New England Patriots Backfield Full Of 30-Somethings

The addition of 33-year-old Fred Taylor to the New England Patriots' backfield provides veteran depth to a unit that was already full of runners in their 30's.

A year ago, the Patriots used a backfield by committee approach to rush for more yards (2,278 yards) than in any other season since 1985.

However, they accomplished the feat without having a true featured back.

Once Laurence Maroney was lost for the season after playing in only three games, the Patriots relied on 32-year-old Kevin Faulk and 31-year-old Sammy Morris to shoulder most of the load.

Both players responded with outstanding campaigns.

Morris rushed for a career-high 727 yards, while Faulk’s 507 yards rushing marked his highest total since the 2003 season. Given that Faulk also had a career-high 468 yards catching passes, the duo proved to be among the most effective units in the league.

If Maroney can return to the form that saw him gain 1,580 yards rushing in his first two seasons, the unit could be stronger than ever.

On top of Maroney, Faulk, and Morris, the addition of one of the best running backs of the last decade should give the Patriots a backfield that will serve as a great compliment to the Brady, Moss, and Welker passing offense.

Throughout his decade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Fred Taylor was one of those players that seemed to fly just under the radar. Everyone knew that he was good, but he didn’t receive the recognition that usually accompanies performances like he annually put up for the Jaguars.

In 11 seasons in Jacksonville, Taylor passed the 1,000-yard mark seven times. He gained at least 1,200 yards six times, including a career-high 1,572 yards in 2003.

Surprisingly, Taylor was not selected for the Pro Bowl despite finishing sixth in the NFL in rushing. He finally earned his only Pro Bowl trip after rushing for 1,202 yards in 2007.

Overall, Taylor is third among active rushers and 16th all-time with 11,271 rushing yards.

Now at age 33, the question is whether Taylor still has enough in the tank to lift the Patriots' running attack to another level. His production declined last season, as he was limited to 556 yards rushing and a career-low 3.9 yards per carry.

Having three other solid runners in the backfield should help take some of the pressure off Taylor and allow him to be fresh down the playoff stretch.

With Brady back under center, the Patriots may not be running the ball as much as a year ago, but they certainly have the weapons capable of carrying the load when needed.

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