PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

2014

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Running Backs

by

Running back is one of the most intriguing positions on the New England Patriots’ roster this training camp. The headline of the offseason was the loss of breakout player LeGarrette Blount, but the Pats didn’t make a veteran addition to replace Blount, leaving the spotlight on fourth-year veterans Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen, both of whom enter contract years.

With a diverse set of rookies also on the roster, this could be one of the most competitive position battles in training camp.

Our Training Camp Preview series continues with a look at the running backs.

It would be easy to pencil in Stevan Ridley as the early-down starter and Shane Vereen as the passing-down starter, with Brandon Bolden spelling both. But things are never that simple with Bill Belichick’s Patriots.

Both Ridley and Vereen have their respective baggage. For Ridley, it’s fumbles and for Vereen it’s injuries. Ridley has had four fumbles in each of his last two seasons, and while that total isn’t egregious, Belichick does not take kindly to “error repeaters”.

Vereen played just eight games in 2013, but continues to brim with potential. The effects of a first-game wrist injury in 2013 haunted him for the rest of the season, yet he still possesses elite pass-catching skills. 

Surrounding their top two options there are a lot of “ifs”. IF Ridley can hang on to the ball… IF Vereen can stay healthy… Both are good players, but the NFL is loaded with good players and if they can’t stay on the field the Patriots will move on to find running backs who can.

Brandon Bolden returns for his third season after nearly-identical stats in his first two years. Bolden is a better fit as a base-down running back, but doesn’t get many yards-after-contact and was miscast filling in as a receiving back for Vereen. 

Could he be due for a breakout year in 2014 where he challenges Ridley for early-down carries? That might be expecting too much.

Behind Ridley, Vereen and Bolden are a group of rookies who cover the spectrum. 

Stephen Houston is 6’, 230-pound power back. James White is a fourth-round draft pick much in the same mold of Vereen as a pass-catching threat. Roy Finch is a 5’7", 180-pound scatback who turned heads in OTAS. Jonas Grey rounds out the group as another power back after spending his rookie season on Baltimore’s practice squad.

Projection:

There’s at least one open spot on the roster for a running back to replace Blount – Houston or Grey would seem to be the favorites for the short yardage/change-of-pace duties behind Ridley, but nothing is set in stone.

With the evolution of the game toward more passing offense, there’s certainly an argument to be made for the kind of value that White and Finch could bring as well.

Finch especially should be a preseason fan-favorite. He’ll get plenty of carries and likely splash some shifty explosion.

If Ridley or Vereen falter, the Pats could have an entire new look in their offensive backfield this season but they’ve got some promising talent that should do fine running behind a veteran offensive line and lighter boxes that are respecting Tom Brady’s passing game.

Previously:

Quarterbacks

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Quarterbacks

by

Welcome to part one of our Patriots Training Camp preview that will feature an in-depth look at each position on the roster and what we’ll be looking for in training camp along with our expectations going into the season.

Another Patriots season is upon us, here we go!

The New England Patriots’ offense underwent changes and injuries in 2013. With multiple weapons in their second seasons with Tom Brady, as well as their two top running backs entering contract years, the Pats’ attack is primed be better in 2014. 

Tom Brady has gone through multiple phases of offense during his Patriots career. There was the efficiency years of 2001-2006, the Randy Moss years of 2007-2009, then the high-speed blitzkreig of 2010-2012 with Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Deion Branch and Wes Welker.

Now Brady enters the twilight of his career with two highly-drafted young quarterbacks behind him. Brady should have a few more sure-fire seasons left in him, but what can we expect to see out of Ryan Mallett and Jimmy Garoppolo?

Our training camp preview series kicks off with the quarterbacks.

Quarterback

Of course, this is where we get to talk about Tom Brady. As always, there was plenty of media fodder surrounding Brady this offseason. From reports saying he was on the decline, to others saying he had the most impressive year of his career, there is never a lack of discussion surrounding the future Hall of Famer.

At this point in his career some decline if inevitable. But Brady’s strengths – reading defenses and making quick throws to the open receiver, should give him a chance to play possibly into his forties. But Those waiting for Brady to suddenly start throwing bombs downfield left and right will be waiting until Brady retires. That’s not Brady’s game, but that doesn’t matter.

With another year to develop chemistry with his young weaponry, including Danny Amendola, Brady should have a better year statistically in 2014 than he did in 2013. Expect another season of Brady being Brady – sound quarterbacking, some last-minute wins, and another appearance in the playoffs.

The real intrigue at the quarterback position will be between backups Ryan Mallett, entering the final year of his rookie deal, and rookie second-round pick Jimmy Garoppolo.

