New England Patriots: Making Sense of Backfield
Dec 28, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) hands off the ball to running back Brandon Bolden (38) against the Buffalo Bills in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
The team general carries a receiving back, the position played by Shane Vereen last season. Vereen had over 400 receiving yards in each of his last two seasons with the Patriots, and saw the fourth most targets on the team each of those years. Brandon Bolden, James White, Travaris Cadet, and Dion Lewis are all competing for this roster spot.
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White has a season of experience with the Patriots, but totaled only 14 offensive touches for 61 total yards as a rookie last year. He’s a fast player with an great abilities in the open field, but he struggles a bit in pass protection and as a rusher. He may could fill the role as the receiving back, but head coach Bill Belichick thinks he needs to work on being valuable on all 4 downs:
"“Still a long way to go, a lot of things he needs to work on, but he definitely showed up with some positive plays,” said Belichick of White’s camp performance (via Jim McBride of The Boston Globe). “Hopefully he can build on those things going forward, and find a way to contribute on all four downs for us. That’s what we need and that would be his value for us if he can do that.”"
Travaris Cadet is another player who may be a much better receiver than he is a rusher. He lined up as a receiver some in New Orleans last season, while he managed only 10 carries for 32 yards. His 38 catches for 296 yards and a touchdown, however, are a bright sign for his potential to be a good fit as a receiving back in New England.
Dion Lewis hasn’t played in an NFL game in two seasons, but is hoping he can make New England’s final roster. At 5’8″ 295lbs, he’s an extremely small guy, but he’s got a lot of speed and shiftiness, and knows how to contribute in the return game. He’s showed some ability during the preseason, including 48 total yards and a touchdown in his team’s game against the Saints.
The favorite to take the ‘Shane Vereen’ role in Foxborough is fourth-year player Brandon Bolden. He’s got the most experience at running back with over 600 yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground in his career, while also snagging 25 passes for 171 yards. He’s had some fumbling issues in the past, however, which have lead to him not seeing the field as much as he would like.
Next: The Big Back