Pushing the limits
Just nine games in, White’s usage already off the charts
FOXBORO — The ball was in James White’s trusty hands for the 10th time Sunday night, and as usual, he was converting a third-down play against the Packers. He darted through the left side and, like clockwork, the chains were moved after a 6-yard gain.
But then everyone’s heart stopped. White came up limping. He couldn’t shake off the pain and went to the sideline. For several plays, he was seen flexing his left leg, then rubbing his left knee. He jumped up and down, continually testing the knee.
Eventually, Tom Brady’s “Mr. Everything” returned to the game. The sellout crowd breathed a sigh of relief, because all would be right with the Patriots offense with White back in.
In the fourth quarter, he was on the receiving end of a trick play pass from Julian Edelman, which he took for 37 yards, then finished off the drive with a 1-yard dash into the end zone. This season, White seems to be involved in every scoring drive. His 10 touchdowns (six receiving, four rushing) lead the team.
His usage has been off the charts, and while it’s great for production and critical for Brady and the offense, there is also a major repercussion to consider: White probably won’t last at this rate of activity.
Right now the numbers jump off the page. In nine games he already has been targeted 81 times, which is 10 times more than all of last season. He also has caught more passes (61) than he did in 2017 (56). He already has had 60 rush attempts this season compared with 43 for the full season last year, as well as the total the previous year (39). In all, he’s up to 121 total touches compared with 99 in each of the previous two seasons, when he played 14 and 16 games, respectively.
If anyone knows about an overload for a third-down back, it’s Kevin Faulk. He had seasons with a whopping 226 touches (2003) and others where he had as few as 80 (2004).
“I’m pretty sure they’re mindful of his workload,” said the Patriots Hall of Famer, when reached yesterday. “I’m pretty sure they’ve talked with him about it. But at the same time, the most important thing is the team, and the team needs him right now. You can see the offense is evolving now, guys are getting squared up in their roles. Julian is back, but you can see there’s still a little timing off with him. Gronk doesn’t play every week, and your backs are hurt, so you might see them having to rely on (White) a few more weeks.”
White has been the team’s first-half MVP hands down. Those numbers reflect his importance to the offense. At the same time it also is important to remember he’s 5-foot-10, 205 pounds.
After Brady, White is the player a team can least afford to lose. Yes, football players play, but he’s not likely to survive if he’s being asked to handle the ball every other play, or once every three plays. He’s not built to handle that kind of pounding.
At the point he got hurt Sunday night, he had 10 touches in the Patriots’ first 27 offensive plays.
Obviously, necessity has dictated the excessive use, with Rex Burkhead on IR and Sony Michel nursing a knee injury. He’s been on the field for first and second down for some series. He always is on the field on third down, which is his specialty. And, they’ve been using him as the goal line guy on occasion.
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has to do what’s necessary to win games, but he also has to keep the big picture in mind. He’s had Cordarrelle Patterson chipping in as a running back and taking some of the carries. Michel’s expected return against the Titans also should help lighten the load before the Patriots enjoy a bye week.
For White’s part, he says he hasn’t trained any differently for an advanced workload. He feels good at Week 10.
“I haven’t changed anything. I’m just trying to take care of my body, lifting weights, do whatever it takes to make sure I feel good on game days,” he said. “It’s just my normal routine then go out and play hard. I haven’t done anything different.”
No surprise, he also believes he could keep up this pace, and do everything he’s being asked to do now -and survive.
“I feel good. I just have to take care of my body, keep my normal routine,” he said. “I just have to make sure I’m in shape . . . Whatever the team needs, I’m willing and able to do it, whether it’s one play, or 70 plays. You never know what it’s going to be.”
The receptions record for running backs is 102, currently held by Matt Forte. White, at 61 with seven games to play, should break that record.
He just has to avoid the injury bug that’s plagued the running back room.
“They have to watch out for him,” said Faulk, “but they’re pretty smart guys over there.”
Titans coach Mike Vrabel, meanwhile, said he’s just hoping to find an answer for him.
“Obviously Tom trusts him. He’s always open,” Vrabel said during a conference call. “He’s really turned into a nice player, another thirddown back, first and second down change of pace back they’ve had for a lot of years. I know Tom trusts him and I know that’s the most important thing. They have a tendency to throw to them a little more often.”
This year, it’s been at a stunning pace.