FOXBORO, Mass. — It wouldn’t be an NFL season if Bill Belichick didn’t leave fantasy football owners in limbo at running back.
The obvious choice to take over LeGarrette Blount’s role as the Patriots’ early-down back is Brandon Bolden. He’s just one of two healthy running backs on the Patriots’ 53-man roster, and James White, who’s just 5-foot-10, 205 pounds, doesn’t fit Belichick’s mold as a between-the-tackles runner.
Bolden, who’s 5-foot-11, 220 pounds, does, but the Patriots have seemed hesitant to give him the reins as a starting running back throughout his four-year NFL career. Bolden has topped out at 17 touches in a game. His 16 carries Sunday night, taking over after Blount injured his hip, was a career high.
Belichick was asked Wednesday if Bolden, despite his special-teams duties, could be “the guy” moving forward.
“He definitely did that in college,” Belichick said. “I’d say he’s done that. He’s been a four-down player for us. He’s played the role of big back, he’s played the role of sub back, and he’s played well for us in the kicking game on fourth down. So, it might be hard to increase each role. It’s possible, but I think it would be hard to realistically to do that. But maybe that needs to be done.
“I don’t know. We’ll see. Maybe just increase one and decrease another. I think we just have to try to figure that out. It might vary from game to game. I’m not sure it’ll be the same every week, which it’s hard to find anybody’s role on our team that’s the same every week.”
Bolden is fourth on the Patriots behind Nate Ebner, Matthew Slater and Jonathan Freeny with 244 special-teams snaps this season, while he has just 119 reps on offense. The Patriots likely would have to decrease Bolden’s special-teams duties to keep him fresh at running back, but it remains to be seen if Belichick would be willing to do that.
Most NFL coaches would value a starting running back over a special-teams ace, but Belichick isn’t most NFL coaches.
The Patriots might need to use Bolden in the “big back” role in Week 15 against the Tennessee Titans until they get another running back up to speed. The Patriots have running backs Montee Ball, Trey Williams and fullback Joey Iosefa on their practice squad. They reportedly are working out 11-year NFL veteran Steven Jackson on Wednesday.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
