but how many carries did Ronnie get in those 'fewer than 50 yard' games? I mean, if anything, the Atlanta game is proof that we just don't seem to give him the ball enough in most games. IMO anyway.

 

Ronnie, its time to get pissed buddy...

 

I agree with him and said the same following that game......the best looking RB on the field that day was Williams.

This subject is probably a thread of it's own but I have a feeling we won't be re-signing Brown to any big contract. And even tho I like him and would hate to see him go, I'm not sure tying up a big chunk of cap money on him is such a good idea.

 

Honestly Brown doesn't play like an elite back. Yes he is versatile but he is not a home run threat. Miami needs to get some big play ability in the next draft because when your best threat doesn't even get the ball (Ginn) your going to have some offensive struggles.

 

Agreed, boys.

In a very strong draft class year, I don;t think Ronnie goes top ten. He definitely goes first round though.

 

i have to defend Ronnie here. First off, Ricky looking better isn't necessarily a knock on Ronnie. We need to remember that before the whole 'retiring to go to africa thing' Ricky was flat out one of the most talented running backs to ever play the game. His size, speed, and vision were all incredible. He's still got the vision and football IQ, just not all the size and speed.

But Ricky's not a long term investment. In fact, right now, he's a luxury. He wouldn't even still be here if it weren't for his very low salary and the fact that no other team would touch him.

Ronnie has proven to be a very good RB here. He's looked amazing in some games. I just fear him going somewhere else where they showcase him better than we do. (Like the patriots..........) Ronnie has, maybe, the best hands on the entire team. You would never know it though cause, at most, he catches two passes a game. He's a powerhouse RB who never gets the ball more than 15 times a game (IF THAT). He can be so much more to an offense but their not feeding him.

Or maybe im just completely blinded by fear of him being a patriot. Seriously, think about it. Their RBs this year are Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris. Belicheck has talked up Ronnie time and time again. Of course they haven't drafted anyone, and it's almost as if signing Fred Taylor was a stop gap waiting for Ronnie. We let Ronnie walk, i bet the pats are the first ones at his door.

 

You make excellent points concerning Brown, especially how under utilized he is in the passing game........it's a waste of his talent.

It's really less about him personally than it is about tying up a huge chunk of cap space on the RB position. This is a tough decision and one I would hate to have to make

 

Snips.. I made that same prediction awhile back and was beat up for it.. "they will NEVER pay the dough"... was the response....I think they would.. BB knows what ronnie is even if we don't.. look what he did with welker.

something to remember.. Ronnie starts the season slow for whatever reason, we will see more from him..

 

What scares the crap out of me is the following scenario:

The phins don't re-sign Ronnie. He hits the market. The Pats gobble him up ala Welker-style. Next thing we know, Ronnie gets his 18-25 touches per game in NE and goes to 3 straight pro-bowls, shreds our phins, and disses how he didn't get the ball enough here, and we get caught with our pants around our ankles....again...

 

There is no doubt about it. The Patriots will be in the Ronnie Brown market. That is unless Bill Bellichek comments about Ronnie Brown have been spurred by a Nick Saban apologist. The latest comments from Ted Bruschi makes me think the Patriots would be very interested though. Ronnie Brown's talents have been recognized far too often out of that organization to think that they would not be interested.

 

And there's always addition by subtraction. Not only would they be getting his talent, they'd be taking it away from us.

 

In 2007 before Ronnie got hurt, I saw a dominant Running back in Ronnie. He was unstoppable.

Most bruising type RBs don't even get warmed up until 15 carries.

I guarantee if Ronnie got 30 carries in a game he would have over 100 yards, easy.

Feed em the rock damn it.

 

I disagree regarding Ricky's speed.He is by far the fastest
and most decisive running back that we have.

The 32-year-old running back is scheduled to earn a "base salary" of $3.4 million this season and $4.35 million in 2010.Hardly what I would call a bargain.

AS for Ronnie how can one justify giving him a huge contract with the production regardless on whose at fault
the production does not match the contract that will be needed to sign Ronnie.New England is set at running back so I doubt they over pay for Brown plus they have so many draft picks next season(A FANTASTIC DRAFT) it's ridiculous.

2 number 1s
3 number 2s
1 number 3...thats six in the first hundred picks which BB will turn into another 12 picks no doubt

 

Thats 1 thing Cam did right he ran the offense through Ronnie Brown and he was on his way to his best season yet and perhaps the best RB in the league. That ACL injury really set him back.

Very true

But the offense we run doesn't have that luxury because so far it appears if we can't score we wont be able to run.


We should give at least 20 carries to Brown vs the Colts defense.

 

Bottom line, Ronnie is the best overall running back on our team. You have to find a way to feature your best players.

I agree with those who have said he needs at least 20 carries. His YPC average has always been very good, and Pennington will have more options with playaction if the running game is successful.

 

Personally I don't worry much about Brown ending up with the Pats......I mean what in recent history says that Bellichek will dump a bunch of money on a running back?

