophy going forward? and last but not least, should we re-sign Zeke to a mega deal...in couple of years?

Starter in the Super Bowl should be Dion Lewis. Lewis is the dual threat rb, and had more rush attempts than James White, who is featured as more a passing back.

How the Patriots use the run game depends on the players on the roster; its adaptable to different circumstances. In 2016, the Patriots used Blount as the primary back, with him getting the most rush attempts and scoring opportunities. He was pretty good in the regular season. He had a tendency to get bogged down in playoff games though. When he was stuffed, the Pats would transition to the short passing game running attack, which is how they ran the running game in the majority of 2017.

Flood the under zones/screens/slots with the shifty backs to gain yardage. This style of attack is predicated on getting the back / receiver open quickly and getting the ball out of the pocket asap. Brady has a quick release... so it helps. If the defense has to converge, it usually gives those backs the opportunity to turn up field and gain yac.

Is it something other teams should try and copy? Depends on the teams qb and how fast they can get the ball out of the pocket. The traditional running game, based on a bell cow and a 3rd down back works fine. Unless your team throws to win like the Pats do, then I would say No, that they should not try to run that particular style of offense...

Would the Pats have picked Zeke at #4? No. The last time the Pats picked a back in the first round, the was Laurence Maroney, with #21 in 2006. Considering how that turned out.... The Pats have de-emphasized Running backs over the past few years, so if they took a rb at the top of the draft, BB would have to think that person was the next coming of Jim Brown.

 

[Idgit]

I don't think you can say that.

Don't forget, the reason they don't have a top tier RB is because the funds need to be spent elsewhere to stay in super bowl contention. Getting a top tier RB for 5 years for a decent price? I believe they'd jump at the chance.

The Pats understand that super bowls are won in the trenches and at QB. So, that's where they spend their money. However, they jump at the chance to get guys like Blount and Randy Moss and Ochocinco for a bargain rate. The Pats love to have players of that caliber, they simply understand that you cannot overpay them.

They jumped at the chance to get Cooks. Why? If I remember correctly, isn't his contract reasonable?

They get skill players at bargain rates for a reason. Because those players are available consistently at bargain rates. The 32 and 103 or whatever it was overall for a WR is one thing. #4 overall is another matter. A RB at #4 is overpaying by definition. Both in terms of draft capital and cap space.

Blount was a veteran FA signing. He cost them nothing in terms of draft assets. Dillon was, what, a 2nd rounder? That’s affordable. Moss they got for a fourth. Then traded him later for a third.

Watch how they spend their money and picks. There’s little doubt how they value position players.

 

[CPanther95]

Pats don't need RBs. If they want to gain 3.5 yards, they'll throw a 4 yard pass and have the receiver fall backwards.

 

[Nightman]

Can someone explain the Patriots way of using RB's? first of all, you never who starts, just to prove that, let's see if anyone can correctly name the starter for the SB. add the fact they rotate between 3-4 of them per game. it's truly unorthodox.

Next question, would the Patriots have picked Zeke #4 overall? a couple of years ago.

We struggled during the 6 games that Zeke had to sit, infact we may have made the playoffs if he wasn't suspended.

Are we too reliant on having a bell cow running back? Is this the right philosophy going forward? and last but not least, should we re-sign Zeke to a mega deal...in couple of years?

He does it piss off Fantasy Football players

 

[Sarge]

I personally would NEVER pick a RB 4th.

 

[Nightman]

I personally would NEVER pick a RB 4th.

And you would never have a HoF RB

To each his own

 

[Pape]

And you would never have a HoF RB

To each his own

Never is such a strong word...

Terrell Davis, Curtis Martin, Thurman Thomas, and LeRoy Kelly all say hello

 

[Nightman]

Never is such a strong word...

Terrell Davis, Curtis Martin, Thurman Thomas, and LeRoy Kelly all say hello

Don't you have some nits to pick