AzPatsFan
Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2004
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"Taking a back" is not the same as overrating him, which is what I posted. And Ridley didn't reach even 800 yards when Blount was here. He had 773 yards rushing, which was 1 yard more than Blount had in the same season, and Ridley had 25 more carries.
The reason Blount is not with the team, is not that he might not have been a better pure runner then Ridley.
It was because Blount couldn't catch a cold with his stone hands. That reduced the credibility of the passing game, and simplified the number of possible receivers in the passing game that the Defense must cover, which is the Pats real bread and butter. After all, Annual passing yardage gained, is twice the running yardage gained.
Ridley's lack of yardage last year had more to do with his ball handling security, that Belichick's coaching, by benching him, forced him to improve, just like Faulk before him. He accepted the coaching, without grousing, and did alter his ball handling security.
After all, he had less fumbles than Blount in more carries, last season. Ridley won out, and was simply more v-e-r-s-a-t-i-l-e, and thus more valuable, even though Ridley doesn't hold a candle to Vereen's receiving abilities, but it was good enough to be a threat.