Patriots Rookie Projections: Shane Vereen

by Greg Knopping on May 12, 2011 11:00 AM EDT in New England Patriots NFL Draft

The third in a series looking at the Patriots' 2011 NFL Draft picks, and the roles they might play for the Patriots next year.

Name: Shane Vereen

School: California

Position: Running Back

Drafted: 2nd Round, 56th Overall

Projected Stats: 16 GP, 3 GS; 82 carries, 386 yards, 1 TD; 24 receptions, 218 yards, 1 TD

Projected Role: I expect Patriots' second round pick Shane Vereen to get plenty of playing time as a rookie. While the Patriots certainly have a lot of capable bodies in the backfield (Green-Ellis, Woodhead, Ridley), Vereen is more than just a receiving back. He is underrated carrying the ball between the tackles, and I certainly think he could see some touches on first and second downs. Vereen could end up being the top option as a 3rd down back, but I think he will split time there with Danny Woodhead similar to how Kevin Faulk and JR Redmond split time at that spot in 2001 and the beginning of 2002. I also think Vereen will be very effective as a ball carrier, I predict him averaging 4.7 yards per carry. However, I do not think that he will see a lot of touches near the goal line.

Bottom Line: 3rd down and rotational back in 2011, starting candidate in 2012

Tweet Comment 26 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Vereen has the skills to be a huge force on the field of play. I think he’ll have way more receiving yards than what you have posted. But I understand that you are just throwing out numbers.

by Patriots12 on May 12, 2011 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

i am also a big fan of vereen

And i would double your projections. vereen is strong and not as small as people think.

by brady12mvp3 on May 12, 2011 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I have a feeling we're going to see some interesting formations.

Given the talent at RB and the Patriots’ goal of maximizing the utility of each player’s skills, I wouldn’t be surprised to see all these RBs used in new and interesting ways. A 3RB, 1TE, 1WR set would be a matchup nightmare for most teams, especially once you start splitting one or two of those RBs out wide. All that motioning, made possible by the versatility of the RB corps, will allow Brady to easily expose coverages. This is exactly the sort of way RBs should be used in today’s NFL, and I think it once again shows how Belichick is ahead of curve.

by nbradley07 on May 12, 2011 3:25 PM EDT reply actions

The only problem with that would be the type of zones the Jets played. Being able to run the football would help a lot. It would also take pressure off of Tom to do everything.

by Patriots12 on May 12, 2011 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Is there a possibility that Vereen can be our FB?

He’s a great blocker, and as a starting RB last year in college, he knows running lanes better than ridley. Either ridley or Vereen can play FB, but I think Vereeen should be the leading candidate. Woodhead can be our 3rd down back, and ridley can be our #2 back behind BJGE.

I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP

by Jack'sAxe on May 12, 2011 4:14 PM EDT reply actions

Well, I think Ridley is a better candidate for that.

He is a tougher runner and Vereen is a more shift back and so he would be best used further behind or out wide (which from the highlights ive seen, he would be an amazing reciever)

by mkhural on May 12, 2011 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

this

Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life.
In Bill We Trust.

by NinjaZX6R on May 12, 2011 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Just throwing it out there

but I do agree with you. :)

by Jack'sAxe on May 13, 2011 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

No way on fullback

Vereen think Kevin faulk but stronger and faster . Vereen benches 225 31 times at the combine. Good for 2nd of all running backs and to be in perspective average for rb is 21 . He is strong

by brady12mvp3 on May 12, 2011 6:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

That's impressive

Thanks for sharing that tid-bit. You look at Solder, a big guy like that, who only manages like 21 reps. I hope by the end of 2011 he could manage closer to 30 if he hangs with Vereen in the weightroom. I think you could count on Solder at that point to be a solid starter, with a heavy dose of Pats coaching intermingled, of course.

by Ozstryker on May 15, 2011 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Chung had an impressive combine as well on his day

I think he was up in the 31 rep range as well. A couple of tough players.

by Ozstryker on May 15, 2011 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Solder's got, what, 35 inch arms?

That’s a long way to lift 225 lbs 30 or so times. I think the average for OTs (serious, NFL OTs, not college OTs shifting inside) at the combine was only mid to high 20s.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by insertscreenname on May 15, 2011 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

this

Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life.
In Bill We Trust.

by NinjaZX6R on May 15, 2011 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

This was my fav pick of the draft selections (not that i liked our draft all altogether). Loved Vereen from college

and he should greatly excel in our system. I do disagree a bit on his rushing TD total. I think he’ll do just a bit better than that despite not being a goal line back. He has the skill set to take a few to the house from yards away.

Lewis Hamilton~ 2011 F1 Champion!!!
Don't cut your locks Tom Terrific!
Life is about who makes it, not who makes it the fastest! Drive slow homie.

by PatNation85 on May 12, 2011 4:31 PM EDT reply actions

I have a feeling with the rb committee

Is going to turn out like this beginning of season it’s going to be heavy dose of law firm and woodhead with a sprinkle of vereen and Ridley but by mid season it’s going to be heavy dose of vereen and Ridley and a sprinkle of law firm and woody .

by brady12mvp3 on May 12, 2011 7:21 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I agree, except

I think Woodhead is going to be the one constant contributor all season.

It matters not how strait the gate, nor charged with punishments the scroll:
I am the Master of my fate. I am the Captain of my soul.

by BigRussNovak on May 12, 2011 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't about you guys, but . . .

I’m having a bad feeling that Woody might be significantly less productive this incoming season. Maybe it’s just me but I felt like he was getting a bit sloppy towards the end of the season. Hopefully, the level of competition at RB will keep this from happening. But at the same time, I have a really good feeling about Vereen. He has the potential to be amazing, especially with the solid hands that he has.

by mkhural on May 12, 2011 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions

sloppy?

you mean the fumble from the 2nd Fins game?

Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life.
In Bill We Trust.

by NinjaZX6R on May 12, 2011 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, well

that and correct me if I’m wrong, didn’t he have a couple of easy dropped passes that ended up killing the drive?

by mkhural on May 13, 2011 7:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I think you're confusing him with Welker.

Welker was a drops machine last year. By-product of the injury, no doubt. We can all rest assured that he will bounce back, though. He’s probably been catching about 750,000 balls a day since the season ended.

by nbradley07 on May 13, 2011 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Not sure about the passes but the fumble...

well..not his fault…he suffered a concussion and lost control of the ball.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life.
In Bill We Trust.

by NinjaZX6R on May 13, 2011 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Woodhead will be a huge contributor as well

This guy has some special talent. Heavy dose of Woody next season for sure.

by Ozstryker on May 15, 2011 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Why do we persist on trying to put in a depth chart at RB?

we have 5 guys (if Faulk returns), and each are suited to different situations. I think it likely that Vereen becomes the best player on the roster, but he still probably won’t see the field on 4th-and-inches. He should be getting the most touches in 2 or 3 years.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by insertscreenname on May 13, 2011 12:38 AM EDT reply actions

Because that's how the Madden games do roster management, dammit!

I agree. I’m seeing 4 (and maybe 5) guys with different skillsets. Some overlaps, some interchangeable pieces, but different skillsets nonetheless. Find a team that’s weak up the middle late in the 4th quarter? Maybe Ridley would be a lock. Found a team that can’t use LBs to cover RBs in passing lanes? Heavy dose of Vereen and Woodhead…

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit

by Comedic.Sans on May 13, 2011 3:40 AM EDT up reply actions