Game Ball of the Week: Kevin Faulk

by Greg Knopping on Nov 3, 2011 10:32 AM EDT in Opinion/Analysis

Well, it's never fun to name a "game ball" of the week after as ugly of a loss as the Patriots had against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, but I'll give it my best.

If there was one story line overlooked from Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, it was the prominent return of 35 year old running back Kevin Faulk. Faulk got the start for New England in his first game back after tearing his ACL in week two of last season and spending the Patriots' first six games on the PUP.

But the thing that was so notable about Faulk's performance was that it became clear that Faulk's spot on the roster won't be any type of sentimental send-off (a la Troy Brown in 2007). Kevin Faulk, the longest tenured current Patriot, is going to have an integral role with the 2011 Patriots.

Against the Steelers, Faulk played three times as many snaps than any other Patriots running back, carried the ball six times for 32 yards and caught five passes for 20 yards. He was also integral in blitz pick-up on the Patriots first touchdown.

Part of the reason that Faulk played so much was because the Patriots were down early, never established the run, and were in attack-mode (not sure that's really the way to describe it) with the passing game. Nonetheless, Faulk showed that he can still be the Patriots' primary passing back and be more than effective in that role.

Past Winners:
Week 1: Tom Brady
Week 2: Tom Brady
Week 3: Wes Welker
Week 4: Wes Welker
Week 5: BenJarvus Green-Ellis
Week 6: Brandon Spikes / Andre Carter
Week 8: Kevin Faulk

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Good pick

It was great to see him back out there.

Deep in enemy territory

by JeffyB on Nov 3, 2011 10:46 AM EDT reply actions

It was great to see him out there,

but I would have liked to see more LawFirm. Possibly his foot/toe has been bothering him.
However, my vote would be for Gronkowski. He may have been the only player with a solid and exceptional game, plus he should have had that touchdown counted. Faulk, while looking pretty good, did miss a key block that led to a sack.

by furiousd on Nov 3, 2011 1:26 PM EDT reply actions

I have to disagree

I think it’s kind of a sentimental pick, based on his return, not his game. We can celebrate Faulk being out there. But his game? 52 net yards. Had good y/c rushing, but rushed only 5 times. And as receiver? 5 reception for 20 yards. That is not good. And it included one for 18 yards. So the 4 went for 2 net yards. that is just awful. He had one great reception for 18 yards. And had other 4 for 2 yards. And he supposed to improve the pass blocking. He missed at least one blitz pick up, and was called for a chop block penalty.

That was not an MVP performance even on this team. I would probably go Gronk or perhaps. But IMHO even A. Carter has a stronger case.

by frogfromthemud on Nov 3, 2011 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

This is a "game ball" of the week, not an MVP of the week

And you can’t just look at stats for Faulk’s four receptions. One of his catches came on an ugly tipped pass from Brady that was a head’s up play on third down that still resulted in a six yard loss but it was third down so he was right in catching it.

That means Faulk really had four catches for 26 yards which is very respectable.

Here are Faulk’s key plays:
9 yard run on 3rd and 17 that set the Pats up in field goal range
6 yard run on Patriots first TD drive that set up TD
Excellent pass protection on Patriots first drive that set up TD
Key 18 yard reception on Pats final TD drive that helped cut score to 23-17

by Greg Knopping on Nov 3, 2011 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Well

to be honest, I felt Faulk was a step back from Woodhead. As for as the minus 6 yards play: if he catches and runs for a first down, would have been negated. It was the very same play he committed a personal foul. He killed that play before he even tried to save it. Great to see him healthy, but his game was average at best.

by frogfromthemud on Nov 4, 2011 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Woody hasn't done much at all this season. SO a step back from anything Woody has done seems a bit off to me

personally. Woody hasn’t been the same RB from last season.

In GOD I TRUST>In BB i trust......faith where it belongs!!
Life is about who makes it, not who makes it the fastest! Drive slow homie.

by PatNation85 on Nov 4, 2011 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions

This

Game ball belongs to Carter, Haynesworth, or even TFB, Faulk being picked has to be sentimental.

Paradox here is that BB may have been a bit too sentimental too. Lawfirm should have been assigned the responsibility of running it up PIT’s weak (in dime, damn near all game, with Farrior out, to boot) gut. The ball was given to Faulk instead.

by SSiewar on Nov 3, 2011 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions