New England Patriots RB James White is having a career season in his third year in the league. White has generated 606 yards from scrimmage and his 50 receptions ranks a surprising 2nd on the team.
In fact, White is on pace for 61 receptions, which would be the 3rd most of any Patriots running back in franchise history and the most of any running back in the Bill Belichick era, ahead of the 58 by Kevin Faulk in 2008. Shane Vereen recorded 52 in 2014 and Faulk added 51 in 2000.
“[White has] been very productive for us,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said. “I mean, we’ve had a lot of production out of that position from Kevin [Faulk], who was obviously great for us, a Hall of Fame player, to Shane [Vereen] who gave us two good years, two and a half good, whatever it was, and then James [White] has given us two good years here; the last two years, taking over for Shane. So we’ve had a lot of production out of that position, the sub back, if you will, really since I’ve been here, so we’ve been very, very fortunate there.”
White’s role has increased with injuries across the board to TE Rob Gronkowski and WR Danny Amendola, and because fellow RB Dion Lewis was unable to play for the first half of the season. White did enough over the start of the season to assert his role within the offense and to earn more time when Lewis returned.
And it wasn’t just as a receiver; Belichick praised White’s ability to read the linebackers and to help out in pass protection.
“Probably the hardest thing they have to do is to figure out whether the guy is blitzing or not,” Belichick said about running back roles. “When [the linebacker] comes across, he’s trying to come across like he’s blitzing so that you’ll stay in and take him, but if he really has you in coverage and he’s coming across just to hold you in and you get out, then you’re out, you don’t have to block him and he has to cover you. That’s a real cat-and-mouse game there between the back who has pick-up and linebacker who’s in man coverage that’s trying to keep him in by using a blitz technique.”
And while we might categorize Lewis and White as similar players, Belichick argued that Lewis is different, “like Danny” Woodhead, since Lewis is “pretty good running the ball.” White is more exclusively a receiver out of the backfield.
Last year, White saw a ridiculous 16 targets against the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game and White has a chance to have a more successful outing against the Broncos this upcoming week. White is 75 yards and a touchdown away from putting together the 2nd best season by a receiving back in franchise history.
The Broncos defense is at its weakest when it’s trying to defend against running backs. White has a real chance to leave his mark in the Patriots record book this week.