The Patriots had five offensive starters get named to the Pro Bowl this week. None were running backs.
No surprise there. The Patriots haven’t had a game-changing headliner carrying the ball since Curtis Martin in the pre-Bill Belichick era, and only a few of the team’s backs since have taken on the workload he did.
The last New England running back to make the Pro Bowl was Corey Dillon, arguably the closest thing to Martin in terms of workload and success, and that was in 2005 (Martin was selected that year, too — as a starter for the Jets.)
But this has become the Patriot way. With a typically strong offensive line — both starting guards, Brian Waters and Matt Light, were selected to this year’s Pro Bowl — whatever running back carrying the ball any given game has the opportunity to succeed.
The team’s primary back is clearly BenJarvus Green-Ellis — who, coming off a 1,000-plus yards, 13-touchdown season last year, is leading the team with nine touchdowns. He also has at least 100 carries more than any other RB on the squad. Plenty of other guys have had their numbers called this season, though, and all except Kevin Faulk have found the end zone at least once. Faulk has only carried the ball 17 times.
Whether it's Ellis, Faulk, Danny Woodhead, Stevan Ridley or Shane Vereen doing the work, New England works an arsenal of running backs to try and get the best balance possible with one of the league’s best passing games.
The Patriots picked up another running back this week, too. He’s fullback Lousaka Polite, a veteran out of Pittsburgh who will also be used on special teams. Make no mistake: the addition of a beefed-up backfield blocker indicates Belichick’s focus to try to balance his offense even more.
“If you have a player in the backfield, it really gives you the ability to put an extra blocker on either side of the center,” Belichick told the media Wednesday. “You can go either way and block to either side of the center,” as opposed to down linemen.
The Patriots close the regular season out on Sunday, Jan. 1, when they host the Bills at Gillette Stadium. The Bills are one of only three teams to beat New England this season.
Follow Sam @SammySports
Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily
