Position Preview: Running Backs Poised to Have a Break Out Year

Hopefully, health is the only thing that strikes fear into the Patriots’ offense this season. After all, they added little to that unit this spring and instead chose to lean on wishful thinking that their young players will progress as planned.

However, should this thought process strike fear into Patriot nation? Maybe not as much as you think.

As I posted in last week’s column, the 2013 offense actually played quite well as the season progressed, but it always seemed to labor against stout defenses. New England’s receivers failed to develop quickly (by our standards) and the offense also struggled to integrate its young receiving core into its complex system. The offensive line grew old in what seemed like a day (an offseason) and the promising tight-end position disappeared in the blink of a gunshot from the Patriots’ minuteman.

Then, when all else failed, us fans continued to rely on their young running backs, who had the most potential to carry the offense. They had the most room to grow, evolve, succeed and become dominant. They were supposed to have break out years. They were poised for greatness (by our standards). It all looked promising until third-down specialist Shane Vereen broke his wrist and Steven Ridley had the case of the fumbles. Unusual and untimely.

Why will Vereen dominate this year? Last year, despite missing eight games due to injury, Vereen played almost as many snaps as Ridley and actually impacted the offense more than the latter. Vereen ranked third on the team in receptions with 47 and accompanied that statistic with 427 yards receiving.

The Patriots have huge plans for Vereen, and they should. He is a more allusive running back than the now retired Kevin Faulk and a slightly bigger back than former Patriot Danny Woodhead. Rookie running back James White should complement Vereen and provide insurance in case of that ill-timed injury. We all witnessed the horror show after key members of the offense fell: The Patriots’ lack of depth at Vereen’s third-down spot hurt them for long stretches.

While White and Vereen will enhance the passing game, they aren’t large enough to run over opposing defenses. LeGarrette Blount filled that role nicely until he signed a two-year, $3.85 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers this past off season. Without Blount, the powerful Ridley stands alone as the running back capable of handling such a demanding workload. The question then becomes, will the Patriots provide him with enough of a leash to unleash the beast within? Most critics think Belichick will limit his workload, but the evidence suggests otherwise.

The Patriots would have resigned Blount, if they didn’t feel Ridley had fixed his fumbling problem. In 2012 Ridley pounded the ball for over 1,200 yards and recorded 12 touchdowns. That number dropped to almost half in 2013, but it’s an aberration based solely on New England's decision to not sign another running back of a similar skill set.

Along with Vereen, Bolden and White, the Patriots need Ridley to step up and be the type of workhorse they envisioned when they drafted him. He must grind down opponents. He must make them weep and beg for mercy. If fumbling is Ridley's main issue, than his mind will have to be as strong as his body. I expect the fourth-year back out of LSU to have a big year.