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RB Sony Michel (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Faust
- Start date
zamboni
Footballguy
Or he could be in Belichick’s doghouse and they use Burkhead more and/or activate Harris to spark the running game.
You just never know with Bill.
oddsbodkins
Footballguy
Had no room to run whenever he had the ball. Not like he missed assignments or fumbled... just wasn't his night. No way I'm selling yet. He's too good and that offense is too potent.
jm192
Footballguy
He got 15 carries. He's on pace for 240 carries. If he was more effective, maybe he's closer to 20 carries. With Brown, Gordon, Edelman, this team will score a ton of TD's. And I assume he'll be the main beneficiary with the goal line work.
I had honestly thought he'd have a bit of passing game work--but with Burkhead and White getting 5 catches each, it's going to be a tough season for White in that respect.
I think he's a solid buy low, but these weeks have always happened with the Pats backfield.
I had honestly thought he'd have a bit of passing game work--but with Burkhead and White getting 5 catches each, it's going to be a tough season for White in that respect.
I think he's a solid buy low, but these weeks have always happened with the Pats backfield.
rockaction
Footballguy
He ran against stacked boxes all night, and when they ran play action with him in the game, Edelman and Gordon benefited.
15 touches is a lot for a Belichick back. He's never going to have the twenty touch a game role, but this is as distinct a carving out as you'll see back there.
15 touches is a lot for a Belichick back. He's never going to have the twenty touch a game role, but this is as distinct a carving out as you'll see back there.
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Dizzy
Footballguy
I popped in here hoping for guys to talk me off the ledge, but this is exactly what I saw as well.
In a 3-back rotation he sure looked like the least decisive and explosive. He even started dancing a bit on a couple carries in the 4th QTR. If I saw it, BB saw it, and as we all know... it doesn't take much to go from hero to zero in BB's offense.
He needs to run crazy on the Phins next week to reassert himself IMO.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Not sure I am buying or reading into much about last night late in the game. They were up by 30 points. He probably shouldn't have been in there much by that point (and we saw a lot of Burkhead). Having had suffered some knee injuries in the past, he may have just been trying to not get hurt. It was different for Rex . . . he's trying to carve out a bigger role. We know they liked Michel enough to deactivate Harris. Plus Cannon got dinged late, they were playing with Karras at center for the first time this year, Wynn was playing his first game as a pro . . . and it looked to me like the run blocking wasn't all that great (especially not playing a TE most of the game). One game does not make a trend. Let's give it a few more games.
Dizzy
Footballguy
I'm with you, and I know it's only week 1, but lets not kid ourselves... there were some flags last night.
A lot of truths hidden in what you wrote - Burkhead running like a guy that wants a bigger role... Michel running like a guy trying not to get hurt.
Not to mention the "Michel to be more involved in the passing game" talk of preseason. I didn't expect him to kick White to the curb, but a few targets would have been nice.
Gary Coal Man
Footballguy
Michel will be fine. The running lanes are going to be amazing once defenses have to account for Edelman, Gordon, and Brown.
Dizzy
Footballguy
Yeah... feels like there should have been some lanes like that last night with Brady chucking it all over the field.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
No team completely schemes and games plans differently from opponent to opponent like NE does. They aren't stupid . . . they knew PIT would stuff the run. But they kept calling run plays to set up the play action that the Steelers have proven they can't cover. I think you may be looking at it wrong. BB could be telling the team Michel did them a solid and took some shots for the team to open up the passing game and they won going away.
I always felt the MIchel will be more involved in the passing game stuff was propaganda meant more for defensive coordinators than being a real thing. I would guess on occasion they will call plays where Michel runs a route (but not really throw it to him much). Then they will find a time where he takes a swing pass for 40 yards. The whole point of the exercise is to get defenders out of the box, and as long as they thing Michel will go out for routes, that will change how the defense aligns. Once Brown gets up to speed, I think Michel will find things a lot easier with more holes and room to operate.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Pats were up from the jump.
If there ever was a game-flow that you’d think would be the most Sony Michele-friendly opportunity for production, it was this one.
Up early, grind out the clock, bang it between the tackles....that seems like what Michele owners were envisioning headed into the season.
Instead I saw more carries out of James White, and I believe I even saw Edelman carry the rock once?
