Patriots: Backfield in motion is a positive sign

Friday, August 05, 2011

John Rooke, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

Normally, if the offensive backfield is flagged for being in motion, that’s not a good thing.

However, in this particular instance, the Patriots’ offensive backfield is now in a constant state of motion…due simply to the number of players getting a chance to make this team. To wit, here are the current candidates:

BenJarvus Green-Ellis
Danny Woodhead
Kevin Faulk
Sammy Morris
Shane Vereen
Stevan Ridley
Eric Kettani
Richard Medlin

Eight running backs will NOT make the final roster. In fact, depending on injuries and individual progress made during camp, it’s more likely that four or five of the above names will make the team for the start of the regular season. Until it comes time to make the final determination, the Patriots backfield will stay in perpetual motion…players coming in, players going out…getting reps, situational play…all in an effort to determine who fits best on the team for 2011.

The only sure-fire name you can expect to see this season? Gotta be the “law firm,” BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

“I’m just happy to be back here, working as a Patriot,” Green-Ellis said, after his new contract was made official by the team. As a restricted free agent this year, Green-Ellis could have moved on with an offer from another team, although the Patriots would have had the chance to match it. That never came to pass, and the thousand-yard rusher (1008 yards, leading the team in 2010) is back in Patriot blue.

“I did a little bit of boxing, and when it came time for football in April and May, I went down to Orlando with coach Tommy Shaw, who used to be the strength and conditioning coach here, and did some of the same things that I’ve been used to,” Green-Ellis explained, when asked how he spent his “lockout” time away from the team. “And now, I’m just going to come in every day and work hard, learn as much as I can from all of the coaches on the staff.”

Even as the leading returning rusher, and just the 13th player in team history to rush for more than 1000 yards in a single season…Green-Ellis knows there’s a fight for roster spots at his position. And he welcomes that, especially with the return of Faulk and Morris. “I was happy for both of those guys, and I kept in close contact with them throughout the whole off season. I was happy that they came back.

“I think it’s just going to be fun to get out here and like I said, work hard at it every day,” he continued. “No one can predict the future, and we’re going to put our best foot forward.” And adding the two rookie draft picks (Vereen and Ridley) into the mix as well? “Coach is going to do whatever he feels will keep the team winning, and whatever he does, I will always support it.”

Sounds like a pretty solid plan of attack, especially with the backfield, right now, in a constant state of motion.

Training Camp Notes

Green-Ellis was out on the field for his first camp practice Thursday afternoon, as was Matt Light. Light, however, was present but did not practice. Both newly-signed free agents, along with Logan Mankins, Sammy Morris, Steve Williams, Tracy White, Kyle Arrington and Brandon McGowan became eligible once the new CBA was agreed to by the players, and the new league year began at approximately 4:00 PM eastern time. Kevin Faulk was also in attendance in shorts, and Mankins spoke with the media for the first time since his signing (more from him tomorrow)…as a part of the new agreement, the new CBA includes blood testing for HGH (human growth hormone) for the first time, making the NFL the first professional sports league to do so…rookie RB Shane Vereen from California left the in-stadium practice on Wednesday night early with what appeared to be an injured hamstring, and did not take part in practice Thursday…

The Patriots announced the signing of first-round draft choice Nate Solder, selected by the team in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft with the 17th selection overall. Terms of the contract were not disclosed, and Solder made his debut in practice Thursday night. Playing at Colorado, Solder (6-8, 319 pounds) began his college career as a tight end before becoming an All-American offensive tackle and a finalist for the Outland Trophy for the best college football offensive lineman as a senior. The 23-year old Solder played in 2,540 out of a possible 2,542 plays on offense from the beginning of his sophomore season through the end of his senior season, a remarkable stretch for any player, much less an offensive lineman. Overall, he started in 36 of 49 total games during his college career, including four as a tight end in 2007...

Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports is filing training camp reports from around the NFL, and in his visit with the Patriots got some interesting comments from some of the players. From Chad Ochocinco – “It’s everything - not just what you see on the field, it’s how we work in meetings. Every little thing has to be right or you’re getting ripped. Everybody gets ripped, even Tom (Brady), me, everybody. In Cincinnati, nobody ever said anything to Carson (Palmer). Not here, because that’s the expectation. I love it. They expect perfection. You don’t hear the coaches saying, ‘Good play.’ That’s what you’re supposed to do.” And this from Albert Haynesworth – “The expectations here, the way things are run, this is how it’s supposed to be. The way things were going (in Washington), I almost lost faith in myself, in my ability to play. The environment was so negative. It was just such a down place.”

The Patriots have had several players in for tryouts over the past week of camp...the latest of which was unrestricted free agent defensive end Shaun Ellis, according to league and published sources. The 12th overall pick of the New York Jets in 2000 (he was the compensation pick the Jets received for Bill Belichick), he has spent his entire career in NY. The Jets reportedly have a standing offer of the veteran minimum $910,000 for one year to return...

Training Camp Schedule for Friday

12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Patriots Experience open
1:30 PM – 4:00 PM Practice open to the public

Photo courtesy: Patriots.com