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Thoughts on NE backfield next week? (1 Viewer)

Any running back playing the Jags should be viewed as a good start. They've given up an average of 160 rushing yards over the last 7 games.

 
Ridley fumbled his way out of favor last night. (That and the Pats fell so far behind). Woodhead is better in the passing game. I would think Ridley should be a decent start against the Jags

 
Given that even the announcers were saying the ball looked like it was covered in vaseline last night, I don't think BB punishes Ridley and Vereen next week. In fact, I'm pretty sure Ridley got a goalline carry after his fumbles.

 
Belichick knows that he needs to get Ridley going for a playoff run. I look for New England to get a quick lead and then control the game on the ground. Look for 20 touches 100 yards and a decent shot at a TD or two. I think Woodhead getting so much work last week had just as much to do as the type of game as it did Ridley's fumbles. Woodhead is their no huddle/3rd down back.

 
'bleachercreacher said:
Belichick knows that he needs to get Ridley going for a playoff run. I look for New England to get a quick lead and then control the game on the ground. Look for 20 touches 100 yards and a decent shot at a TD or two. I think Woodhead getting so much work last week had just as much to do as the type of game as it did Ridley's fumbles. Woodhead is their no huddle/3rd down back.
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I know it's hard, but denial isn't going to help things.
 
This scares the hell out of me because of BB's history with fumbling. I don't know if he'll let the game situation and the weather be an excuse because of the result of Ridley's one fumble leading to a TD. Hopefully insiders at practice this week can maybe peak at who's getting the reps. Not that that is the final indicator of use.

Most likely, you're going to play Ridley as an RB2 but I'm not confident at all in what he will do.

 
'BRONG said:
'bleachercreacher said:
Belichick knows that he needs to get Ridley going for a playoff run. I look for New England to get a quick lead and then control the game on the ground. Look for 20 touches 100 yards and a decent shot at a TD or two. I think Woodhead getting so much work last week had just as much to do as the type of game as it did Ridley's fumbles. Woodhead is their no huddle/3rd down back.
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I know it's hard, but denial isn't going to help things.
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It is hard to trust him this week, but in less you have a great option I think you have to go with him this week. I think worst case is 12 carries with a couple of goalline carries against the worst rush defense in the league. Honestly, Vereen scares me more than Woodhead this week. I've used him as my flex all season, and there's no way I'm going to sit him in the championship game against Jacksonville.
 
I expect Bolden to lead the team in carries this week and I am not kidding. No fumbles on the year and he played well prior to his suspension.

Woodhead is used more in pure passing situations but I expect the Pats will try and go back to a more balanced approach this week.

 
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I'd be really leery of starting any of them because you just never know with BB after the fumbles. Ridley is the only one I'd start and that's only if my other options aren't that great.

 
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leery - adjective (Slang) wary, cautious, uncertain, suspicious, doubting, careful, shy, sceptical, dubious, unsure, distrustful, on your guard, chary

weary - adjective. tired - wearisome - jaded - tiresome - exhausted

verb. tire - fatigue - bore

I'm sorry but I see this so often here I just had to. Yes, I'm a bit obsessive/compulsive :bag:

 
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'Dragon1952 said:
leery - adjective (Slang) wary, cautious, uncertain, suspicious, doubting, careful, shy, sceptical, dubious, unsure, distrustful, on your guard, chary They are leery of the proposed system.

weary - adjective. tired - wearisome - jaded - tiresome - exhausted

verb. tire - fatigue - bore

I'm sorry but I see this so often here I just had to. Yes, I'm a bit obsessive/compulsive :bag:
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:lol: Sorry about that, I'll edit that. :P

 
'Nucker101 said:
'Dragon1952 said:
leery - adjective (Slang) wary, cautious, uncertain, suspicious, doubting, careful, shy, sceptical, dubious, unsure, distrustful, on your guard, chary They are leery of the proposed system.

