Patriots RB Shane Vereen didn’t blow anybody away because the blocking in front of him was terrible. Vereen got a dose of what Stevan Ridley saw against the Saints when he had 40 yards on eight carries against New Orleans’ top defenders.
Vereen’s output wasn’t flashy, but he showed some important traits that should keep him in this battle for the top spot.
The Patriots will always be a passing team with Tom Brady at quarterback. What they need is a running back to keep the defense honest and respect play-action passes. They need a back who will pick up the hard yards when they need it.
Basically, that’s what Vereen has done. And he’s now healthy, and hasn’t fumbled. That means the competition is back on between Vereen and Ridley, just like it should have been all along.
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