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New England Patriots Bye Week Check-In: Running Game

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By @ConnorFultonRS

Shane Vereen New England Patriots

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

It’s a stress-free weekend for New England Patriots fans. Let’s take this opportunity to assess each phase of the team as players rest up for next week’s showdown with the Indianapolis Colts. Previously, we took a closer look at the passing attack. Now, let’s shift focus toward the running game.

The loss of Stevan Ridley for the season has definitely thrown a wrench in the backfield, but the Patriots are figuring it out. They currently rank middle of the pack (17th, to be exact) in total rushing yards. Interestingly, Shane Vereen (4.5) and Jonas Gray (4.1) are both besting Ridley’s yards-per-carry average of 3.6.

Even though he’s carried the ball only 32 times thus far in his first season as a Patriot, Gray has clearly gained the trust of Bill Belichick as the go-to power back. Vereen’s shiftiness is the perfect complement to Gray’s downhill, north-south running style.

To really push the ground attack to the next level, the Patriots need to make use of fourth-round pick James White. Defensive coordinators wouldn’t be able to sleep the night before they face the Patriots if Tom Brady had a three-headed backfield monster behind him.

It wouldn’t be right to talk about the running game without shouting out to the offensive line. After experiencing more turbulence than any other line in football over the first month, the Patriots’ unit has found its groove during the win streak. In particular, Ryan Wendell’s re-awakening since becoming a starter at guard has paid dividends in both phases of the offense, especially when it comes to snowplowing for the running backs.

One week after underachieving — understandably so — against the Denver Broncos’ top-ranked rush defense, things don’t get much easier for the Pats’ running game in the coming weeks. Five of their next seven opponents boast stout front sevens that all rank in the top-12 run defending units in the NFL, including the Detroit Lions (second), Buffalo Bills (sixth) and New York Jets (eighth).

It’s paramount that the Patriots improve their run production down the stretch. Brady may be playing like an MVP right now, but this will prove to be a rough slate of games if he doesn’t have any help from his backfield.

Connor Fulton is a Patriots writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ConnorFultonRS, or find him on Google.

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