I don't really get why Evan thinks this. They seemed super reluctant to play Kevin Harris or Strong last year. I don't know that they have a lot of confidence in them, and I could easily see Robinson sliding into the #2 role.
James Robinson to Pats
- Thread starter AlNipper49
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The Patriots often kind of "redshirt" rookie running backs. Here are these guys' rookie seasons:
James White: 3 g, 9 rushes, 5 receptions
Shane Vereen: 5 g, 15 rushes, 0 receptions
Damien Harris: 2 g, 4 rushes, 0 receptions
Pierre Strong: 15 g, 10 rushes, 7 receptions
Kevin Harris: 5 g, 18 rushes, 0 receptions
It's not always the case, obviously. Rhamondre played in 12 games and had 133 rushes his rookie year. Maroney played in 14 games and had 175 rushes his rookie year.
But it's well within BB's character to draft a RB and have him play very little his rookie season. This past year it made a lot of sense as the Pats had two really good RBs in Damien Harris and Rhamondre. I don't think it indicates a lack of confidence in Strong or K Harris.
My guess is he hears that they like them, and it was a redshirt situation like some previous Patriots backs. Bill hasn't usually just handed time over to rookie RBs, especially in passing downs. Damien Harris and James White come to mind as guys who barely touched the field as rookies then got significant upgrades in roles year 2.
The difference last year vs prior redshirt guys is they had weeks where they really had no RB depth and they basically decided to run Rhamondre into the ground. Look especially at the games where Damien Harris was unavailable (and keep in mind, Ty Montgomery got hurt in Week 1):
Week 6 vs Cleveland: Rhamondre a whopping 60 snaps, KHarris 12, Strong 4
Week 9 vs Indy: Rhamondre 46 snaps, KHarris still inactive, Strong 0 snaps, JJ Taylor up from PS 17 snaps
Week 13 vs Buffalo: Rhamondre 53 snaps, KHarris 1 snap, Strong 0 snaps
then Rhamondre also got hurt against Arizona (just 13 snaps) so you actually had some snaps for the kids: 29 KHarris, 19 Strong
Week 15 vs LV: Rhamondre 43 snaps, KHarris 7, Strong 13
Week 16 Cincy: Rhamondre 51, KHarris 4, Strong 2
There were snaps to be had last year with the injuries they had in that group; it was a lot different situation than, say, Damien Harris' rookie year (when they had a still-well-regarded Sony plus Burkhead, White, and Bolden). But they just rode Stevenson harder. I haven't checked but I expect he played the most snaps any single RB has in Belichick's tenure.
Week 6 vs Cleveland: Rhamondre a whopping 60 snaps, KHarris 12, Strong 4
Week 9 vs Indy: Rhamondre 46 snaps, KHarris still inactive, Strong 0 snaps, JJ Taylor up from PS 17 snaps
Week 13 vs Buffalo: Rhamondre 53 snaps, KHarris 1 snap, Strong 0 snaps
then Rhamondre also got hurt against Arizona (just 13 snaps) so you actually had some snaps for the kids: 29 KHarris, 19 Strong
Week 15 vs LV: Rhamondre 43 snaps, KHarris 7, Strong 13
Week 16 Cincy: Rhamondre 51, KHarris 4, Strong 2
There were snaps to be had last year with the injuries they had in that group; it was a lot different situation than, say, Damien Harris' rookie year (when they had a still-well-regarded Sony plus Burkhead, White, and Bolden). But they just rode Stevenson harder. I haven't checked but I expect he played the most snaps any single RB has in Belichick's tenure.
Yup. There are very few non fungible running backs in the league, which is why Rhamondre should be the feature back and play as much as he physically can handle.
Robinson is still a wild card. He was starting early in the year in Jax while they eased Etienne back then basically lost the backup role to Jamical Hasty. Then traded to NYJ who turned to Zonovan Knight over him down the stretch. Achilles used to be a career ending injury especially for RBs and it really took D'Onta Foreman over 2 years to recover. Only Akers has recovered from it in less than two seasons.
There is probably a 50/50 chance he simply can't recover from it. We certainly don't know yet if he has and in fairness he would likely be making more if that was the case. He's a lotto ticket IMO.
There is always going to be some uncertainity with recovery from tendon injuries, but this far removed from surgery the Patriots medical staff can get a very good read on his functional capabilities during his physical. Most of the drills he performed at the combine (40 w/ splits- vertical jump-long jump-3 cone and shuttle) are all good ways to test his ankle function and measure his current status against his baseline numbers from his combine. But to your point, these numbers only go so far and his contract cost is indicative of the uncertainty of playing under game conditions vs testing. All in all though, I would put his chances for success a few notches higher than a lottery ticket.