Gillislee stays flexible on job
It was a busy day for Mike Gillislee yesterday at the Patriots’ final public training camp session.
The sixth-year running back took reps with the first- and second-team offense.
He had several carries between the tackles and was also targeted in the passing game twice, both times down the sideline on wheel routes from quarterback Tom Brady.
But Gillislee also got work in with the special-teams units.
It’s a sign of just how crowded the backfield has become that Gillislee, who the Patriots surrendered a fifthround pick to sign away from Buffalo just a season ago, is taking reps on special teams. Making a contribution on special teams is something Gillislee might have to do just to crack the 53-man roster.
Gillislee was outplayed by former Bengals back Jeremy Hill in the preseason opener against Washington. He’s not much of a pass catcher (just one reception last season), so he doesn’t figure to compete with James White for that sort of third-down role.
Plus, there’s Rex Burkhead, who does a little bit of everything, and rookie Sony Michel, who the Patriots drafted out of Georgia in the first round.
Bill Belichick has also shown faith in Brandon Bolden to take emergency reps in the backfield in the past, although Bolden is almost exclusively a special teamer at this point of his career.
Even Ralph Webb, an undrafted back out of Vanderbilt, showed flashes of potential in the Pats’ 26-17 win against the Redskins last Thursday, scoring a pair of touchdowns.
Put it all together and Gillislee’s margin to make the team is looking very thin.
“You don’t think about that. You just look at it as an opportunity. I’m still on the football team today,” he said yesterday after practice. “My job is to come out here and get better and make the team better. That’s what I stay focused on.”
His case wasn’t helped much in the preseason opener. Gillislee carried 14 times for 43 yards, a 3.1 yard average. Hill, presumably his main competition, carried 11 times for 51 yards (4.6 average) and added a touchdown. Gillislee was also involved in a quarterback-running back exchange mishap that resulted in a fumble, which the Redskins recovered.
He does have some experience on special teams, most recently with the Bills in 2016, when he played on the punt return teams among other units. He only played on offense for the Patriots last season, but Gillislee said he’s willing to take the field in whatever role he’s given.
“Whatever the coaches ask me to do, that’s what I’m gonna go out and do,” he said. “I’m out here just practicing, trying to get better, trying to get the team better.”
Gillislee might be willing to cover punts and kickoffs, but the Pats signed him to a two-year deal and gave up a pick for his running ability. He got off to a fast start last year, scoring three touchdowns in the season opener against Kansas City, but fizzled out due to a combination of injuries and a reduced role.
With Burkhead and Michel both banged up at the moment, Gillislee should get plenty of opportunities in tomorrow’s game against Philadelphia and remind the Patriots why they signed him in the first place.
“Every opportunity that’s given is always great for me,” Gillislee said. “That’s all I ask for, the opportunities, whether it’s practice or in the game. I’m out here playing football. That’s what I grew up loving to do. I’m still doing it.”