New England Patriots Backfield Full Of 30-Somethings

The addition of 33-year-old Fred Taylor to the New England Patriots' backfield provides veteran depth to a unit that was already full of runners in their 30's.A year ago, the Patriots used a backfield by committee approach to rush for more yards (2,278 yards) than in any other season since 1985.However, they accomplished the feat without having a true featured back. Once Laurence Maroney was lost for the season after playing in only three games, the Patriots relied on 32-year-old Kevin Faulk and 31-year-old Sammy Morris to shoulder most of the load.Both players responded with outstanding campaigns.Morris rushed for a career-high 727 yards, while Faulk’s 507 yards rushing marked his highest total since the 2003 season. Given that Faulk also had a career-high 468 yards catching passes, the duo proved to be among the most effective units in the league.If Maroney can return to the form that saw him gain 1,580 yards rushing in his first two seasons, the unit could be strong...