I mean, I get the “keep him healthy up 30” thought process, but we’re talking about a game where Brady was throwing over the middle to Edelman while up 30, so it’s hard to see that being the Pats mentality considering.
to me this just feels like what we’ve seen of the Pats since Corey Dillon left - Bellichick don’t give AF about your fantasy teams. If you think you know the right NE RB to draft, you’ll be wrong every time.
The only successful NEP RB I’ve had was White, and I got him with a 12th round pick as a depth play last year.
Maybe i’m off, and I’m 100% sure Sony will have a big game here or there, but there’s literally no better game script for Michele than what we saw last night and yet the Pats didn’t use him.
Meanwhile sexy rexy did more than enough to cement a larger role moving forward. I remember trading for Rex prior to last season when there were rumblings about his challenging for the RB1 job...then he got hurt & poof!
If I were a Michele owner I’d be very concerned about his usage moving forward.
If there ever was a game-flow that you’d think would be the most Sony Michele-friendly opportunity for production, it was this one.
Up early, grind out the clock, bang it between the tackles....that seems like what Michele owners were envisioning headed into the season.
Instead I saw more carries out of James White, and I believe I even saw Edelman carry the rock once?
I mean, I get the “keep him healthy up 30” thought process, but we’re talking about a game where Brady was throwing over the middle to Edelman while up 30, so it’s hard to see that being the Pats mentality considering.
to me this just feels like what we’ve seen of the Pats since Corey Dillon left - Bellichick don’t give AF about your fantasy teams. If you think you know the right NE RB to draft, you’ll be wrong every time.
The only successful NEP RB I’ve had was White, and I got him with a 12th round pick as a depth play last year.
Maybe i’m off, and I’m 100% sure Sony will have a big game here or there, but there’s literally no better game script for Michele than what we saw last night and yet the Pats didn’t use him.
Meanwhile sexy rexy did more than enough to cement a larger role moving forward. I remember trading for Rex prior to last season when there were rumblings about his challenging for the RB1 job...then he got hurt & poof!
If I were a Michele owner I’d be very concerned about his usage moving forward.
i know Michel was great in the playoffs last year... but wouldnt it help their offense to let him participate in the passing game? I mean right now when he's on the field... you can pretty much sell out on the run... last night he had 15 carries on 23 snaps... zero targets
edit: they had 33 points so i guess critiquing the offense is silly... but it makes it tougher on sony not having variety
edit: they had 33 points so i guess critiquing the offense is silly... but it makes it tougher on sony not having variety
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Anarchy99
Footballguy
I disagree (see above), but different strokes for different folks. BB could have lit a fire under Rex and said show me something or your roster spot will be going to Antonio Brown. Would that have been a motivator? Rex is relatively expensive and they are up against the cap.
It's no secret the Steelers are great at stuffing the run and not so great at defending the pass. This isn't news. White and Burkhead were in the game together and thus became a match up nightmare for PIT. Michel was in the game with no TE. There are any number of reasons why Michel had a bad game fantasy wise. That doesn't necessarily mean he had a bad game in BB's eyes.
There is no questioning that NE is one dimensional when Michel is in there with regard to what he will do. He's not going to catch the ball (at least they haven't done that much). I don't think Rex cemented a role moving forward. I think Rex cemented a role if they are up by 30 moving forward. BB is not going to burn his players out in September. Anyone expecting huge carry total for Michel at this stage needed a reality check.
Lost in all of this was the fact that NE scored from distance. They didn't have goal line looks. No TD chances for Michel. It's a long season. Wait until they start spreading teams out at the two yard line and Michel walks into the end zone. It was one game . . . people should not be jumping off the cliff.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Time will tell. This sounds a bit wishful.
Yea, it was one game. But it’s not like we haven’t seen a decade+ of this Pats era.
The only RB I would have drafted this year was White, as IMO he’s the only one with a predictable role.
We’ll see what happens in the coming weeks, but it should come as a shock to no one of Burkhead gets a couple of those GL carries after what we saw last night.
I’m not saying I can explain it - I’m just reading the tea leaves like anyone else. Burkhead looked explosive & ran with determination. And they leaned on him well before they were up 30.
and yeah - they scored from deep - a couple times on PA, which was seemingly made effective by the running threat that Burkhead created.
