Comments on: Bill Belichick: Brandon Bolden picking things up pretty well

By: guypatsfan

guypatsfan — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 19:54:18 +0000

The NFL is first and foremost a passing league, and the Pats are not the only team out there doing the running back by committee thing. Actually, it’s probably the smart thing to do, considering the amount of punishment the average NFL running back absorbs in a season. If you’ve got four guys who can get you 500-700 yards in a season, then that’s 2000y+ yards from the running back position, and if your team makes the playoffs, then those guys will be a lot fresher than if you had only one workhorse back. RBs are overrated anyways; Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for over 1600 yards last year, and the Jags were 5-11.

By: jolink653

jolink653 — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 16:08:56 +0000

Why spend a 2nd round pick on Vereen if you’re not going to start him? I like a lot Ridley too but I was hoping for more out of Vereen..Maybe once preseason starts he’ll show more than he did in his injury-plagued rookie year

By: fryjor82

fryjor82 — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 11:22:12 +0000

Does it really matter who carries the rock for NE?
Pretty sure I could manage back there with T-Bomb at QB!!
Unless it is an elite RB, they are all the same,

By: NakedCowboy!

NakedCowboy! — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 01:42:59 +0000

I don’t know why they let law firm go in first place… he was a solid RB… not great but good… never fumbled… never really lost yardage… and chiefs signed him for like 2m per year… that doesn’t sound much…

By: patriotenvy

patriotenvy — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 21:46:31 +0000

Kevin Faulk had a fumble problem at first. He worked hard and won the coaches over. Sometimes it’s not that a person fumbles a lot, but at very bad times in very bad ways. Not saying that is the case – just that raw stats don’t show that.

By: homelanddefense

homelanddefense — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 19:57:06 +0000

I thought they were going to try and stash this kid on the practice squad, but after the Addai cut (assuming they dont sign another vet) I think this kid has a nice shot of making the team.

The assertion that Ridley has a fumbling problem is overblown. YES, he did have a fumble back to back weeks to end the season, however only 1 was an official fumble (the other went out of bounds) on 95 touches. So 1 in 95 touches for a fumble

In college he had 583 touches and 5 fumbles, so that is 1 for 117 touches. To put that in perspective, of the 15 backs in the NFL to reach 1000 yards last year, they averaged 1 fumble every 90 touches.

Were the fumbles at the end of last year worrisome, yes. But hardly worth the label he has received around here

By: monosylab1k

monosylab1k — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 19:37:35 +0000

Bolden was a good SEC back before injuries, and now that they released Joseph “I ain’t gonna run no mo” Addai, maybe he’ll see the field.

I’m more excited for Ridley, though. He was never really impressive at LSU, but I saw him running with power and explosion last year in limited time…didn’t even look like the same guy. I guess that’s what an NFL training/nutrition program can do for ya.

By: blacknole08

blacknole08 — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 19:29:54 +0000

The RB job in New England is really up for grabs. Woodhead is not an every-down back but he can make some big plays and Ridley fumbles too much but has a nose for the goal line. Vereen seems like a better option catching passes out of the backfield than running between the tackles. If Bolden has the same intangibles as the law-firm that would be a steal for the Pats.

Sounds like it will another year of RB by committee for NE though.

By: rc33

rc33 — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 19:29:24 +0000

Better hands and MUCH faster.
Law Firm looked like he was dragging a piano at times.