Ronnie Brown injures thumb - Has cast on his hand! (1 Viewer)

[Floyd The Barber]

Good insight in this thread but I guess my entire hangup is the notion that Ricky has somehow surpassed Ronnie Brown merely because of this pre-season. Ricky Williams has never beaten out Ronnie Brown since he's come back to the league, gotten suspended and come back again. That's not to say that Ricky won't get his carries but I just don't see how a guy who hasn't been near elite status in years suddenly comes back and takes over for the Dolphins supposed franchise RB. I guess for me it's that I've never understood how the majority of NFL teams do business. Players who were extremely valuable to a team one season are dispensable the season after.

If Ronnie Brown does not shred his ACL last year we are not having this conversation. But since Ronnie is not 100% (not even close to be honest), Ricky has pounced on the chance to showcase his stuff for NFL teams this season for his 2009 UFA campaign.

The correct answer here is that noone (well, one notable exception) is saying Ricky would take over for a healthy Ronnie - but that early in the year, while Ronnie mends, Rickey and Ronnie split carries. Now, since Brown has a propensity towards injury, Ricky retains a lot of value even when Ronnie is healthy.I see a 55-45 split in Ronnie's favor once the season starts, with that number growing steadily after the bye week unless (or until) Ronnie gets injured again.I am pretty sure both Parcells and Sparano would like to find out whether Brown can stand the punishment of a full season before investing the rest of their future in re-signing him, and I think, while healthy and as the season wears on, Brown will get more and more carries.of course, if Brown is injured yet again and forced to miss time, the team has their answer to the durability question.

This has all the makings of Ricky = MBIII / Ronnie = Julius Jones.If so, which player would you rather own? Ronnie at his ADP or Ricky at his?

 

[=Smackdown=]

Saw some highlights of today's practice and Ronnie was not wearing his cast and was catching balls out there. He was sharing time with Ricky and the first teamers and seems to be full speed.

The R & R Express is gonna be ready for week 1.

 

[flufhed]

Ricky Williams . . . Ronnie Brown . . . Ricky . . . Ronnie . . . what is a fantasy owner TO DO??

 

[Christo]

Ricky Williams . . . Ronnie Brown . . . Ricky . . . Ronnie . . . what is a fantasy owner TO DO??

Flip a coin.

 

[stbugs]

Saw some highlights of today's practice and Ronnie was not wearing his cast and was catching balls out there. He was sharing time with Ricky and the first teamers and seems to be full speed.The R & R Express is gonna be ready for week 1.

I just drafted yesterday in a keeper league and grabbed Ronnie Brown late (7.10 in 12 team league), almost 3 rounds after Ricky was drafted. I just had to pull the trigger at that point. I am just hoping for contributions in the second half and maybe next year, but it would be sweet if he plays well early too. Honestly, I almost hope they keep him under wraps the 1st three weeks so that he can come out healthy and rested after his bye week (4).

 

[SteelerMurf]

The head coach ran Julius Jones and Barber in a split backfield because he likes fresh backs. It's not going to change either way. If Ricky impresses early in the season he may be the "60" in the 60/40 split the backs will have.

You guys are dreaming if you think anyone will be the exclusive feature back if both are healthy.

RBBC draft accordingly. But I think both will make nice bye week fill ins.

 

[stbugs]

The head coach ran Julius Jones and Barber in a split backfield because he likes fresh backs. It's not going to change either way. If Ricky impresses early in the season he may be the "60" in the 60/40 split the backs will have.You guys are dreaming if you think anyone will be the exclusive feature back if both are healthy.RBBC draft accordingly. But I think both will make nice bye week fill ins.

