BobDigital
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2013
- Messages
- 16,350
- Reaction score
- 15,044
When you talk about the Patriots weapons the first 2 names that come to mind are Edelman and Gronk. That is the way it should be. The #3 most important to this offense is James White IMO. Let me tell you why.
He doesn't miss games - Since taking over the the catching back role in 2015 he has missed just 2 games. He is always out there. BB has been quoted as saying the most important ability is availability. The fact that he has been a steady presence when so many other players have not been able to can't be understated.
He doesn't drop the ball in any sense - James White has fumbled one time in his career and he recovered it. That was back in 2015 against Denver in the playoffs. Not turning the ball over can be very difficult for a RB to do time and time again. Yet James White in his Patriots career has never given the ball over to the other team. (Did I jinx him?) The other way in which James doesn't drop the ball is by dropping passes. We don't think about it now, but how many of you recall the times Vereen again and again dropped an over the shoulder pass on a go route? It was Maddening. All those free yards wasted. Vereen had more straight line speed than White but if you can't catch the ball it doesn't matter. There is no kind of pass White can't catch. No only that. He is the least likely player on the Patriots to drop a ball. He has been incredibly consistent and steady with his pass catching.
He has versatility in the passing game - Very few RBs can do what White does and I don't mean skill wise. He can line up virtually in any position on the field aside from TE. Heck we say him line up at QB this game and do that fun little trick play with Brady. He can be anywhere in the backfield or on the LOS and run the route they want him to. I don't believe he has a single type of route he can't run at a high level. It's true the pass in the flat going towards the side line is his bread and butter play but he can play in the slot or get vertical. I think I have even see him do come back routes in the past.
Great blitz pick up - I don't think I have ever seen him screw up a blitz pick up. What else is there to say? Keeping 12 safe is top priority and he does that very well.
He has improved as a runner - We all remember early in his career when an arm tackle would bring him down. He couldn't power through those plays and it was annoying cause it made his role obvious. It isn't so much now. While he will never be a between the tackles back he has become about to transition from elusiveness to power and push forward through an arm tackle for extra yards or break them entirely. His YPC have improved every year. 2015 - 2.5, 2016 - 4.3 2017 - 4.0 and he is on pace to have his best year running the game this year. Sometimes stats lie and sometimes they tell the truth. These ones tell the trust. He has improved every year and is now a dependable and solid running if you need him to be.
While all the above may be true I want you to just ask yourself this one question. On the Patriots right now on a 4th and 5; which player do you want the ball going to with the super bowl on the line? While other options may be good, I don't see how you can pick anyone but James White.
He doesn't miss games - Since taking over the the catching back role in 2015 he has missed just 2 games. He is always out there. BB has been quoted as saying the most important ability is availability. The fact that he has been a steady presence when so many other players have not been able to can't be understated.
He doesn't drop the ball in any sense - James White has fumbled one time in his career and he recovered it. That was back in 2015 against Denver in the playoffs. Not turning the ball over can be very difficult for a RB to do time and time again. Yet James White in his Patriots career has never given the ball over to the other team. (Did I jinx him?) The other way in which James doesn't drop the ball is by dropping passes. We don't think about it now, but how many of you recall the times Vereen again and again dropped an over the shoulder pass on a go route? It was Maddening. All those free yards wasted. Vereen had more straight line speed than White but if you can't catch the ball it doesn't matter. There is no kind of pass White can't catch. No only that. He is the least likely player on the Patriots to drop a ball. He has been incredibly consistent and steady with his pass catching.
He has versatility in the passing game - Very few RBs can do what White does and I don't mean skill wise. He can line up virtually in any position on the field aside from TE. Heck we say him line up at QB this game and do that fun little trick play with Brady. He can be anywhere in the backfield or on the LOS and run the route they want him to. I don't believe he has a single type of route he can't run at a high level. It's true the pass in the flat going towards the side line is his bread and butter play but he can play in the slot or get vertical. I think I have even see him do come back routes in the past.
Great blitz pick up - I don't think I have ever seen him screw up a blitz pick up. What else is there to say? Keeping 12 safe is top priority and he does that very well.
He has improved as a runner - We all remember early in his career when an arm tackle would bring him down. He couldn't power through those plays and it was annoying cause it made his role obvious. It isn't so much now. While he will never be a between the tackles back he has become about to transition from elusiveness to power and push forward through an arm tackle for extra yards or break them entirely. His YPC have improved every year. 2015 - 2.5, 2016 - 4.3 2017 - 4.0 and he is on pace to have his best year running the game this year. Sometimes stats lie and sometimes they tell the truth. These ones tell the trust. He has improved every year and is now a dependable and solid running if you need him to be.
While all the above may be true I want you to just ask yourself this one question. On the Patriots right now on a 4th and 5; which player do you want the ball going to with the super bowl on the line? While other options may be good, I don't see how you can pick anyone but James White.
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