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The Belichick-era Patriots have refined the method of getting probably the most out of veteran operating backs.
Which is why the addition of the Ezekiel Elliott right this moment is companies as normal at 1 Patriot Place.
The manufacturing of the backs on this article spans a complete of 17 NFL seasons from 2001 to 2016. The Patriots reached the playoffs in 15 of them. And, appeared in 7 Tremendous Bowls.
The primary again that involves thoughts is Corey Dillon. Dillon had some really insane seasons in Cincinnati that have been by no means absolutely acknowledged as a result of the “Bungles” have been so dangerous. However that’s what made his manufacturing much more unimaginable – no assist. The Patriots swooped in. And, cashed in.
In 2004 his age 30 season, Dillon was traded to the New England Patriots for a second-round choose. That season, Dillon set profession highs and franchise information with 1,635 speeding yards and 12 touchdowns. New England received its third Super Bowl, due in no small half to the operating sport constructed round Dillon.
He was the highest rusher of Tremendous Bowl XXXIX with 75 speeding yards and a landing, whereas additionally catching 3 passes for 31 yards, for 106 whole yards. That very same season, Dillon rushed for a complete of 292 yards, caught 9 passes for 53 yards, and scored 2 touchdowns in New England’s three postseason video games. He scored 37 common season TDs in 3 seasons in New England.
Lead again 2004-2006.
In 2008 in his age 31 season, Morris led the Patriots in speeding. This was the yr of Tom Brady‘s destroyed within the second quarter of the season by Bernard Pollard towards the Chiefs.
The Patriots had to determine a brand new offense on the fly, Morris turned a core piece of an 11-5 season, and Matt Cassell had the perfect season of his life.
2007-2009 lead again (performed 16 video games in 2010).
Antowain Smith had among the finest seasons for a operating again in Buffalo Bills historical past. In 1998 he ran for 1147 yards and scored eight TUDS. He was damage for components of the following two seasons, scoring 10 TDs and accumulating slightly below 1,000 yards. He was 28 and the payments thought he was toast.
In 2001, his age 29 season, Smith rejuvenated his profession when he joined the New England Patriots. He ran for 1,157 yards and 13 whole touchdowns within the common season. He additionally ran for 204 yards within the playoffs because the Patriots received Tremendous Bowl XXXVI. The next season he scored 8 TUDs and rushed for 982.
Lead again 2001 to 2003.
Blount makes an look on this checklist due to his second look with the Patriots. After leaving for the Steelers, Blount was positioned on outright waivers, and the Pats picked him up. He was steadily built-in again in Bill Belichick’s good graces earlier than his monster season.
In 2004 after being secured as an finish of season free agent acquisition, Blount scored three touchdowns in 5 video games. Within the postseason he had 43 carries for 187 yards and three TDs. The Patriots received the Tremendous Bowl.
After 700+ yards speeding and eight TDs in 2015, he blew up and had the perfect season of his profession. In his age 30 season he led the NFL with 18 speeding TDs. A pounding north/south operating model, his 1,161 led the staff. Most significantly he secured one other Lombardi Trophy for his efforts.
Lead again: 2014 – 2016.
Woodhead is a superb instance of how as occasions change so do the Patriots. The opposite guys on this checklist are straight-ahead runners, which was the model of the NFL at these occasions. As the sport developed to function operating backs getting used extra as receivers out of the backfield (thanks Bill Walsh and Don Coryell), the Pats tailored with Woodhead.
After a yr and a half with the Jets, they positioned him on waivers. The Patriots swooped in and picked up the previous two-time Harlon Trophy winner, which occurred to be the identical week the Pats confronted the Jets. The media dubbed it as a basic Belichick technique transfer. And it could have been, besides one factor – Woodhead began producing and by no means stopped.
In 2010 he jumped in and instantly produced accumulating 926 whole yards and TDs; he averaged 8.6 yards per contact. This was after showing in a single sport on particular groups for the Jets, by no means even accumulating a statistic.
Woodhead was a Wes Welker fingertip dropped go away from profitable Tremendous Bowl XLVI. Alas, it was profitable three yr run because the Patriots made the playoffs every year and Woodhead cashed in, signing a big free agent cope with the Chargers and taking part in one other 5 NFL seasons.
Extremely again: 2010 to 2012.
In his age 33 and 34 seasons, he rushed for 414 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Patriots made the playoffs and went a mixed 24-6 in his two years underneath Belichick.
Admittedly Taylor wasn’t as statistically productive as others on this checklist. However possibly that illustrates the important thing purpose for the success underneath Belichick.
If they’ll get two years out of a damaged down Fragile Freddy Taylor when nobody else would, it goes to indicate there’s a system in place.
The Patriots system is that this: taking as soon as productive backs on the finish of their careers, bringing them into Foxboro on low threat/excessive reward contracts, and adjusting their utilization to the kinds of every, within the context of the offense.
Not solely have been these backs productive, however each prolonged his profession by a number of seasons as a result of the Patriots knew the way to use them.
Want one other instance, in-house? Kevin Faulk
They’ve carried out it with different operating backs and Ezekiel Elliott may probably be subsequent.
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