weary - adjective. tired - wearisome - jaded - tiresome - exhausted

verb. tire - fatigue - bore

I'm sorry but I see this so often here I just had to. Yes, I'm a bit obsessive/compulsive :bag:
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:lol: Sorry about that, I'll edit that. :P
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Well thank you! I expected to get slammed for being the grammar cop. As my niece's middle-eastern friend would say, "you are a cool" :thumbup:
 
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I would think one could start Ridley as usual as I doubt the punishment extends to next game....and it is a very good match-up. He's helped many of us get this far, after all. Of course the problem would arise if he decides to fumble again, gets benched for a spell, and we lose a championship match because of it. But considering he's rushed for over 1100 yds with 10 TD's, and only fumbled once for every 64.5 touches, I guess it would be a little paranoid to keep him on your bench just in case he fumbles.

 
'bleachercreacher said:
Belichick knows that he needs to get Ridley going for a playoff run. I look for New England to get a quick lead and then control the game on the ground. Look for 20 touches 100 yards and a decent shot at a TD or two. I think Woodhead getting so much work last week had just as much to do as the type of game as it did Ridley's fumbles. Woodhead is their no huddle/3rd down back.
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huh ?Week 17 will be his week if he gets the start at all. One thing about NE football that is NOT tolerated is fumbling. I expect Ridley to be used sparingly if at all this Sunday.
 
I'm thinking Ridley gets his carries. But, I'm wondering what happens when NE is up 300 to 3 after the first quarter. I don't have Ridley on my roster, but I do have both Vereen and Woodhead. I could see BB skipping over Vereen because of his fumble last week. And I could see Woodhead getting very few touches do to the game being a runaway.

So I agree with gradin123, Boldin will be in line for the most touches this week. But Ridley will have decent fantasy numbers on limited carries.

 
I think it will be split pretty evenly with Ridley and Woodhead, if Ridley puts it on the ground I think it will shift to Vereen and Woodhead.

I expect Woodheads workload to pick up leading into the playoffs, he should be heavily utilized in the playoffs, rarely coming off the field.

I don't see Bolden being more than a 5-9 carry back.

 
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This isn't the first time Ridley has done some fumbling this season, BB will keep feeding him the ball as usual. Look at how many chances Maroney got to fumble the ball away on the 1 yard line before he got the boot... it was many seasons. Ridley has been a beast all year, and Belichick isn't going to destroy his confidence by making him ride the pine this late in the season.

 
With barely any options out there at this point, you pretty much have to start Ridley in the hopes that he gets RB2 production. You can't afford to bench him and have him go off for 110 and a td. It's too much speculation to bench a productive, healthy back based on a coach's past tendencies towards fumbles.

 
:shrug:

Who knows - Ridley is generally the RB to own when the Patriots are favored and ahead. Woodhead is used more often in the hurry-up offense, and when the Patriots are trailing.

I expect a lot more of Ridley, and a little bit of Woodhead against Jax.

 
I think everyone agreed the 49ers weren't a good matchup for Ridley and once the Patriots got behind it seems like they were just moving away from power running looks altogether. The fumble I thought was more a good hit by Whitner than Ridley being careless with the ball, IIRC he just nailed it with his helmet. So I don't necessarily think that limiting Ridley's touches was a benching just reacting better to the circumstances and plus Woodhead was very effective.

If there were quotes to the opposite please let me know but it seems like the Bolden talk is pure speculation eh?

 
I started Ridley over Moreno last week after going back and forth all day..I'm a Pats homer, but this week in my championship game I think I have to go with Moreno. I love Ridley, but honestly if the Pats get up big on Sunday I just have a gut feeling Bolden will see a good amount of touches.

 
Slippery ball, got behind early, no room for error, tough match up, Belichek game plans differently each week, and then Brady had to pass. Patriots expended all their energy in tying up the game with 28 points only to see it slip away after that.

