Countdown to camp: RBs -- James White will be sizable part of Patriots' offense

With Patriots camp set to open Thursday, we wanted to reset the roster at each position and give you a few things we’ll be keeping an eye on when they hit the field in Foxborough. In this segment, we take a look at the running backs. The Patriots lost Dion Lewis in free agency, but will welcome back a stable of familiar faces in James White, Rex Burkhead, Mike Gillislee, and Brandon Bolden. In addition, newcomer Jeremy Hill and rookies Sony Michel and Ralph Webb will be part of the mix. Here's a look at how things look at the start of camp.

No. 1: James White


The good: A steady, dependable presence who is more of a multidimensional back than a between-the-tackles type, he’ll be a big part of the New England offense all year long, but especially over the first four games as the Patriots look for someone to step up in Julian Edelman’s absence. One of a handful of backs to have 150-plus catches since the start of the 2015 season, he starts the year as one of the most dependable pass catchers on the roster. His ability to put stress on opposing defenses from a variety of positions is impressive.

The questionable: He’s not a between-the-tackles runner — he has 104 carries in the regular season the last three years, and has averaged less than four yards per carry in that time. Basically, he’s a tell -- if he’s out there, you pretty much know New England is going to throw the ball.

Skinny: He’s going to get a ton of work all year long, especially over the first month of the season. One of the most important guys on the roster, he’ll play a sizable role in the offensive success of this team in 2018.

No. 2: Rex Burkhead

The good: Displayed a Dion Lewis-style on the ground and as a pass catcher last year, and was rewarded with a new deal from the Patriots after just one season in New England. Burkhead also has good special teams value — he led the Bengals in special-teams tackles in 2016, and played more than 100 special teams snaps for New England in 2017. (His highlight last year came against the Broncos when he delivered a punt block in the win in Denver.) A solid, cost-effective back on a team that seeks out complementary types at the position.

The questionable: Couldn’t stay healthy last year, as he missed six games because of multiple injuries. There were some good moments, but he never really seemed to be able to cut loose. Maybe that was because of injury, maybe it was because he was in the first year of a running back-by-committee system. But he ended up playing just 17 percent (195) of the offensive snaps in 2017. By way of comparison, that was only 24 more snaps than Mike Gillislee.

Skinny: If he can stay on the field all season, he has the chance to have a special year. It all depends on how fast Michel comes along, but he could take over that Lewis role, at least to start the season. But in truth, it all boils down to his health.

No. 3: Sony Michel

The good: Looked very good as a pass catcher in the spring sessions. He also appears to take coaching well — he made a nice catch on one pass play, but was upbraided by running backs coach Ivan Fears for an incorrect route and acknowledged his error with the media after practice. He’s in the infant stages of his career, but based on what he did in the spring sessions and his body of work in college, it suggests he could become a feature element of the New England offense sooner rather than later.

The questionable: He’s a rookie — he succeeded in the SEC, but how will he adjust to the NFL game? Can he make it as a part-timer in a backfield that will almost certainly share carries, or is a he a runner who needs the ball 20 times a game in hopes of being able to get into a rhythm? And will the fumble issues that dogged him in college show up at the NFL level?

Skinny: I’d fully expect the Patriots to manage his workload in the early going, but if he shows the same level of progression he did in college, he could be playing significant snaps by the end of the 2018 season for this team. But ball security will be absolutely paramount if he’s going to be able to succeed in the NFL.

No. 4: Jeremy Hill

The good: The former Bengal who averaged 4.1 yards per carry in his first three years with Cincinnati — including an 1,124-yard season as a rookie in 2014 — is basically in a positional battle with Gillislee for the role of between-the-tackles back. Hill was a dependable presence in his first three seasons in Cincy, as he played in 15 games or more from 2014 through 2016.

The questionable: As a newcomer, can the 6-foot-1, 230-pounder get on the same page with the rest of the offense? Can he do enough to distinguish himself in what is shaping up to be a crowded backfield?

Skinny: He didn’t do much in the spring sessions to stand out — either positively or negatively — but this quote from an NFC scout about Hill really made me take a closer look at him, and is worth pondering going into training camp. “I love him,” he said of the LSU product. “Tough and gritty. Underappreciated in Cincinnati because he was splitting reps with Gio Bernard. He’s a strong runner — against the Jets and Dolphins, he’ll kill them. The reason he had such a hard time the last couple of years was because he was going against the Steelers and Ravens, and those defenses were stacked. The Jets and Dolphins aren’t. He’ll have a breakout year now that he doesn’t have to run into the Steelers’ defense twice a season.”

No. 5 Mike Gillislee

The good: Total pro who handled his demotion last year with class, Gillislee has gone from No. 1 back to on-the-bubble this spring. For what it’s worth, in 32 career games, the 5-foot-11, 219-pounder has 4.8 yards per carry and 16 rushing touchdowns.

The questionable: Were his struggles last year because of injury, or did he simply hit his expiration date?

Skinny: He has a good resume if you’re looking for a bigger back, but in this age of multidimensional types, it might not be enough to warrant a roster spot.

No. 6 Brandon Bolden

The good: Excellent special teamer who is good for 15-20 carries a season. Cost-effective veteran who is a positive locker room presence.

The questionable: He is what he is — a special teamer who is capable of a cameo appearance in the backfield as needed. If he ends up playing meaningful snaps in 2018, something is wrong.

Skinny: He’ll land a roster spot for many reasons, including the fact he’s managed to find a way to stick around since 2012.

No. 7: Ralph Webb

The good: Great college numbers. The top rusher in Vandy history, he ended his college career with 4,178 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns. (For what it’s worth, he also had 68 catches for 572 yards and three touchdowns as a pass catcher.)

The questionable: He’s a rookie.

Skinny: The last guy on the depth chart, he looked good when he was asked to carry the ball a few times this spring. But at this stage of his career, the UDFA is likely a practice squadder, with the possibility of a spot on the final 53-man roster if things break right.