Josina Anderson @JosinaAnderson 3m3 minutes ago
Source: RB Steven Jackson is signing with the #Patriots today.
Source: RB Steven Jackson is signing with the #Patriots today.
He's definitely not signed to be "the guy". If he gets 10 carries a game that will be a lot. If this frees up Bolden to play more special teams then I'm fine with this move. He played almost 30 offensive snaps and 0 on ST which is his big role for this team.You're back? Ok, well let's see what you've got, because this team signed Montee Ball before they decided to sign you.
I'm not banking on much production, both because of the decline in play we saw in Atlanta from Jackson and because our line isn't particularly great blocking in the running game. Hopefully he has fresh enough legs to make up the difference, but only time will tell.
This has to be related to what BB saw with no Bolden on ST.He's definitely not signed to be "the guy". If he gets 10 carries a game that will be a lot. If this frees up Bolden to play more special teams then I'm fine with this move. He played almost 30 offensive snaps and 0 on ST which is his big role for this team.
I'm not sure that's what they'll be asking him to do, primarily. More like the LGBT 1st and 2nd down back. Run hard north-south and don't fumble.If he's good at picking up blitz packages and catching the occasional dump-off pass without fumbling the ball I don't much care whether he's lost a couple of steps as runner. Realistically this seems like a great pickup considering the time of year and the depth of the Patriot's injuries.
Don't compare him to Dillon. Dillon was more like Revis, a huge part of an entire championship season, not some guy along for the ride.Color me very optimistic about Jackson. A RB who was once extremely successful in the NFL and who should have fresh legs could be just what the what this team needs. I like that he has history with Josh in St. Louis, too. I like that he's coming here to get his ring, a la Dillon.
It's a distinction without a difference regarding one aspect of the deal that I like. Having a guy join the team who is an accomplished player and who is hungry for a ring could be hugely beneficial come playoff time. That the comparison is not on all fours is not material to me.Don't compare him to Dillon. Dillon was more like Revis, a huge part of an entire championship season, not some guy along for the ride.
RE the Ball move: I think this has to do with a future move for next year rather than this year. Blount is a FA at the end of the season and getting Ball in here they can see what he has and if he's a viable option to replace Blount next year on the cheap.I would not read too much into the Montee Ball-Steven Jackson timing aspect.
There could have been all kinds of reasons for the gap. I don't think they worked out on the same day with the Pats choosing Ball over Jackson.
Also, that they are still looking for candidates after they have had Ball on the practice squad for a half a week and after having promoted Iosefa over him might tell us something about how optimistic they are about Ball. It might simply be that Iosefa knows the offense better and the Pats are just signing another guy and letting nature take its course. But if they were overwhelmed with Ball, they might not bother. Maybe.
Color me very optimistic about Jackson. A RB who was once extremely successful in the NFL and who should have fresh legs could be just what the what this team needs. I like that he has history with Josh in St. Louis, too. I like that he's coming here to get his ring, a la Dillon.
It's true that the line has to open holes and create opportunities for this to mean much. But having a beast to carry the ball can be motivating for the o-line, not that motivation enough is sufficient.
I also wonder how this affects Iosefa, who the coaching staff and Pats players seem to really love. And who showed some potential.
Does anyone know if St Louis deployed a full back during Jackson's peak? My understanding is that running backs do have a FB/No FB preference. Curious how that could affect Iosefa's status. Though the biggest thing for Iosefa will be special teams. I don't believe White is currently a special teams contributor and Jackson won't be. They willYeah, I'm also curious what this might mean for Iosefa. Thought he showed some flashes on Sunday, though admittedly against a poor team.
Or Fred Taylor circa 2009Pretty simplistic comparison - Steven Jackson and Frank Gore are both 32. Gore shows an occasional flash. Would expect the same from Jackson.
It could be his choice to some extent.So why hasn't he been playing for anyone else?
He's 32 years old ... running backs are a dime a dozen (until you lose them late in the season). You can almost always find a good one in the middle rounds of the draft. Why tie up money for a guy who probably does not have much left in the tank? He may be a perfect fit for a few late season games. I think all the Pats want is a veteran who knows how to pick up the blitz, catches the ball a bit, and gets a serviceable 40 to 60 yards on the ground a game.So why hasn't he been playing for anyone else?
Beyond the fact that they are both RBs I don't think the comparison makes any sense whatsoever. Dillon was 30 and ran for 1600+ yards in his first year with the Pats. Two years later (at Jackson's current age) he was done, with fewer career carries than Jackson has right now, and with his last two years looking a lot like Jackson's last two years in Atlanta.It's a distinction without a difference regarding one aspect of the deal that I like. Having a guy join the team who is an accomplished player and who is hungry for a ring could be hugely beneficial come playoff time. That the comparison is not on all fours is not material to me.
Like Dillon, having Jackson, a RB who also apparently signed here in part because he sees it as an opportunity for a ring could be a very good thing. That they can't be compared in all respects...true but not relevant to me.
This nails it for me. If he can give them some 10-12 carries per game for 40-50 yards per game for the next 5 games I will be thrilled.Beyond the fact that they are both RBs I don't think the comparison makes any sense whatsoever. Dillon was 30 and ran for 1600+ yards in his first year with the Pats. Two years later (at Jackson's current age) he was done, with fewer career carries than Jackson has right now, and with his last two years looking a lot like Jackson's last two years in Atlanta.
Don't get me wrong, I'm fine with the signing but there's a decent chance Jackson is cooked and if he is his desire to win a ring isn't going to make a difference.
Exactly. I think everyone acknowledges that there are without a doubt available running backs off the street or practice squads that are younger and offer more explosiveness/big play ability then Jackson. But that is not really what the Pats need right now. I think I said it in the other Jackson thread from last week but right now for the Pats situation if I had to choose between steady and safe vs. upside, xplosive but unknown (blitz pickup, ball security) then I would choose steady and safe every time.He's 32 years old ... running backs are a dime a dozen (until you lose them late in the season). You can almost always find a good one in the middle rounds of the draft. Why tie up money for a guy who probably does not have much left in the tank? He may be a perfect fit for a few late season games. I think all the Pats want is a veteran who knows how to pick up the blitz, catches the ball a bit, and gets a serviceable 40 to 60 yards on the ground a game.
Pretty sure he only said he wanted to play for a real contender only which rules out practically 24 of the 32 teams right off the bat.So why hasn't he been playing for anyone else?
Yeah, I was making a more narrow point. That Jackson is a veteran RB joining a SB contender with a ring on his mind is, in that respect only, similar to Dillon.Beyond the fact that they are both RBs I don't think the comparison makes any sense whatsoever. Dillon was 30 and ran for 1600+ yards in his first year with the Pats. Two years later (at Jackson's current age) he was done, with fewer career carries than Jackson has right now, and with his last two years looking a lot like Jackson's last two years in Atlanta.
Don't get me wrong, I'm fine with the signing but there's a decent chance Jackson is cooked and if he is his desire to win a ring isn't going to make a difference.
I'm not exiting much but at this point it's worth a shot.Im good with the signing given the available options, but the fact this guy is out there on the street in week 15 should temper expectations. If he's a slower version of 2006 Corey Dillion, I'll be ecstatic.
I'm really surprised it doesn't happen more in baseball--Clemens kind of mastered the theory, but nobody else has followed in his footsteps.Older guys sitting out 3 months and then cherry picking a situation is a model I thought would have caught on more by now.
Pedro did it as well! But I agree with you.I'm really surprised it doesn't happen more in baseball--Clemens kind of mastered the theory, but nobody else has followed in his footsteps.