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Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports

James White the Top Lewis Replacement

Bill Belichick has always kept people guessing in terms of backfield usage, but offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels might have at least hinted at the team's plans for replacing the dynamic Dion Lewis. According to CSNNE's Tom E. Curran, McDaniels suggested that White's improvements, particularly in pass protection, could earn him the lion's share of the passing-back snaps:

James is a very consistent guy. He comes to work. He's got a great attitude and approach, is always prepared to go in and fulfill any of the roles that we have for our backs. He's a dependable guy. He can handle a lot of different assignments, and then when we've needed him to play this season, he's certainly been a guy who has done a decent job in blitz pickup. He's caught the football well out of the backfield, and then he's made yards with it when he's had it in his hands.

It's probably not possible for White to replicate the level of play Lewis exhibited over seven-plus games this season. Lewis tallied 7.3 yards per touch, most among the 45 running backs who have accumulated at least 80 touches this season, per Pro-Football-Reference.com. Moreover, according to Pro Football Focus' Sam Monson, Lewis was on pace to easily break PFF's Elusive Rating all-time mark, a stat that focuses on missed tackles and yards after contact:

Created the Elusive Rating as a rough 0-100 scale. Previous best mark over a season was 106.9. Dion Lewis finished at 165.2. — Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) November 9, 2015

We'll have more on White shortly, but it's safe to say the Pats aren't necessarily expecting him to set new records. However, given his tantalizing tools and a year-and-a-half in the system, it's not unreasonable to assume White can assume the versatile role with the consistency New England demands.

Vereen Talks About Reunion

Shane Vereen had his ups and downs throughout his four-year tenure in Foxborough, but the shifty receiving back certainly ended on a high note with his 11-catch, 77-yard performance in Super Bowl XLIX. Now set to face New England again, Vereen admitted during a conference call with the media that going up against his old employers is not simply another game:

"There’s been times when I miss the guys and so I call them and text them, but I still feel like I made the right decision for myself, for my family, and at the end of the day, it’s a business and you have to do what’s smart for you."

Kline Signs Extension

After a much-beleaguered 2014 season in which he struggled over four starts, Josh Kline has been among the Patriots' most improved players in 2015. The Pats rewarded Kline's leap with a two-year, $4.9 million extension this week, and as ESPN Insider Field Yates relayed, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels praised the veteran's versatility in explaining the extension:

Josh has given us consistent play. He's played at both guard spots this year, so he's had to be in tandem with a lot of different people, certainly the center, David Andrews, but also both tackles, or all the tackle combinations that he's played alongside. He's an intelligent guy. He's tough. He plays very hard, and he always gives us everything he has, so he's a guy who's been in our system, he's learned how to play in our offense, and he's a valuable piece to what we do.

Kline has played more snaps than any Patriots guard this season, and he has become an every-down player with the injuries to Shaq Mason, Tre' Jackson and Ryan Wendell in recent weeks. According to Pro Football Focus, Kline ranks 11th among all guards in pass-blocking efficiency, having surrendered just 10 total pressures over 317 pass-blocking snaps.

Mason and Jackson are still the likely future of the position, given that both fourth-round rookies have flashed well as immediate starters. However, considering how thin the interior offensive line was throughout the 2014 season, Kline's jump in performance has allowed the Pats to lock in a steady starter or swing backup at a reasonable price.