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FOXBORO, Mass. – The first game of the New England Patriots-Buffalo Bills clash on Monday featured a rarely seen show on NFL field: a player with the number 84 in alignment as a trainer in I.
It was Cordarrelle Patterson, the team-catcher / batter-rapper who, that night, replaced the improbable departure of the Patriots.
Patterson was involved in dozens of tricks during his NFL career, but it was not a gadget. Sony White was injured in the knee and James White and Kenjon Barner are both lacking the skills of a traditional runner between shots. Victory 25-6 from England at New Era Field.
This effort included a 22-yard run early in the fourth quarter, which allowed the Patriots' only offensive touchdown to be held.
In what way was Patterson – who had some experience in running but had never been in the NFL game more than three times – ready for such a radical role change? According to coach Patriots Ivan Fears, not much at all.
"Just give him the ball," Fears said Wednesday. "Just give him the ball. It's really not a process. Just give him the ball. If you have guys playing, you have to find a way to get them the ball. "
Really? It was as simple as that?
"What's the best way to answer that?" Rhear asked, fearing. "Just give him the ball. Tell him how we are going to block him (and say): "Hey, go get him."
Patterson is a beefy 6-foot-2, 228-pound catcher. Although his racing style was much more straightforward than most of the halfbacks, the Patriots were confident that his prodigious returner skills would lead to a successful match. backfield. Patterson scored a 95-yard touchdown goal two weeks ago in a win over the Chicago Bears.
"The guy who started up is coming back forever," said Fears. "You know that he can see – he has a very good vision – and he can run away from what he sees." That's what you want him to do. Do not try to make things too complicated. Truly not. You give the ball to a good athlete and you let him play for you. "
Fears said Patterson was "very receptive" to the change of position. This is clear from his post-match media scramble, during which he said he hoped to carry the ball 25 times this week against the Green Bay Packers.
That will probably not happen, and Patterson could return to his usual duties if Michel, who was on Wednesday, is healthy enough to play or if the Patriots sign another half-ball. He remains prepared, however, continuing to work with both Fears and receiver manager Chad O'Shea.
"What we did with him because of his growing role, is that he's really working closely with all of our staff right now," O'Shea said. "Coach Fears will sometimes work with him, I will of course do it (offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels) is very involved in his work with him. Really, it's a little doughy when working with CP. He is very coachable and it has been nice for all coaches, including me, to work with him. "
Photo thumbnail via Rich Barnes / USA TODAY HUI Sports Images
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