Running Backs

Oh, it's time.  It's time for me to talk about what I believe to be one of the most inconsistent and disappointing units on the team.  Let the discussion of the RB's begin.

The Pats use a RB by committee approach.  Is this approach taken because the coaching staff prefers it to be this way?  They'll try to convince you of that, but in order for it to be consistent and successful, your offensive game plan needs to be unpredictable.  Our offensive play calling could've been predicted game in and game out by the teams least observant, bandwagon hoppin', armchair qb's every week.  It's sad, I know, but it's also true.

  Our number one RB on the year was former first rd. pick Laurence Maroney.  Though I believe that wasn't intentional, the injury at the beginning of the season that Fred Taylor sustained to his ankle pretty much forced the issue.  At times, Maroney showed the great running we knew he was capable of, and at other times, he often displayed the running style we all have grown familiar to see from him.  Take the hand off, run into an offensive lineman's back, panic, run east or west, and fall to the ground.  It's upsetting, because Maroney is capable of so much more and, the kid is trying, as evident by the new practice he began of studying the game tape of each of his runs every week with Belichick, but towards the end of the season, a new problem led to his benching.  Turnovers.  Maroney cost the Pats a victory over the Superbowl bound Colts with a fumble at the goal line and the fumbles just continued from there.  Maroney had solid numbers (194 rushes, 757 yds., 3.9 yds. avg. and 9 td's to go along with 14 receptions) but he was too inconsistent.

  The rest of the RB by committee team included Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Kevin Faulk.  All were solid, and Faulk was his dependable do everything he can to win old self, but no one could really stay healthy or do enough to carry the workload.  Part of the problems of the inconsistency running the ball could be blamed on first yr. signal caller O'brien but, no one really stepped up.  At times the running game looked great, most of the time it didn't and no defense ever had to worry about the ground game, allowing the oppositions defensive playcallers to double up Moss and hope Welker just didn't eat them alive.  This in turn made Brady and the receivers life a lot harder than it should have been.

  What changes need to be made? Well, I'll tell you the answer to that.  First and foremost the team needs to resign Kevin Faulk.  He's Mr. do it all in the clutch time.  Need a reception in the clutch? Faulk can do that.  Need a key block to give Brady that extra second to wind up and let 'er fly?  Faulk is the best we've got.  Bring him back!  Next, we need to cut ties with the hard running but often injured Sammy Morris, and if the coaching staff can't find a way to use Green-Ellis, they need to free up the spot for someone they can.

  Before I post the list of possible FA's and Draftees for the Pats to take a look at, I wanna say another thing. This offense has lost it's identity.  We need to get back to having a power running game, one that isn't predictable, and just punishes defenders.   We had that with Antwoin Smith, and Corey Dillon.  Since losing that power running game, we haven't won a single SB and we won't again, until this offense becomes more balanced.  So do whatever you've got to do BB and Company, but make sure that off season Do's list, includes bringing smash mouth football back to New England.

  Free Agents (In no particular order)


Jason Snelling-Atl  Snelling isn't a take it the distance kind of guy, but he's an extremely hard runner, has experience blocking at FB and is still very young.  He may or may not be the type of guy that can pound the rock 20 times a game, no one quite knows yet, but he could definately fill a role at RB on this ball club.

Pierre Thomas-N.O. Thomas is young and can do it all.  Pound the ball, take it the distance any time he touches it, and is a great receiving threat out of the backfield.  Thomas can be any teams full time back.  One problem though. He's a restricted free agent, and I find it hard to believe that the Saints would be willing to let him go, but if you can some how swing a trade for his services and lock him up, why not go for it?

The pool of available young Free Agents has really been dried up by the NFL and the NFLPA's inability to come to an agreement on a new CBA.  All positions have taken a very big hit, and the 2010 and 2011 draft are going to be more important than ever for every team in the league.

Options to consider at RB for the 2010 NFL Draft:


  C.J. Spiller-Clemson-Projected rd. 1 2010 NFL Draft RB scouting reports
  My Take: OMFG! Yes, I know, I know.  I said N.E. needs to bring back a power running game and at only 195 lbs. Spiller doesn't appear to be a power back in any league, but the guy is a game changer.  A threat everytime he touches the ball.  At RB, WR, PR, you name it, the guy is a threat.  Let him put on 5-10 more pounds and he'll be fine.  The thing with Spiller is that he doesn't avoid contact when it can actually catch up to him.  Look at what Chris Johnson did this year for the Titans.  He made Vince Young look good.
 Spiller is that type of back.  He may not punish opposing defenders with power, but he'll sure as hell have them tired trying to chase him all game long.

 Jonathan Dwyer-G.T.-Projected rd. 2
My Take: Now that my love fest for Spiller has been thrown out there for all to see, let's return back to, well, power backs.  Dwyer is a big guy, and was productive at the college level.  Will that correlate well at the pro level? I don't know.  However, he doesn't shy away from contact, and if given a professional conditioning staff to work with, combined with an NFL coaching staff, he could very easily become a power back for the Pats.  He isn't injury prone, and has shown that he can run between the tackles. Two very important qualities for a back to have in our system.

 Anthony Dixon-Mississippi St.-Projected rd. 2-4 (Performance at combine will raise or drop projection)
My Take:  Dixon is 6'1" 245lbs and runs like a man with a vendetta.  Though he doesn't come from a power house of a school, Dixon shows the skill set needed to be a power back at the next level.  Strong North South runner, not much of a threat out of the backfield, but his bruising running style when combined with the cold N.E. winters, would go a long way at softening the middle of a defense for the Pats passing game.  Dixon could be given 20-25 carries a game without a problem.

  Ryan Matthews-Fresno St.-Projected rd. 2-4
My Take: Matthews is a jr. that has declared for the draft. He has good size (5'11" 220) and solid speed.  Matthews is one of those guys that performs well when given the opportunity and is a solid, well rounded back.  Not an absolute game changer, but he could hit a home run here and there, all the while maintaining a hard running style as a 3 down back.

  Out of all the backs available in the draft, I honestly don't think the Pats even have a chance at Spiller, and hope Matthews or Dixon will be a Patriot at the start of rookie mini camp.


Next up: Wide Receiver's and Tight Ends