In Focus: Charting offensive opportunities for Patriots skill position players

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. Fifteen games into the regular season, here’s a breakdown of the New England offense for 2012:

RB Stevan Ridley: 276 (270 rushes, 6 catches). 24 negative runs.
WR Wes Welker: 111 (1 rush, 110 catches). 2 negative receptions.
RB Danny Woodhead: 108 (73 rushes, 35 catches). 2 negative runs, 2 negative receptions.
WR Brandon Lloyd: 73 (0 rushes, 73 catches).
RB Shane Vereen: 62 (54 rushes, 8 catches). 3 negative run.
TE Rob Gronkowski: 53 (0 rushes, 53 catches).
RB Brandon Bolden: 52 (50 rushes, 2 catches). 8 negative runs.
TE Aaron Hernandez: 47 (1 rush, 46 catches). 2 negative receptions.
WR Julian Edelman: 25 (4 rushes, 21 catches). 1 negative reception, 1 negative run.
QB Tom Brady: 23 (23 rushes, 0 catches.) 26 sacks, 8 kneel downs, 1 negative run.
WR Deion Branch: 15 (0 rushes, 15 catches).
QB Ryan Mallett: 8 (8 rushes, all kneel downs).
TE Michael Hoomanawanui: 5 (0 rushes, 5 catches).
TE Daniel Fells: 4 (0 rushes, 4 catches).
TE Kellen Winslow: 1 (0 rushes, 1 catch).
WR Donte Stallworth: 1 (0 rushes, 1 catch)
RB Lex Hilliard: 1 (1 rush, 0 catches)
TOTAL: 865 touches (485 rushes, 380 catches): 46 negative plays, plus 26 sacks and 16 kneel downs.

By position
Running back: 499 touches (448 rushes, 51 catches). 37 negative runs, 2 negative receptions.
Wide receiver: 225 touches (5 rushes, 220 catches). 3 negative receptions, 1 negative run.
Tight end: 110 touches (1 rush, 109 catches). 2 negative receptions.
Quarterback: 31 touches (31 rushes, 0 catches), 1 negative run.