I was saying it last night. He had 17 carries in the first half so I think he was gassed.Has anyone here or on TV opined as to why Michel hardly saw the field in the 4th or OT?
I was saying it last night. He had 17 carries in the first half so I think he was gassed.Has anyone here or on TV opined as to why Michel hardly saw the field in the 4th or OT?
Think this is it. He had some runs in 2nd half where I felt he lacked his usual explosion. Must have been wearing down.I was saying it last night. He had 17 carries in the first half so I think he was gassed.
May have had to do with what KC did to adjust to the run. Having White/Burkhead out there opens up options to run/pass versus Michel who just hasn't been a threat in the passing game. That could change next year.Has anyone here or on TV opined as to why Michel hardly saw the field in the 4th or OT?
I made the same point to a Giant's fan-Mom (caught in the grip of Saquon-mania) back in May. I plan to email her today to admit that she was right and I was wrong.Well, I stand by "never draft a RB in the first round", but Michel has proved himself to be the exception to that rule.
White wasn't in there either. I fear he is hurt.Think this is it. He had some runs in 2nd half where I felt he lacked his usual explosion. Must have been wearing down.
You sure?White wasn't in there either. I fear he is hurt.
I'm not a big fan of taking a RB top-10, but at pick 31, who cares? And Belichick has made a career of cutting against the positional value grain (they draft S and TE high and don't draft DEs and WRs high).Well, I stand by "never draft a RB in the first round", but Michel has proved himself to be the exception to that rule.
He was out for a stretch but he was in there for all the big third downs in OT. They had him chipping on some of those though, so he didn't get targeted late. The slant to Gronk, he ran a route, but it was short and KC had a DB on him, so Brady went elsewhere.White wasn't in there either. I fear he is hurt.
He had 25% of his carries in the 4th quarter and scored a TD. The next drive was the final one that was pretty much all through the air.Has anyone here or on TV opined as to why Michel hardly saw the field in the 4th or OT?
He was also out there on the final KO when Patterson ran it back to the 35. KC took him out of the game and made Brady throw downfield.He was out for a stretch but he was in there for all the big third downs in OT. They had him chipping on some of those though, so he didn't get targeted late. The slant to Gronk, he ran a route, but it was short and KC had a DB on him, so Brady went elsewhere.
Pretty fantastic start to his career and would love to see another great game from him in two weeks. Hope he has many more productive years and does not flash in the pan like some other RBs who had strong playoff performances in their rookie seasons (Timmy Smith, Ickey Woods).Anywho, he's the first rookie RB in NFL history to have multiple 100 yard games with multiple TDs in the postseason.
If healthy I don't think there's any need to worry on that score.Pretty fantastic start to his career and would love to see another great game from him in two weeks. Hope he has many more productive years and does not flash in the pan like some other RBs who had strong playoff performances in their rookie seasons (Timmy Smith, Ickey Woods).
I agree. Was looking for RBs who had strong playoff performances in their rookie year (100+ yards rushing in a game) and went on to have successful careers (three or more 1000+ yard seasons). The list was a bit short - hope I didn't miss anyone.If healthy I don't think there's any need to worry on that score.
The team having to skip the Pro Bowl activities is an underrated benefit of making the Super Bowl every year.Let’s keep him away from beach flag football.
I thought it was pretty common that there’s a “rookie wall.” Most rookies spend their entire offseason training for the combine and jump right into the NFL season, which is longer than the college season to begin with. It’s basically like they play football for a year straight with no break.Is there any research on whether rookie RBs wear down over a longer NFL season, and into the postseason?
Missing 3 reg season games with injuries has been a long term benefit this season.I thought it was pretty common that there’s a “rookie wall.” Most rookies spend their entire offseason training for the combine and jump right into the NFL season, which is longer than the college season to begin with. It’s basically like they play football for a year straight with no break.
Hats off to Michel for seemingly picking up steam as the season has gone on.
Plus the postseason schedule of bye, SD, @KC, bye, SB helps the wear and tearMissing 3 reg season games with injuries has been a long term benefit this season.
How long will he be running behind Thuney, Andrews and Mason? That probably answers the question for how long will he be effective.If healthy I don't think there's any need to worry on that score.
This post nails it.How long will he be running behind Thuney, Andrews and Mason? That probably answers the question for how long will he be effective.
The most underrated aspect of NE this season is easily the interior OL play. PFF has Thuney #8G, Andrews #7C and Mason #1G. Brown/Cannon lag behind in the 20s/30s but aren't as important to the run game as interior line play.
David Andrews is probably the most unheralded UDFA in the NFL. He has been an absolute rock and no one outside of NE knows who he is. Actually a lot of casual NE fans probably don't know who he is either.
I was looking at this yesterday. I don't know how they publish those individual player evaluations from the Conference Championship games and not cringe, it is embarrassing.Football Outsiders rates him as the worst RB of the week, with negative impact.
