Bill Belichick is one of the hardest coaches in the NFL to get praise from, but when you do, it means you're doing something exceptionally well. That has been the case for running back James White this season.
In a press conference shared by Pro Football Talk, Belichick did not hold his praise for White back at all.
“Well, if you were talking to another coach about a play, the coach would think ahead to what are the problems that could come up on this. If they do this, if they do that, if they do something else, what if this guy lines up here instead of there? Those are the kinds of things that a player, like all of the ones I just mentioned, [Matthew] Slater in the kicking game, [Nate] Ebner in the kicking game, they ask those same kind of questions. It’s not just, ‘What’s my assignment?’ It’s, ‘OK, well, what if these other things happen? How do we handle it? Are we going to switch it? Are we going to stay with it? Can I make this call? Can I make that call?’ I think when you talk to a coach about a play that’s the way a coach looks at it. He sees the whole play, sees all the issues, ‘Here’s what we’re trying to do but if they took that away from us, what would we do? Would we go to a different play or would we adjust this play? How would we adjust it?’ Things like that.”
White is not looked at as one of the most important players for the Patriots' offense. Those players are usually viewed as Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, and even to some extent Josh Gordon over the last couple of weeks.
Throughout the seven games that he has played for the Patriots this season, White has produced great numbers. He has carried the football 40 times for 189 yards and a touchdown, but more importantly has been a star in the passing game with 45 receptions for 380 yards and six touchdowns.
Brady has a ton of big-name weapons to work with, but White is the ideal security blanket. He has been able to check down to his running back on many occasions. White's ability to get in the end zone has been well noted as well.
Expect to see White continue to put up big numbers for the Patriots. New England has been giving more touches to rookie running back Sony Michel, but especially as the season moves forward, White will continue to be a crucial piece of their offensive game plan.
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