Demps and Ballard next season???

Pats#1 · Joined: 19 Aug 2011 Posts: 2004 Location: Plymouth, MA

Now I'm pretty sure we have Demps coming back next season, which I think can be a real big help to our kickoff and punt receiving corps, as well as plug in back once in a while, perhaps a woodhead upgrade.

I'm really excited to see him play. Now when it comes to Ballard, I'm not sure what the deal is next season. I know we picked him up off waivers from the Giants, and me loving that BB did it right under Coughlins nose haha, but what is the situation for him and the Pats?

He was very good in NY if IIRC, and I would love to see the crap BB could put on the field with a receiving corps of Ballard, Hernandez, Gronk, and Welker. I'm not sure of Ballards blocking ability, does anyone know if he's more Gronk or Hernandez in the blocking area?
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I_GET_SAX · Joined: 17 Nov 2012 Posts: 914 Location: Concord,NH

Ballard is more Gronk than anyone in the league I believe. Big body and soft hands. Was considered a real steal for someone who was promising before injury that he suffered and BB took chance on him continuing towards that and possibility of 3 TE set with those 3 guys.
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TGShabba · Joined: 20 Oct 2010 Posts: 496

I_GET_SAX · Joined: 17 Nov 2012 Posts: 914 Location: Concord,NH

Demps is definitley a quick burst wood head type guy but much quicker and more burst. He excells in return games, I saw him play a lot as an avid SEC veiwer/fan.
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Pats#1 · Joined: 19 Aug 2011 Posts: 2004 Location: Plymouth, MA

derekstanggt · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 433 Location: Austin

PatriotsWin! · Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 15910

I hope we can keep Demps AND Woodhead on the roster. Demps might be more talented but Woodhead has that Kevin Faulk clutchness in him.
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TomRalph · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 5829 Location: Leeds, England

I'm going to play mcmurtry here and calm every down with a dose of reality.

Demps isn't going to see any time in the backfield next season, he has no experience in pass protection which is exactly why we didn't see Ridley or Vereen very much in their Rookie seasons. Demps is going to see KR and PR duties and that's if he he doesn't have ball control issues.

Ballard, suffered a horrific knee injury and is not going to be the player he was pre-injury in all likelihood, he will be an upgrade at 3rd TE, I agree, but to expect him to make an impact, not unlike Fells has this year, is a little ambitious.
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ChazStandard · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 3:22 pm Post subject:

Demps was an RB/Returner in college...but is that based on anything but speed? Does he necessarily fit as a pro-RB? Next year I wouldn't be surprised if his sole role was a returner, meaning not risking McCourty back there. Beyond that...maybe they see him more as a Harvin player, more WR than RB.

I don't follow college football so I know nothing about his hands, but speed like his anywhere on the field is a weapon, and in this offense speed from the slot and deep is a much bigger need than RB is.
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Donut · Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Posts: 11530

Grachuus · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 4:25 pm Post subject:

homerjay24 · Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Posts: 1062 Location: Fitchburg, MA

Right now I just see it as extra depth at two positions where the Pats are already set as far as starters go. It gives them the luxury where they don't need to address those positions at all in the draft, which is nice, especially since they likely won't be looking at QB either unless it's a late round flyer.
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Pats#1 · Joined: 19 Aug 2011 Posts: 2004 Location: Plymouth, MA

I can understand the hesitation of some of you to be really excited about Demps and Ballard next season, considering Demps lack of experience at the pro level and Ballard's sever injury. I think we all realize this is merely a "I'm really excited about this project" type thread than a legit, this is what's gonna happen thread.

On paper, Demps and Ballard could be two big upgrades, one of which (Kick return) is a big hole we have in our STs.

Demps must have continued going to team meetings and pratices, watching game film, even after his injury, so I think he will surely be able to run a few gimmicky plays out of the backfield or at WR if BB/JD wanted to when up big on a team.

As for Ballard, while an injury of that magnitude is always going to be a concern when talking about getting back on the field, I think it's a bit naive and uninformed to just say, "no way he's gonna be the same type of player he was before the injury". He's a pro athlete, for one of the most well run orgs in sports, I'm sure he's getting the absolute best care in the world, I dont think it's THAT big of a surprise if he comes back almost right where he left off.

I dont know...I'm just really excited to have a legit return man, that is expendable (not McCourty), who is the fastest in the league, and yet another big TE that can do it all.

With the running game actually being a compliment to the offense now, I think 3 TE sets would literally be driving defenses crazy with trying to guess what type of play was coming at them.

Here's to hoping that Demps and Ballard surpass all our expectations....but either way, it isn't like we spent an arm and leg on them if they don't pan out. Really is a win win for us...great move by BB.
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patsfan25 · Joined: 07 Dec 2008 Posts: 2959 Location: CenCal

Really hoping Demps can evolve into that explosive weapon that we've never ever had in the BB/Brady era. Branch came closest and he was just a quick #2 WR at best. I'd tend to think McDaniels will be able to utilize him in space and find ways to get him the ball when his time comes. We have a very powerful offense, but it's a very efficient, piece by piece offense. I feel that that can hurt us down the line when we're in comeback situations with little time. And we never are, so it hasn't been brought up.
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TomRalph · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 5829 Location: Leeds, England

Even if Ballard comes back at full health, I really don't think he'll offer us much more than Daniel Fells has done.

Fells did really well with Denver last season and caught a lot of balls but really flamed out for us this year, the same with Ballard, played really well for the Giants, became a Patriot and the rest is unknown.

Ballard just seems like one of those 'nobody' s who comes from nowhere and has a few big games before falling off the face of the earth, and with the extra hurdle of coming back from an injury, makes it all the more unlikely.
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