Patriots Draft Needs: Positional review- Running Back

Could Terrance West become LeGarrette Blount's replacement next month? Photo via Towsontigers.com

As the 2014 NFL draft rapidly approaches, we're turning our focus here at PatriotsLife towards the draft. Keeping that in mind, I'll be reviewing a different position of the Patriots roster each weekday, looking over their level of need at that position and some potential draft fits specific to their needs. After starting with a look at the QB class yesterday, I'm turning my focus to the running backs today.

Position: Running Back

Currently under contract:

Stevan Ridley (signed through 2014)
Shane Vereen (signed through 2014)
Brandon Bolden (signed through 2014)
James Develin (signed through 2014)
Jonas Gray (signed through 2015)

Level of Need: Short-term: Moderate, Long-term: High

Position outlook:

A quick glimpse at the roster reveals solid depth at the position, but potential for big changes following 2014. The team's top three backs are all entering contract years, and it's up in the air whether they'll be back after this year. Between fumbling (Ridley), and durability (Vereen, Bolden), each of those players have a flaw that could keep the Pats from committing any serious dough towards keeping them. The Pats have proved how little they value the position financially the past two offseasons, letting productive guys like Danny Woodhead and LeGarrette Blount go despite neither one of them landing particularly big money elsewhere.

Draftmates Ridley and Vereen are both set to hit free agency next offseason

Speaking of Blount, his departure does create a need for another back to add to their rotation. Blount didn't offer much in terms of versatility (something which I believe influenced the Pats decision to not match Pittsburgh's offer to him), but his powerful runs became a valuable part of the offense as the year went on. Furthermore, Blount offered the team a viable alternative to turn to when Ridley's fumbling landed him in Belichick's doghouse.

If the Pats are to add a running back via the draft (a preferable option to the slim-pickings available in free agency IMO), they'd likely like to add a back with enough versatility to play both in the running game and passing game. As useful as Blount proved last year, his inability to play in the passing game hurt the Pats when Vereen went down with a broken wrist, as it forced Brandon Bolden to gut it out on an injured knee that clearly limited his effectiveness. An ideal complement to this backfield would be someone who could step into either Ridley or Vereen's role in a pinch.

Ideal fit: Terrance West, Towson

Playing at Towson put West a little behind the eight-ball as far as recognition went at the start of the draft process, but a rock-solid performance at the combine opened many scouts eyes to an impressive prospect. West has a very compact, NFL build at 5'9", 225, and he brings an excellent combination of speed and power as runner. Like Blount, West is a tackle breaker who is load to bring down once he gains momentum in the open field, and his vision will be an asset at the NFL level. While primarily used as a workhorse ball-carrier at Towson, West also displayed the ability to stay on the field on third down, and reinforced that with a solid showing catching the ball at the Combine and at his rain-soaked Pro Day.

The biggest knock on West is the level of competition he faced at Towson, which he attended after academic issues and an infant son prevented him from latching onto a higher profile program. However, you can't say anything about his production at the FCS level. It's rare that a small-school back has the luxury of declaring for the draft as an underclassmen, but West is coming off of a 2,509 yard, 41 touchdown season (not a misprint). In his three year collegiate career, West gained an astronomical 4,854 yards and 84 touchdowns.


The biggest question for the Patriots, who sent Michael Lombardi to scout Towson's Pro Day last week, will be whether the value is there with West. Draft projections have ranged from the back going anywhere from the third to fifth round, although his impressive showings at the combine and his Pro Day have surely helped his stock rise. Do the Patriots like West enough to snap him up in the third round, or would they prefer to pass on him there, use the pick elsewhere, and look to select a runner later in the draft? If he drops to the fourth or fifth round, the value could prove to good to pass up.

Picture via Gold and Blue Zone

Charles Sims, West Virginia

West might have a higher ceiling than Sims as a runner, but the West Virginia back is one of the better all-around backs available in the draft. He reportedly considered declaring as an underclassmen last year, coming off of a 851 yard, 11 touchdown season at Houston (with another 373 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air) but instead opted to transfer to West Virginia, where he could play under former Houston offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. Eligible to play right away due to his 2013 graduation from Houston, Sims made the All Big 12 team after rushing for 1,095 yards and adding 401 more as a receiver. He's also impressed in the pre-draft process, emerging as the best back on the field in the Senior Bowl and posting better-than-expected times at the Combine.

Sims versatility could endear him to the New England coaching staff. He is adept at all aspects of the passing game (route running, hands, pass protection) and boasts a nice combination of quickness, balance and acceleration as a runner. His size (6'0, 214) could hurt his chances to be a bell-cow back at the next level, but there's nothing to suggest he won't be able to find a complimentary role and produce in the NFL. Projected to go in the third/fourth round range, he could be a tremendous value and nice fit for the Patriots needs on day two or three of the draft.

Devonta Freeman, Florida State

Part of a talented backfield committee for the National Championship-winning Seminoles, Freeman is another back whose versatility could appeal to the Pats. Short but stout at 5'8", 206, Freeman mustered 1,016 yards and 14 touchdowns while playing in a committee last year, and also added 22 catches for 278 yards and a score.

At his size, Freeman is unlikely to be more than a complimentary back in the NFL, but he could prove to be a very useful piece for whoever drafts him next month. He is a reliable receiver and willing blocker in pass protection, and his ability to play on third downs will be one of his biggest assets in making the transition to the pros. He won't break many tackles or drag many defenders running between the tackles, but he has nice explosiveness, good balance and quick feet as a runner. He could certainly be an effective "change of pace" guy at the next level, and former Giants standout Ahmad Bradshaw is a name scouts have compared Freeman to.