I agree that Michele will have a 2-TD game here or there. I said as much in the post you quoted.
But predicting when that’s going to happen might be challenging.
They play the dolphins next, & there should again me *ample* game script for RB success. Especially for a back like Michele.
If it’s Rex carrying the load again, It becomes much harder to believe the “keeping Sony fresh” narrative.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Burkhead had 8 carries. Is that really carrying the load? This is his third season . . . has NE ever used Burkhead as a heavy workload back? With no Gronk and no healthy TE on the roster, it was predictable that the RBs were going to see a lot of targets. Just like Michel was never going to see 25 carries early in the season. Michel's value is TD dependent and later in the fantasy playoff season when they ramp up the running game.
I am not sure why people get so confused over the NE backfield. There is usually an early down RB (Michel) and a pass catching back (White). They usually have another guy to spell them that will come in for a series (Burkhead). Now they have Harris as a luxury in case someone gets hurt. And in NE, someone ALWAYS gets hurt.
There is always a chance that someone could vulture a TD . . . even if that's a FB. Just how things go sometimes.
I am not sure why people get so confused over the NE backfield. There is usually an early down RB (Michel) and a pass catching back (White). They usually have another guy to spell them that will come in for a series (Burkhead). Now they have Harris as a luxury in case someone gets hurt. And in NE, someone ALWAYS gets hurt.
There is always a chance that someone could vulture a TD . . . even if that's a FB. Just how things go sometimes.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
I mean, the way they played last night yes, it was.
More importantly he was out there in what I considered key situations. Short yardage, game still close, and got the job done.
What should be of greater concern to Michele owners is the quality of carries vs the quantity.
Michele had 15 carries for 14 yards. That’s....not good.
And yeah, PIT is a tough run D. But against that same tough run D, we saw Burkhead turn 8 carries into 44 yards.
We saw White turn 4 carries into 25 yards.
we even saw Edelman turn 1 carry into 8 yards & Boldin turn 1 carry into 7 yards.
So why less than 1 YPC for Michele?
I agree with the first part. The bolded part seems like speculation & i’m not sure how accurate it is.
I’m not confused by it, I just think it’s a cluster. I avoided NE RBs for that reason.
Headed into this season, consensus rankings, expert write-ups & FF managers alike treated Sony/White as though it was a Kamara/Murray situation.
Burkhead was spoken about exactly none times, near as I can tell. Nothing indicated Rex would have a large role (IIRC he was even released briefly at one point in the preseason)
That seems to have been off-base in retrospect.
Of course. But again, Michele was thought of as the back at the stripe for the Pats, and that’s why he was a 4th or 5th round pick. So if he does get vultured by Burkhead, his perceived value will only sink further.
and i’m not sure he’s a great buy low. Possibly. Depends how low.
But I concede that like anyone, I have no idea what the Pats will do game to game, week to week. It could just all be by design for this one game & then next game we’ll see a much different script.
It’ll be interesting to watch. Glad I’m not invested in that backfield - thrilled to have Brady as a superflex/QB2 behind Mahomes in dynasty though.
i think the Dolphins game will be telling though. Pats shouldn’t even have Brady suit up for that one. Edelman can play wildcat all game.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
NE has done the same thing, year after year, yet people get flumoxed by what they do for some reason. NE usually has their main tailback start the game and get a few drives in. They will sub out their receiving back where needed. At some point, they usually have a secondary back go in for an entire drive to give the other two guys a break. If the drive is successful, that back could see a lot of touches. If the drive stalls say in a three and out, we might not even notice that other back was in there. I suspect that's what we saw with Burkhead. Put another way, I don't Burkhead suddenly grabbing a bigger portion of the RB pie based off of one game . . . especially if Michel wasn't fumbling or missing blitzers.I mean, the way they played last night yes, it was.
More importantly he was out there in what I considered key situations. Short yardage, game still close, and got the job done.
What should be of greater concern to Michele owners is the quality of carries vs the quantity.
Michele had 15 carries for 14 yards. That’s....not good.
And yeah, PIT is a tough run D. But against that same tough run D, we saw Burkhead turn 8 carries into 44 yards.
