The New England Patriots haven’t had a solid starting running back since Curtis Martin played from 1995-1998. In his three years with New England, Martin rushed for 3799 yards with a 3.9 YPC average and 32 touchdowns. After Curtis Martin left New England to play for the New York Jets, Robert Edwards was expected to take his place and was expected to be the running back of the future for the Pats. Unfortunately, Edwards ended his career before even playing a down for New England when he blew his knee out playing flag football on the beach that off season. Since then, the Patriots have not had a full time, star running back on the roster.
The Two Running Back System
The two running back system can go far enough back in time when games were televised in black and white. The more recent two running back systems that were extremely effective started at USC. Pete Carroll used Reggie Bush and LenDale White for a combination of strength and speed. The use of an effective two running back system relies on the fact that one back is used in situations for distance, getting to the outside and picking up yards while the second back is used in short yardage situations to pick up a first down or punch it in for the touchdown from the goal line.
The NFL also adapted the two back system in the same manner. When the New England Patriots faced the Carolina Panthers in SuperBowl XXXVIII, the Panthers had a combination of Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster. The two backs were the perfect tandem to compliment one another with Davis’ power and speed combined with Foster’s ability to cut back on a dime and split defenders for long gains. The Patriots came out victorious, but believe that the showcase of Davis and Foster is the stepping stone that the NFL used to introduce the two running back system around the league. The Panthers are still sticking with the two running back system today with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Some other successful two running back systems played in Jacksonville, Atlanta and San Diego. The two running back system has flourished in the copycat league of the NFL and will be the way to go for a long time, unless every team adopts the Wildcat that we’ve seen from about five teams this pre-season.
The two running back system has been used by multiple NFL and NCAA teams, some being successful with their combinations and others, not so much. With the right two running backs, the ability to compliment one another and their uses for down and distance, a teams running game can become extremely successful and harder to gameplan against.
Patriots Running Backs Committee
This season, the New England Patriots are coming to the field with a five tier running back system. Led By newly acquired Fred Taylor and veteran bust, Laurence Maroney, the patriots have gone beyond a two running back system to also include plodder, Sammy Morris, BenJarvus Green-Ellis the rookie and old faithful, pass catching back, Kevin Faulk. The New England Patriots have gone beyond the two running back system concept of thunder and lightning and have developed a system where each back will specialize in their own respective situations. Team chemistry could be effected with such a large group of running backs, but that’s the job that Tom Brady will have to manage as the leader of the offense.
With only a few teams in the NFL actually having a feature back for their offense, more and more teams are turning to the two running back system. Few teams other than New England have adopted the running back committee, including the Ravens and the Raiders who are each featuring three running backs. For fantasy teams, this could cause a dilemma. For defensive coordinators, this could cause heart failure. I absolutely love the two running back system and think it is a valuable part of winning games and prolonging careers in the NFL.
Let us know what you think of the two running back system in the comments section below.
Thanks to patriotworld for the picture of the New England Patriots running backs. Laurence Maroney, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor.
Thanks to Kevin813 for the picture of Carolina Panthers running backs. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.
Green-Ellis and Faulk I feel good about. The others? The jury is still out for me.
I’m excited to see what Fred Taylor has left in the tank. Maroney is the biggest disappointment ever and Morris is cut and dry about what he can and can’t do.
I agree with the likability of Green-Ellis and Faulk.
And that’s why so many WR’s are going early this year in FF. I like the idea, and to be honest the wildcat with McNabb, Westbrook and Vick in the backfield, that would scare me to death.
For the Pats, they have Brady. He uses each player to their abilities, and with perfection. It really doesn’t matter how many backs you have or who they are as long as one of them can get a few yards to give Brady a 2-6 or better. Then he goes 5 wide and just kills, almost like playing a video game for him..