I can't remember if I saw his carries in week 4, but he looked awful in the preseason IMO.
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RB James White, NE (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter mrnick33
- Start date
Johnny Rock
Footballguy
SaintsInDome2006
Footballguy
I've heard/seen Gray's name mentioned a couple times and on the radio. People have liked his talent since college, but he failed to beat out the likes of Daniel Thomas and Gillislee in Miami. And Bolden has performed really well when fully healthy and given over 10 carries and he took over Ridley's role on Sunday.
JFS171
Footballguy
Ultimately, this is where I landed too. I figured I'd grab Gray off the pile if my Bolden claim didn't work, and I still had a roster spot to kill without very good options.
Bolden made this team as an UDFA and contributed from day 1. He's not really had a shot to be THE guy before - he was always just Ridley's replacement when Ridley fumbled. Also not sure Bolden was fully healthy last year with a lot of missed practice time nursing a knee injury I believe (haven't looked it up, just going off memory). Let's also remember Gray failed to beat out anyone on this squad for a roster spot as well, including Bolden who barely played all of preseason. He's still on the practice squad. He's never had a professional carry - literally no carries.
Bolden's YPC for his career is 4.5 (his rookie year and last year it was 4.9). He can catch a bit (21 receptions over 12 games last year). He's trusted by the team - I don't see that getting bypassed by a guy off the PS who, as mentioned above, failed to beat out that group in MIA for a roster spot, and failed to beat out anyone on his team for a roster spot (then went unclaimed on waivers by 31 other NFL teams). I could see Bolden surprise...
ETA - It's a White thread -- to tie this back, it's plausible White wasn't active often due to ST prowess. It's also possible he's Vereen's backup as the "small back" while others were Ridley backups in the "big back" role. Perhaps White gets a shot at it all. Based on his performance this preseason, I think Bolden is likely ahead, though... what do I know? It's Belichek.
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Kool-Aid Larry
Footballguy
inactive vs jets
Illegal Pants Downfield
Footballguy
Another preseason Pats phenom turned phlop (Thompkins, Sudfeld, now White)?
Faust
MVP
Curran: White getting a crack as third-down back
http://www.csnne.com/new-england-patriots/curran-white-getting-crack-third-down-back
http://www.csnne.com/new-england-patriots/curran-white-getting-crack-third-down-back
Raiderfan32904
Footballguy
Just last week they considered Branden Bolden the leading candidate for third down snaps. Aaaaaggggghhhh!!!!!
Run It Up
Footballguy
Don't listen to Roto about NE players, especially NE RBs, they are absolute #### when it comes to NE players.
Bolden was never in contention hes a special teamer, its down to White and Cadet now. Cadet is more of an H-Back than a RB, White is more of a RB than an H-Back, but hes a terrible runner in the NFL.
I'm not sure the 3DRB role will remain the same, I think they might transition back to the Woodhead type role where they move that guy all over the place which I'm sure White is capable of, but its literally all Cadet does - so I would give him the nod.
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Anarchy99
Footballguy
I saw the following earlier today: Blount's rushing stats over his last 16 games with Pats: 209-1,053-15 (5.04 ypc).
Enlighten me as to why you have had enough of him.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Just because they have had had a back in the Faulk-Woodhead-Vereen mold does not automatically mean that they will have someone that they use exclusively in that 3rd down / receiving role. IMO, they started tipping their hand too much the last few years based on who was in the backfield. They may not have a RB with 40 receptions this year, and if they do, he may not get many carries.
Run It Up
Footballguy
That's kind of what I meant by Woodhead role, not sure his numbers his last season in NE, but he was used almost purely as an H-back and in the 2 min offense where they started him in the backfield and moved him all over, under the TE, the wing, out wide, stacked - just all over the place.Less of the Vereen role of the last few years.
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ponchsox
Footballguy
Illegal Pants Downfield
Footballguy
Yeah - totally a weird situation. The Pats cut Jonas Gray, who had shown -- albeit in a small sample size -- that he could compete and succeed at the NFL level. Meanwhile, they kept White who has had some good camp reports each of the past 2 years, but shown nothing on the field. I'm leaning toward White being a break glass in case of emergency back for Belichek: if forced into action, Bill can trust White to do his job. But under normal circumstances, there are other backs on the roster that offer more size/speed/power/passcatching/pass protection/whatever.
Casting Couch
Footballguy
JNox3
Footballguy
ROYALWITCHEESE
Footballguy
He still sucks.
cubbie5150
Footballguy
Yeah, I'm working on a 2-for-1 trade in a redraft league that will open a roster spot & considered grabbing White (I own Dion Lewis) as a sort of handcuff, but I just can't get past what my eyes tell me. He just isn't very good.
