Patriots Position Battles - Running Backs

Just got back from Patriots Training Camp which is always a great take.

I would like to get into a more in-depth view at the positions of question and who will be where when the season beings on September 14th.

Running Back -Laurence Maroney, Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, BenJarvis Green-Ellis

Talk about competition. It's really anyone's guess who, if anyone, will receive the bulk of the load here. The way I see it, it's like starting pitching, you can't have too much.

Laurence Maroney is still affordable, as he is only in the third year of his rookie deal. While he started the other night, he still appeared to be a bit indecisive at the line of scrimmage. He has not been restricted in camp, and his surgically repaired shoulder appears to be a mute point. Maroney can also return kick-offs where there is a void after the Ellis Hobbs trade.

Fred Taylor, the free-agent acquisition from Jacksonville, comes with a lot of miles on him (over 11,000 total rushing yards in his career). The savvy and underrated vet though adapted to a role player last year rushing for 556 yards averaging 3.9 YPC while splitting time with Maurice Jones-Drew.

Sammy Morris, coming off a 727 yard seven TD campaign, finished last year strong with 290 yards over the last three weeks. Morris is going into the third year of his four year deal at very affordable money.

Kevin Faulk, possibly the lone Patriots back with an obvious role, is entering his eleventh year with the club. His ability to stay healthy week in and week out, which is more than can be said for the previously listed, has helped his durable image throughout his career. Faulk's ability to pick up blitzes and catch the ball out of the backfield (58 receptions last year) makes his the ideal third-down back.

BenJarvis Green-Ellis is the least secure running back of the bunch. The un-drafted RB out of Ole Miss last year was thrust into duty after Maroney was placed on IR and Morris was banged up midseason. Despite showing flashes, including a 100-yard game in week 10 against Buffalo, Green-Ellis' ability to play special teams may be his only way of holding on.

This looks like a running back by committee written all over it. It will be interesting to see who is in the backfield when Brady is dropping back on a series-by-series and play-by-play basis. With no fullback on the roster, the extra spot may be a battle between a fifth RB or a fourth TE.