Who needs a traditional fullback? Multiple Patriots players can make cameos

James Ferentz, Elandon Roberts, Eric Tomlinson, and Benjamin Watson all took turns moonlighting at fullback in the Patriots’ win over the Jets Monday night.

The New England Patriots have a long and proud history under innovative head coach Bill Belichick as being the team that zigs when the rest of the league zags. Last season, as teams across the NFL emptied out their backfields and went four or five-wide more than ever before, Belichick and the Pats concentrated on developing a power-running game that could complement their stingy shutdown defense.

It might not have been as exciting as what spectators were treated to in dazzling spectacles put on by high-flying offenses like the Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and New Orleans Saints, but it got the job done. The bruising but boring New England strategy paved the way for a sixth Super Bowl championship, ultimately proving that the ends very much justified the means.

The Patriots defense has picked up right where it left off last February in Atlanta (and then some), but the offense has struggled to do the same.

Second-year running back Sony Michel – presumed by many to be in store for a massive breakout in Year Two – has dramatically underwhelmed through seven games. His 3.3 yards per carry is a full 1.2 yards less per carry than his season average as a rookie in 2018, and he’s currently on pace for less total yardage in 16 games this season than he had in 13 games last year.

There are many theories circulating out there to explain Michel’s sophomore malaise. Some have pointed to the struggles and inconsistencies along the offensive line when it comes to effective run-blocking and opening up holes for Michel to power through. Others have noted the departure of Rob Gronkowski as a possible factor, given Gronk’s major contributions as a blocker over the past nine years.

Perhaps the most popular hypothesis has to do with the attrition the Patriots have suffered this season at the fullback position. Longtime starter James Develin has been with the team since he was first signed all the way back in 2012; when Develin went on IR with a neck injury after Week 3, Jakob Johnson briefly started at the position for New England before soon following Develin to IR with a shoulder injury after Week 6.

Despite the supposed leaguewide de-emphasizing of the fullback position over the past 20 years, Belichick has long displayed an affinity for incorporating FBs in his offensive schemes. Whether it was Patrick Pass, Heath Evans, or even a converted tight end, fullback has traditionally been an important cog in the well-oiled Patriots machine, serving as both a lead-blocker for New England halfbacks as well as a safety valve in the passing game for Patriots QB Tom Brady.

With no Develin and no Johnson in the lineup for the foreseeable future up in Foxborough, many wondered just how Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels would adapt. Would the Patriots decide to trade for a fullback from another team, or try and sign an available free agent off the street? Would they reserve one of their two IR-return spots on the active roster for either Develin or Johnson (the first already went to N’Keal Harry)? Or would they simply move away from their power-run game altogether?

The answer is still a little bit ‘TBD.’

New England traded a second-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for a big wide receiver in Mohamed Sanu on Tuesday. Sanu’s arrival could signal a transition to a more pass-heavy scheme, since he’ll now join Julian Edelman, Phillip Dorsett, Jakobi Meyers, Gunner Olszewski, Josh Gordon (when he returns from a knee injury), and N’Keal Harry (when he officially gets activated) in a talented receiver depth chart that could help spark the Patriots passing game.

And yet, judging by what we all just saw in a Monday Night Football demolition job of the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium, perhaps reports of the fullback position’s demise in New England have been greatly exaggerated… and more than a tad premature.

Four different players took snaps at FB for the Patriots against the Jets in the Meadowlands, and not a single one of them was a traditional fullback. Eric Tomlinson, newly signed by the Pats less than a week before this game, had had the most experience lining up in the backfield during previous career stints (mainly with these same Jets), but even he is predominantly considered a pure tight end.

Fellow TE Benjamin Watson – also new to the team after getting signed this offseason, released, and then re-signed again – made his first start in 2019 on Monday night for the Patriots. While he did most of his damage lined up as a tight end (the position he has played throughout his entire 16-year NFL career), he notably lined up at fullback for three snaps during the game… and he even helped clear a path for Michel’s first rushing touchdown on the night while doing so.

Backup offensive lineman James Ferentz was the third Patriots “fullback” to take on the Jets defense Monday night. He came on during a third down play in the second quarter, and promptly used his powerful legs and hulking frame to bulldoze a trail for Michel’s second rushing score.

Michel’s third rushing touchdown on the night (a career high for him in a regular season game, by the way) came courtesy of yet another makeshift Patriots fullback: defensive linebacker Elandon Roberts. Despite having never played fullback in an NFL game before, Roberts seemed to make the most of his three snaps at the position Monday night… and it ultimately paid off for him when he helped spring Michel for New England’s final score on the night.

Can the Patriots maintain this approach for the rest of the season, rotating in situational role players and subs as starting fullbacks at will?

Again, the answer to that question is ‘to be determined.’

Just as Belichick and McDaniels have gravitated towards regularly employing a fullback in their offense, they’ve also shown a penchant for thrusting players into cameos out of position when needed. Mike Vrabel, Richard Seymour, Nate Solder… these are just a few of the familiar names who made a major impact – both in the regular season and even in the playoffs – taking snaps at positions other than at where they normally played for the team.

With the New England Patriots set to face the Cleveland Browns and their third-worst rushing defense on Sunday at Gillette Stadium, we should get another chance to see firsthand just how Belichick and McDaniels plan to operate their run game without a true bonafide fullback on the active roster.