INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Patriots RB Green-Ellis Well Behind 2010 Pace
Patriots runningback BenJarvus Green-Ellis broke the 1,000 yard rushing last season, but as it stands right now unless he has a massive two weeks, he won't get there this year.
 Green-Ellis isn't quite as productive this season as he had been last year. (FILE:Icon/SMI) |
Through 14-weeks this season Green-Ellis has 171 carries for 635 yards (3.7 avg) and nine touchdowns, well off of last year's pace where he had 190 carries for 824 yards (4.3 avg) and 12 touchdowns at this time.
During the final two games last season Green-Ellis rushed for 184 total yards, rushing for 104 against the Bills at home, followed by 80 in the final game against the Dolphins.
Coming off his best season the veteran runningback was in a contract year after signing a restricted free agent tender (second round level) at the start of the season. Back in April New England addressed the runningback position in the draft, adding Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen, with Ridley cutting into Green-Ellis' carries after getting 59 carries for 296 yards (5.0 avg) this season.
Back in August Green-Ellis told the Boston Globe that he had no issue with the fact the team grabbed two runningbacks in the draft.
“Coach is going to do whatever he feels will help the team win, and whatever he does, I always support it,’’ Green-Ellis said.
The veteran has been battling a toe injury that has obviously hampered him, and needs 365 yards to reach the 1,000 yard plateau in the final two games. Not completely impossible, but probably pretty unlikely since he'd need 183 yards in each of the next two contests to get there.
Taking a closer look, here are some more interesting notes. Over the same 14 week span, he's had the same number of carries for a loss in the last two seasons, but has more carries for no gain this season. The way it broke down, of his 190 carries this time last year, 28 were for no gain or a loss of yards (16 for no gain, 12 for a loss). Of his 171 carries this season, 34 have been for a loss or no gain (22 for no gain, 12 carries for a loss).
You can view the entire game-by game and quarter-by-quarter breakdown from this season via this link, and select his name from the drop-down list.