I think this is good evidence that football outsiders is full of shit.
I'm far from a FO fanboy but when you read the full analysis I think there is some merit. Basically Michel was punished because he was running against a bottom 5 run D and didn't average 4 YPC.I was looking at this yesterday. I don't know how they publish those individual player evaluations from the Conference Championship games and not cringe, it is embarrassing.
"Michel loses 49 DYAR for playing the Chiefs. Without opponent adjustments, he was the most valuable rusher of the week. He had seven first downs rushing against Kansas City, with four runs of 10 or more yards and only three stuffs. He only averaged 3.9 yards per carry. Thirteen of the 17 prior players who had at least 10 carries in a game against Kansas City this season averaged more yards than that."
I've been a critic of Thuney over the past couple years, as he's clearly been the weakest link on the OL.This post nails it.
Rewatch either or both of the last two games and just watch the three interior linemen. Hell, just watch #60. It’s a clinic out there. Watch how often they win one-on-one battles. Watch how tight they are in pass protection (which should ease the fears of Donald and Suh turning this year’s Super Bowl into The Scottish Game Redux). Watch how often and how far downfield these guys end up on runs and screens.
It's an interesting question how you evaluate someone with that large an opponent adjustment in place---essentially, it requires a monster game to actually 'be good' given the assumptions they have in place.I'm far from a FO fanboy but when you read the full analysis I think there is some merit. Basically Michel was punished because he was running against a bottom 5 run D and didn't average 4 YPC.
Agree to all of this and will add Sony was the 2nd ranked RB the previous week behind only CJ. In that game he benefited from going against the 9th rated run D. Not that it mattered all that much given the great game he had.It's an interesting question how you evaluate someone with that large an opponent adjustment in place---essentially, it requires a monster game to actually 'be good' given the assumptions they have in place.
I think what BB would say is that Michel's job is to get 4 yards on average and have a few biggers runs and few stuffs and he doesn't care how that compares to what some other back did in some other game situation 10 weeks ago.
So, FO might be correct that "Michel's performance yesterday does not show he is an above-average back" and BB may also be correct that "he did his job yesterday." Both can be true at the same time---and I'm not sure FO would really even argue that a single game sample tells us whether the player is (true talent level) actually good anyway.
Totally agree with the edit. He's the new Frank Gore. No negative yardage plays, constantly moving forward, and excellent leverage. Donald/Suh are getting all of the attention, but 21 personnel with Michel, Develin, Gronk, and the offensive line have had a great postseason blocking. Two 100+ yard games for Michel and no sacks of Brady. Donald and Suh might win the early rounds, but the 4th quarter should belong to this group.May have had to do with what KC did to adjust to the run. Having White/Burkhead out there opens up options to run/pass versus Michel who just hasn't been a threat in the passing game. That could change next year.
Edit: By the way, it can't be understated how good of a rookie season Michel had. Such a solid dependable player who will only get considerably better.
Your final sentence deserves praise for its accuracy.Totally agree with the edit. He's the new Frank Gore. No negative yardage plays, constantly moving forward, and excellent leverage. Donald/Suh are getting all of the attention, but 21 personnel with Michel, Develin, Gronk, and the offensive line have had a great postseason blocking. Two 100+ yard games for Michel and no sacks of Brady. Donald and Suh might win the early rounds, but the 4th quarter should belong to this group.
I think JC Jackson would at least warrant some discussion. The secondary really came together when he started getting more snaps and I know some sites had him as the 1B to Gillmore's 1A.Skipping my annual Pats Rookie of the Year poll because it's Michel and no doubt about it. Love what he gave us this year, look forward to many more.
Worth noting that rookie RBs are usually zeros in the passing game under BB. Vereen was a redshirt his first year, and White caught all of five passes as a rookie.Michel was billed post draft as a Kamara clone and that couldn't have been further from the truth. While I don't want to take away from his rookie season he was a zero in the passing game and had a poor elusive ranking. Had he not played behind what should now be considered the best OL in the NFL (laughably went to LAR) his season probably ends up quite different. He does run hard and gets what is blocked but right now he looks a lot more like Stevan Ridley than a true 3 down back.
I totally agree with this. The Patriots' passing system is position-agnostic, so a RB who's running routes has to know everything a WR does (including conversions / choices / sight adjustments), plus all the normal running back stuff (which hole to hit, how to read the DL, and the Patriots run a very multiple run game), plus all the blitz pickup stuff, which if you mess up might get #12 hurt. It is right up there with TE as the most complex position on the offense behind QB. Think about how hard it is for rookie WR to get integrated and then think about having two more responsibilities on top of what a WR needs to know.Worth noting that rookie RBs are usually zeros in the passing game under BB. Vereen was a redshirt his first year, and White caught all of five passes as a rookie.