Friday, November 4, 2011

Patriots expect Faulk to get better from here

Last Sunday, when the New England Patriots traveled to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers (and lost, 25-17), there was an old face making his long-awaited return to the field in Kevin Faulk, who played in his first game in over a year.

The longest-tenured Patriot tore his ACL last season in Week 2 of 2010 and hadn’t been back on the field since. And, as Faulk said after the game, a lot of work awaits him. But for being away for more than a full season, Faulk did not play poorly by any means.

The 35-year-old led the Patriots with 32 rushing yards on six attempts and picked up 20 yards receiving.

“The way the game played out, there were some no-huddle situations, there were some different personnel groupings that we used where he was the back in those personnel groupings,” offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien told the media early in the week. “That’s why he had the bulk of the reps at the running back position.”

Faulk, O’Brien, coach Bill Belichick and his Patriots teammates all expect No. 33 to only get better from here.

“It was his first game back,” Belichick told the media Wednesday. “I think he did some good things. I’m sure he’ll get better each week with more practices, more snaps. I thought he was competitive; he made some plays for us.”

With a banged-up BenJarvus Green-Ellis, limited Danny Woodhead and two NFL halfback greenhorns, Faulk’s production and leadership are much-needed, and his return probably couldn’t have come at a much better time.

Follow Sam @SammySports