Is Dillon done? Will NE draft the RB of the future (1 Viewer)

[Chaos]

I really believe that Dillon has hit a wall and the precipitous decline is in the wings. It seems like once aging vet RBs start getting "nagging injuries" it is a sign.

I think he might put up serviceable numbers to start the season but if NE actually drafts the RB of the future (like a Lendale White, Deangelo Williams or even Addai) that guy could be starting by mid season.

I've seen some mocks that show these guys falling that far and some that show them getting snagged earlier so who knows.

 

[Cerebus]

It wouldn't surprise me. I've read a couple of speculative articles somewhere that the Pats might consider a RB because of Dillon's age and problems last season. But not following the Pats closely, I don't have any real insight.

It should be interesting to see what happens.

 

[azcards33]

I was wondering the same thing. I had Dillon in a few leagues last season and in the very few Patriots games that I actually saw, Dillon looked really slow and really overweight.

Does this guy have anything left?

I've talked to some Patriots fans and they all tend to feel that the Patriots were forced to rush Dillon back from nagging injuries too soon last season due to the injuries to Pass and Faulk, and that Dillon will be alright this season.

I'm extremely curious to see what others think about Dillon and whether or not they think he can return to his elite status, if he is healthy

 

[SoloMatisse]

Id tend to agree with you. He was hurt an awful lost last year, and while he was healthy he had a nice # of TDs, but overall he didnt look good. Id give him a pass and hope he bounces back with good health, but Id drop him down to 15 or so on the rankings. But NE better be looking for a replacement to cover themselves. This may be his last year with the Pats either way.

 

[Tackling Dummies]

Depends on what the team does with their WRs too. I would not be surprised if they traded up for a RB though.

Other than Dillon turning 32 next October with 2400+ carries in his 9 year career, there is nobody on the Patriots roster to even come close to a RB that could step in and carry the load.

 

[Boston]

Dillon did not look good last year. Even early in the year before the injuries hit he was not running like he did in 04. The disturbing thing to me was he did not run with any authority. In 04 he punished defenders and was always getting an extra yard or two. Last year he was going down with the initial contact. Does anyone remember seeing one of his patented stiff arms last year? The difficult thing to judge is how much the injuries nagged as the season went on. The Pats are always tight-lipped in that department and we'll probably never know.

He does figure into the Pats plans in 06. That is pretty much a definite. I do think he can be effective but it should be in a reduced role. My gut tells me I don't think we'll ever see again the RB who can carry the full load like we saw in 04. My hope is the Pats bring in a big play type of RB that other teams have to account for (I would love Williams) and can be the Pats RB of the future. That type of threat is sorely missing with the Pats. If you bring in a young set of quality legs the Pats could have a very good RB core as Dillon, Faulk and Pass would all be in better situations to excel. All four (if a youngster is added) could bring a little something different to the table and the depth would be solid as all four would be able to carry a full load in limited situations.

The guy who killed the Pats is Cedric Cobbs. If everything had gone according to plan than Cobbs would be in position to take the mantle from Dillon this year. Unfortunately, he was football dumb, was always hurt and just didn't work hard enough which is why his stay in Foxboro was so short.

 

[JohnnyU]

I think if Williams or Maroney is there when the Pats pick, they take him. However, I also believe the Colts move in front of NE to take one of Williams or Maroney.

 

[Speaker]

Ehh........I dont think hes done but this may be his last year, I wouldnt be suprised if they drafted a RB. But you can never count out the patriots no matter what they do

 

[slayer666]

Link

-- Patriots Restructure Dillon --

Sat Mar 25, 2006 --from FFMastermind.com

The Boston Herald reports, according to the Providence Journal, the Patriots have restructured the contract of RB Corey Dillon, dropping his 2006 salary from $3 million to $710,000. According to agent Steve Feldman, the team recently picked up a $3 million option bonus, guaranteeing that Dillon makes $6 million this year. The Patriots likely transformed Dillon's $3 million salary into a signing bonus and spread the cap hit over the final three years of his deal, saving $1.7 million off this year's cap.

