BEARS SCOUTING REPORT PATRIOTS RB SONY MICHEL
Information for this report was obtained from NFL scouts.
Patriots running back Sony Michel (5-foot-11, 215 pounds) is a rookie first-round draft pick out of Georgia, selected 31st overall. He’s 10th in the NFL with 400 rushing yards, 316 of them coming in the last three games.
Michel looks like a long-term answer to what has been almost an annual question for the Patriots: Who will be the primary ball carrier? He doesn’t have the pass-catching ability of James White, but the Patriots substitute the two backs, and since Rex Burkhead went on injured reserve Sept. 26 with a neck injury, Michel has shined with more opportunities.
“It’s interesting what they have been doing with him because it’s a lot of old-school running,” the scout said. “I’m talking old, pro-style concepts with two backs in the backfield, including the fullback (James Develin), and you’re seeing a lot of counter, a lot of lead and a lot of power. They still run some zone as well. He’s fit in there well because, you go back and look at Michel from his time at Georgia, he’s got really good speed through the hole. Long speed, he’s probably a 4.5 guy, but getting from zero to 10 yards is where he makes his money. He’s a slasher. He almost runs on his ankles, and there isn’t a lot of wasted movement. He’s not a guy that dances. He’s going to make one cut and try to get up the field.
“That meshes with what NFL backs need to do. If the hole isn’t great, you get 3. Next time, 4. Then 5 and then he breaks one. He’s never going to be a true game-breaker, but his running style is really suited to the NFL. He fits really good with a team that wants to use those pro-style concepts. The Patriots drafted a guy with strengths that fit what they want to do, and too often you see those guys that aren’t the best match for the scheme.
“You’d like to see more versatility, but they’ve got White and he’s so good in the passing game. Michel didn’t catch a lot of passes at Georgia (nine receptions as a senior in 2017 after totaling 48 the previous two seasons), but he’s got the skill set to be more versatile. He’s never going to be like Christian McCaffrey, but can he catch swing routes and screens and balls in the flat? I think he can. He’s a really good player. I was a little surprised he went in the first round, but we are seeing why
New England wanted him.”