Shane Vereen executes role perfectly as X-Factor

Going into today’s Super Bowl game against the Seattle Seahawks, we knew the key for the New England Patriots would be to soak up every bit of versatility that they’ve built up on the offensive side of the ball, whether it be using Danny Amendola more often, getting multiple tight ends involved, moving around receivers in creative ways, or generating mis-matches with Shane Vereen. It was Vereen who quickly became a popular sleeper pick to have a big day against Seattle, and there’s no doubt that he delivered

Julian Edelman stole the show with nine receptions and over 100 yards in a display of route-running dominance against the elite Seahawks pass defense, but Vereen also played a critical role in a Patriots offense that wisely and unsurprisingly emphasized the short-passing game against a Seahawks defense that is nearly impossible to crack downfield with the likes of Richard Sherman and the always-fantastic Earl Thomas patrolling the back end.

The Patriots had no plays of at least 25 yards, as Tom Brady averaged 8.9 yards per reception in a classic but necessary dink-and-dunk outing. No player typified this more than Vereen, who made some plays that continue to show why he’s arguably the best pure pass-catching running back in the NFL. He had an unreal one-handed reception that even some receivers would have trouble making, and he showed off smart route-running after a minor issue early in the game that led to a pass break-up for physical, impending free agent CB Byron Maxwell.

Vereen finished the Super Bowl with just 13 yards on four carries, but he made a huge impact as a receiver by moving the chains with 11 receptions on 12 targets for 64 yards. The Seahawks did a great job of making sure he didn’t get any yards after the catch, so, in a way, the Seahawks did a good job of covering him.

But from the Patriots perspective, Vereen’s performance was a net win in a big way, since using him in the passing game wasn’t necessarily about the yardage. It was all about trying to generate mis-matches and planting seeds in the Seahawks minds that they needed to bring in their linebackers to cover him, and Vereen is simply too shifty for any linebacker to cover.

Thanks to his near-perfect 91.7% catch rate, Vereen consistently drew coverage away from the middle when he was split out wide, and he did a great job of keeping the Seahawks linebackers honest. Since the Seahawks pass rush is an ever-present threat and managed to force Brady into a dreadful end zone interception to Jeremy Lane, Vereen’s ability to be a safety valve out of the backfield was key to the Patriots offense.

77 yards of total offense isn’t exactly a standout day at the office, but it makes you a standout on the biggest stage. Shane Vereen’s ability to execute for the Patriots in the passing game allowed the Pats to show off their versatility and do a better job of working guys like Rob Gronkowski, Danny Amendola, and Edelman.

It’s telling that Vereen led the team with 11 receptions and was tied with Edelman for the most targets, and if he isn’t re-signed by the Patriots this offseason, then he gave them an excellent send-off after establishing himself as a versatile chess piece for Josh McDaniels and Bill Belichick.

If “The Hoodie” elects to let him leave a la previous standout scat back Danny Woodhead, then, like Woodhead, Vereen will probably fetch a decent contract and play a significant role with another team; pass-catching backs like him are coveted. Vereen isn’t a dominant player by any means, but he has electric playmaking ability and, as he showed today, can move the chains with his always-underrated toughness with the ball in his hands.

Next: Edelman as valuable as Brady in SB?

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