Countless running backs have thrived for the New England
Patriots since Tom Brady took over the starting quarterback duties in 2001.
The most prominent fixture in the running back
rotation of the Brady-era, Kevin Faulk was utilized primarily as a pass-catching back. Faulk spent his entire 13-year (1999-2011) career with the franchise and was elected to the Patriots Hall of Fame.
Short-term former workhorses include two-time Super
Bowl champion Antowain Smith (2001-03), 2004
Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion Corey Dillon (2004-06), Lawrence Maroney
(2006-09)—who rushed for over 100 yards in consecutive playoff games following
the 2007 perfect regular season—BenJarvus Green-Ellis (2008-2011), Stevan Ridley
(2011-14) and two-time Super Bowl champion LeGarrette Blount (2013, 2014-16).
Now an afterthought in the Patriots current running back corps, James White put together one of the best performances in Super
Bowl history just 11 months ago—catching 14 passes for 110 yards and a score,
and turning six carries into 29 yards and two touchdowns in the Patriots’
historic comeback win in Super Bowl LI.
Rex Burkhead has looked tremendous when healthy this
season and even Mike Gillislee, a frequent healthy scratch, managed five
touchdowns on the year.
But White, Burkhead and Gillislee didn’t come close to
the production of Dion Lewis, the team’s lead back after starting out the year fourth-string
in the rotation. Statistics aside, they simply can’t measure up talent wise to
Lewis—in fact, no running back from the Brady-era can.
Lewis—who carried the ball a career-high 26 times for
93 yards and a touchdown with a season-high six receptions for 40 yards and
another score in Sunday’s win over the New York Jets—is as dynamic and complete
a player as running backs come. He rarely gets brought down by the first
would-be tackler. He forced 49 missed tackles and registered 3.17 yards after
contact, both team-highs, according to Pro Football Focus. Even more
impressive, Lewis ranked first in Pro Football Focus’ “elusive
rating,” which combines missed tackles and yards after contact.
A force in the passing game, Lewis did not drop a
single pass (35 targets) all season, one of only 11 players to see more than 30
targets without dropping a pass. In terms of catch rate, he ranked first
(91.4%) in the league among qualified players.
Not only is Lewis an elite ball-carrier and
pass-catcher, he also excels as a blocker in pass protection. He did not allow
any QB hurries on 35 blocks this season. Lewis and teammate James Develin, a
Pro Bowl selection, were two of four players to not allow any pressures among
qualified halfbacks and fullbacks.
The explosiveness of Lewis is matched by few running backs
across the league. He has all the makings of a superstar, and proved that by
totaling four touchdowns in the past two weeks in which he has been given a
full workload in the backfield.
Lewis is a free agent in the offseason and could be
in line for a big payday elsewhere. So before the Patriots go for their third Lombard
Trophy in four seasons, let’s take a chance to recognize how special a player
Lewis has been this year—just in case the most talented Patriots running back (since
Brady has been under center) departs after the season.
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