Who needs a workhorse back? Patriots, like the Eagles, prefer a running back-by-committee approach
The Patriots didn't have a 1,000-yard rusher. But their RB trio of rookie Sony Michel, James White and Rex Burkhead are a big reason they have a chance to win their sixth Super Bowl in 18 years Sundy.
ATLANTA – In the 2004 season, when the Patriots defeated the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX, Bill Belichick relied heavily on a 6-1, 225-pound workhorse running back named Corey Dillon, who lugged the ball 345 times that year for 1,645 yards.
That was a different time for both Belichick and the rest of the NFL. There were a lot of 20-carry-a-game backs back then. Dillon was one of nine players with 300-plus carries that year.
This season, there was just one: the Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott, who had 304. Last year, there was just one: the Steelers’ Le’Veon Bell (321).
While many Eagles fans continue to long for a 20-carry-a-game back, the fact of the matter is most teams, including Belichick’s Patriots, favor a running back-by-committee approach.
In the last 14 years, including this season, the Patriots have had just two running backs with more than 230 carries – LeGarrette Blount in 2016 (299) and Steven Ridley in 2012 (290).
Even in 2008, when Tom Brady missed all but one game with a knee injury, the Patriots’ busiest running back, Sammy Morris, only had 156 rushing attempts, even though the Patriots had the fourth most carries in the league that year.
The Patriots’ 478 rushing attempts this season were the third most in the NFL. But they used a three-back rotation that included rookie Sony Michel and veterans James White and Rex Burkhead.
Michel rushed for 931 yards on 209 carries. White, who led the team in receiving with 87 catches, had 425 yards on 94 carries. And Burkhead, who is their jack-of-all-trades guy, added 186 yards on 57 carries. They also used wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson in the backfield. He rushed for 228 yards on 42 carries.
“We feel very fortunate to have a good set of backs,’’ Belichick said Tuesday. “They’re all very talented and very productive for us.
“James is one of our leaders. He’s been productive in the run game. He’s been productive in the pass game.
“Sony has the least experience, but has worked hard and continued to improve in the offense. He becomes more and more valuable each week.
“Rex is a very dependable player on run plays, pass plays, blitz pickup. Really, all the things we ask them to do. It’s a good group and they’ve all made a big contribution to our football team. Whichever one’s out there, we have a lot of confidence in them.’’
The Patriots have run the ball 82 times in their two playoff wins. They have an astounding 66 first downs, including 25 on the ground. They have eight rushing touchdowns, five by Michel and three by Burkhead. That’s just 10 fewer than they had the entire regular season.
“Sony’s been awesome,’’ said White, who has a team-high 19 receptions in the Patriots’ two playoff wins, eight of them for first downs. “He didn’t play in the first game of the season. He struggled a little in his first couple of games [just 84 yards on 24 carries] and everybody was telling him how sorry he was. But he just put his head down and worked hard and has been a big boost for us all year.’’
Michel, whom the Patriots took with the 31st overall pick in the first round of the draft last April, has taken off in the postseason.
He rushed for 129 yards and three TDs in the Patriots’ 41-28 divisional-round win over the Chargers, and 113 yards and two TDs in their 37-31 overtime win over the Chiefs in the AFC championship game.
“All three of us are pretty humble guys,’’ said White, who caught 15 passes against the Chargers and had six rushing and receiving first downs against the Chiefs. “We work well together. None of us cares who gets the credit. We know we’re not going to be out there every single snap. We just try to make the most of our roles.’’
Against the Chargers, White played 38 snaps, Michel 36 and Burkhead 11. Against the Chiefs, Michel played 34 snaps, White 33 and Burkhead 30.
“You have to always be ready,’’ Burkhead said. “The game plan always changes. It can change on game day. You have to be ready and focused in for what comes your way, be ready for those opportunities.’’
White is one of the many talented backs to come out of the University of Wisconsin, a group that includes the Chargers’ Melvin Gordon and the Eagles’ Corey Clement.
White, like Clement, wasn’t used much as a receiver at Wisconsin. He caught just 34 passes his first three years in Madison, but had 39 receptions as a senior in 2013. Clement had just 29 catches in four years with the Badgers.
Yet, White and Clement have the distinction of being the only two running backs in league history to have 100-plus receiving yards in the Super Bowl.
White did it two years ago in the Patriots’ 34-28 win over Atlanta in Super Bowl LI, catching 14 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Clement did it last year in the Eagles win over the Patriots, catching four passes for 100 yards and a touchdown.
White has caught 40 or more passes in each of the last four seasons, including a career-high 87 this year, seven for touchdowns.
“They didn’t throw the ball to the backs much at Wisconsin,’’ White said. “But I’ve always felt confident in my ability to catch the football. I did it in high school. I worked at it in my yard with my dad when I was younger.
“Once I got here, there was a big emphasis on running backs being able to catch the football. I worked on getting better and better at it. Learning the finer points. Establishing chemistry with the quarterback.
“Tom’s gonna find the open guy. We all want to win our matchups and be in the right spot and make plays for him.’’