FOXBORO, Mass. — Dion Lewis received the ultimate compliment as a New England Patriots pass-catching back. Patriots running backs coach Ivan Fears cited similarities between Lewis and Kevin Faulk.
The third-down position was simply referred to as the “Kevin Faulk role” before Danny Woodhead and Shane Vereen emerged in the Patriots’ offense. Faulk was quarterback Tom Brady’s security blanket for 11 seasons.
Now Lewis has taken over the role, and Faulk’s No. 33, and he’s excelling. Lewis has 30 carries for 146 yards and two touchdowns, and he’s added 15 receptions for 179 yards as a receiver through three games.
“He’s very similar to Kevin,” Fears said Monday. “Kevin of course played at LSU and was a hell of an every-down back. The only limitation that these guys have had is the size factor. Everybody just knocked them because of it. But believe me, they’ve proven a lot of people wrong. Dion has still got a lot of work to do. We’re not giving him any crown right now. We’re just saying he’s been very good through three games and we look forward to see what he can do for us in the future.”
Fears would know. He’s coached the Patriots’ running backs since Faulk entered the NFL, and before Bill Belichick took over the team, in 1999.
James White, a 2014 fourth-round draft pick for the Patriots, was supposed to take over the role left vacant when Vereen left for the New York Giants in training camp. Free-agent acquisition Travaris Cadet also was competing for the role, but Lewis became the favorite after a strong training camp and preseason.
“We knew there was something there,” Fears said. “We had a feeling there was something there, and we let it play out. He took advantage of preseason games and practice sessions and he’s done a good job. Like all the guys, he’s niched out a little role for himself.
“Just watching him in the practices and OTAs — man, he’s got exceptional quickness and he’s got the vision to go with it. He’s got the Kevin Faulk-type of vision. He sees a lot, but he can make things happen because of his feet and his ability to change directions. So, we’ll see what happens. He was hurt when he first came into the league. He was not as productive. He had some injuries, and now he’s had a year since that injury, so he was ready. His body responded, and he’s ready to go.”
Lewis currently is on pace for 160 carries, which is more than Vereen or Woodhead ever received in New England. Faulk carried the ball over 100 times just twice, when he had 164 in 2000 and 178 in 2003. Lewis’ ability to work between the tackles sets him apart from Vereen and Woodhead.
“No, that was his MO at Pitt when he was in college,” Fears said. “He was a very productive every-down back. He’s not unfamiliar with running in between the tackles, so we just let him do what he does. We try to feature the strong points of each one of those guys when they’re out there and Dion is an exceptional runner. That was his strong suit in college, and he’s kind of proven to us he can do more than that.”
Lewis was used as the Patriots’ every-down back in Weeks 1 and 2, but he split snaps with LeGarrette Blount in the Patriots’ Week 3 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Lewis and Blount have much different running styles, which should make the Patriots’ running game versatile and dangerous this season.
Thumbnail photo via James Lang/USA TODAY Sports Images
