New England Patriots need to address running back

The New England Patriots need to address their running back position before the 2020 season begins.

The recent news that Sony Michel underwent foot surgery is disturbing for the New England Patriots.

The running back room even with Michel is not exactly menacing to NFL defenses. The loss of Michel would complicate offensive matters even further for New England.

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With the passing attack having been rocked by the loss of their all-time great quarterback, the running backs have been looked to by some as a necessary means of taking up the slack. But whether they can is a very good question.

I have not been too bullish on New England’s running game of-late. But as I have written before, one key to their success and concomitantly the success of the entire offense (and team overall) is the offensive line. That’s where there has been good news.

First, their focal piece, center David Andrews has been cleared to play after missing the 2019 season due to a health issue. That’s major good news for the post-Tom Brady New England team.

To have any chance of offensive success, this line must remain intact and healthy. Otherwise, it will be a very long season, indeed.

But Andrews return is a huge positive factor and one that cannot be overstated. He’s the cog that makes the whole operation work.

In addition, the rest of the offensive line seems good to go in 2020. Joe Thuney remains, hopefully, long-term while signing a franchise tag tender. His loss would be major.

All eyes will be on whether he can be signed to a long-term deal that keeps him in New England and lowers the massive salary cap he now represents.

The offensive tackle starters are very good to excellent. On the right side, Marcus Cannon is as steady as they come. On the left is a unique talent, Isaiah Wynn. At the size of a very small guard or center, Wynn nevertheless is one of the most talented OT’s in the NFL right now.

I wrote recently about Wynn’s great talent. An offensive left tackle, Wynn has the talent of a future All-Pro. That’s how good he can be. The only issue with Wynn is staying healthy and on the field. If he can, the sky’s the limit for this Georgia product.

New England Patriots running back room needs an infusion of talent and size

With the offensive line intact barring injury, the running game will still need an infusion of talent to be productive in light of Michel’s injury.

Aside from James White their dynamic pass-catching back, the other backs Michel, Rex Burkhead, and Damien Harris are all primarily in a similar size and speed profile.

They are all about 210-215 pounds or so. Basically tweeners, both in size and in running ability. None of them possess breakaway speed. Nor do they possess great power.

They are all in-between. This is a lack that New England failed to address in this year’s draft or free agency. It could be a very costly omission.

I have written before that the inability to pick up a yard or two to extend a drive or to score a touchdown rather than settle for a field goal severely hampered the Patriots in 2019. They did nothing really to address that shortcoming.

That requires that they acquire a running back who can do just that. I’ve suggested that they trade for one or otherwise acquire one. Before camp begins would be optimum. Not so doing will run an even greater risk of suffering the same inability in short-yardage as in 2019.

The way to do this is for the scouting staff to search out all teams with strength in numbers at running back and make an early trade to acclimatize the new guy to the offense.

Otherwise, for a smaller investment, they can wait for backs cut from other teams and sign one or two who can serve as short-yardage backs or more.

New England has also lacked a power back since they let LeGarrette Blount go after the 2016 season. It seems that Bill Belichick never forgave that fumble in the Atlanta Super Bowl. Blount was out-of-football in 2019.

He’d still be a better short-yardage (and more) option even now at age 33 than anyone currently on the Patriots roster. I’d call him back on a veteran minimum salary. Blount scored 18 touchdowns in 2016. 17 of them were on the ground.

There is currently no one on the Patriots roster who has that potential. I think it’s worth a call to Blount, Definitely.

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Otherwise, a trade or signing or two after roster cut-down days will be essential if New England is to augment a likely deficient passing game with the run. We’ll see if they address this in pre-season. Hopefully, they will.

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