Pats sign Fiammetta

[TheSport78]

per PFT

 

[Yeagermeister]

Glad he got picked up

 

[casmith07]

Looks like they realize that maybe they need to run the football a bit to add some balance.

 

[Joshmil53]

Good signing for them, if he stays healthy.

 

[boysfanindc]

Any news on what the deal was?

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

Is he healthy now?

 

[Idgit]

I think this move is a minor regret when we look back at the 2012 season.

 

[Woods]

I think this move is a minor regret when we look back at the 2012 season.

Isn't this like the 3rd FB the Pats have signed this off-season?

They must have gotten him for peanuts (and virtually nothing guaranteed).

 

[Dallas]

I think this move is a minor regret when we look back at the 2012 season.

Call me crazy, but I think Vickers will be a far better compliment in the run game than Fiammetta.

 

[iceberg]

per PFT

hope it works out for him. except if we have to play them.

 

[Idgit]

Call me crazy, but I think Vickers will be a far better compliment in the run game than Fiammetta.

I think most feel that way. I agree that he should help in short yardage. I'm a big fan of Fiametta's ability to block in space. And I really liked how much he seemed to be on the same page with our backs once they broke the LoS. I also think he was a pretty good receiver, though he didn't get that many opportunities.

I can't claim to have seen that much of Vickers other than his highlight reel, which was mostly leveling charging LBs in the hole. And he was great at it. I worry that he's not as good a fit for our breed of one-cut backs.

At the end of the day, I trust the scouts to know what they're looking for, but I think Fiametta's inner-ear infection issue last year was overblown. It's been years we've been looking for a good fit at FB, and then we find one and try to upgrade the next season. I don't love it.

 

[5Stars]

I think this move is a minor regret when we look back at the 2012 season.

You don't think the new Fullback can take up the load? I like his attitude...

 

[HoosierCowboy]

good luck to him and hope the mystery illness does not pop up again

 

[TheCowboy]

Good pick up for New England. I respect Fiametta and wish him the best.

 

[Idgit]

You don't think the new Fullback can take up the load? I like his attitude...

I like the guy, don't get me wrong. And he's at least going to be decent for us. I think Fiametta was a guy like Robinson was for us last year, who just fit in really well with what we were doing. It's hard to say if Vickers will or not, but I hate to see us make a break with someone who seemed to have good chemistry with our RBs.

It's interesting to see Fiametta go to the Pats, who I think could really use him well, too. I'm looking forward to watching those two guys this season to see which of us gets the better end of the deal.

 

[EPL0c0]

I'm really hoping that Vickers improves on what Fiametta did.

The run game really looked so much better with a legit FB in there.

 

[big dog cowboy]

good luck to him and hope the mystery illness does not pop up again

:signmast:

 

[Mr Cowboy]

But they cut Lousaka Polite to sign Fiametta!

 

[strongbomb3]

Looks like they realize that maybe they need to run the football a bit to add some balance.

pfft, Pats running the ball? they probobly going to use him as a passing fullback.

 

[percyhoward]

pfft, Pats running the ball? they probably going to use him as a passing fullback.

The Pats actually ran the ball a little more often than we did in 2011. They ranked 19th in % of plays that were runs, and Dallas was 23rd. That's not much of a surprise, because they were playing with a lead much of the time.

% of Plays that were Runs (whole field)
Patriots 41.1%
Cowboys 40.1%

But in the red zone, New England ran a lot more, and they did it very well.

% of Plays that were Runs (in red zone)
Patriots 47.7%
Cowboys 43.2%

Rushing TD (in red zone)
Patriots 16
Cowboys 4

Rushing 1st Downs (in red zone)
Patriots 27
Cowboys 7

Safe to say the Pats aren't blaming Fiammetta for Dallas' problems running inside the 20.