JNox3
Footballguy
SaintsInDome2006
Footballguy
I am really sorry for what happened to Dion Lewis, but maybe it's time to start talking about the man who might be next up in NE, James White. That is, barring a signing of Cadet or some notable free agent like that. Pierre Thomas might have been a good candidate for NE but he just signed with San Fran, so not sure who else is out there in free agent land.
Van Dyman
Footballguy
I kinda like Cadet but they cut him and kept White. Sounds like they've already demonstrated that they like White more. Has something changed? Even if they sign him, is there any reason to believe he'd be the next man up instead of White?
T with T
Footballguy
packer_junkie
Footballguy
Does anyone have some clips of this guy? There isn't anything on youtube except for wisconsin stuff? Want to see what kind of player Im looking at here?
Van Dyman
Footballguy
Illegal Pants Downfield
Footballguy
Sigmund Bloom @SigmundBloom 1h1 hour agoSigmund Bloom Retweeted Aaron Wilson
Would the Patriots possibly take Gray back again?
Aaron Wilson @AaronWilson_NFL
Dolphins re-sign Sam Brenner, cut Jonas Gray
SaintsInDome2006
Footballguy
Ha. The Dolphins are doing the Pats favors these days?
Hu-Tang Clan
Footballguy
Not sure why the Pats would sign Gray. Blount has that role already.
Run It Up
Footballguy
Just need a body, some depth. If Blount goes down they don't have grinder on roster. They've got 3 healthy RBs, White is more of a receiving back, Bolden can do a little of everything, and Blount.
Gray gives them depth at the position and a next man up if Blount goes down. Getting integrated into the offense is a bigger deal this late in the year - but I've heard whispers of there being bad blood between Gray and the Pats so who knows.
Honestly I was hoping the Jets would have cut Ridley by now so the Pats could scoop him up.
SaintsInDome2006
Footballguy
The earlier part of this thread is more excited, with some observations from White's time at Wisconsin. The part about his sharing time with Gordon and Ball reminds me a little bit of Pierre Thomas who shared time with Rashard Mendehall and while Mendy went in the 1st round yet somehow Thomas went undrafted and actually over the long haul had a better overall career.
But then when White finally hit the preseason apparently (and I've heard/read Pats fans say this) he turned in unimpressive performances. And people cooled on him.
packersfan
Footballguy
I'm not disputing your analogy but as a Badger alum I wish White had somewhere near the talent Thomas did in his prime. Of course if he did, I doubt Dion Lewis would've made an impact this season. Thomas was a damn good football player. As a Badger alum I hope White can take this potential opportunity and make it his own but I'm skeptical since I've yet to see anything from him that lends me confidence he can be a consistently integral part of a good NFL team.
SaintsInDome2006
Footballguy
SameSongNDance
Footballguy
I would really like opinions on this.
J. White Week 7 vs. NYJ
He looks to be half has shifty as Lewis and the fact that he wasn't able to beat the LB to the edge on his RZ carry is discouraging but his utilization mirrored Lewis's almost exactly. Assume for a moment that he does take over as the pass catching back, am I wrong to assume he'd hold legit value in PPR?
J. White Week 7 vs. NYJ
He looks to be half has shifty as Lewis and the fact that he wasn't able to beat the LB to the edge on his RZ carry is discouraging but his utilization mirrored Lewis's almost exactly. Assume for a moment that he does take over as the pass catching back, am I wrong to assume he'd hold legit value in PPR?
SaintsInDome2006
Footballguy
I am not qualified to speak on skills etc. like some of the smart guys around here but I do like that play at 0:50 - ~1:23. The problem is White drops the damn ball but it sure looks like that play could have broken if he had caught it. - Plus there was also a red zone target mixed in there (also incomplete) and a goal line carry. Nice wheel route in there too.
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Jack White
Footballguy
He's worth a flier in PPR leagues.
Shutout
Footballguy
I would be watching Daryl Richardson down on the Texans PS. Of all the names that have been floated around to replace Dion, this guy makes more sense than any of them. It might be hard to bring a guy in this late in the season but if any team is probably capable of it, its the Patriots.
Road Warriors
Footballguy
My guess is he will hold some value, but with a much lower floor and ceiling than Lewis had in the role.
Best guess is Kevin Faulk during the Dillon years. ( from memory, so grain of salt ) 3-5 carries, 3-5 rec, 40-50 yards. Lower chance of TDs ( maybe 1-2 TDs the rest of the way )
