Anyone worried?

[packerbacker1234]

Herron looks solid every time he touches the ball. In fact, with AG gone I'de want Herron to start.

While I agree with the general proposition that free agency is fool's gold and there are few (if any) guys out there worth overpaying for, you have abdicated a lot of your credibility with the statement above.

Herron has no business being on an NFL roster and he absolutely must be replaced. Whenever he touches the ball, it's painfully apparent that he is incredibly slow and has no burst. He was an unfortunate downgrade from Tony Fisher, who was no starting-caliber player either for the same reason.

No buisness eh? I guess one start last year, 22 carries, and 120+ yards is no reason to be in the NFL.

No he doesn't have burst, but considering that AG used his burst ONE TIME last year it's a mute point in running back by committee.

[motife]

Ted Thompson did the same thing last year. Didn't jump in Free Agency until all the big names were signed. Then sifted through the remains for "value".

So what wins games? Talent or "value"?

Not picking on ya Motife, I love your posts and insight. It's just that unless a team is flush against the cap I'm not sure "value" is the be all end all.

If you ignore it all the time you get into trouble of course. But thet shouldn't drive your every move..in my humble opinion of course.....

Was just stating the facts, not implying that I agree with what Ted did, or that it works. It's just what I remember happened.

How many times has he reiterated over and over that he thinks signing big name free agents is dangerous, not a long term strategy and he believes in building through the draft? No one should be surprised he hasn't done anything yet.

I doubt he does anything until the 3rd week of March, if we go by last years timing.

Again, I'm not endorsing this strategy. Just trying to state what it is. What he plans on doing with the $20 million is an open question though.

In his defense, New England went from 7-9 to winning a Super Bowl plugging holes with no names.

[packerbacker1234]

this is true.

Also to note, most of the "elite" teams in the NFL were built via trades and draft, not FA.

I tend to agree, especially this year, then big FA signings will not help us long term.

You know what would be a big FA signing for us? Prolly the onlin FA he is seriously looking at,


AHman Green.

[jmbarnes101]

Re-sign Ahman, trade for Moss, and sign Justin Griffith. Bring in some street free agents or other free agents cheap and take your chances in the draft. Your young guys now have experience and will get to work in more camps. Those are the things that will improve this team.

[wist43]

Not worried... the two best guys available either didn't fit the scheme (Thomas), or played a position that we're set at (Clements).

A guy like Griffith would be nice, but it's not like we're going to have to break the bank for him... TE would also be nice, but again, not a position that TT has to hotly pursue.

I would like to see him be active in upgrading the OL, however... I know everyone is giddy thinking that the interior three guys will soon be all-pros, but even if they improve by leaps and bounds, that will only get them up to average.

Those guys were brutal last year... was especially disappointed in Wells.

Also, improved depth at T would be nice. When Clifton went down for a couple of games, Colledge had to move out there... if Clifton went down for any length of time, we'd be in big trouble there.

That said, I know nothing is going to happen there... just a personal preference.

[the_idle_threat]

Herron looks solid every time he touches the ball. In fact, with AG gone I'de want Herron to start.

While I agree with the general proposition that free agency is fool's gold and there are few (if any) guys out there worth overpaying for, you have abdicated a lot of your credibility with the statement above.

Herron has no business being on an NFL roster and he absolutely must be replaced. Whenever he touches the ball, it's painfully apparent that he is incredibly slow and has no burst. He was an unfortunate downgrade from Tony Fisher, who was no starting-caliber player either for the same reason.

No buisness eh? I guess one start last year, 22 carries, and 120+ yards is no reason to be in the NFL.

No he doesn't have burst, but considering that AG used his burst ONE TIME last year it's a mute point in running back by committee.

OK, I'll admit that "no business" might be overstating it a little, but lack of physical talent at that position is never a moot point. The team needs to get better at that spot.

And I disagree that Green used his burst only once. Burst is not the same thing as breakaway speed. Burst is the ability to accelerate quickly in the hole. It's what turns a small gain into an 8 or 10 yard gain. Green did a lot of that last year, and so did Morency. I never saw it from Herron. From what I have observed, Herron has pretty good vision and will get what he can when the blocking is there. But he doesn't accelerate through the hole and run downhill the way Green and Morency can, and he's not shifty enough to make people miss. With his talent, he can be no better than a below-average backup. The team can do better, and it should do better.

[RashanGary]

Nice post Idle. I agree with everthing from top to bottom. Burst, not speed is the most important qualtiy in a RB IMO and obviously yours. Herron has none.

Morency has a very nice Burst. If he wsa more durable, he'd be a very good back.

[packerbacker1234]

He got one start and did more with that start then most of our backs did all year.

Not saying he is an amazing runner, but I seem to remember Morency getting BENCHED for herron because when Morency actually got touched not only did he go down fast, he dropped the ball from arm tackles.

Herron does not have "explosion". He has good vision and he breaks tackles very well. Most of herron's runs in his career are 5+ yards. He is a tough runner. We don't need two of hte exact same back out there on the field. It's running back by committee. Aka: two different styles in one scheme for a good one two punch.

[Charles Woodson]

NAME ATT YDS AVG LNG TD FUM LST

Ahman Green 266 1059 4.0 70 5 2 2
Vernand Morency 91 421 4.6 39 2 2 1
Noah Herron 37 150 4.1 19 1 0 0

Actually Morency had a better average. Herrons longest was 19 being beat by at least 20 yards on morencys longest. Personally from the stats its easy to see that Morency is better via that he got more playing time.

[pbmax]

Patler was commenting on this in another thread, but timeframe is an issue here. Manuel was signed right away, but the date I have for Pickett:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2369817

was that it hit the papers on the 15th of March. What day did FA start in 2006?

Give this two weeks, then start to panic if you wish.

And I agree with the list of holes Bretsky assembled. I disagree that prime, first week FA is the place to look for the patch.

[Charles Woodson]

Herron does not have "explosion". He has good vision and he breaks tackles very well. Most of herron's runs in his career are 5+ yards.

Thats why he has a 3.1 career average

Stat Overview Rushing Receiving Fumbles
SPLIT ATT YDS AVG LNG TD REC YDS AVG LNG TD
2006 150 4.1 19 1 29 211 7.3 16 2 1
Career 85 273 3.2 19 3 29 211 7.3 16 2 1

[BooHoo]

It is to early to begin to worry.

[packerbacker1234]

*sigh*

Thanks for proving my stat wrong.

Morency got his yards as a change of pace back from AG. AG pounded the rock. Morency slipped through the hole.

My issue with morency is I don't trust him. He fumbles worse then AG and doesn't fight for yards.

[Charles Woodson]

*sigh*

Thanks for proving my stat wrong.

Morency got his yards as a change of pace back from AG. AG pounded the rock. Morency slipped through the hole.

My issue with morency is I don't trust him. He fumbles worse then AG and doesn't fight for yards.

Okay so can we agree that neither should be starting I like morency as a number 2. Herron would be extremely lucky to land a number 3

[packerbacker1234]

Herron would be a lock in GB for number 3. He provides that solid guy who knows the system.

plus he proved if he has to be "the guy" for entire game he can temporarily fill that roll and do it well.

I also don't want a damn rookie starting for us either. 1st round RB's turn into a bust more often then a star. I am still sold on us locking up AG.