Patriots Gridiron News: Maturity of Sony Michel unmeasurable

Despite injury, New England Patriots running back Sony Michel has made great strides this season other than with his legs.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick loves rookie running back Sony Michel.  Why wouldn’t he?  He did draft him with the No. 31 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

While Belichick has taken some criticism for taking a running back in the first round with the team having other greater needs, the Georgia product is proving to be a factor in the Patriots’ offense.

Despite battling injuries, Michel has rushed for 586 yards on 127 carries with five rushing touchdowns in just eight games.  Included in that production was his career-high 133-yard rushing performance in Sunday’s 27-13 victory over the New York Jets. In all, it was his third 100-yard rushing game of the season, but it was his vision and toughness that really stood out.

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The scary part is Sony Michel really hasn’t gotten going in the passing game, which was a strength of his during his days at Georgia.  While injuries have limited him, it is his maturity as a player that has led to his success.  When a player is coachable, he typically earns much praise from Bill Belichick and Michel has certainly earned it.

"“I think [his maturity has] really been a strength of his,” Belichick said Tuesday during his conference call.  “He’s, obviously, had a lot of football experience and comes from a very good program.  He’s been in a lot of big games.  He’s been in a lot of critical football situations.  He has a lot of poise and has a good even manner about him in terms of learning, correcting mistakes, having urgency but in a balance where it doesn’t take away from the execution and the focus of the assignment and the way that things need to be done.”"

Belichick went on to stress how well the young rookie has taken to criticism and his ability to learn from mistakes.  As a running back in the New England Patriots system, being able to read the multiple defensive looks the team gets is particularly valuable in the passing game.  Being on the same page as Tom Brady, as well as execution in picking up the blitz are still a couple of the challenges Michel is adjusting to, but that will just take more time on the playing field.

In just 11 games into his NFL career, there is still a learning curve.  Sony Michel has demonstrated the maturity level to embrace any challenge ahead of him and really learn from his coaches.  He may not be the most explosive running back, but his professionalism will set him apart as his career carries on.

The Vikings defense will be a challenge

The entire offense will have their hands full in Week 13 going up against the Minnesota Vikings defense.

Going against a team particularly good against the run, New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will have to be creative in his playcalling to keep the Mike Zimmer’s defense off-balance.

"“They rank highly in every statistical category, deservedly so,” McDaniels said of the Vikings defense.  “They have really good players at all three levels of the defense, they’re really well-coached, they’re extremely sound, and they really challenge you on third down and in the red zone – some schematically and just some based on their personnel and their rush and the way they cover and how they mix up their calls.”"

The Patriots will have to mix up their calls offensively.  With Rex Burkhead returning, McDaniels will have a chance to create some unpredictability with using the running backs in the short passing game to keep the pass rush open.  There may be draw play opportunities there as well for Burkhead, James White and Sony Michel.

In all, patience is going to be key as McDaniels recognizes this Vikings’ defense generally don’t give up big plays.  The New England Patriots simply have to execute and take what’s given to them while picking their spots to take some shots down the field.