All offseason, New England Patriot fans and fantasy prognosticators alike wondered what the team was going to do at running back. In the offseason, they got rid of LeGarrette Blount and signed Rex Burkhead and Mike Gilislee. They already had Super Bowl hero James White and oft-injured, but always efficient Dion Lewis in the mix. Now, they had four backs. How the heck is that going to shake out?
It took some real shaking, but since the Patriots bye in Week Nine, it feels as though the team finally knows what they are doing in the backfield.
Mike Gilislee is out of the picture. James White is in the mix, but is almost always a pass catcher. From there, they split a bulk of the carries between Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead. Burkhead was injured at the beginning of the season but is a player that has come along over the past month. He presents a schematical advantage against the Steelers, and is going to be a player the Patriots use to attack them on Sunday.
Rushing
To understand how the Patriots are going to use Burkhead, you have to understand the skill set. He is versatile. You have to respect Burkhead overall more than a player like White because he can consistently run between the tackles. On the play below, his footwork, and a slight shimmy behind the line of scrimmage draws Preston Brown, 52, too far to the left. Bulkhead also gets Michah Hyde, 23 rolling to the left as well. Burkhead plants, cuts up field and gets into the second level for what becomes a 16-yard touchdown in the right corner. Sean Spence fell for a similar move on Sunday.
Burkhead also has become the goal line back. He has nine carries inside the ten-yard line since Week 10 and has four touchdowns in that situation.
Receiving
What makes this an issue for defenses is that most would classify him as a receiving back, like White. Burkhead is a major threat out of the backfield and one that the Steelers do not necessarily have the personnel to defend.
Burkhead can make plays after the catch.
But what is even scarier than that is that he can run routes like a wide receiver, get open out wide and create yards after the catch over the middle of the field.
How the Patriots will use Burkhead attack the Steelers
The loss of Ryan Shazier has a good chance of being exposed by Rex Burkhead. Shazier is likely the player who would have watched a lot of the moving parts that the running game brings.
The fact that White and Burkhead can both make plays in the passing game makes scheming for them a nightmare. Below, you can see they have two running backs on the field, one just so happens to be out wide.
-
Ep 134: NFL Week 2 Studs And Duds
by Full Press Coverage on September 20, 2023 at 7:07 pm
The idea that you can motion, run reverses, and run or throw off of the illusion of the extra running back is something you do not see most teams do. You have to treat Burkhead as if he is an extra tight end in terms of personnel because they can run between the tackles. Still, did you see that route he ran? He is not a tight end.
Below, the Patriots use both backs to keep the Dolphins in a heavy personnel, but in a spread formation. In one aspect, it forces a player like Kiko Alonso to work out wide in a situation he is not used to. Can you imagine Vince Williams, Sean Spence, or Arthur Moats out wide in this matchup? They will get dismantled.
The other aspect is the respect in the middle of the field. They are clearing out the linebackers. The Dolphins safeties now have to choose between playing underneath, and being exposed to the big play, or letting the short stuff go, being sure to make tackles quick after the catch. Given that the linebackers are in situations where they may get beat off of the ball, you likely want to creep the safeties up and pray you do not get torched for it.
This is the attention that two running backs with legitimate pass catching ability bring. Rob Gronkowski is bracketed, but has room to run as the linebackers are forced to step up and pay respect to Burkhead and White.
The Patriots can run play action, which gives a linebacker, whose instincts are to stop the run no idea what to do out wide on a different running back.
They can also run sweeps and end arounds to Burkhead to get the three linebackers, much less athletic than Ryan Shazier, having to move sideline to sideline and through traffic to stop the quick back.
The Steelers were already going to have to put a lot of their safety and linebacker artillery into trying to stop Rob Gronkowski. Now, they have to donate the rest to try to solve the shuffling of running backs like a fantasy football owner on a championship Sunday.
The Patriots are likely going to test the athleticism, the ability to roam sideline to sideline and the ability to cover Rex Burkhead in one-on-one situations. Schematically, it is a nightmare for this team in this moment. We will see how they react.
– Parker Hurley is Pittsburgh Steelers team manager of Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @parkerhurley Follow @FPC_Steelers and Facebook.
