The reclamation projects just never stop in
Foxborough.
On Sunday, the New England Patriots signed veteran
journeyman(?) Lamar Miller and his surgically-repaired ACL to a one year
contract – a surprise move given the strength and quality of the Patriots’
running back kennel, leaving all of us to wonder if the signing is a sign of
trouble with third-year “lead” back Sony Michel.
Michel, of course, was placed on the team’s PUP list
last week as he rehabs from foot surgery in the offseason, but we all assumed
that second-year redshirt Damien Harris would be picking up Michel’s slack,
with Rex Burkhead and James White providing a change of pace – and that most
likely still is the case, despite Miller’s signing.
In fact, Miller may just be camp fodder unless he
clearly out-performs one of the incumbents on the roster, with another option
being placed on the injured-reserved list if he shows promise but isn’t quite
ready to compete.
At his best, Miller is a crisp cutback runner between
the tackles and has a second gear to get around the corner – and then has an
extra gear once he breaks into the open field. The fastest back that came out
of the 2012 NFL Draft, speed is his calling card. If his knee has fully healed
and he regains his ability to cut against the grain, he offers more in the
running game than Michel.
In fact, assuming Miller makes the 53-man roster, the
Patriots are in better shape in the backfield than they were a week ago, and
even then they were pretty stacked.
It is universally thought that the Patriots had one of
the best running back depth charts in the league to begin with - even with
Michel on the shelf – but now they have three similarly sized backs with
decidedly different styles, plus the most effective passing back in the league,
meaning that New England can now play the running game anyway you like it.
You want a slasher with elite speed, a threat to take
it to the house on any touch? That’s Miller. You want a grinder who punishes
linebackers and always gets the extra yard? That’s Harris. How about a guy who
does a little of both? Yup, Burkhead – and even though all three are capable in
the pattern, James White is dependable as they come wheeling out of the
backfield.
Add all of that to the fact that they will be running
behind one of the best zone-blocking schemes in the league and with a
dual-threat quarterback running the entire show, what you get is a commitment
to run the ball.
Of course, Newton is the catalyst with a skill set not
seen in New England before. Let’s face it, Tom Brady was glued to the ground,
but had decent elusiveness in the pocket - but more and more in the past couple
of years, when the pass rush was closing in, he would simply take a seat and
live to see another play…
…while Newton is an apparition, with the start and
stop ability to leave would-be tacklers grasping at air. On reputation alone,
defenders will have to account for Newton’s running ability on every play, his repertoire
including RPO experience and a knack for scrambling out of trouble. But where
his presence affects the running game is on the outside zone plays that
Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels loves.
Newton is in his element In the outside zone. Where
Brady would simply turn and hand off to his backs, Newton can and will employ
elements of the double and triple options, so the need for a cutback runner
with speed became paramount the moment Newton signed his Patriots’ contract –
and that’s the reason Lamar Miller and his sub-4.4 speed now resides in
Foxborough.
Actually, there is a lot to like about this year’s
incarnation of the Patriots’ offense. Sure, there are a lot of variables in
play – health and replacing players who have opted-out at the forefront – but if
the universe unfolds in their favor, we could witness a renaissance of sorts,
back to the days when the Patriots featured a powerful running game that sets
up the passing game.
With head coach Bill Belichick being a rooted in the fundamentals
of the game, I can’t wait to see how he shapes his offense when in his element –
because there’s nothing more fundamental in football than running the football.
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