Running Out of Style

BY PHIL SHORE
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS.

Throughout the New England Patriots’ dynasty that encompassed the first ten years of the new millennium, one thing that was never stable was the running back situation.

The team got production from the position, whether it be Antowain Smith, Corey Dillon, or Kevin Faulk.

However, it was also the most inconsistent position. And now, in 2010, that hasn’t changed one bit.

There always has been, and continues to be a rotating door of running backs due to spotty performances and an unbelievable amount of injuries.

Between the uneven play of the running backs and the star-studded quarterback the team has, the Patriots have evolved into a very pass-happy team - but the fans and coaches would like to add a little more balance to the attack.

Coming into the new decade, the team has found no complete answer.

Certain players have shown flashes of brilliance, but then wound up benched because of turnovers or injuries.

Who will the Patriots be able to depend on in 2010, an extremely pivotal season for the franchise?

Here is a look at the running backs on the roster.

Laurence Maroney

Maroney is arguably the most perplexing player on the Patriots roster.

Drafted number 21 overall in 2006, he was the first running back New England selected in the first round since Robert Edwards was taken number 18 out of Georgia in 1998.

Needless to say, he has not lived up to expectations.

Maroney has yet to reach 1,000 yards in a season or play all 16 games in a season, turns the ball over at critical moments in the game and at critical spots on the field, and not to mention three Pro Bowl running backs—DeAngelo Williams, Joseph Addai, and Maurice Jones-Drew—were selected after him (four if you count Leon Washington who made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner).

Still, he flashes moments of brilliance that makes Pats fans think he may be able to turn this thing around yet. Just last year there were the two touchdown games against the Jets and the Saints, the 123-yard and one touchdown performance against Tennessee, and the 94-yards he put up against Carolina (three of those games were Patriot wins).

And now, in the last year of his original rookie contract, Maroney will be looking to play for a new contract as well. Could it be the extra incentive he needs to reach that potential Pats fans so deeply believe he might still have?

The bottom line is, at 25, Maroney is still young. The Patriots keep giving him chances, and he will likely begin the season as the starting back.

But can he overcome injuries and terribly inconsistent play?

One has to wonder how much more patient the Pats and the team’s fans will be with him.

Fred Taylor

Taylor has had a long, successful career. The Pro Bowler was very productive in his first year with the Patriots, posting 269 yards on 63 carries, until he missed the bulk of the season (10 games) with a severe ankle injury.

More importantly though, in the six games he played in, Taylor scored four rushing touchdowns and lead the team in rushing three times.

The problem remains though, he still only played in only six games. Taylor has a history of injury issues, especially lately, and the 34-year-old is in the twilight of his career.

He still has talent and can contribute on the field as well as being a good player to have in the locker room, but the Patriots cannot rely on him to be the number one featured back.

One has to wonder how much Taylor has left in the tank.

Kevin Faulk

Faulk is New England’s do-it-all running back.

He rushes the ball, catches passes out of the backfield, and occasionally returns kicks and punts. He’s never rushed for more than 640 yards in a season throughout his entire 11-year career with the New England Patriots, but Faulk remains the epitome of “team player,” and is vital to the franchise’s success.

Number 33 is also surprisingly durable. Although he is 34-years-old, he has played in at least 15 games in each of the past four years and eight out of his 11 seasons overall.

Faulk resigned with the Pats this offseason and while he won’t be the featured back he is someone the team, especially Tom Brady, depends on.

Sammy Morris

Morris lead the Patriots in rushing yards (727) and rushing touchdowns (7) in 2008, and he spearheaded the most potent Patriots rushing attack in 20 years.

When he first came to the Patriots as a free agent in 2007, a cast-off of divisional rivals Buffalo and Miami, Morris was a solid backup running back that made a good contribution on special teams.

However when those ahead of him fell due to injury Morris capitalized on the opportunities. He is in good favor with Patriot coaches and front office members, as well as Patriot fans, who remember vividly him crashing into the opposition and fighting for extra yardage – something the likes of Maroney seldom do.

Unfortunately, that also contributes to his downfall - his inability to stay healthy.

And while injuries are sometimes freak and random in football, a lot of Morris’s come from his playing style. He seeks out contact. He looks for it. He bangs around, and while it’s all great as a fan to watch your team fight for every extra yard, sometimes it costs the 33-year-old.

The fact remains, he hasn’t played all 16-regular season games since 2005 and has only done so three times in his ten-year career.

How much he can be counted on in 2010 remains to be seen, but one thing is clear – when he’s healthy, opposing defenses can plan on seeing a heavy dose of number 34.

And that’s not good news for them.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis

An undrafted free agent signing, the “Law Firm” (whch might be the best nickname ever) has been an impressive signing for New England.

He’s low on the totem pole, but because of constant injuries at the position Green-Ellis gets continuous opportunities and he makes the most of them.

In 2008 when Maroney went on injured reserve, Green-Ellis was named the starter and really took over. He rushed for a total of 275 yards, compiled 3.7 yards per rush, and scored five touchdowns.

With that being said, he won’t move in front of a healthy Maroney, Taylor, Faulk, or Morris.

But he has showed he has value and depth at this position on this team has proved absolutely necessary.

Chris Taylor

Green-Ellis’ running mate while at Indiana, Taylor hasn’t made much of a dent in the NFL. He was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2006 by Houston but has played a grand total of seven games and missed two entire seasons, including 2009—his first with New England.

It’s a mystery what he could provide and how he could climb the depth chart. Yet they re-signed him and kept him around after last season so there’s got to be something the organization sees in him.

Thomas Clayton

A burly running back at 5’11”, Clayton spent all of 2007 and all but two weeks in 2008 on San Francisco’s practice squad, then spent 2009 on injured reserve. He will battle Taylor for a spot on the team, but his outlook isn’t so rosy as of now.

Eric Kettani

The Navy graduate was placed on military reserve last season and will most likely not be a contributor in the upcoming season either.