New England Patriots: Rex Burkhead Signing Indicates New Approach At RB

The recent signing of running back Rex Burkhead by the New England Patriots indicates they are going in a new direction at running back.

In the midst of what is likely the sexiest offseason under Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots signed free agent running back Rex Burkhead Tuesday afternoon.

The deal was first reported by Field Yates of ESPN and has been mostly an afterthought in an extremely active first week of free agency.

The team has already brought in bigger names in Brandin Cooks, Stephon Gilmore, and Dwayne Allen.  Pairing those additions with the re-signing of Dont’a Hightower and the trade rumors surrounding Malcolm Butler, it’s understandable that the signing of Burkhead is not generating much buzz.

However, adding Burkhead to the backfield seems to represent a change in philosophy at the running back position.

At 5’10” and 210 pounds Burkhead is not a bruising presence.  He is more in line with the prototypical receiving back that the Patriots have relied on since the days of Kevin Faulk.

While that type of player would typically make perfect sense for the team, they already have two of them.  James White (5’10,” 205 pounds) and Dion Lewis (5’8,” 195 pounds) are the only other proven backs on the roster.  Meanwhile, the six-foot, 250-pound LeGarrette Blount remains unsigned.

Surely it remains possible that the team will sign Blount.  They could also target a running back in the draft.  It is also possible that Coach Belichick has plans for a different strategy in 2017.

In 2016 the Patriots made it a point to have the ability to run the football.  They were forced into being a one-dimensional team during their 2015 AFC Championship loss to Denver and they clearly identified that as an issue.  The team brought back former offensive line coach Dante Scharnecchia and handed the ball off to Blount a whopping 299 times in 2016.

The by-far career high rushing attempts for Blount resulted in 18 rushing touchdowns.  Despite that impressive mark, Blount averaged just 3.9 yards per carry.  His passing game presence was also non-existent as he caught just seven balls in all.

Super Bowl LI may have been the catalyst for change.  Atlanta was an undersized defense with speed.  Many speculated that running the big man would be effective and that appeared to be what Belichick and Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels thought as well.

Blount was ineffective to say the least.  He carried the ball just 11 times for only 31 yards.  His fumble certainly didn’t help his cause and the large deficit resulted in James White and Dion Lewis getting the majority of the snaps.

White went on to catch 14 balls for 110 yards and a touchdown.  More importantly, he ran effectively.  He carried it six times for 29 yards and two scores, as well as converting a two-point conversion.

This may have been all Belichick needed to see to realize that the offense will be more effective with speed backs.  White and Lewis combined for 12 carries for 56 yards and two scores.  Everyone is aware that they are bigger threats in the passing game, but their rushing ability is also efficient.

Burkhead is slightly bigger than White and may be more apt to run between the tackles, though he is still not a typical first down back.  He is also proficient at receiving out of the backfield which gives all three backs the dual threat status.

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It is more likely than not that the addition of Burkhead leaves Blount as the odd man out, and leaves New England fans with an excitingly versatile backfield to watch in 2017.

Oh, and just in case there is any doubt of how he will fit in, Adam Schefter cleared that up for everyone with one tweet.

Bill Belichick lives for this type of player.