Eight's A Crowd in the New England Patriots' Stuffed Backfield

Calling the backfield of the New England Patriots "crowded" is like saying, "Dating Cristal Taylor might be a bad idea."

It's a bit of an understatement.

Not even counting fullbacks, the Patriots have eight guys on the roster right now who are fighting for the chance to carry the football on Week One.

Five of those guys played significant time last year with only one back, LaMont Jordan, not returning.

Six of the eight—Lawrence Maroney, Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Kevin Faulk, and Omar Cuff—will likely be around for the duration of camp while the other two, Eric Kettani and Shun White, will have to fulfill their military service commitments to the Navy.

Still, given needs at other positions, there is little likelihood of the Patriots carrying five active RBs into the season, let alone six, so there is going to be considerable competition throughout training camp.

Let's look at our contestants:

Lawrence Maroney

Maroney, Maroney, Maroney.

You can practically feel New England collectively shake their heads at the guy. Boston fans are a fickle bunch at heart, but with Lawrence Maroney it has been especially bad.

Heralded as the next great thing out of the New England offense two seasons ago, a trip to injured reserve derailed his development.

Now the catcalls have rained down: Not tough enough. Not talented enough. Not durable enough.

The doubters are all having their say and laughing at the young man's expense, but Maroney will have the chance to prove them all wrong this season.

Unlike every other running back on the Patriots' roster from last year, he has the combination of both youth and experience the Patriots will need now and in the future.

He has started, officially, just 9 games in his three-year career and, last season, had his season ended after appearing in just three games by a broken bone in his shoulder.

With the team not wanting him to disclose the injury, Maroney stayed silent and was forced to sit out.

So sit out Maroney did, even after trying to play with the broken bone. The time out just let his critics get louder and circle closer, something that seems to have seriously bothered the young man.

When the injury bug struck the Patriots early and the team wasn't performing to the same level as they did the year before, Maroney became a favorite target for many fans and people looking to explain away the team's woes.

In that storied perfect regular season, though, Maroney did shine, rushing for 835 yards in just 185 attempts.

He still has that talent level and has declared his shoulder perfectly healthy heading into 2009. If he'd torn a hamstring, or blown out a knee, or been forced to sit out because of concussions, I'd say you should be worried about his potential.

A broken bone will heal though and, while we don't know the extent of his injury, his desire to play through the bone injury shows he is certainly a tough guy.

Asked about the injury, Maroney recently told reporters (via Boston.com):

"I had a broken bone and I was trying to play with it," said Maroney. "It's kind of hard to sit here and play and not tell people what is going on. Everybody is going to think one way because they don't really know what's going on. I dare anybody in this crowd to play football with a broken bone in your shoulder and you tell me how long you're going to last out there.”

While there's little chance he'll ever be given the 300+ carry workload of a feature back, who in today's league is given that kind of workload?

Especially with the loaded backfield he now finds himself a part of, it's unlikely Maroney will get a ton of carries this season.

But coming into a camp healthy, as talented as he is, and with a huge chip on his shoulder? There is a chance he could be the talk of training camp once again.

Still, he has to prove it. He's played well, but not spectacularly. The system, with its carousel of running backs, will frustrate him there, but he has to play well all season long.

There's a potentially great running back lurking in Lawrence Maroney. He has the ability to be both a tough, nose-down runner while also explosive enough to be a game breaker in the open field.

He is young and--with doubters calling for his head after, really, just one bad year--very ticked off.

Color me intrigued.

Fred Taylor

Fred Taylor is one of the class acts of the NFL. Gold-plating his Hall of Fame credentials, Fred Taylor crossed the 11,000 yards rushing mark for his career last year. He signed with the Patriots this year after spending all 11 of his seasons in Jacksonville.

He has managed more than 1600 yards from scrimmage in a single season four times in his career, with a fifth season just 31 yards short from that mark.

Despite his success he has been sent to just one Pro Bowl, which is a worse reflection on the Pro Bowl voting system than Taylor himself.

While you may question his choice of climates, he leaves Jacksonville to enter a Patriots backfield with considerable mileage on his odometer. After 11 tough seasons in the NFL, he must wake up with a lot more pains than his less-worn counterparts on the roster.

The life of an NFL running back is not an easy one. The forces put on a person's body are equivalent to a car wreck.

Getting into 20 of those a weekend, for six months a year, for 11 years of your life, is hardly combated solely by clean living and a pure heart.

The Patriots signed him to a two-year, $5 million contract that owes him $3 million this year and $2 million next. How much the Patriots would owe against the cap for cutting him if he turns out to have slowed considerably is a question, however.

