Expert Analysis

4/20/23

8 min read

RB Athletic Archetype Guide: New England Patriots

By Nic Bodiford

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Welcome to The 33rd Team’s Athletic Archetypes series. In these pieces, NFL and fantasy football analyst Nic Bodiford will break down the preferred, position-specific athletic profiles utilized by NFL general managers. The purpose of the series is to help identify team-specific 2023 NFL Draft targets at the running back position.

NFL Combine data will be used whenever possible. Pro day data will be used in a supplementary capacity if and when a player chooses not to participate in an NFL Combine drill or if the NFL Combine data is unavailable. Pro day data is marked using an asterisk except for arm length and hand length, which is always collected at pro days.

NFL Draft Scout is the primary data source with Relative Athletic Score used as the preferred backup.

Other Archetypes: ARZ | ATL | BUF | CAR | CHI | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | KC |  LAC | LAR | LV | MIN | NO | NYG | NYJ| PHI | SF | SEA | TB | WAS

Patriots RB Prototype

Bill Belichick, New England Patriots (2000-present)

Sample size: 27 NFL running backs

• Belichick is the longest-tenured, albeit de facto general manager in the NFL. 
• He has run the New England Patriots organization since 2000. 

The table below reflects Belichick’s preferred athletic archetype for the running back position from 2000 to the present day.

Height, Weight, Body Mass Index

• Belichick navigates the height-and-weight spectrum’s extreme ends by generally adhering to the NFL’s long-established and thoroughly idealized 30.0 body mass index (BMI) rating. 
• Among the 27 players in Belichick’s sample, 22 registered a 29.8 or higher BMI. 
• Though Kevin Faulk (5-foot-8, 205 pounds) fits easily inside Rhamondre Stevenson’s (6-foot, 231 pounds) shadow, Faulk’s 31.2 BMI is nearly identical to Stevenson’s 31.3.
• Five players in the sample lack athletic testing numbers and are only included for height, weight and BMI purposes. Four of five players were drafted pre-2010 and the data is unavailable. 
• Sub-29.8 exceptions can be made in the event a player offers unique talent. 
• The sub-29.8 players include Corey Dillon (28.6), Laurence Maroney (29.4), Mike Gillislee (29.0), Pierre Strong Jr. (28.9) and D.J. Foster (27.7).

Relevant Metrics: Shuttles, Jumps

• Belichick largely ignores 40-yard dash and 10-yard split results.
• Belichick values the short shuttle, three-cone, broad jump and vertical jump.
• Among 20 short-shuttle participants, 14 players ran 4.25 seconds, which is a 7.03 relative athletic score (RAS) or faster. Ten ran 4.20 seconds (7.95 RAS) or faster, and four ran sub-4.10 (9.25 RAS).
• Among 19 three-cone drill participants, 15 players ran 7.09 seconds (6.06 RAS) or faster, 13 ran 7.03 seconds (6.98 RAS) or faster, eight ran 6.96 seconds (7.97 RAS) or faster, four ran 6.85 seconds (9.21 RAS) or faster and two ran 6.78 seconds (9.66 RAS) or faster.
• Among 21 broad jump participants, 13 jumped 9-foot-10 (5.92 RAS) or farther, eight jumped 10-foot-1 (7.77 RAS) or farther, five jumped 10-foot-3 (8.61 RAS) or farther and three jumped 10-foot-5 (9.2 RAS) or farther.
• Among 21 vertical jump participants, 17 jumped 34 inches (5.63 RAS) or higher, 11 jumped 36 inches (7.93 RAS) or higher, six jumped 38 inches (9.12 RAS) or higher and three jumped 39 inches or higher (9.48 RAS). 

Relative Athletic Score

Among the 20 players to participate in all four aforementioned agility and jumping drills, four players registered at least two 9.00-or-higher RAS scores, eight players registered at least one 9.00 RAS score and one 8.00 RAS score. Ten players registered at least two 8.00-or-higher RAS scores, 11 players registered at least one 9.00-or-higher RAS score and 17 registered at least one 8.00-or-higher RAS score. 

