New England Patriots Have Options at Running Back Position

With the departures of Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley, the lone known commodity in the New England Patriots backfield entering the 2015 season is the bruising LeGarrette Blount and to some extent, Jonas Gray. In addition to Blount and Gray though, the team does have an intriguing trio of running backs that could carve out an important role in the offense.

Vereen’s contributions in the passing attack were invaluable, allowing Bill Belichick to keep opposing defenses off guard in third down situations. Ridley ran with authority and was quite shifty on his feet, never shying away from hitting a hole hard. He also had a nose for pay dirt. The Patriots by no means will suffer with out them because James White, Tyler Gaffney and Travaris Cadet will now get a chance to more prominently showcase their abilities.

As a rookie in 2014, White appeared in just three games, posting 38 yards on nine carries. With an increased workload, White could be poised for big things as a duel-threat player on both the ground and through the air.

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White was electric during his time at the University of Wisconsin. As a senior in 2013, the 5-foot-10 running back tallied 1,444 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging a remarkable 6.5 yards per carry. He showed promise in the passing games as well, snagging 39 balls for 300 yards. Assuming White builds a thorough knowledge of the Patriots’ playbook, he’ll likely be given every chance to succeed.

Gaffney is an interesting case. The Patriots signed him last season after the Carolina Panthers released him due to a torn meniscus in his knee. He missed the entire 2014 campaign. The team stashed Gaffney on injured reserve with the hope of utilizing him in 2015. Gaffney is an experienced pass-blocker and a heavy runner. The Patriots are high on him and for good reason.

At the University of Stanford, as a senior in 2013, Gaffney rushed for 1709 yards and 21 touchdowns. There’s no telling what Gaffney could offer the team when at full health. With such phenomenal stats as a member of the PAC-12, there’s a chance he could step in and make an immediate impact.

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Then there’s former New Orleans Saint Travaris Cadet. Cadet is ready to contribute and he’s perhaps best served in the role Vereen played for the Patriots. The fourth-year back is a highly skilled pass-catcher, but his pass-blocking skills will need some polishing.

Last year with the Saints, Cadet caught 38 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown. He was targeted 51 times. Cadet also excels on special teams, but because he has more experience in an NFL style offense, the Patriots will likely look to him to seize control of the third-down back position before the younger guys.

Let’s not forget the Patriots still have Brandon Bolden on the roster as well. He’s had prior success running in Belichick’s offense. It’ll be worth watching how things pan out at the position moving forward. A little healthy competition is never a cause for concern. As it stands now though, Blount will be given the majority of the work.