Pats backs help offense catch up
FOXBORO — A big role for a running back is still to run the football, but the importance of the Patriots’ running backs in the team’s passing game is growing and not showing any signs of letting up.
“I haven’t had a group of this many backs who are capable of doing as many things that this group has been able to do,” Patriots running backs coach Ivan Fears said yesterday.
Led by James White’s 43 catches, Patriots running backs have caught 68 balls from Tom Brady this year. That’s 33 percent of his completions, and up from the 24.5 percent of Patriots passes caught by running backs last season.
“Usually, you have one guy who does this, the other guy only does this. I’ve got three or four guys who can do a piece of all of it — passing game, running game, the blocking — the whole package,” said Fears, who has been with the team since 1999 and also served as wide receivers coach under Dick MacPherson in 1991-92.
“It’s a little different.” The importance of the running backs as passcatchers has only been magnified this season by the banged-up receiving corps. Julian Edelman is gone for the season, Malcolm Mitchell is on injured reserve and Chris Hogan was forced out of last Sunday’s win over the Chargers. Despite the depleted group, the Patriots lead the league in total offense.
White is on pace to shatter the career-high 60 catches he had last year. Rex Burkhead, despite missing four games, has proven to be solid in the passing game with seven catches last Sunday, and Dion Lewis has added 10 this year in addition to 58 carries and returning kickoffs. Fullback James Develin also has three grabs.
Mike Gillislee is the only back without a reception through the first half of the season.
Of White’s five receptions Sunday, three extended drives with third-down conversions. His 27-yard reception on third-and-10 during the lone touchdown drive was caught behind the line of scrimmage. His quick cut to the right made Jahleel Addae whiff on a tackle attempt behind the first down marker.
Burkhead had a nifty spin move to get away from Adrian Phillips in the second quarter that was enough to turn what would have been third-and-short into a first down after the Patriots took the lead in the second quarter and set up a field goal.
The point? The running backs are getting creative to extend drives.
“That guy coming out of the backfield, a lot of times is never double covered,” Fears said. “Now, we’ve had some situations people have doubled James up a little bit or tried to take him away, but (the running back in single coverage has) got a chance, and if he’s really good, he’s going to give you a play or two. You don’t go to him all the time, but when you do go to him, it might be at the right time.”
The reason why they have been able to make as many plays as they have in the passing game is largely predicated on the fact that defenses still have to respect the team’s ability to stretch the field.
“As long as Rob (Gronkowski) is out there, and (Danny Amendola), it’s kind of hard to say you’re going to double that guy coming out of the backfield who is only running a 4- or 5-yard route, whereas ’ Dola and Gronk are down the field,” Fears said. “You’re not going to give that (deep ball) up, but you’re willing to give up that 4-yard throw, saying we’re going to tackle that guy. That’s where those guys can be a factor, that’s where they become big, they’ve got to make something happen with the ball in their hands, and the guy that does that for us has a chance to make some plays.”