FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England running back James White had a game-high seven catches for 71 yards and a score in Sunday’s win over the Tennessee Titans. The second-year pro continues to see his role grow late in the year, now having caught 21 passes in the last three weeks.
“When we had more depth in the backfield than we have right now, he didn’t get as many opportunities as he’s had more recently, but as he’s gotten more opportunities, he’s really taken advantage of them and shown what he can do,” coach Bill Belichick said.
“He’s a tough guy to handle with the ball in his hands and he’s very smart. He does an excellent job with his assignments and adjustments and blitz pickups and all those things. He’s really done a good job for us.”
Quarterback Tom Brady has grown more comfortable with White and enjoys watching the back maximize what he gets out of plays.
“He’s gained a lot of trust from everybody just based on his performance, his consistency,” Brady said. “The touchdown run on the screen, I mean, from what I saw there wasn’t much there, and then he was so patient to see things open up and then took advantage when the hole finally did open, accelerated through there and got in the end zone. So he’s been really productive in that role. Really great tribute to his hard work and commitment. He was here last year and learned a lot and then got his opportunity when Dion [Lewis] went out, and he’s just done a great job with it.”
Sheard part of Pats’ sack parade
Defensive end Jabaal Sheard notched his seventh sack of the season late in the second quarter against Tennessee. It was Sheard’s third sack in the last two weeks as the first-year Patriot is healthy again and getting more comfortable in his role in New England.
Belichick couldn’t be happier with the production he’s gotten from Sheard, taking advantage of the veteran’s versatility to mix him in with returning defensive ends Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich.
Jones had a pair of sacks against the Titans, giving him a career-high 12.5 for the season. The trio of ends has now combined for 26 sacks for the year.
“We’ve been able to get all three guys on the field at times and then there have been other times where we’ve kind of been in kind of a three-for-two rotation, and all three players have been very productive,” Belichick said. “They’ve all been great. I think Chandler and Rob not having to be out there every single snap has also benefited them and they’ve been very productive, too, so that’s been a really good situation for us. We probably hoped it would go that way but couldn’t envision that it would have gone any better than it has.”