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In Focus: Charting offensive opportunities for Patriots skill position players

10.17.12 at 10:59 pm ET
By

Stevan Ridley

Every week over the course of the regular season, we’ll present a list of the Patriots’ “offensive touches,” a running tally of which one of the offensive skill position players is getting the most looks. Like our weekly look at targets, it can occasionally be an inexact stat, but it remains a good barometer of how confident the coaches (and quarterback) are when it comes to the skill position players at their disposal. Six weeks into the regular season, here’s a breakdown of the New England offense for 2012:

RB Stevan Ridley:
124 (118 rushes, 6 catches). 13 negative runs.
RB Danny Woodhead: 50 (40 rushes, 10 catches). 2 negative runs.
WR Wes Welker: 48 (0 rushes, 48 catches). 1 negative reception.
RB Brandon Bolden: 45 (43 rushes, 2 catches). 7 negative runs.
WR Brandon Lloyd: 34 (0 rushes, 34 catches).
TE Rob Gronkowski: 29 (0 rushes, 29 catches).
TE Aaron Hernandez: 13 (1 rush, 12 catches). 1 negative reception
WR Julian Edelman: 12 (2 rushes, 10 catches). 1 negative reception, 1 negative run.
QB Tom Brady: 10 (10 rushes, 0 catches.) 13 sacks and 5 kneel downs.
WR Deion Branch: 4 (0 rushes, 4 catches)
RB Shane Vereen: 3 (2 rush, 1 catch)
TE Daniel Fells: 2 (0 rushes, 2 catches)
TE Kellen Winslow: 1 (0 rushes, 1 catch)
TE Michael Hoomanawanui: 1 (0 rushes, 1 catch)
TOTAL: 376 touches (216 rushes, 160 catches): 26 negative plays, plus 13 sacks.

By position
Running back: 222 touches (203 rushes, 19 catches). 22 negative runs.
Tight end: 46 touches (1 rush, 45 catches). 1 negative reception.
Wide receiver: 98 touches (2 rushes, 96 catches). 2 negative receptions, 1 negative run.
Quarterback: 10 touches (10 rushes, 0 catches)

By way of comparison, here’s a breakdown of how things look for the Patriots through six games last season.

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  • Anonymous

    From a winners point of view it does make sense.  The goal is a World Series title.  Titles attract talent and MONEY!  If Nava plays better than Crawford then Nava plays.  Same with Middlebrooks … regardless of the “investment”!

    • Icebe23

      No, it’s ridiculous. You don’t sit a guy you’re paying 140 some odd million over a guy who’s still unproven. Youk needs to be traded, at least Crawford had a relevant injury, Youk’s been healthy for a while now.

  • Robert

    Ahh, think Nava deserves a chance to continue,Crawford or not. Untll he proves it was just a fluke, Nava should play and CC should sit. How many players go on to have great careers somewhere else by not getting enough of a chance? Meantime, Carl should be learning how to play CF and right. With his speed and talent, it would be helpful.

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