Are The Patriots Looking To Improve The Backs Ability To Catch On The Play Action, Or Are They Looking To Replace White?

On March 17th, the Patriots failed to extend running back James White. That was the start of free agency. On March 24th, the Patriots signed James White to a one year deal. Why did the Patriots wait a week to re-sign White, and with all the money they had, and with White's hands being reliable, why did they only sign him to a single season?

Kevin Faulk played started in 1999 and played until 2011. He had 531 targets and was the receiving back of the team for a decade. In 2011, the Patriots drafted Shane Vereen and Steven Ridley. Some have said they both were pass catching backs they both weren't.

Ridley was a guy who could pound the ball but not a pass catcher. Sure maybe they ran the play action with him on the field but he wasn't a pass catcher. The team also keeps utility backs who can do everything but aren't great at anything. So I decided to see how the Patriots used the running backs (fullbacks not included) in the passing game, starting in 2011. Take a look at the last decade when it comes to the running backs in the passing game.

2011

Woodhead, Targets 31

Green-Ellis, Targets 13

Faulk, Targets 9

Ridley, Targets 5

Vereen, Targets 0

2012

Woodhead, Targets 55

Ridley, Targets 14

Vereen, Targets 13

Bolden, Targets 2

Hillard, Targets 0

2013

Vereen, Targets 69

Bolden, Targets 29

Ridley, Targets 12

Blount, Targets 5

Williams, Targets 1

Washington, Targets 1

2014

Vereen, Targets 77

Bolden, Targets 6

Steven Ridley, targets 5

White, Targets 5

Ridley, Targets 4

Blount, Targets 4

Gray, Targets 3

2015

White, Targets 54

Lewis, Targets 50

Bolden, Targets 30

Blount, Targets 7

Jackson, Targets 1

Cadet, Targets 1

Losefa, Targets 0

2016

White, Targets 86

Lewis, Targets 24

Blount, Targets 8

Bolden, Targets 4

Foster, Targets 2

2017

White, Targets 72

Burkhead, Targets 36

Lewis, Targets 35

Gillislee, Target 1

2018

White, Targets 123

Burkhead, Targets 20

Michel, Targets 11

Barner, Targets 1

2019

White, Targets 95

Burkhead, Targets 38

Michel, Targets 20

Bolden, Targets 11

Harris, Targets 0

2020

White, Targets 62

Burkhead, Targets 33

Michel, Targets 9

Harris, Targets 7

Taylor, Targets 2

Going back a decade which is the most relevant, the Patriots have kept one true pass catching - third down back on the roster, with 2015 being the exception for how they used their backs. Don't get me wrong, sure the Patriots may have lined backs up out of position but there's a difference between a play action back and a receiving back. 

This offseason the Patriots are seemingly throwing the ball to all the backs. The Patriots may just be looking to see who's the best play action backs. Then again, they could be looking to replace James White as the receiving back. Although it be nice to be able to line a guy up out wide like White does, it's not necessary to replace him. 

All the Patriots need is a guy who can get out of the backfield, catch the ball with a high percentage, and be able to get yards after the catch. And be able to do all that in a consistent basis. If they have a guy who can do that, they can replace White. Burkhead and Lewis had the potential to replace White but they couldn't stay healthy enough.

Now targets don't show everything, like who's covering them but they show a lot. Pass catching backs are a staple of the offense, they're a security blanket. Woodhead, Vereen, and White have been that for the Patriots over the last decade. Are the Patriots looking to have the next guy take over. It's been pretty much a surprise, each time their guy has been allowed to go. So is another surprise on the way in 2021? That's the question only the Patriots know at the moment.