Patriots Rookie Projections: Stevan Ridley

by Greg Knopping on May 13, 2011 11:00 AM EDT in New England Patriots NFL Draft

BATON ROUGE LA - NOVEMBER 20: Stevan Ridley #34 of the Louisiana State University Tigers looks to rush upfield against the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium on November 20 2010 in Baton Rouge Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The fourth in a series looking at the Patriots' 2011 NFL Draft picks, and the roles they might play for the Patriots next year.

Name: Stevan Ridley

School: LSU

Position: Running Back

Drafted: 3rd Round, 73rd Overall

Projected Stats: 15 Games Played, 1 Start; 58 carries, 224 yards, 3 TDs; 4 receptions, 21 yards

Projected Role: Stevan Ridley reminds a lot of fans of current Patriots running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, and rightly so. Both played in the SEC. Both are bigger and more powerful backs. Both have good vision and do not hesitate. Both can play a little fullback. While Stevan Ridley plays a lot like Green-Ellis, he will not be taking over for him in the present. Next year, I expect Ridley to take on a role that emulates the one that free agent running back Sammy Morris played for the Patriots last season. Morris played some fullback, reserve tailback, and also had a crucial role on special teams. Expect Ridley to do many of the same things, although I think he could be used a little bit more than expected in that tailback role.

Bottom Line: Reserve RB and FB in 2011, possible starter on 1st/2nd down in 2012

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Comments

Not sure if you can compare Ridley to Bennie.

This dude is a pounder who will be valuable in closing out games and chewing the clock.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life.
In Bill We Trust.

by NinjaZX6R on May 13, 2011 11:54 AM EDT reply actions

How much time has he spent at fullback as a lead blocker?

I know he did a bit of that in college but I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s a huge wrinkle this year. Last year we saw the integration of the tight ends. This year, the fullback is back. I’m expecting to see more lead blocking this year, it’ll be hard to stop a running game of Vereen/BJGE/Woody behind Ridley with Gronk lined up at tight end, and it gives us a lot of versatility. We finally have tight ends who are just as dangerous in the passing game as the running game (Gronk, Hernandez, Smith – although Hernando certainly isn’t the best blocker), and it would add another element to have a fullback who can run and block in front of a halfback who can run, block and catch. Seems like a deadly combo that’s going to keep defenses guessing if Ridley comes in knowing how to block.

by wildcat61 on May 13, 2011 12:22 PM EDT reply actions

I wish we had Heath Evans.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life.
In Bill We Trust.

by NinjaZX6R on May 13, 2011 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

i am not bashing ridley

but this is the pick of the draft that i dont understand. in bill i trust !!!

by brady12mvp3 on May 13, 2011 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I do

There were so many games in the 09 season and few games in the 2010 season (Colts, Chargers, GB games) that we needed a pounder late in games that could grind out yards and chew the clock. BJGE is nice but isn’t the answer late in games. Plus Ridley can replace Sammy Morris who is old (34 years). Played both FB and RB at LSU. I like this pick more than I like the Vereen pick. I just love his running style.
Hopefully these two rookie RB have a similar impact on our team like Gronk and Herno did last season.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life.
In Bill We Trust.

by NinjaZX6R on May 13, 2011 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions

not saying i know more then bb and crew

but why not mikel leshoure in 2nd round and then vereen in 3rd round. correct me if i am wrong but i think vereen was the 2nd rb taken in the draft. and every single draft publication had a 3rd to 5th round write up on vereen (who i love ) and many many many football writers and draftniks had 1st to 2nd rd ranks on leshoure and ridley was 5th to 7th write up. i trust bb and crew like i said i just dont get the players picked i understand the theory you suggesting.

by brady12mvp3 on May 13, 2011 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Publications also had Vollmer ranked as a 4th-7th rounder.

Belichick usually has one pick that sticks out as a big “…..huh?” A year down the road, that’s almost invariably the pick that makes all the pundits look foolish.

LeShoure has some qualities that are unacceptable to the Patriots:

2010 was his only big season. There are concerns about weight and him maintaining it. On third downs, he will need to develop in his pass protection, but he does do very well catching the ball with soft hands and getting upfield. His biggest flaw may be always trying to go for the big play. If he can’t get going north and south, he tries to force the play by running east and west.

<a href=“http:// From FFToolbox.com ”http://www.fftoolbox.com/nfl_draft/profile_display.cfm?prospect_id=2736#ixzz1MFsvPz2Z" target="_blank">http://www.fftoolbox.com/nfl_draft/profile_display.cfm?prospect_id=2736#ixzz1MFsvPz2Z" >

Weaknesses: only one proven productive season (Pats like to take established players); weak in pass protection (cardinal sin for a Pats RB); doesn’t take what’s given to him/goes “east to west” when he doesn’t see an opening (Maroney, anyone?); weight/commitment concerns.

by nbradley07 on May 13, 2011 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Let's try that again.

http://www.fftoolbox.com/nfl_draft/profile_display.cfm?prospect_id=2736

by nbradley07 on May 13, 2011 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

i agree bradley but ridley

also had only 1 productive season as well. there isnt a bigger beleiver in the in bill we trust motto then me and i could easily be wrong .

by brady12mvp3 on May 13, 2011 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Sometimes the less wear and tear there is on a power back, the better they are.

by Patriots12 on May 13, 2011 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

A lot of them struggle with weight issues, too.