 

[Bri]

Dillon's not done. When he's played he's been fine. The Pats have drafted RBs in recent years. Remember Womack? They also liked Kory Chapman but he got number crunched and cut last year(think he's in Indy now). Also Cobbs? Hobbs? something like that. Earl Charles is a young Marshall RB they wanna see what he can do.

I think they've shown pretty clearly they're looking for a youngster

 

[Chaos]

Dillon's not done. When he's played he's been fine. The Pats have drafted RBs in recent years. Remember Womack? They also liked Kory Chapman but he got number crunched and cut last year(think he's in Indy now). Also Cobbs? Hobbs? something like that. Earl Charles is a young Marshall RB they wanna see what he can do.

I think they've shown pretty clearly they're looking for a youngster

If memory serves, those guys you mentioned were all later round picks. I think this year they get serious and take one early.

 

[Bri]

If memory serves, those guys you mentioned were all later round picks. I think this year they get serious and take one early.

Sure, could be. I love how they draft. If the value were there, they'd do it. IMO They let it come to them and don't map out who they'll pick ahead of time(well not too much like we do)

 

[zanti8]

hes old but was hurt with pesky ankle last year . still one of the best goal line backs around imo . i think hes 10 - 20 range , 2 more years .

 

[Phlash]

As a Patriots fan I can tell you that he's done. Two years ago when he rushed for 1600 yards he had sick moves in the field, he'd bowl through people and bust tackles and even rip off a nice juke once in a while. He now always goes down on the first hit (except for a couple occassions where he actually pushed) and can't seem to get by the line of scrimmage. For comparisons sake, Heath Evans outplayed him with the same style and Patrick Pass resembled Priest Holmes at times running behind the Patriots O-line, until he too was injured. I'm guessing right now that the Patriots draft a RB in rounds 1-3 and will plan on featuring him early on.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Other than Dillon turning 32 next October with 2400+ carries in his 9 year career, there is nobody on the Patriots roster to even come close to a RB that could step in and carry the load.

Hence the thread for discussion about bringing in a rookie RB that can..

 

[dojeff]

Williams at 21? Doe he fit the NE mold?

 

[gman8343]

As a Patriots fan I can tell you that he's done. Two years ago when he rushed for 1600 yards he had sick moves in the field, he'd bowl through people and bust tackles and even rip off a nice juke once in a while. He now always goes down on the first hit (except for a couple occassions where he actually pushed) and can't seem to get by the line of scrimmage. For comparisons sake, Heath Evans outplayed him with the same style and Patrick Pass resembled Priest Holmes at times running behind the Patriots O-line, until he too was injured. I'm guessing right now that the Patriots draft a RB in rounds 1-3 and will plan on featuring him early on.

Dillon played injured nearly all last year. Not saying he isn't done, but he wasn't even close to 100% last season, so it's probably not fair to compare it to his first year in NE.

 

[Buckeyedawgs]

Dillon looked done as a Bengal. NE did revise his career a year though!

I like Pass. He looked awesome before he got hurt. No one seems to beleive me but he's my sleeper pick of the year. And I have been right more times then not on sleepers I call!

 

[Big Score]

Dillon looked done as a Bengal. NE did revise his career a year though!

I like Pass. He looked awesome before he got hurt. No one seems to beleive me but he's my sleeper pick of the year. And I have been right more times then not on sleepers I call!

Buckeyedawgs on Julius Jones for the then upcoming 2005 season.

I am telling you guys right now from what I have seen last 3 weeks he will be in my top 5. I hope you all do wait and draft him in second round. I hope you all do think he really is around at best 10th RB on all your lists and cheat sheets.

Perfect example why I make a lot of $$$ playing fantasy football. EVERY YEAR!!!

Soooo, according to you, JJ was a lock to be a Top 5 RB in '05.We all swing & miss evrey now and then.

