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The New England Patriots have had their fair share of injuries so far this season at the running back position. From Shane Vereen‘s wrist, to Brandon Bolden and Stevan Ridley‘s recent knee injuries, the team is currently very thin at the position for the foreseeable future.
That is where Kevin Smith comes in to play. He is fast, clocking in at a 4.43 40-yard dash time. He is big at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds. And he has good hands out of the backfield.
The only reason that the Detroit Lions let him go last year was the emergence of rookie draftee Mikel Leshoure, along with Joique Bell and the addition of Reggie Bush this year. That, and the fact that he dealt with some injuries during his time on the Lions.
These additions, coupled with his injury history, ultimately left Smith expendable. However, Smith was always a capable player in the right role. He could be a capable goalline back and receiver for the Patriots to use. He would also be a player capable of breaking a long run at any time given his speed.
Given his good hands, catching 123 balls for 1,082 yards and five receiving touchdowns in his career, he would be the perfect running back for Tom Brady and the Patriots to have at their disposal.
He would cost virtually nothing, his contract would be non-guaranteed and the Patriots could cut him at the first sign of an injury. The move would be a low-risk, high-reward proposition for the Patriots.
Additionally, Smith is still young at only 26 years of age. Inserting him into the offensive system could be just what the Patriots need to give their offense the spark they are looking for.
Will Gellman is a New England Patriots Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Will_Gellman, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