If anyone remembers Giants former first rounder (#11 overall) Ron Dayne, they’ll know he was 40 pounds over playing weight at one point. It seems somewhat common for these bigger RBs to struggle with weight once they get to the NFL. LeShoure’s commitment and weight issues might not have hindered his ability to compete at the college level, but they would doom him (if uncorrected) at the pro level.

by nbradley07 on May 13, 2011 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

you can’t have it both ways though – either you want experience or you don;’t

by quadruple option on May 13, 2011 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions

That isn't his fault.

One of the reasons Ridley left early was because of the number of RB LSU had on their roster. They are talent group and it took Ridley 2 years to crack it.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life.
In Bill We Trust.

by NinjaZX6R on May 13, 2011 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

not saying it was ridleys fault ninja

but fact of the matter is he only had 1 great season.

by brady12mvp3 on May 13, 2011 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Along with what Nbradley07 is saying, Vereen can run routes, pass protect, run with speed and power. Gets down hill quickly and is very strong for a back his size. He was very productive at Cal. Screams second rounder to me. And considering what New England does from a screen game stand point and how important it is to keep the defense off balance, Vereen is a great pick. He may remind Bill of Roger Craig from the 49ers.

by Patriots12 on May 13, 2011 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

For the things the Patriots need

in their running game, how does he stack up against Ingram?

by pablum257 on May 13, 2011 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Faster than Ingram. I don’t know if he is tougher than Ingram but he is strong. Vereen won’t have to carry the whole load. He’ll have help.

by Patriots12 on May 13, 2011 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions

What I was getting at

…was that maybe the Pats had Vereen rated above Ingram. I read several articles that had Vereen as being a match for the Patriots.

I, and others here, have noted several times certain things that the Patriots offense lacks that could be addressed by a more versatile running back, or a general line improvement. A strong runner who can pass block (without putting Woodhead against Raji) and catch a little so as to not tip the defense just by his presence, and a pass-blocking thumper to run when the opponents know it is coming would make certain of the tactics defenses have used to take away the offense for a few series excessively painful.

by pablum257 on May 14, 2011 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Sounds good to me. Vereen in my mind is a steal for everything he brings to the table. Should he play above his capabilities that may contribute to another Lombardi.

by Patriots12 on May 15, 2011 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep

Vereen’s only knock was that he wasn’t cut out to be an every-down back, but NE wouldn’t want him for that anyway.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit

by Comedic.Sans on May 16, 2011 5:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Ridley would be Ingram.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by insertscreenname on May 14, 2011 1:55 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Doesn't really change much about your point but Ryan Williams was picked before him.

by wildcat61 on May 13, 2011 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah i thought i was wrong on that wildcat

i knew he went ahead of leshoure i forgot about williams.

by brady12mvp3 on May 13, 2011 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I have also missed Heath Evans.

Hopefully Ridley can help us miss him less, or not at all.

by UtopianAverage on May 13, 2011 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Ninja- I blame the offensive line for not being able to close out games late. There were times there was no push from up front at all.

by Patriots12 on May 13, 2011 1:56 PM EDT reply actions

True

but we have not had a true power back since Dillion.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life.
In Bill We Trust.

by NinjaZX6R on May 13, 2011 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

That is true. But whether power or scat back. If there are no holes to run through, he won’t go anywhere.

by Patriots12 on May 13, 2011 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

At least w. a power runner,

he can just follow a lineman and find something. He isn’t a home run hitter but I like power runners than scat backs. They are also hard to bring down.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life.
In Bill We Trust.

by NinjaZX6R on May 13, 2011 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I like balanced runners...

Guys that have a little power, have a little speed, can block and can catch…

Guys that can do at least a little bit of everything.

by UtopianAverage on May 13, 2011 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Good points by both of you guys.

by Patriots12 on May 13, 2011 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't underestimate the wear and tear of a power back on a defensive line.

It’s much easier to pull down Danny Woodhead than Stevan Ridley while coming off a block. Sure, you might get to Ridley the first couple times, but after getting hit with a serious punch, the big fellas start to get tired, easier to block and have to resort to arm tackles that Ridley will bounce off of. Even if not Ridley, Vereen would come in and blow by them – smash and dash. Ridley is our big guy who gets stronger as the game goes on, making it easier for offensive linemen to block and creating bigger lanes for the speedy guys.

by wildcat61 on May 13, 2011 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Good RB drafts

I think both of these RB’s are an immediate upgrade to Morris and Taylor. Those two need to retire, and these two will bring every bit of enthusiasm and energy that their youth provides. However, neither will add to the power game. FB needs to be 240 or more to create 2 yards on his own – meaning that he can break the arm tackle of a defensive lineman and run over a LB in the NFL. By run over, I mean that the RB and the LB are going down together, but the LB is falling backwards!!!

That is only going to happen, consistently, if the RB is 240lbs, or more with a head of steam.

The PATS have been lacking a bruising FB for years, and there are losses specific to this void. Games that required one more first down that they failed to achieve because they did not have the FB required so they relied on a pass play or ran a smaller back who was unable to knock the LB backwards.

by WinningisEverything on May 14, 2011 12:14 PM EDT reply actions