NFL: Breaking down the 2015 New England Patriots

Running Back

Starters: James Develin, LeGarrette Blount

Depth: Travaris Cadet, Jonas Gray, Brandon Bolden, James White, Dion Lewis, Tyler Gaffney

With Shane Vereen and and Stevan Ridley leaving for New Jersey, the Giants and the Jets, the New England Patriots backfield looks a lot different and a little less stable. Right now James Develin and LeGarrette Blount are listed as the nominal starters, but Develin is a fullback while Blount is suspended for the first game of the season. Coupled with the suspension of Tom Brady, it will make for an odd look in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In longer terms, Blount will get a heavy workload as a big, grinding back. He has scored a lot of touchdowns in short yardage for the Patriots, and has shown flashes of better than average ability overall. Consistency has forever been his issue elsewhere, but head coach Bill Belichick seems to be able to get the best out of him.

Blount could be coupled with any number of more nimble backs. Travaris Cadet was signed to a two-year contract and will likely get a long look as a third-down, passing back. He’s a solid pass-blocker, and caught a lot of balls with the Saints last season (38 receptions for 296 yards) but had virtually no rushing yards.

James White has also been mentioned as a potential passing-down back. The second-year player did well in OTAs as a rookie but fell apart when the fur started flying in preseason and didn’t play much last season. He has some speed and can catch the ball, so on paper he seems as if he’d be a good replacement for Vereen, but White has to show he can compete when the lights come on.

Brandon Bolden has seen a lot of use times over the last three years, though last season was a down year for him. Injuries have been an issue for him, but he can catch the ball well and has some speed. If he can stay healthy, he might have a shot at unseating Cadet for the third-down role. He also is heavily involved in special teams as well.

Jonas Gray had one huge game last season, then ended up in Belichick’s dog house. He duplicates what Blount does, so as long as Blount stays healthy and out of trouble, Gray is unlikely to see a lot of time on the field.

Dion Lewis is an undersized back who a lot of people thought could make some noise with his speed when he entered the NFL in 2011 with the Philadelphia Eagles, but he’s struggled to do more than flash on rare occasions. While he will be in the mix for a third down or receiving-back role, there is a lot of competition for that, and he seems a long shot to come out on top.

The dark horse here could be Tyler Gaffney, who spent 2014 on Injured Reserve. The Patriots claimed him off waivers when the Carolina Panthers tried to waive/injured him. Gaffney has been diligent in his rehab and Belichick was effusive with praise for the second-year back’s work ethic. While he can catch the ball well, he’s not quite quick enough to fit in as a passing-down back, but is a solid grinder who can beat up defensive lines. While many thought he was a less-than-exciting pick by the Panthers, Belichick sees something in him, which is worth noting.

Next: Wide Receivers—Tight Ends