-
Ep 170: The 1986 Giants With Gary Myersby Full Press Coverage on September 15, 2023 at 9:44 pm
HOF voter and author Gary Myers joins Clark and Ira to discuss his new […]
-
Ep 169: Discussing Art Powell and the AFL With Historian Todd Tobiasby Full Press Coverage on September 3, 2023 at 3:04 pm
AFL historian Todd Tobias joins Clark and Ira to talk Art Powell and the […]
-
Ep 168: Hall of Fame Finalist Randy Gradishar Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on August 24, 2023 at 8:44 pm
Former Broncos linebacker and member of the Orange Crush Defense, Randy […]
-
Ep 167: Discussing Buddy Parker With Hall of Fame Voter Paul Kuharskyby Full Press Coverage on August 19, 2023 at 1:23 am
Pro Football Hall of Fame voter Paul Kuharsky joins Clark and Ira to […]
-
A Film Room look at the week 4 College Football Matchupsby LandryFootball.com on September 22, 2023 at 1:25 pm
Six nationally-ranked matchups and several others in the spotlight pitting […]
-
Biggest Surprises in NFL through Week 2by LandryFootball.com on September 21, 2023 at 11:00 pm
Two weeks into the NFL season is too small of a sample size to make […]
-
Ep 306: Week 2 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on September 14, 2023 at 3:06 am
-
Ep 305: TE Target Totals from Week 1by Full Press Coverage on September 12, 2023 at 2:28 am
-
Ep 304: The NFL Season Is Hereby Full Press Coverage on September 7, 2023 at 3:13 am
-
Ep 303: Ambiguous Situations in Fantasy Footballby Full Press Coverage on August 29, 2023 at 2:47 pm
-
Ep 183: Week 3 Preview vs Saintsby Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 2:11 am
In this episode, Kyle Senra is joined by Courtney Burrows (luvtractor3) […]
-
Ep 182: Week 2 Instant Reactionsby Full Press Coverage on September 18, 2023 at 1:52 am
The Green Bay Packers lost a close 25-24 game at the hands of the Atlanta […]
-
Full Press Wild - 9-22 - Recapping prospect camp and a player signing.by Full Press Coverage on September 22, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Prospect camp, signing, Jujhar Khaira Learn more about your ad choices. […]
-
ROP Special Commentary: The Case For Karlby Charlie Saunier on September 22, 2023 at 5:01 am
Renegades Of Puck Special Commentary: The Case For Karl Learn more about […]
-
Full Press Kraken - 9-21 - Training camp, Prospects, Preseasonby Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Previewing training camp, looking at prospects. Learn more about your ad […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - 9-21 - Kyle Davidson’s Presser Takeawaysby Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Reacting to what Blackhawks general manager, Kyle Davidson said to media, […]
-
Full Press Hurricanes - 9-20 - The Southeast Florida Prospect Showcase & the Hurricanes Training Campby Full Press Coverage on September 20, 2023 at 3:00 pm
The Hurricanes have won all 3 games at their prospect showcase this past […]
-
ROP Special Commentary: A Catfish Too Farby Charlie Saunier on September 20, 2023 at 5:01 am
Renegades Of Puck Special Commentary: A Catfish Too Far Learn more about […]
-
9/22 - 49ers Move To 3-0, Week 2 Picks and Predictionsby Full Press Coverage on September 22, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Ian and John discuss the 49ers win over the Giants on Thursday Night […]
-
9/21 - Thursday Night Football Preview; NFL MVP Talkby Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 2:15 pm
Ian and John preview Thursday Night Football between the Giants and 49ers […]
-
9/19 - Monday Night Recap, State of Quarterback Play, 2-0 Teamsby Full Press Coverage on September 19, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Ian and John discuss MNF and talk about the state of quarterback play. […]
-
9/18 - Week 2 Headlines; Monday Night Football Predictionsby Full Press Coverage on September 18, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Ian and John discuss some of the headlines from Sunday's action, some […]
-
9/15 - Eagles Survive Vikings; Week 2 Picks and Predictionsby Full Press Coverage on September 15, 2023 at 2:09 pm
Ian and John discuss the Eagles win over the Vikings and preview Week 2. […]
-
9/14 - Aaron Rodgers And The AFC East, Vikings at Eagles Previewby Full Press Coverage on September 14, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Ian and John further discuss the Aaron Rodgers injury and the impact on […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
Steelers at Raiders - Eagles at Bucs - Rams at Bengalsby Broken Controller Media on September 22, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Phoenix Suns Previewby Broken Controller Media on September 22, 2023 at 3:00 pm
-
9/22 - 49ers Move To 3-0, Week 2 Picks and Predictionsby Full Press Coverage on September 22, 2023 at 1:58 pm
-
CFB Daily: SEC, Pac-12, Week 4 Gamesby Full Press Coverage on September 22, 2023 at 3:16 am
-
Episode 113: What in the Halas Hell?by Full Press Coverage on September 22, 2023 at 3:16 am
-
Cowboys at Cardinals - Bears at Chiefsby Broken Controller Media on September 21, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Patriots at Jets - Bills at Commanders - Panthers at Seahawksby Broken Controller Media on September 21, 2023 at 3:00 pm
-
9/21 - Thursday Night Football Preview; NFL MVP Talkby Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 2:15 pm
-
Philadelphia 76ers Previewby Broken Controller Media on September 21, 2023 at 2:00 pm
-
Boot 2 The Face "She Was Portly"by Boot 2 The Face on September 14, 2023 at 11:57 pm
In the latest episode we talk Jey Uso and his move to Monday Night Raw. We […]
-
Boot 2 The Face "NFL Picks"by Boot 2 The Face on September 7, 2023 at 1:59 am
Boys are back talking CM Punk firing, AEW All Out, WWE Payback and picking […]
-
Wrestling World is Changing: From CM Punk To Vince McMahon to LA Knightby Full Press Coverage on September 14, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Justin Starr as they break the […]
-
Back To Back Events Just Too Much... Let's Enjoy All Inby Full Press Coverage on September 2, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Andy McNamara as they discuss […]
-
Ep 182: Michelle McCoolby Full Press Coverage on September 15, 2023 at 2:00 pm
This week we're looking at the career of Michelle McCool. A teacher by […]