An Independent Patriots Blog
Took another look at some of the key moments of last night’s game. Overall it was a very good start but there are certainly some areas to focus on. Here are just a few leftover thoughts and a few of the big plays that stood out to me. For my full thoughts make sure to check out the Posits.
[Read more…] about Notes (and GIFs) on the Pats-Cardinals Re-Watch
One thing I love nothing more than is debating ProFootballFocus ratings and yesterday they dropped this little nugget about James White.
Highest receiving grades among NFL RBs last season:
1. Theo Riddick, @Lions
2. Danny Woodhead, @Chargers
3. James White, @Patriots— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) June 2, 2016
White was thrown into the first last year in his second season when Dion Lewis went down, but while you might think he simply took over Lewis’ extensive role, he was actually managed far more delicately. The week after Lewis was lost for the season White had just one catch on one target and one carry. The next week, three targets, and the following week five targets.
His breakout game came in the fourth week against the Eagles, where he had 10 catches on 13 targets for 115 yards, but that was the high-water mark of the season. And while he slowly became a factor in the passing game the Patriots never handed the ball off to him more than three times in a game during the regular season. In the AFC Championship they handed it off to him five times and he picked up a measly 11 yards.
More troubling, and this is a stat I’ve hit on far more than I’d like this offseason, was White’s performance in the passing game in that AFC Championship, where he was targeted a team-high 16 times and came up with just five catches for 45 yards, the most devastating of which is GIF’d below. A touchdown here could’ve been the difference in the game.
For the season White ended up with 40 catches for 410 yards and four touchdowns, but just 22 rushing attempts for 56 yards. It’s painfully obvious how one-dimensional he was. The bigger problem is how much of a key White will be every time he takes the field. Is he a good receiver? Sure. Is he good enough to change the course of a game as a pure receiving back? Nope.
That’s why I am putting White on the bubble. Despite White’s place on the roster it didn’t stop the Patriots from looking at receiving backs this offseason, including Bilal Powell, and signing undrafted rookie DJ Foster, who seems on paper very much like White as well.
It might be too late to give up on White, but that doesn’t mean he won’t have to earn a job this summer and prove that he’s more capable of running the ball than he appeared to be last year.
New highlight vid of James White just popped up, not a bad way to wake up on a Saturday morning. Very curious to see what White’s role is this year. He had some great moments after stepping up for Dion Lewis, but I can’t help but wonder what could’ve been had he and Brady been a little more in sync in the AFC Championship. He had just five catches on a whopping 16 targets. The Pats kicked the tires on some other receiving backs this offseason but have yet to actually sign any of them. I took that as them wanting someone to at least pair with White, and once Lewis comes back fully who knows how much White will be involved.
Tom Brady finds James White for a 9-yard TD that tied up the game.
One good moment from this one.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/pottsisstarksheart-tom-brady-finds-james/
James White Tuesday!!
11 games. That’s what the Patriots need to get out of James White, and while there are free agents out there, I feel like giving him a chance to get comfortable and show what he’s got is the best choice at this juncture.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/james-white-tuesday-11-games-thats-what-the/
The Boston Globe’s Jim McBride reports that Dion Lewis did tear his ACL and is done for the 2015 season. Lewis was like the new awesome toy you get on Christmas morning, only to have it break before the end of the day.
First, you have to feel horrible for Lewis, who’s been battling injuries constantly in the NFL. He finally just got healthy enough to show what a thrilling player he was and down he goes again with the dreaded ACL tear.
Lewis truly made the Patriots offense almost unfair and his absence leaves a huge hole. The Pats were leaning on him more than any running back they’ve had in a long time and now the passing down role once again needs to be filled.
Unfortunately I kept worrying we were on borrowed time with Lewis considering how much he was getting the ball and how many tackles he was taking. The biggest bummer is just how much excitement Lewis brought to an offense that already had it’s fair share of playmakers.
At least once a game Lewis made something out of nothing or made a play that made you stand up out of your seat. Players that can do those things are rare and that element of the Patriots offense is now gone.
The page turns to James White now who has seven catches this season. He’s got quickness and talent, but just not the kind of special quickness and talent that Lewis had.
White didn’t get the ball much against the Jets but made me feel better about him in those limited touches than I had before.
The Pats could also explore bringing back Travaris Cadet, who did have over 70 catches last season with the Saints yet remains a free agent despite taking a number of visits around the league since being cut by the Pats.
The likely solution will be more of a combination of White and someone like Cadet to replace what Lewis did so well. But there’s no question it’s vital that the Patriots find a way to get production out of this role in the offense because it’s a big piece.
Neither White nor Cadet are going to step in and do what Lewis was doing right out of the gate, but White certainly has the potential to shore things up well enough to keep this offense functioning at a high level. Sometimes players just need an extended chance to show what they can do, and now will be James White’s chance to put together 11 games to help get the Pats a Super Bowl title.
Lewis is looking at a significant recovery but all things considered, he should likely be back and ready to go for training camp. It will truly be tragic if he can’t regain the magic he flashed this season in his first real opportunity to showcase his talent, but with a new deal that keeps him in New England through 2017, he’ll definitely get the chance and will be one of the great unknowns in the Pats’ offense.
