Sammy Morris has earned the nickname "The Bull" for his hard-nosed dependability in short-yardage situations.

Journal photo / Glenn Osmundson

FOXBORO — The numbers –– six carries for 21 yards, five catches for 35 more — don’t exactly bowl you over.

But in the case of Sammy Morris, the numbers don’t come close to telling the story of the contribution he made in the Patriots’ win over Baltimore on Sunday.

“Classic case,” Kevin Faulk said on Monday when asked about Morris’ stats and impact not being equal. “By looking at the film now, you can see the impact of his performance, the plays he made. It’s not about stats or the number of plays, it’s if you were effective, and that’s what matters.”

Morris’ yards-per-carry for the game was a pedestrian 3.5, but there were few moments in the game more important than the two yards he picked up on fourth down, keeping the Patriots’ first touchdown drive moving.

The Texas native did the same thing against Atlanta, getting two yards on the now-famous fourth-and-one play from the Pats’ own 24-yard line.

“That one yard he got on fourth-and-one this week and last week, those might be the biggest plays of those two games, or certainly among the biggest,” Bill Belichick said. “So getting a yard, it’s not about running for 50; it’s about getting one when you need one. Scoring in the red area, on the draw play [in the second quarter on Sunday], that was another big play. Those are huge plays in the game. It’s not how many, it’s the importance of the plays. There’s no way to underestimate that.”

His ability to pick up those tough yards has earned Morris the nickname “The Bull” from his teammates.

A friend asked Morris after the game what it is like to know you’re getting the ball on those must-get plays. His response? “First it’s oh … we’re going for it, then when you realize it’s you, it’s well … I better get it.

“It’s just a matter of execution. But it’s not just the 10 guys on offense you’re taking on your back, but the 11 guys on defense too, and they’re calling my number.”

Morris, 32, is in his 10th NFL season and has spent his entire career in the AFC East. New England signed him to a free-agent contract in 2007, after he had spent the previous three seasons with the Dolphins; he was originally a fifth-round pick of the Bills in 2000.

He had a career-high 727 yards, averaging 4.7 yards per carry, in just 13 games last season, but also recorded 17 receptions, can return kicks if needed and is a frequent special-teams contributor.

In other words, he is the epitome of a versatile, “do your job” Patriot.

“Sammy has proven to us over the past couple years that he’s a dependable player in every phase of the game, whether it be offense, in the kicking game, running game, passing game,” Belichick said. “We have a lot of confidence in him in every one of those [duties], and he’s come through for us, time, time and again.”

Asked what it means to him to “do your job,” Morris thinks for several moments.

“To me … basically on every play I have an assignment, a responsibility, whether I’m getting the ball or not. My route, my blocking assignment, my read, is designed for a reason,” he said. “If I’m split right and we run a slip-screen to the left, I want to get in and make something happen. Even though I’m 40 yards away, you never know what’s going to happen. It’s a matter of playing every play and trying to execute and helping to move the ball.”

New England’s running back group is likely the oldest in the league, with Morris, Faulk and Fred Taylor all having played at least a decade. Laurence Maroney is in his fourth season and BenJarvus Green-Ellis his second.

All want the ball, of course, but all have each other’s respect. They support and learn from one another.

“You have to commend the guys upstairs [in the Pats’ front office] — the guys they bring in are classic ‘do your job’ guys,” Faulk said. “We hear all these questions about how are there enough balls to go around, but that’s it: we know if we’re not in the game, whoever is, they’ll do their job.”

Like Morris, who has been called on in two must-have situations in recent weeks.

Once the whistle blew at the end of his fourth-down tote against Baltimore, he immediately started looking to see if he had converted the first down.

“I felt like I did, but Ray Lewis was running off the field, so I had to make sure I knew the situation right in my head,” Morris said. “Then it was complete exultation.”

A two-yard pickup may not be much statistically, but when your team only needs one, you’ve done your job.

smanza@projo.com