Ridley has been solid and I am sure the Patriots wish to instill confidence going into the playoffs with all their RB's. Look for Ridley to carry 20 rushes, 100 yards and at least one score...plus perhaps some garbage time closing out the game. I don't think Belichek will put anybody in the dog house this week. The ball was extremely slippery last week.

Yes, the Patriots situation is a tad unsettled as many will sit Ridley - he could be the big swing back for a championship?

 
Trying to decide between Ridley and BJGE. Im going with Ridley as of now. He has a great match up and think BB will go with him although he fumbled last week. Worried about Bolden grabbing carries though.

 
I can't see Woodhead being the main guy against this awful run defense... Ridley 15 touches (including all carries besides QB sneaks inside the 5 while the game is still within 3 TDs) Bolden getting a lot of the cleanup Woodhead 3-4 carries 2-3 catches

 
'bleachercreacher said:
Belichick knows that he needs to get Ridley going for a playoff run. I look for New England to get a quick lead and then control the game on the ground. Look for 20 touches 100 yards and a decent shot at a TD or two. I think Woodhead getting so much work last week had just as much to do as the type of game as it did Ridley's fumbles. Woodhead is their no huddle/3rd down back.
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'Dragon1952 said:
I would think one could start Ridley as usual as I doubt the punishment extends to next game....and it is a very good match-up. He's helped many of us get this far, after all. Of course the problem would arise if he decides to fumble again, gets benched for a spell, and we lose a championship match because of it. But considering he's rushed for over 1100 yds with 10 TD's, and only fumbled once for every 64.5 touches, I guess it would be a little paranoid to keep him on your bench just in case he fumbles.
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'Phlash said:
This isn't the first time Ridley has done some fumbling this season, BB will keep feeding him the ball as usual. Look at how many chances Maroney got to fumble the ball away on the 1 yard line before he got the boot... it was many seasons. Ridley has been a beast all year, and Belichick isn't going to destroy his confidence by making him ride the pine this late in the season.
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SBB won't look to destroy the confidence and productivity that Ridley has had over the past year. If last Sundays game occured during weeks 2/3 - 9/10, then i would expect him to hand down punishment in the form of not starting the game. I fully expect him to start and receive at least his normal share of carries, if not more, considering the Jags run D as of late.

 
I felt pretty smart benching Ridley last week. Unfortunately I start DX over him..... I do feel pretty confident about Ridley this week, so if I was still in it, I'd be going with him.

 
'Casting Couch said:
I can't see how Woodhead can't be part of the equation next week.
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woodhead has been good for 10 points in FF most weeks this year.Two fo the blips were when he had a nice week with two touchdowns then next to nothing the week after.Last week was a good one, so I'd be apprehensive about him this week.I like the Faulk comparison with him-as a role. I don't think he's a main cog, he was covering for the youngsters learning mistakes. Sometimes he's an extra weapon or a 3rd down worry for Ds. It seems purposeful with him where two TDs is a lot to ask.
 
'Leeroy Jenkins said:
Was he benched due to performance/fumbling or because the score dictated the Woodhead lineup/offense?
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Woodhead almost always plays in the no huddle. I thought Vereen would be getting more action in the no huddle by now, given that he is quicker and faster and more elusive than Woodhead, but I guess he is still learning the offense and trying to get up to speed on it all.
 
Are people comfortable with Ridley? I've got him in and my lineup will lock tonight. Hoping he comes to play tomorrow for my championship.

 
'VikingFrog said:
Are people comfortable with Ridley? I've got him in and my lineup will lock tonight. Hoping he comes to play tomorrow for my championship.
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I'm not comfortable but I'm playing him. Not like I got a Vick Ballard or Michael Turner just sitting there. I have Ben Tate and Mike Goodson as backups for Foster and DMC. Ridley is playing for better or worse for me.
 
His poor games have usually come in losses, ones in which they've had to throw. That's not going to happen this week. If you have Ridley, play him.

 
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