 

[BigRed]

I think if Williams or Maroney is there when the Pats pick, they take him. However, I also believe the Colts move in front of NE to take one of Williams or Maroney.

Once more, say it with me folks: POLIAN NEVER MOVES UP IN THE FIRST ROUND (not w/the Colts at least). In fact, he's much more prone to move down.I'm betting Moroney and Wms are gone and they nab either D help or an OL, then aim for Addai or some such in the 2d.

Re. Dillon, IMO he may have one last respectable season left, but I suspect will get spelled a bit more....sure his best days and "big" years are gone, but 1000-1200 and a respectable # of scores is possible IMO. I sure wouldn't gamble on him too hard in any FF draft, but if options are minimal, he's less of a risk than many.

 

[KnowledgeReignsSupreme]

hes old but was hurt with pesky ankle last year . still one of the best goal line backs around imo . i think hes 10 - 20 range , 2 more years .

Yeah, everytime I watched him last year he just looked like he didn't have it in him until he got near the goalline. Granted he was injured most of last year, but he's obviously on the decline of his career. If 2004 was his last year of fantasy relevance, no one would be surprised.He WILL be a GL vulture in 2006 though if he isn't the starter. He looked really good inside the 10 last year.

 

[Bad_Mo]

No way they cut Dillon after he agrees to re-structure.

He's on board for at least 2 more years. However, I think they draft one or two RBs to groom.

 

[JohnnyU]

I think if Williams or Maroney is there when the Pats pick, they take him.  However, I also believe the Colts move in front of NE to take one of Williams or Maroney.

Once more, say it with me folks: POLIAN NEVER MOVES UP IN THE FIRST ROUND (not w/the Colts at least). In fact, he's much more prone to move down.

Hey, I'm a Colts fan and I know that, but, there's a first time for everything.

 

[trader jake]

even if the pats draft a running back corey dillon will get the majority of the carries and almost all of the goal line carries

he's a solid #2 RB this season

 

[MU Seminole]

Agree with the last two posts. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see NE go RB in Rd 1. However, I'd still expect Dillon to get the bulk of the carries this year.

 

[Sopranos]

I dont think they will go RB in round 1. They won a few superbowls with A Smith as their RB. They will go with Dillon again. P Pass looked good when healthy..RB was not the reason they faultered.Injuries or a total loss of their secondary was.

 

[Workhorse]

No way they cut Dillon after he agrees to re-structure.

He's on board for at least 2 more years. However, I think they draft one or two RBs to groom.

If they were to cut Dillon now his cap # would be worse than if they kept him.I think they'll target a RB in either round 2 or 3. Maybe an Addai or Norwood type.

 

[Spike]

I got this info thirdhand, but it's solid:

Dillon played at least 3/4's of the 2005 season with a tendon in one of his ankle's that was pulled off the bone.

It explains why his cutting ability was non-existant. He did well with the goal-line stuff as that was (for the most part) straight ahead stuff.

 

[Boston]

I got this info thirdhand, but it's solid:

Dillon played at least 3/4's of the 2005 season with a tendon in one of his ankle's that was pulled off the bone.

It explains why his cutting ability was non-existant. He did well with the goal-line stuff as that was (for the most part) straight ahead stuff.

Wouldn't surprise me, something was up. The thing that concerns me is he didn't look good right from game one which was probably pre-injury.

 

[cstu]

hes old but was hurt with pesky ankle last year . still one of the best goal line backs around imo . i think hes 10 - 20 range , 2 more years .

Yeah, everytime I watched him last year he just looked like he didn't have it in him until he got near the goalline. Granted he was injured most of last year, but he's obviously on the decline of his career. If 2004 was his last year of fantasy relevance, no one would be surprised.He WILL be a GL vulture in 2006 though if he isn't the starter. He looked really good inside the 10 last year.

I think he's done as a top 20 back for FF, but he's more than capable on the goal line. I can see him splitting time with a rookie and getting most of the rushing TD's.