How high of a draft pick will the Pats be willing to spend on a change of pace guy? Freeman is projected by most to go in the third/fourth round range. Third might be a little high for my tastes, as Freeman's relative lack of size and power could make his ceiling lower than a Sims or West, but he would represent a good value in the fourth round.

James White, Wisconsin

If the Patriots opt to look at other positions with their earlier picks, White could emerge as an ideal fallback option in the later rounds. The Wisconsin runner was overshadowed his first three years by star Montee Ball, who was a second round pick of the Broncos last year, and finally emerged from his shadow only to share carries with talented sophomore Melvin White as a senior. As a result, White carries a fifth/sixth round projection by most analysts.

Those projections don't necessarily match what White has shown on tape. White ripped off 1,052 yards and 14 touchdowns playing in a rotation as a freshman in 2010. Those numbers dropped to 713 yards and six touchdowns in 2011 and 806 yards with 12 touchdowns over the next two years, as Ball's star grew with the Badgers, but they ballooned all the way up to 1,444 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior. White also caught 39 passes for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2013.

The area of his game that could really attract the Patriots attention is his pass protection. White was excellent there at Wisconsin, showing both the instincts and toughness needed to carry that skill over to the pros. He also opened eyes at the Senior Bowl and Combine with his performance in one-on-one blitz pickup drills. The Patriots certainly value pass protection from their running backs, and White is pro-ready in that regard.

Of course, the reason White will be available in the later rounds is that his pro upside as a runner pales in comparison to some of the other backs on this list. White runs hard and has good vision, but at 5'9, 204 he may lack the power to be a tackle breaker at the next level. He has enough athleticism and smarts to get what his blocking provides, but expecting him to be more than a role player could be a stretch. Still, White's skill-set should make him an option to play right away, which would make him a tremendous value in the late rounds.

Patrick Semansky/AP

Potential reach 

Andre Williams, Boston College

Sorry BC fans, but Williams is too one-dimensional to warrant a third round selection, as some have suggested. There's no doubt about the powerful back's ability to break tackles, as he rushed for a school record 2,177 yards en route to a Heisman nomination last year, but Williams wasn't a third down option in college, much less the pros. He didn't register a single reception in 2013, and struggled catching the ball at the combine.

This isn't to say that Williams can't translate his skillset to the NFL, as I do think he could be a nice first and second down back at the next level. Williams is a big bruiser at 5'11", 230 who regularly picks up yards after contact, and his deceptive speed allowed him to turn some of those missed tackles into big plays (a la LeGarrette Blount). Those are NFL skills and there's a place for his game in the NFL.

If concerns about his versatility cause Williams to drop, he could go from being a reach to a value. Running backs with limited passing down value generally aren't worth early round picks, but a back with his ability to break tackles and gain tough yards could be a find if he falls into fifth round territory. However, many projections have him going in the third/fourth round range, which is too high for my liking, especially with far more versatile options available in that range.

Potential sleeper 

De'Anthony Thomas, Oregon

The diminutive Thomas exploded onto the college football scene as a freshman in 2011, racking up 2,235 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns. His numbers paled in comparison his next few years, as injuries reared their ugly head, but he continued to be an electric big-play threat whenever he was on the field, finishing his three year career at Oregon with 5,345 total yards. His versatility was also evident, as he was the only player in college football to score touchdowns as a runner, receiver, punt returner and kick returner in 2012.

Despite his obvious talent, Thomas is projected by most to last into the sixth/seventh round range. Most of that is over durability concerns, as Thomas's 5'9, 174 pound frame brings legitimate questions about his ability to stay healthy in the pros. With that slender frame, it's hard to imagine him getting more than 5-10 touches at the next level, making it hard to justify spending an early pick on a luxury item.

However, players with Thomas's explosive potential are rarely available in the sixth round, and this is the kind of luxury pick the Patriots can afford thanks to their already deep roster. Thomas would instantly make the Pats return game far more dangerous (a need they tried and failed to address with both Jeff Demps and Leon Washington in recent years), and he could also be an intriguing toy for Tom Brady and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to work into the offense. Certainly worth whatever risks are involved as a sixth round option.

High risk, high reward 

Isaiah Crowell, Alabama State

Some think Crowell might have the most pure talent of any back in this draft class. At 5'11", 224 pounds, Crowell is built to handle punishment, and he possesses a tantalizing mix of power, speed and the shiftiness to make defenders miss as a runner. He regularly breaks tackles, and has big play speed, which he showed by gaining 814 yards (on only 112 carries) and 12 touchdowns last year. While rarely used in the passing game, he has flashed solid hands as a receiver and good awareness as a blocker in the pre-draft process.

With all that talent, why is Crowell projected in the fifth/sixth round range? There are serious character concerns here, as Crowell was suspended twice and eventually dismissed from Georgia's program (despite winning SEC freshman of the year in 2011), thanks to a felony weapons charge which was later dropped. Crowell's car was stopped at a routine checkpoint on the Georgia campus and searched after the officer smelled marijuana. While the search didn't turn up any weed, the officer did discover a handgun under the seat with altered registration numbers. Crowell claimed ignorance to the gun being there, claiming that others drive the car as well, and the charges were thrown out when it was deemed unlikely for the court to prove beyond a reasonable doubt whether the running back knowingly possessed the weapon. Crowell also missed a game his freshman year due to suspension after testing positive for marijuana, and faces some questions about his durability and toughness as well.

The talent is undeniably there, and Crowell could be a good gamble for a team in the later rounds if he can keep his nose clean. However, weapons charges, even charges that were later dismissed, likely make him a no-go in the post Aaron Hernandez era.