{"id":18024,"date":"2018-06-25T08:30:32","date_gmt":"2018-06-25T12:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=18024"},"modified":"2018-06-24T21:45:50","modified_gmt":"2018-06-25T01:45:50","slug":"new-england-patriots-training-camp-primer-running-backs-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2018\/06\/25\/new-england-patriots-training-camp-primer-running-backs-2\/","title":{"rendered":"New England Patriots Training Camp Primer \u2013 Running Backs"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Different Look, Better Production?<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Patriots head into training camp in just a few weeks and there should no shortage of competition at several spots, especially at the back end of the roster. As a lead-in to the beginning of camp, we\u2019ll break down the positions and give our take on who is a lock, a near lock for the 53-man roster and who is on the bubble. Next up are the running backs.<\/span><\/p>\n

The running back position will look very different in 2018. Dion Lewis is gone, He got a nice deal in free agency and will be in Tennessee this year. The team got back Rex Burkhead, James White returns but the big news is that the team invested a first-round draft pick to select Sony Michel (31st Overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft. <\/span><\/p>\n

The team is deep, talented and have four good players battling for two roster spots. <\/span><\/p>\n

So\u2026 who\u2019s locked in and who\u2019s on the bubble?<\/span><\/p>\n

Roster Locks: Rex Burkhead, Sony Michel, James Develin<\/b><\/p>\n

The Patriots did the very unPatriot-like decision to draft a running back in the first round under Bill Belichick. \u00a0But the selection of Sony Michel proves to be a very intriguing choice. He split the carries at Georgia with Nick Chubb, so playing in a New England backfield by committee won\u2019t be a big exercise in adapting to the way the Patriots play.<\/span><\/p>\n

But what stands out about Michel is that he\u2019s a big-time playmaker and should be able to step in and contribute in both the running and passing games right away. He\u2019s a different type of player than Lewis but the chiseled 5\u201911, 215-pound back has a boatload of potential.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Sony Michel after practice. (SBalestrieri photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

Burkhead had a very good season in 2017 but appeared in only 10 games due to injuries. He\u2019s back and can contribute in the running game, the passing game and on special teams. He\u2019s a guy who will get about 500-600 combined yards rushing and receiving while being a solid contributor.<\/span><\/p>\n

James Develin was just resigned to a two-year extension worth about $3.8 million with a $600,000 signing bonus. Develin played in about 30 percent of the Patriots offensive snaps a year ago and his value lies in his blocking. Rewatch the AFC Championship Game and look at the hole Develin blew open for Dion Lewis in the 4th quarter. That kind of smash-mouth football is invaluable in the running game. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Near Roster Locks: James White<\/b><\/p>\n

White remains the Patriots go-to third-down running back, especially in the passing game. In 2017, White only had 43 carries but caught 56 passes for 429 yards with 3 touchdowns. His Super Bowl performance against the Falcons shows how hot he can get when getting the favored matchups (6 carries 29 yards 2 TDs, 14 catches 110 yards 1 TD and a 2PT conversion).<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"

James White hauls in a pass during practice. (SBalestrieri photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

On the Bubble: Jeremy Hill, Mike Gillislee, Brandon Bolden<\/b><\/p>\n

The Patriots invested in Gillislee last year and he ran okay but his lack of production in the passing game made him predictable while on the field and he was a healthy scratch in seven games. <\/span><\/p>\n

Jeremy Hill was brought in because a change of scenery seemed like was needed for the veteran. He was an extremely productive running back in his first three seasons in the league, tallying up 27 TDs and 2700 yards rushing. But he fell out of favor in Cincinnati and is trying to restart his career here. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Patriots could use a big physical back to churn up short yardage and be the closer in games. Could he be that guy? Possibly, but he\u2019ll have to have a good summer and show that he still has some tread left on the tires. <\/span><\/p>\n

Every year it seems, everyone has Brandon Bolden getting cut and every year, he\u2019s back on the team and contributes a tremendous amount on Special Teams where he is a force out there. As a running back, he is a .260 hitter, he can run a bit and catch the odd pass here or there but is an excellent pass blocker. He will be either the 53rd player on the roster or the last guy cut. <\/span><\/p>\n

Outside Looking in\u2026. Longshots: Ralph Webb<\/b><\/p>\n

The Patriots signed undrafted free agent Ralph Webb out of Vanderbilt. Webb is a straight-ahead power back with a lack of speed but with excellent vision to see where openings are. Webb is a lunch pail guy who is extremely durable, tough and consistent.<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019s not the biggest guy or the fastest but won\u2019t be outworked. He was productive with 23 touchdowns the past two seasons. With a good summer, Webb could be looking at a practice squad slot and a chance to carve out a role for himself in the case of an injury in 2018 or in 2019. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He reminds one of a slightly smaller BenJarvus Green-Ellis. He won\u2019t make a lot of people miss but his feet never stop and you\u2019ll get 100 percent on every snap.<\/span><\/p>\n

Follow me on Twitter <\/span><\/i>@SteveB7SFG<\/span><\/i><\/a> or email me at <\/span><\/i>stevebpatsfans@gmail.com<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Listen to our <\/span><\/i>Patriots 4<\/span><\/i>th<\/span><\/i> and 2<\/span><\/i><\/a> podcasts on blog talk radio as the writers Russ Goldman, Derek Havens and I from <\/span><\/i>PatsFans.com<\/span><\/i><\/a> discuss the latest Patriots news Wednesdays at 12 noon.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

But what stands out about Michel is that he\u2019s a big-time playmaker and should be able to step in and contribute in both the running and passing games right away.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":12681,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1777,1708,1198,1519,11,10],"tags":[1763,1774,1704,1751,48,34,216,204,78,754,1219,44,70,8,713,1802,1381,1776],"class_list":["post-18024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2018-patriots-draft","category-2018-patriots-offseason","category-nfl-commentary","category-nfl-news","category-patriots-commentary","category-patriots-news","tag-2018-nfl-season","tag-2018-patriots-draft","tag-2018-patriots-offseason","tag-2018-patriots-preseason","tag-53-man-roster-projection","tag-bill-belichick","tag-brandon-bolden","tag-dion-lewis","tag-james-white","tag-jeremy-hill","tag-mike-gillislee","tag-new-england-patriots","tag-nfl","tag-patriots","tag-patriots-running-backs","tag-ralph-webb","tag-rex-burkhead","tag-sony-michel"],"yoast_head":"\nNew 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