Team Needs

• New England reportedly is interested in adding a “blue chip” running back, per The Athletic.
• The team has not filled the passing-down specialist role long-manned by Kevin Faulk and James White. 
• North-South rusher Damien Harris left for the division-rival Buffalo Bills this offseason. 

Physical Traits Patriots Will Target

• At a minimum, Belichick will require a player to produce at least one 7.95+ RAS score in one of the following drills:
  • Short shuttle: 4.20 seconds
  • Three-cone drill: 6.96 seconds
  • Broad jump: 10-foot
  • Vertical jump: 35.5 inches
  • Multiple 8.00 RAS and/or 9.00 RAS scores increase a player’s chances of New England drafting them.
• BMI: Likely 29.8 or higher. 

Potential Day 1 NFL Draft Targets

Prospects with strong archetype correlation are marked with an asterisk

Pick: No. 14 (Round 1)

• *Bijan Robinson, Texas: 30.0 BMI, 10-foot-4 broad jump and a 37-inch vertical jump. (scouting report)

Potential Day 2 NFL Draft Targets

Pick: No. 46 (Round 2)

• Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama: 29.4 BMI. Gibbs only participated in the 40-yard dash (4.36 seconds) and vertical jump (33.5 inches). However, his pass-catching profile, combined with the “blue chip” report mentioned above, makes him a candidate here. Belichick will slightly divert from his archetype if the player’s specialized skill set is strong enough. (scouting report)

Pick: No. 76 (Round 3)

• *Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh: 31.0 BMI, 10-foot-8 broad jump and a 41-inch vertical jump. (scouting report)

• Roschon Johnson, Texas: 29.7 BMI and a 10-foot-2 broad jump. (scouting report)

Potential Day 3 NFL Draft Targets

Picks

Round 4: Nos. 107, 117, 135

Round 6: Nos. 184, 187, 192, 210

Round 7: No. 245

• *Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State: 29.8 BMI, 4.22-second short shuttle and a 35.5-inch vertical jump. His three-cone drill (7.10 seconds) and broad jump (9-foot-8) are nearly there. He is a candidate to fill White's role. (scouting report)

• *Evan Hull, Northwestern: 30.0 BMI, 6.90-second three-cone drill, 10-foot-3 and 37-inch vertical jump. (scouting report) 

• Deneric Prince, Tulsa: 6.97-second three-cone drill, 10-foot-4 broad jump and a 35.5-inch vertical. His 29.3 BMI could be an issue.

• Eric Gray, Oklahoma: 30.1 BMI, 4.18-second short shuttle, 37.5-inch vertical jump. His 9-foot-10 broad jump is mildly helpful. (scouting report)

• Chase Brown, Illinois: 30.4 BMI, 10-foot-7 broad jump and a 40-inch vertical jump. (scouting report)

• Hunter Luepke, North Dakota State: 30.3 BMI and a 36.5-inch vertical. The fullback could intrigue as his short shuttle (4.31 seconds), three-cone drill (7.03 seconds) and broad jump (9-foot-9) are close to New England's desirables. (scouting report)

The tables below show the raw data used for this running back sample.

• At Mississippi’s Pro Day, Brandon Bolden suspiciously improved his 40-yard dash to 4.50 seconds, his 10-yard split to 1.63 seconds, his short shuttle to 4.32 seconds and his three-cone drill to 6.96 seconds.
• BenJarvus Green-Ellis improved his broad jump to 9-foot-8 and his vertical jump to 34 inches at Mississippi’s Pro Day.
• Strong improved his vertical jump to 38 inches at South Dakota State's Pro Day.

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Nic Bodiford

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Nic Bodiford contributes to The 33rd Team's fantasy football department and works elsewhere as an analyst and editor in written, video and audio mediums. These works can be found at Pro Football Focus, 4for4, Nerdball and Fake Teams. Nic moonlights at Legendary Upside by editing Pat Kerrane's weekly article, The Walkthrough.