How the New England Patriots can feed four running backs this season
The New England Patriots will be looking to feed at least four running backs that we know of this season. Can they successfully do it? Here’s how!
To accompany their new starting quarterback this season, the offensive line is also healthy and back together to start the year. And on top of that, the New England Patriots are preparing to have a substantial rushing attack on the heels of Sony Michel, James White, Rex Burkhead, and Damien Harris in the team’s first season without franchise quarterback, Tom Brady.
Over the last two years, New England has become accustomed to utilizing running backs in a variety of different ways. In doing so, the Patriots have also become predictable with their play calls depending on the personnel that is deployed on the field.
For example, we know that typically:
The Patriots can avoid predictable running attacks this season by using all of their running backs in the same type of way — similar to what the San Francisco 49ers did in 2019.
In order to do this, the Patriots need to be able to intermittently run different formations that are strictly designed for the running backs, but also ones that allow them to utilize having more than one on the field and included in the same play.
One formation the Patriots could strive to use frequently is a simple split-back formation. This formation features a receiver split out wide, a slot receiver on the other side, a tight end, and two running backs.
The running backs line up about five yards behind the line of scrimmage, shadowing the gap between the offensive guard and tackle. This play formation can be thrown or ran out of, and adds a level of confusion to the defense as this is a balanced formation.
This split-back formation also allows you to run in any direction you want while having a lead blocker in the other running back.
This formation would work best with Michel (5’11, 215 lbs) and Burkhead (5’10, 215 lbs). Michel is the bull-rush runner on the team, while Burkhead can be that and a receiver, which brings the unpredictable factor that the Patriots have been missing from their running attack.
Another formation the Patriots could use to utilize more of their running backs is the old wishbone formation.
The wishbone features two receivers split out wide with no tight ends and also includes a fullback that is set four yards behind the quarterback, along with two running backs set one yard behind either side of him.
Whether it’s a run or a pass, there could be many different outcomes from this formation — but again, it is also another way to get more runners on the field in a confusing/deceiving formation.
Since a fullback is included in the wishbone, the Patriots could put any of their versatile running backs out there to cause confusion while executing the play in this formation.
It would be great to see White and Burkhead make plays out of the wishbone. Both White and Burkhead on the field gives the Patriots options as both players are great receivers — but the defense will still have to respect the option to run the ball as well.
To be fair, you need a competent and willing quarterback to run some of the plays out of these formations — especially when you consider that today’s NFL is trending towards more of the read options and RPO type of plays.
With that being said, it’s fair to assume that Jarrett Stidham — especially at his younger age — is more versatile and a bit more athletic than Brady has been over the years. That means there’s a strong chance that the Pats are going to alter the playbook to run different formations and plays — or at least have more of an option to do so than in years past.
The Patriots also took Damien Harris in the third round of last year’s NFL draft and essentially marked him as a healthy scratch for the entire season. It’s still unknown how the Patriots intend to throw him into the running back rotation.
The Patriots also signed undrafted rookie free agent JJ Taylor to join their running back group for at least part of the offseason, and he is definitely skilled enough to make the final roster. There’s always Brandon Bolden, too, though he’s typically featured more on special teams.
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All in all, the New England Patriots have a lot of mouths to feed out of the backfield this year. One way to make sure that everyone is fed is by putting more runners on the field and utilizing an additional running back in the same play.
With an improved and healthy offensive line — and an inexperienced quarterback — this is the year for the Patriots to take advantage of their ground game.