He was cut from Jacksonville, but largely because of the $6 million they would've owed him this year; a sum he's, most likely, just not worth.

But at $3 million the Patriots get a guy this season that they can use as much or as little as needed, who just so happens to have found himself with the ball in 70 NFL end zones and managed over 13,600 yards from scrimmage in his career.

You have to wonder what Taylor has left in the tank, though—a question the Patriots are surely going to try to find the answer to in camp.

Given his contract, I'd say the Patriots are expecting him to perform well enough to earn his roster spot, but there is considerable depth around him and the veteran will certainly have to put in the time and effort.

Sammy Morris

Sammy Morris has had one of the more interesting backup running back careers in recent memory.

He has spent time in Miami, Buffalo and, of course, New England, generally backing up more gifted, younger running backs.

Yet at each stop, he's been called on to perform when the lead runner goes down with injury, excelling each time.

In Buffalo he was generally used as a backup, given more than 15 carries in only one game in his four years there. In Miami he was brought in to backup Ricky Williams who, very publicly, retired to pursue his love of certain extracurricular activities.

Asked to suddenly step into a starter's role, he played well, starting eight games and gaining 523 yards on the ground with six touchdowns.

In 2005 with the Dolphins he bowed out for much of the season to rookie sensation Ronnie Brown. But he performed admirable in limited time, once again, averaging 4.3 yards per carry in his final year in Miami.

In New England, Morris has been a big part of what has been a running-back-by-committee, the sort of rushing carousel that has become common across the league.

In the Patriots' case, it's largely been by necessity rather than design, as injuries have struck in his two years in Foxboro.

In 2007 he averaged 14.2 attempts per game, the highest mark of his career, splitting time with Lawrence Maroney. Last year, he took on his most prominent role in the Patriots backfield, starting seven games, rushing for 727 yards on 156 attempts and hitting paydirt seven times.

He does have some character questions, though. Despite being an able backup who has rarely put a foot wrong while in the league, he was suspended for four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Just kidding, he was suspended, but it was for taking Sudafed. What a terrible human being. He arguably should've known better, but this league baffles me sometimes.

There's little likelihood of Morris, barring injury, not being with the team this year.The question is not if he'll be on the roster, but how much he'll play.

The entrance of Fred Taylor is an intriguing one for Morris. While Morris currently occupies the top spot on the depth chart, if Maroney lights up camp he will silence many of the people in New England (and perhaps in the Patriots front office) who have questioned his talent, toughness, and desire to be a top back in this league.

News that Maroney's shoulder was broken from the second week onward, and he attempted to play through it, will give the young man some slack to begin camp, but Morris is in far better graces among fans and coaches than Maroney.

Either way, given the success with which the Patriots have rotated multiple backs the last few seasons, I would expect them to attempt to squeeze Morris onto the roster in any way they can.

Kevin Faulk

Kevin Faulk has been one of the most dependable performers in his time with the Patriots. The epitome of the “Patriot Way,” Faulk may be one of the best all-around running backs in Patriots history.

With the team since 1999, he has compiled more than 3,100 yards rushing and 3,300 yards receiving while also helping the Patriots win three titles in just 35 total starts. A statistical anomaly, to be sure.

Never desperate for the plaudits that come with his level of production, you rarely hear a disparaging word from or about Faulk.

His versatility as a third down back, proficient and productive both running and catching the ball, is unmatched, and he's been a key performer for Bill Belichick throughout his time in New England.

While he'll be 33 in June, he only has 777 rushing attempts in his career, which is a healthy couple seasons for most backs.

For comparison purposes, veteran back Fred Taylor has 2,428 attempts in his career and is just six months older. Going off just that, you'd think the Patriots would be insane to not give Faulk a roster spot if he seems healthy enough for a full season's workload.

But given his 2008 performance, there would be protests up and down Route 1 if the

Patriots let Faulk walk without a legitimate reason.

Last season was arguably his best year in the league, with Faulk amassing 507 yards and three touchdowns on 83 carries, good for a 6.1 yard per carry average.

He did all that while also putting up 486 yards through the air in 58 receptions for another three scores. So basically, if you made him a full-time player going off those numbers he would've gotten nearly 840 yards receiving or 1830 yards rushing as a full-time back.

Clearly I'm just messing around with numbers now, but it's obvious he's a talented back that has been peerless in his ability to perform in limited time.

Given his low mileage, production, and ability to maintain his physical abilities despite his age, I doubt you'll see “Patriots release Kevin Faulk” on your RSS feeds or doorsteps anytime soon, barring a freak injury or a poorly timed roster bonus for the young old man.