Garoppolo is the ideal fit to execute the Tom-Brady-version of the New England offense. He’s probably not going to beat out Mallett this summer, but in the long term, as he gets more comfortable playing under center, Garoppolo could very well be a legitimate challenge to Brady by his third year.

Mallett has a superlative arm, but he’s shown lackluster development in the preseason. He just can’t seem to find the touch necessary to make the easy underneath throws that good NFL quarterbacks have to make.

If something were to happen to Brady, the New England offense would have to be tailored to Mallett, with Josh Boyce and Aaron Dobson running Go routes every play.

Garoppolo has a superlative trait of his own – his release. With minimal wind-up and compact power to go with his ability to read defenses, Garoppolo should develop into the kind of quarterback who can excel with receivers like Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola.

The “dink-and-dunk” method of offense can carry a negative connotation, but it’s extremely effective, especially when run at a brisk pace.

Projection:

Brady will see limited time in the preseason, with Ryan Mallett giving the Patriots and 31 other teams a long look.

Mallett can’t sleep on Garoppolo, though it’s still too soon for the rookie to have a legitimate shot at winning the back-up role. Expect the Pats to carry three quarterbacks this season, with Mallett moving on after the season.

Garoppolo fits the Pats’ offensive philosophy better than Mallett does, but Mallett’s experience is too valuable should the unthinkable (cough 2008) happen for this season.

Will Patriots’ Offensive Youth Movement Continue?

by

Will the New England Patriots continue 2013’s trend of going young on the offensive side of the ball? Given the players in their last year and the weak spots along their offensive line, it seems likely.

Specifically focusing on the interior line where the Patriots got much larger during the draft. Rookie offensive linemen like Stork, Halapio, and Fleming are on average much larger than bubble veteran players like Connolly and Wendell.

The problem is that they haven’t quite caught on as fast as the team had hoped. Stork was the highest OL taken in the draft, and it was a common reoccurrence to see him take a lap for a missed snap or botched play.

We’ll see this unit more when the pads come on in late July, and that might be where the rookies set themselves apart from the veterans due to their sheer size. Connolly and Wendell could very well be in jeopardy of losing their jobs when the roster needs to be cut down to 53.

Although they weren’t flashy picks that excite the fan base, drafting young, big offensive linemen is a great weapon to give Brady, as he should be able to stay on his feet a bit longer and let his receivers create more separation.

When it comes to running backs, look for the veterans to hold their spots pretty well. Ridley and Vereen should both be near locks to make the roster. They both are playing in a contract year and both are integral parts of the offense. Brandon Bolden could potentially be in trouble here, especially if rookie running backs James White and Roy Finch can produce during training camp.

White seems more likely to earn a spot due to his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and it’s been rumored the Patriots could go to a personnel package featuring both Vereen and White who are both solid pass catchers out of the backfield.

Similar to revolutionizing the two TE system, Belichick finds a way to think ahead of the curve and the two pass catching RB system might be his next big leap in NFL offensive personnel packages. Especially in the screen game, this system could become opposing defensive coordinators worst nightmares.

James Develin who is listed as a RB on the team’s site has actually been taking snaps with the TE group during minicamp. If he can show reliable hands, his spot should be safe regardless of what position it says on the roster. The battle between Bolden and Finch could come down to special team value, where Finch could have the upper hand. The Patriots could sport a RB depth chart looking something like Ridley, Vereen, White, Develin, and Finch at the beginning of the season.

The Patriots wide receiver core remains one of its biggest question marks. Last year it was very apparent that the rookie wide receivers were not on the same page with their quarterback. Whether it was bad drops, poorly run routes, or even not knowing where to line up before the snap, the Patriots looked lost on offense from time to time.

Edelman played a full 16 game season for the first time in his career, while Danny Amendola lived up to his injury prone expectations and never really looked 100% healthy after the Buffalo opener.

This group will rely on second year jumps from their young trio of Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce, and Kenbrell Thompkins. Boyce looked solid in camp until some minor injury woes, and Thompkins once again looks like a summer hero but then again we’ve seen this before where he shines in the summer and disappears in the early winter. Dobson is still recovering from a foot injury, and we just hope to see something out of him in training camp but that is looking less and less likely.

I actually throw Amendola into the second year jump category, as a full season with the playbook should give him a better chance to form chemistry with Brady. This unit looks like it will heavily rely on a WR package featuring Amendola in the slot, Edelman as the Z receiver, and potentially a revolving door of Dobson, Thompkins, and Brandon LaFell as the X receiver. Barring health, this group should be better than last year, but it will be far from an elite unit in the NFL.

But are they good enough to compete for a Super Bowl? With a healthy Rob Gronkowski, absolutely.

Guest post from Cody Lachance/@HailtotheHoodie