Why do people assume? Seriously, was Parcells a big RBBC guy with the Giants, Jets or NE? I seem to remember Joe Morris, Otis Anderson and Curtis Martin to name a few that certainly got the bulk of the work.Also, do you really think that if Parcells/Sparano were still in Dallas that Barber wouldn't be the main guy this year? In 2007, Barber had 204 carries to Jones' 164. In 2006, Jones had 267 to Barber's 135. Do you notice a trend? Barber was hurt and was a rookie in 2005, so his carries were limited (again 100+ less than Jones). While people may say that they saw Barber's 2006 coming, Barber had a 3.9 ypc and 5 TDs in 2005, nothing like his 4.8 ypc/14TDs in 2006. Barber improved by leaps and bounds from 2005 to 2006 and earned more carries in 2007 and his carries would have continued to climb in 2008 even if Parcells/Sparano were still there.It is just amazing for people to make huge assumptions about coaches based on one recent scenario.

 

[gregjcross]

The head coach ran Julius Jones and Barber in a split backfield because he likes fresh backs. It's not going to change either way. If Ricky impresses early in the season he may be the "60" in the 60/40 split the backs will have.You guys are dreaming if you think anyone will be the exclusive feature back if both are healthy.RBBC draft accordingly. But I think both will make nice bye week fill ins.

Why do people assume? Seriously, was Parcells a big RBBC guy with the Giants, Jets or NE? I seem to remember Joe Morris, Otis Anderson and Curtis Martin to name a few that certainly got the bulk of the work.Also, do you really think that if Parcells/Sparano were still in Dallas that Barber wouldn't be the main guy this year? In 2007, Barber had 204 carries to Jones' 164. In 2006, Jones had 267 to Barber's 135. Do you notice a trend? Barber was hurt and was a rookie in 2005, so his carries were limited (again 100+ less than Jones). While people may say that they saw Barber's 2006 coming, Barber had a 3.9 ypc and 5 TDs in 2005, nothing like his 4.8 ypc/14TDs in 2006. Barber improved by leaps and bounds from 2005 to 2006 and earned more carries in 2007 and his carries would have continued to climb in 2008 even if Parcells/Sparano were still there.It is just amazing for people to make huge assumptions about coaches based on one recent scenario.

All future predcictions are based on assumptions in some form. I think people are sold on the use of Williams/Brown as a committe because a) the incumbent Brown is coming off a serious injury b) Williams now looks very capable of shouldering part of the load Add this to the fact that the Dolphins coach, Sparano, has already said it will be a committe in some form, discussing that he has to pick which back is the one to best "deliver energy" vs. the one that starts a game and may get more or less carries. So, call it an RBBC or a "hot hand" approach, its looking clear that they will both be used based on health and effectiveness.\Sparano from 8/14 post practice interview On what Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown will bring as a tandem... – "It's a good question. Really where I am right now, I think I have a pretty good feeling for what they'll do in the game. Obviously I want to get them a little bit more work this week than I did last week. That is part of my plan. That being said, what I'm going through right now is trying to figure out, when you have this two-headed monster type thing as running backs go, and I've been through it before, who comes into the game warm or who needs to start the game to be warm is kind of an issue. I'm trying to figure that out a bit right now. Last week Ronnie started the game. We got him a couple touches early in the game, but there's Ricky kind of chopping at the bit to get in the game and I wasn't sure how he would enter. Well I've seen him enter the game with a little bit of energy and a little bit of life to him. In Dallas that was Marion Barber's role. He came into the game and he brought life that way. I'm kind of interested to see that in the next couple weeks. Who can get the team started and who can come in off the bench and provide energy?"

 

[-jb-]

Sparano from 8/14 post practice interview On what Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown will bring as a tandem... – "It's a good question. Really where I am right now, I think I have a pretty good feeling for what they'll do in the game. Obviously I want to get them a little bit more work this week than I did last week. That is part of my plan. That being said, what I'm going through right now is trying to figure out, when you have this two-headed monster type thing as running backs go, and I've been through it before, who comes into the game warm or who needs to start the game to be warm is kind of an issue. I'm trying to figure that out a bit right now. Last week Ronnie started the game. We got him a couple touches early in the game, but there's Ricky kind of chopping at the bit to get in the game and I wasn't sure how he would enter. Well I've seen him enter the game with a little bit of energy and a little bit of life to him. In Dallas that was Marion Barber's role. He came into the game and he brought life that way. I'm kind of interested to see that in the next couple weeks. Who can get the team started and who can come in off the bench and provide energy?"

interesting quote.