Let's be more precise. They've got Corey Dillon to go along with him. The running game is Corey Dillon. The offensive balance is Corey Dillon. The most important Patriots offseason acquisition is Corey Dillon.
Dillon has submitted far gaudier numbers this season than he did Monday night. He rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns, leaving him a mere 6 feet from that magic 1,000-yard milestone for the season. But it wasn't just the number of yards he churned out. It was the willingness of the Patriots to hand one individual the ball without any qualms 26 times in a game. They did so not just to keep the defense honest, and to take some pressure off Brady, but also to eat up the clock, thereby keeping a struggling Chiefs defense on the field as long as possible. That, in turn, kept the mercurial Chiefs offense off the field as long as possible.
Oh yeah, there's one more reason the Patriots gladly hand off to Dillon: He produces. He's already got six rushing touchdowns this season, which is only three shy of what the entire team had last season.
The Patriots have proven it is not critical to have a high-producing running back to be successful. They won their two Super Bowls with Antowain Smith, a rugged, up-the-middle power back who seemed to get stronger as the season progressed. In fact, for much of 2003, he shared backfield duties with Kevin Faulk. Smith was a popular, team-oriented performer, but he didn't have Dillon's quickness, elusiveness, or big-play abilities. Really now . . . when was the last time you've heard anyone mention Smith's name?
In retrospect, it's hard to believe there was hesitation when the Patriots acquired Dillon for a second-round pick last April 19. He had toiled for the Cincinnati Bengals for seven seasons, tying or breaking 18 team records, but earning a reputation as a malcontent. When Bill Belichick traded for him, it seemed to fly in the face of Belichick's philosophy of surrounding himself with quality, company-line talent. Yet the coach insisted the new back was misunderstood and fit his desired profile perfectly. When Dillon arrived, he promised his teammates would find him to be a model citizen and team player, not some radioactive malcontent.
