Cordarrelle Patterson joins long list of Patriots playing non-traditional roles

FOXBOROUGH — Running backs coach Ivan Fears is a passionate guy. So when he really feels strongly about something, he’ll leave no doubt as to where he stands. So when he was asked Wednesday about Cordarrelle Patterson playing running back last week against the Bills, it was no surprise he had something strong to say.


Down to just two healthy running backs, the Patriots put Patterson in the backfield for an extended stretch, and the receiver/return man responded with 10 carries for 38 yards. It wasn’t exactly Corey Dillon, circa 2004, but Patterson’s performance was enough to leave Fears impressed.

“This is not new. Guys, it’s football. You have 11 guys,” he said. “You take the best guys you can throw on the field … if they can make a play for you, you try and get them in position to do it for you. Wide receiver, throwing the ball down the field. Danny (Amendola) threw a touchdown pass the other week. Whatever you can do to get a guy to make a play for you to win that game, that’s what you’re going to do.

“And we’re the same way. We’re the same way. We had a need. We felt this was a great idea because when you give that kid the ball, he makes things happen. How many ways can we figure out how to get him the ball? Hell, just line him up back there and give it to him. Let him run. Come on. Don’t make it any harder than that.”

Patterson had a 22-yard rush that ended up being one of the longest plays from scrimmage on the night for the Patriots (and tied for the third-longest run from scrimmage this season for New England).



In his career, Patterson has had three seasons where he topped 100 rushing yards, and his 74 rushing yards over the first half of the season have him fourth on the team in rushing yards. Granted, most of that was gadgety-type of stuff as opposed to going between the tackles, but the results were there.

Regardless of how the rushing yards come, Patterson, who never lacks for confidence, wants to build on that this week against Green Bay. Honestly, with his bravado, it's hard to know if he's kidding or serious.

“I’ve been playing every position my entire life,” Patterson said after Monday’s win. “So when my number’s called, I’ll be ready. (Offensive coordinator) Josh (McDaniels) did a hell of a job putting me back there. He trusted me. I had 10 carries (Monday), so I’m thankful for that. Next week, I hope I get like 25 carries.”

While Fears and Belichick wouldn't commit to more snaps at running back for Patterson, it would certainly be in character for a team who is always looking for a new way to maximize a players' skill set.

“C.P. is a great athlete, and he does a great job with the ball in his hands, so we were able to get it to him a few times,” Bill Belichick said.“He’s done a great job in the return game and on some other plays that he had the chance to run it. It looked like he had a couple of solid runs out there. We’re a little light at the running back position, so we needed him to step up. And he did.”

While 25 carries might be a pipe dream, it appears Patterson is the latest in a long line of players who have been asked to do a little more than usual. Julian Edelman played some defensive back in 2011. Troy Brown did the same thing in 2004. And Mike Vrabel lined up at tight end on several occasions for the Patriots over the course of his career in New England.

In Fears' mind, Patterson is just doing more of the same.

“Most of the guys who have played in this game have done (something like) it somewhere,” Fears said. “I mean, jeez, Vince Wilfork use to be after me all the time because he wanted to play fullback. You understand what I’m saying? It’s not just like they’re just receivers and receivers for life and that’s it. These guys are athletes. They were all great athletes. They’ve got the skills. They have all that stuff in them. I guarantee you, you walk in there and tell Julian ‘Line up here and play quarterback,’ no problem. These guys are multi-roled.”