Michel pick pays off for Patriots
Henry McKenna
It seems it has never been easier to throw the football in the NFL, with completion percentages rising to historic levels and the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams lighting up the scoreboard.
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick seemed to know that was coming. He stocked up on defensive backs to combat the influx of prolific passing.
But he also did something strange during the 2018 NFL draft, even though it makes perfect sense in hindsight. In the first round, Belichick picked offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn, who could be a guard or tackle, and then selected running back Sony Michel. The thought was that Belichick wanted to protect Tom Brady’s blind side with Wynn. Michel, meanwhile, was projected to be like New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara, who has been lethal as a runner and pass-catcher.
None of that has been the case. Wynn looked likely to be a backup at tackle and guard but suffered an Achilles tendon injury. Michel has been a between-the-tackles runner and has barely been involved as a pass catcher.
But Michel has proved to be the Patriots’ key to playing keep-away from some of the best offenses in the NFL.
That might have been Belichick’s plan all along for Michel. Kamara’s skills in the passing game would have been nice. But Belichick clearly loved what he saw from Michel between the tackles in college. That’s what he’s asked of Michel in his rookie season, particularly in the playoffs. In two games, the running back has 53 carries for 242 yards and five touchdowns. He has had 390 snaps and 262 carries (including the playoffs).
The Patriots are running the ball 67 percent of the time Michel is on the field. Essentially, they are telling their opponent loud and clear: When Michel is on the field, he’s probably getting handed the ball. And even with that tendency, Michel averaged 4.5 yards per carry in the regular season and is averaging 4.5 yards per carry in the postseason.
In a season when everyone is throwing the ball, teams have adapted and accommodated to defending those heavy passing offenses. The Los Angeles Chargers, for example, put six and seven defensive backs on the field for much of the season, largely because they suffered injuries at linebacker. So Belichick sent Michel, with the help of fullback James Develin, up the middle into that light, soft defense. The game was over at halftime. Michel did a similar amount of damage to the Chiefs in the AFC championship game.
Few NFL teams are wellequipped to go against a power run game, even one fueled by a lighter 215-pound back (who can run like he’s 225). Perhaps that’s what Belichick has always had in mind when he took Michel and Wynn in the first round. He wanted Michel to help the Patriots run over NFL playoff defenses like Belichick saw Michel run over college playoff defenses when Michel had 29 touches for 320 total yards and four touchdowns in two games in 2017 with Georgia.
Belichick is one step ahead of the NFL, as usual.