BenJarvus Green Ellis

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, nicknamed “Law Firm” by his teammates for his polysyllabic last name, is probably the most intriguing prospect in this group.

He hasn't been in the league long, but was an Associated Press All-SEC first-team selection and put together back to back 1,000 yard seasons while at Ole Miss.

Undrafted, the Patriots signed him for camp last year but decided he was surplus to requirements on the active roster, putting him on waivers before signing him to the practice squad the next day when nobody else picked up his rights.

When the injury bug bit the Patriots, he was signed to the active roster in place of WR Maurice Price and promptly made his NFL debut the next day with a nine yard catch as the Patriots were torched by the Chargers.

He ended up with a rushing attempt in eight games last year, appearing in two others, gaining 275 yards on the ground and five touchdowns while catching three for 37 more yards.

His chances of making the roster aren't bad, given his performances when called on to deputize for the injured Lawrence Maroney and Sammy Morris. His starting time was brief, though, and grew more limited as the season wore on, but the fact that he's had a good amount of game reps gives him the inside track over the other young guys in this group.

Still, the likelihood of him being on the roster if Morris, Taylor, Maroney, and Faulk play well in camp and are healthy may be slim. I don't think the Patriots will be willing to see him go, but if nobody from that group ends up on IR or getting cut, it's possible he'll be waived again.

This time, I doubt his phone will stay silent for long.

Omar Cuff                                      

Omar Cuff is another prospect to be looked at closely.

He is likely little more than a “camp body” for the Patriots as he's the sixth running back on the depth chart and would arguably have to beat out at least two incumbents to earn his spot.

He had a very good I-AA career at Delaware where he rounded out his four years by rushing for nearly 2,000 yards and 35 touchdowns in his senior year, including a I-AA single-game record of seven in a game against William and Mary.

Since entering the league he has bounced around numerous practice squads and camps but never caught on anywhere.

Given the incredible depth the Patriots already have, and the quality ahead of him, it would take a virtual miracle for the athletic back to sniff the 53-man roster.

But the various teams in the league has eyes in many places and while he may not have the stuff, in the end, to make New England's roster, he may do enough to impress other teams.

Eric Kettani / Shun White

Kettani and White are somewhat difficult to get a bead on because both come from the Naval Academy.

As such (and like Army prospect Caleb Campbell) they will be required to serve a minimum of two years before they can apply for a leave from service to pursue a career as a professional athlete.

Barring that policy changing, neither would be available to play in the NFL until 2011, although White may have to take classes in the Fall so his availability is even more undetermined at this point in time.

Kettani is currently listed on the Patriots' roster as a RB, while White is listed as a WR, perhaps due to his blazing fast speed (ran a reported 4.36 in the 40).

White played the "slot back" in Navy's Rubik's Cube of an offensive system, the "triple option," and, like Kettani, carried the ball quite often, gaining over 1,000 yards in his senior year.

Both are NFL-level athletic, with Kettani in particular a specimen who would be an intriguing project back if he didn't have to serve two years in the military.

But, truthfully, there are more important things than football ahead for these guys. While they may eventually return to the NFL, you have to wish them luck in wherever life takes them.

Verdict:

Like the quarterback position battle last year, this one may simply come down to a numbers game. Kettani and White are only in rookie camp because of their “basket leave” due to all Navy graduates after their graduation—leave which is up next month.

Cuff has the athletic ability to play in the NFL but the Patriots are not really the best team for him. Barring a spectacular camp, he may end up being cut completely or signed as a member of the practice squad in case injuries hit New England hard once again.

Green-Ellis will watch his counterparts closely, though, as he's next on the cutting block if they all play well in camp. The life of a young, undrafted player is never easy or predictable and all he can do is come to camp, play well, and stay healthy.

Whether he makes the 53 man roster may simply come down to whether or not the Patriots have space. Carrying five running backs seems excessive, and he may have to beat out the experienced Morris, Taylor, and Faulk while outperforming young Maroney for a spot.

It's one of the most interesting sub-plots of training camp this summer but BenJarvus has done nothing but perform when asked and, if he continues that way, it's unlikely it'll be his fault if he gets cut.

For the rest of the Patriots backfield, they should once again be a productive group. They rushed, as a team, for 2,278 yards last year, scoring 21 touchdowns, despite the injury to Maroney, and were fourth overall in the league with 142.4 yards per game on average.

With the entire offensive line returning healthy this year, the system will benefit from consistency—a rarity for the NFL.

Who exactly benefits and collects a game check each week will have to be decided in the coming months.