 

Eh, Henning should stop monkeying around and pound the ball, he speaks of 65 plays a game, well Penny shouldn't have more than 20 passing attempts, that leaves 20 for ronnie and then spread the ball around.

It is one game however we had no identity to speak of in that game, I'd like to see the rebound include a committment to the run.

 

Pennington could at least make a few attempts to stretch out a d. It's a perfect scenario for d coordinators, load the box and still take away the passing game because all we throw is short to med. routes.

Ronnie will be fine and produce better. But he also has to make a couple plays for our coordinator to want to give him the ball more.

I think there are several factors to his lack of production.

 

He did more then just run the ball last game. Heck his blocking was good also. He did afterall spring Ricky for 14 yards. But I also agree that people just stack the box, with Penny as our QB all you need to do is defend the first 20-25 yards. He seems scared to push it down the field. Last week we noticed him throw it away fairly early a few times. Was very unlike him.

 

when in doubt, count on the pats to do whatever it takes to make the rest of the division look like a bunch of idiots. (Welker, Bledsoe, Ty Law)

 

Ronnie is the playmaker on this offense! Bigger, faster, better hands; what more do you want in a running back? The first quarter and fourth quarter should be his, especially if we're winning! Just get him beyond the LOS and he'll have a monster game!

 

You can dis Ronnie or talk him up, but until our OL gets their **** together and starts opening holes for the runing game, NOBODY is going to get 100 yards a game for us. And it will hurt Ronnie, Ricky, Cobbs, and our total offense. All 3 of these guys can get the ball through the LOS but ONLY if the damned OL opens up holes for them. You can't run where there's no opening.

 

Thing is, it's not just in the olines hand. Penny has to push the ball down the field also. He had a few chances last game, even had some drop backs where he wasn't pressured but hurried the throw. Yes the line will need to give him time to throw deep also. But he also needs to shoulder some of the blame. And i think once the oline gels some, there will be more holes for Ronnie and Ricky.

One thing i can't figure out is, why are we not running counters against speed defenses? I mean really, teams that flow with speed usually bite on that hard.

 

Before Wes Welker what was Bellichek's history on dumping a bunch of money on a wide reciever?

 

That's because he looked at Welker and realized there wasn't a WR in the entire league that fit together with Tom Brady so perfectly. He knew the combo would be lethal...The contract and the picks involved were a small price to pay for what Welker gives them and he knew it.

The Pats are a pass first team. Brady will throw 20 in a row without blinking. Their offense isn't centered enough around the RB to spend big money on the position. Welker underneath, is their running game.

If I were in his position, I'd use one of those umpteen 2nd rounders he's got next year and get a good RB prospect for cheap.

 

They don't put enough in when it comes to getting Ronnie the ball.

And Henning has been pissing me off since last season when he refuses to run the ball.

 

and having a big runningback who can block and catch out of the backfield wouldn't tickle his fancy at all?

 

absolutely.....and I'm sure after watching Brown destroy his team in game 3 last year, he's well aware of his talent.

The thing is, unless the RB is irreplaceable like Peterson, it generally makes more sense to just find one cheaper in the draft.

He just sent a VERY good player to Oakland to keep from having to break the bank on him next season. Can't see Belichek and the Pats going against their philosophy, not with all those draft picks they have.

 

Your killin me Johnny, lol....

 

I actually think he would produce better there than here. Only reason I say this is because Bill gets the most out of his players. With their running back by committee, I think Ronnie Brown would also be used heavily in the pass game, which unfortunately he isn't used so much here. Kevin Faulk is their main guy doing that right now and I'm sure they would love to have Ronnie Brown and Kevin Faulk both next to Brady in shotgun and both eligible for a pass down the field.

 

I think he'd be viewed as even more dimensional and it would be more difficult for the opposition because he would do more, so yeah I think his production would be better. He gives them more flexibility and versatility on offense IMO.

He'd be paid as a running back and it wouldn't surprise me to see them pay him Maurice Jones-Drew money and be fine with it. I'd imagine he'd take that kind of money, about six to seven million a year which is what I believe MJD got.

 

But wouldn't you agree that could be said about Ricky and Cobbs as well? With their skill set they'd be dangerous there too. I would guess lots of RB's in this league would look better there. Which I think is even more reason to go with a cheaper alternative.

 

Yes, I would agree with that.

I'm actually in favor of a cheaper alternative because I dislike paying running backs a large sum of money and I don't find Ronnie Brown to be used to his full abilities here. While I think that he cannot carry a full workload due to his constant injuries, I do think that he has the talent to be a multi-dimensional threat as a pass catcher out of the backfield. He's already proven he can run the ball well, he's shown some some good stuff from the Wildcat and I think if they were to include him in some pass plays, it would make him a dangerous player. However, that doesn't seem to be the case with this management and I don't have an explanation for it or can't think of one. Maybe you guys have a good idea of why they don't use him out of the backfield more? I'm blank on it, lol.

 

I have no idea, the year he got hurt he was arguably the most dangerous offensive player in the league, prior to the injury. Him and RW both are lethal in space. Brown I think has better hands tho..