Why Patriots might lean on overlooked RBs in post-Tom Brady offense

Mike Tannenbaum Football executive and former GM to the Jets and Dolphins spoke with ESPN recently about The Patriots after Tom Brady.

"When you think about that running back room, it is the best room of any position group in all of football,..."

The Patriots currently have Former first round pick Sony Michel, accompanied by James White, Rex Burkhead, Brandon Bolden, JJ Taylor, Jakob Johnson, Damien Harris, and Dan Vitale.

The Patriots have been known as a throw first team but this stable of ponies can bring balance to the force, or even take over the over the offense.

The Patriots have an entire starting offensive line returning. They also brought in new tight ends to help block and have 2019 draft steals Cajuste and Froholdt returning from the IR. 

Sony Michel Put up Identical numbers in 2019 to his 2018 Rookie Season. Michel ran the Ball 38 more times in 2019 producing 19 yards less, running for 912 yards in 2019.  Michel's biggest issues are when he was on the field, everyone knew it was a run. With Brady gone that should change.

Brady didn't want to throw to Michel and when he would, a lot of times the ball was in poor placement. Either leading to drops or no room for y.a.c.

Michel was also hurt by the injuries to the team. The Patriots could not run to the left behind Marshall Newhouse. Michel could've Broken one tackle but breaking more than that is hard. It's also harder to break a tackle when you're getting nailed before he could get back to a north and south position on the outside. The offense wasn't settling an edge.

Michel is not a power back although he has powerful legs. He needs a fullback to hit the hole between the tackles first, so he can power through. Without an experienced fullback, Michel couldn't power forward.

Michel was a committee back at Georgia and in 2019 the Patriots drafted another committee back. Damien Harris the red shirted 3rd round pick is what Sony needed in 2019. Harris is 5'11" 213 pounds and will have no problem running up the middle or at the goal line. 

The pair of Michel and Harris should look more like the 2011 Patriots stable, when Danny Woodhead and The law firm (Bejarvis Green-Ellis) combined for over 1550 yards. Woodhead was the counter guy who took it to the outside and BGE would hammer it up the middle.

The Patriots also have James White, who put up career numbers in 2018. That season White caught 751 yards and rushed for 425 yards. In 2019 his stats were down but still good. Catching 645 yards and adding 243 on the ground. White is the modern era Kevin Faulk.

Then the Patriots have Burkhead and Bolden who can do it all, although Bolden is more of a special teams player. JJ Taylor is a small return guy whom the Patriots should use like Darren Sproles. Then there's Dan Vitale who can run and catch and should remind Patriots fans of Leroy Centers. 

Then don't forget the importance of a traditional fullback, to which the Patriots have Johnson. Mix is the danger of Stidham and option plays and the Patriots season should go through this stable. 

The Patriots are not going to keep all these guys, so expect a furious competition at the running back position. Every snap is going to be a make or break for these players; come September someone will no longer be a New England Patriot.