Should the Patriots Draft a Running Back? Not at #6

FOXBORO, MA — These days in the NFL, it’s been a proven fact that without a running game, teams will struggle when they become one-dimensional. The New England Patriots certainly haven’t been any different.

Since 1996, the Patriots finished a combined 30-11 when they had a running back who rushed for over 1000 yards. Over the past two seasons, they were a disappointing 13-19 without one.

Robert Edwards was the last running back to rush for over 1000 yards, but his freak injury in Hawaii after the 1998 season has kept him out of football over the past two seasons and threatened his career. Now he is poised for a possible return, but whether or not he’ll be able to return to his old form or sustain the hits that he’s sure to receive during game situations remains to be seen. Even his own teammates have to be a little skeptical.

Said one player, “He looks good, but we’ll have to wait and see him get hit in practice first before we’ll know for sure whether he’s ready or not.”

But even with all the uncertainty surrounding that position, not to mention the importance of the ground game for New England’s offense to turn back into the scoring machine it once was, don’t expect the #6 draft choice to be used on a running back.

As a matter of fact, odds are it won’t be used on an offensive lineman either. New England used their 2nd round selection during last year’s draft on Adrian Klemm, and the former University of Hawaii standout never really got an opportunity last season to show what he was capable of, other than a few false starts.

On the other side of the line is last year’s 4th round draft choice Greg Robinson-Randall, who overall played pretty well and will only get better with experience. It’s tough to say whether or not either is ready to be a full-time player in the NFL, but it may be tough to justify using another pick when they already have two young guys to develop.

If New England keeps the #6 pick and doesn’t trade down, most likely they’ll use it on a defensive lineman. Opponents averaged 114.4 yards per game rushing against them last season, and it’s an area where they are extremely thin. With only Willie McGinest, Bobby Hamilton, and recently added Anthony Pleasant as definite starters, this is the position that needs the most attention. Free agency would be a way to address it, but they need some very good young players who can step in and be around for years to come.

For a running back to be added during the draft, it wouldn’t happen unless the Patriots traded down and sent away the #6 pick for two later 1st round choices. Most experts have the top backs projected as late 1st round picks, and only then would the Patriots consider trying to grab the forever-mentioned “next Curtis Martin.” Duece McAllister was originally considered the top running back in the draft, but his stock has dropped. One back whose stock has risen is Texas Christian standout LaDainian Tomlinson.

Tomlinson may be available in the late first round should the Patriots decide to trade down. He’s 5′ 10″, 221 pounds, and was a Heisman Trophy finalist last season. He’s got a compact running style and also has very good hands. He also picks up the blitz well and shows no fear when he has to lower his shoulder to gain yards. Tomlinson played behind a very good offensive line at TCU, but many wonder how he’d fare in the NFL. Most of his yards came from the outside, and the speed of NFL defenders may be able to corral him. When asked to run inside, Tomlinson had very good vision, and when he broke a tackle and got into the open field, he was generally off to the races.

One guy who played well despite a poor offensive line is Maryland running back Lamont Jordan. Jordan is also projected as a late 1st round to second-round draft choice, and is more of a power back. At 5′ 10″, 219 pounds, his strengths are that he has big legs and runs low to the ground. He runs extremely tough inside, and despite how bad Maryland’s line was, he managed to be very productive and stay relatively injury-free. He’s got great hands and gains yards after the catch because of his size. The problem with Jordan is that he lacks breakaway speed and isn’t very elusive. Many still feel he may be someone who could develop into a premier back.

It’s tough to say whether or not Belichick would consider taking either player, and unless they trade down, neither would likely be considered. The problem is both guys will likely be gone by the time New England makes their 2nd round selection, so hoping for either to be available in the 2nd round may be a reach.

The Patriots have enough problems to address during this offseason, and running back is one they’ve still been unable to solve either through the draft or free agency over the last couple of years. Their current players who will be vying for a starting job this year will be last year’s third-round pick J.R. Redmond, ’99 second-round pick Kevin Faulk, and ’98 first-round pick Robert Edwards. Three straight years of drafting a running back, with only Edwards emerging as a starter. If he can return from his devastating injury, it would be an unbelievable lift for his ball club. Both Faulk and Redmond struggled as full-time starters, and last season, both were still unable to combine for 1000 yards, let alone being expected to do it on their own this season.

So the Patriots are still left with filling a void where they still lack an answer. But their running back situation won’t be addressed with the #6 overall selection. Whether it’s addressed at all during the 2001 draft, only time will tell.