New England Patriots: 5 third-year players with everything to gain in 2020
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel rushing for stardom.
There’s a theme here, but if it wasn’t due to injuries, New England Patriots running back Sony Michel would’ve rushed for well over 1,000 yards in his rookie season.
Coming out of Georgia, the Patriots knew they were drafting a player who could perform on the big stage and he did exactly that with 6 rushing touchdowns in the team’s march through the playoffs in 2018.
Primed for more of a breakout season in his sophomore campaign, Michel took a step back in 2019. He somehow still managed to rush for 912 yards and 7 TDs, but he didn’t jump out as a dynamic playmaker despite being mostly healthy.
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Though he mostly has a lot to lose in 2020, especially with Damien Harris waiting in the wings, Sony Michel has a lot to gain and that’s not just in yards.
What the Patriots need from Michel is for him to be that all-purpose back who can be the lead back and a playmaker out of the backfield. We know what he can do when healthy and has adequate blocking. He all but proved that during his rookie season. But what he hasn’t proved is that he can be a homerun hitter from anywhere on the field.
Out of all the players on this list, the New England Patriots running back has the best opportunity to morph into a star player. He also has the winning attitude to be one of the young leaders on the team. So far, he has been solid, but the team really needs him to be great with a new quarterback under center.
Next. New England Patriots: 5 second-year players primed to breakout in 2020. dark
In summary, the New England Patriots have a core of young players who can help transition the team into a new era. Whether it’s rookies, second-year players or players going into their third year in the NFL, these young players will be the reason the team stays competitive and could also be the reason they remain a contender.