new england patriots

Two questions surround Ridley and Vereen. First, can Ridley make more of an impact in the passing game? Second, is Vereen better between the tackles than anyone realizes? If the answer is “yes” to either question, one of the young backs would have a chance to monopolize the in-game reps. Otherwise, it could turn into something of a split, with Danny Woodhead and Joseph Addai getting their reps, too. And if Ridley and Vereen see a similar amount of reps, the Patriots could have two backs with at least 100 carries in the same season for the first time since 2006. But if Ridley takes the lead role on the ground and Vereen garners the reps in passing situations, each player will have plenty of opportunities to leave his mark on the offense. It also will fall in line with the Patriots’ multi-back philosophy, and the pair has complementary skills to make that an effective strategy.

I foresee at least five players vying for two starting roles: Jonathan Fanene, Trevor Scott, Chandler Jones, Jake Bequette and Rob Ninkovich. Given the number of sub package defense the team projects to play, it’s likely that all five of these players will accrue a high total of snaps as the team rolls through its depth to keep the legs fresh and pass rushing pursuit at full-bore. But when the team lines up in its base 4-3 defense (all signs point to a reliance on a four man front in 2012), which two players will bookend the defensive line? Scott, Ninkovich and Fanene are all proven veteran players, with Scott and Fanene in particular having experience at the end position (Ninkovich has had his most success as a 3-4 outside linebacker). Jones adds an element of dynamic athleticism, while Bequette was praised in some pre-draft scouting reports for his polish. In this group of five players, the Patriots appear to have a blend of toughness, explosion and capable run defenders and pass rushers.