Patriots, RBs & the draft

Mike, it appears that if we lose Kevin Faulk after this season would you think we would draft a possible 3rd down back to replace him this year. If not who in the current RB roster could fill that void? Faulk is our best catching RB.

I would love to still see My Everything Kevin Faulk retired as a Patriot but we all some changes could happen in the near future.

I don't know why they would consider not re-signing Faulk. I know he is in his 30's but he plats like he is 25. He is too valuable to the offense to not have around.

Good points, Mike. One thing worth noting, though—while BJGE's contract does expire after 2010, he would be an RFA, not a UFA.

I'd think we'd wait to draft a running back next year. We've got a good stable, and they tend to have a quick learning curve (granted a third-down guy may take a bit longer...). I'd hate to lose BJGE because we didn't have room for him when he could step up next year with Maroney and Taylor possibly not here.

Add me to those who hope Faulk spends his entire career here.

Nikko and Joe, I think they'll work to re-sign Faulk, but when I point out that his contract expires, the team probably wants to give itself some cushion just in case it can't come to terms. I don't see anyone on the roster with the same skill set as Faulk. STI, right on with Green-Ellis. He would be restricted, not unrestricted (assuming we're playing under the same collective bargaining agreement).
--Mike

Whats weird is that the RB with the questionable status right now is Maroney. And i would hate to lose the law firm to roster cuts, he showed more promise in half a season than Maroney did in 3.
What are the chances Maroney gets cut? What are the chances the Pats draft a rookie in the later rounds?

Does anyone else see Percy Harvin in a Faulk type role. He ran as the back/ option guy at FL as much as he did a WR spot. I'm not sure how the run option relates to pocket protection but it does show that he is willing to block. I don't think size at 5'11" 192LBS will be a issue. Look at Sproles at SD and Jones Drew at JAX. The way we use a 3rd down back in the spread attack could allow him to stay on the field more than just 3rd down. Also he could be moitioned out to a WR spot for mismatches. One of the knocks on him on NFL.com is he got a lot of yards on slip screens. Do you know a team that likes to run slip screens? Maybe he goes to high in the draft for us. I think 1st round maybe high for a 3rd down back myself.

Hey Mike
In the position by position looks. Could you add a personnel list of who was lost from last year to this year.
Thanks

TGinNJ: If you compare career averages, Maroney's at 4.3 YPC, BJGE at 3.7. How does that mean BJGE "showed more promise"?

Maroney's cap hit if he is cut is significant. Due to acceleration of signing bonus, he's more costly if he is cut by approximately $900,000 than if he remains on the roster. He'll likely play out his contract at least for this year.

I think, in all fairness, you need to look at Faulk's cap hit when deciding on him. According to Miguel, Faulk's cap figure is over 4 million this season (8th highest on the team). He's ahead of Ty Warren, Mayo (albeit he's under a rookie contract), anyone in the secondary, Welker, half the starting O-Line (behind Koppen and Light, ahead of Mankins, Kaczur and Neal, and all the backups) and many others.

He makes less money than Brady, Seymour, Moss, Thomas, Jarvis Green and Dan Koppen....and that's it. Is Kevin Faulk the 8th most valuable guy on the team? I would suggest not. I like him alot and I think he's a great contributor...but he's not the 8th most valuable guy on the team. I'd put him in the 10-15 range (which would have his total cap hit at somewhere around $3 million). He makes 4 million a year and isn't an every down player.

Thanks Mike, I also think he is worth resigning but right now another 3rd back needs to be groomed. Kevin Faulk is a strong and tough back that he wasn't injured last year. I think BJGE can be a good candidate. He is young and has a lot of upside. Maroney is a good 3rd down back but that is in madden.

Not much chance of Maroney getting cut. They would have to pay him just as much cutting him as keeping him. So, another player would have to be twice as good as him to take his spot. If they draft a Back, BenJarvus will be under a lot of pressure.

Fiammetta is a beast and would fill in for Heath nicely at FB. His 40 was best among fullbacks, he did 29 reps on the bench, most of all RB's, plus he went to SU. What's not to like?

Why wouldnt we consider justin griffiths in that heath evans role, he,s big enough to be a decent lead blocker in certain packages, and he,s got decent hands and ability when called upon for offense, just a suggestion.

As MikeR points out, no pure FB in the current stable. Mke also previously cited the Dec. Buffalo game as an example where FB receptions where key to that must win. While a Hochstein etc. can serve as a lead back, OL subs won't be running routes into the flat.

Hard to picture spending a high draft pick on FB. Can you find a player with the physical and mental acuity necessary to start this season in the later rounds?

Will BB re-tool the playbook and go into Sept. w/o a designated FB for the first time?

All this talk about Maroney being cut... let's face it, he might never run with more motivation than in the year before becoming a free agent. Think Cassel on this one.

I hope Maroney tears up the league, then someone else either trades for him or pays a bundle and then we draft some other stud.

There is always a chance that some good value player falls to the right spot in the draft for BB to pick him. Remember, Curtis Martin was a 3rd round pick too.

Rob, is Green or Koppen one of the 8 most valuable on the team either? I'd rather have Faulk than either of them, personally. Teams game plan for Faulk. Nobody game plans for Dan Koppen. As Mike said, they don't have anyone else on the roster who can do what Faulk can do. And in the Brady-passing-offense, that skill is invaluable.

Great point, Timbuk3. I know a lot of people are eager to see Maroney move on, and I might be one of them. But this is the most important year of his career. If he's not motivated to produce this year, then he'll never be. Let's give him one last shot to prove himself.

The knee injury to Brady showed the value that Faulk brings to the team beyond just his pass-catching ability. He is a great 3rd down back because he knows how to block and protect his QB.

Looking at some mock Drafts. It's looking like the RB are falling and 1 of the good ones might be there at 23. Knowing Bill I would not put it past him to pick Chris Wells Ohio St or Knowshon Moreno Georgia in the 1st round.

Hey Mike,
One RB you forgot about is Ian Johnson from Boise St. Everytime I see him play, he looks a lot like Faulk. If the Pats can get him in like round 5 or 6, I think if they cannot sign Faulk, they will be in good hands for a while.