Patriots Gridiron News: James Develin the blue collar force in team’s offense

New England Patriots fullback James Develin is the very definition of the team motto “Do Your Job.”

Just when it looked like the fullback position was going extinct in the NFL, the New England Patriots go and find a player like James Develin.

He may not catch the ball or run the ball, but the Brown University alum plays an important role in the Patriots offense.  As the lead blocker in the running game, Develin is a physical force when it comes to creating holes in the running game.  What he does in the trenches has gained him respect amongst Patriots running backs and throughout the league.

A Pro Bowl selection in 2017, James Develin has not only brought the fullback position back, he has done so with a throwback style fans of the game can only admire.  With that classic roll collar.  Add to that his versatility as a player who can also catch the ball and the New England Patriots are lucky to have a player like Develin.

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Just ask one of his beneficiaries James White.

"“A lot of teams don’t even use fullbacks anymore.  We’re on of the few teams that do, and he does a great job for us, not just at fullback but on special teams, and he does whatever the coaches ask him to do,” White said, via the Boston Herald.  “He’s a very selfless player, one of the most selfless positions in the league….He doesn’t get the credit that he deserves.”"

It is that selflessness that has enabled the team to go without three tight ends most games.  Develin’s ability to block and catch allows the team to switch him to tight end at times.  And yes, he does have the occasional carry like the 1-yard touchdown run against the Tennessee Titans in Week 10.

In all, that was the reward for a player who does all the little things to help the offense succeed.  Learning from fullbacks such as Lorenzo Neal and Kevin Turner, James Develin has brought the skill position back and doesn’t see it completely disappearing in the future.

"“I think there will always be a space for it in the NFL,” Develin said.  “Everything kind of works cyclically.  As defenses get smaller to try to stop the pass, it opens up more opportunities to get big on them and run the ball a little bit.  I think everything will kind of come back, and it’ll just kind of keep ebbing and flowing like that.”"

With more cold weather games approaching, the importance of the 30-year-old fullback will only increase.  With a healthy Sony Michel and eventually Rex Burkhead back in the mix, the New England Patriots may just rely on a reliable ground attack to keep defenses honest and take some pressure off 41-year-old quarterback Tom Brady.

Patriots get a little help on bye week

It’s time to start paying close attention to the AFC conference standings.

Entering the bye week at 7-3, the New England Patriots are two games behind the Kansas City Chiefs for the top position and also trailed behind the Los Angeles Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers.

While the Chiefs will play the Los Angeles Rams Monday night, the Steelers did ink out a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. That slipped the Steelers up to No. 2 because the Chargers lost a close game to the Denver Broncos.

That puts the Patriots, Chargers and Houston Texans all tied for No. 3 at 7-3.  With the Patriots owning a tiebreaker against the Texans, the remaining schedule is really important, especially the team’s head-to-head matchup against the Steelers.

As we have seen so far this season, homefield advantage will be very important for the New England Patriots in their hopes of advancing deep in the playoffs.