We saw White turn 4 carries into 25 yards.
we even saw Edelman turn 1 carry into 8 yards & Boldin turn 1 carry into 7 yards.
So why less than 1 YPC for Michele?
I agree with the first part. The bolded part seems like speculation & i’m not sure how accurate it is.
I’m not confused by it, I just think it’s a cluster. I avoided NE RBs for that reason.
Headed into this season, consensus rankings, expert write-ups & FF managers alike treated Sony/White as though it was a Kamara/Murray situation.
Burkhead was spoken about exactly none times, near as I can tell. Nothing indicated Rex would have a large role (IIRC he was even released briefly at one point in the preseason)
That seems to have been off-base in retrospect.
Of course. But again, Michele was thought of as the back at the stripe for the Pats, and that’s why he was a 4th or 5th round pick. So if he does get vultured by Burkhead, his perceived value will only sink further.
and i’m not sure he’s a great buy low. Possibly. Depends how low.
But I concede that like anyone, I have no idea what the Pats will do game to game, week to week. It could just all be by design for this one game & then next game we’ll see a much different script.
It’ll be interesting to watch. Glad I’m not invested in that backfield - thrilled to have Brady as a superflex/QB2 behind Mahomes in dynasty though.
i think the Dolphins game will be telling though. Pats shouldn’t even have Brady suit up for that one. Edelman can play wildcat all game.
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Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
But if he sits around 1 YPC we certainly could.
Again, I believe the dolphins game will be an important signpost for Sony Michele’s value looking forward.
Pats football, as you partly elude to above, is predicted on “next man up” - and underperforming is just as bad as fumbling or missing blocks.
If Michele ain’t gettin it done, they’ll see if Rex can. When Sony was still recovering from the knee, Burkhead was being talked up pretty good by the Pats.
Billichick isn’t married to any player except Brady. And that’s the one thing we know for an absolute fact. And even if Brady got hurt I’m pretty sure it’d be a “next man up” mentality.
Wrigley
Footballguy
Anarchy99
Footballguy
But the only one who can consider what is unproductive is BB. Not worth repeating what I already posted, but they had a tough opponent to run against, the NE OL was playing guys that hadn't played together before (and had an injury during the game), Brady didn't see a ton of pressure, and they won by 30. I would have to go watch the game again to see who didn't do their job. To me, it looked like Michel was hit in the backfield constantly. Is it his fault if there is no blocking? BB could watch the tape and conclude Michel, while not getting very far, did what he was asked to do. He didn't fumble, he took a lot of hits, and he set up play action for later in the game.
Gary Coal Man
Footballguy
Bad game. It happens.
Nearly every player ever, including Hall of Famers, have put up a dud game here or there.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
See above for lost of Pats players who averaged substantially more than 1 YPC.
I hear what you’re saying, but I’m having trouble reconciling that with how well literally every other player who ran the ball performed against that same defense with that same OL.
So doesn’t that point to a crappy performance by Michele? I don’t mean to sound disagreeable here, but you seem to be affording him an awful lot of benefit of the doubt/excuses for his poor performance,, perhaps undeservedly so.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Sure, that happens. But Michele ain’t a HOF-er.
some players on some teams can afford to put up an absolute stinker like that.
Michele likely cant.
Anarchy said above that maybe Bellichick was sending a message to Burkhead to play hard. If we’re speculating, maybe he was sending a message to Michele that he wasn’t playing hard enough by giving Burkhead those touches.
Gary Coal Man
Footballguy
Or maybe Belichick recognized that Burkhead was having a better game than Michel so Belichick gave Burkhead more carries, but Belichick will go right back to Michel next week because: (A) Belichick recognizes that players have an occasional down game; and (B) Belichick saw Michel carry the Patriots to a Super Bowl down the stretch last season.Sure, that happens. But Michele ain’t a HOF-er.
some players on some teams can afford to put up an absolute stinker like that.
Michele likely cant.
Anarchy said above that maybe Bellichick was sending a message to Burkhead to play hard. If we’re speculating, maybe he was sending a message to Michele that he wasn’t playing hard enough by giving Burkhead those touches.
You’re making too much out of one game.
I expect all of Michel, Harris, and Burkhead to get over 100 total yards each next week @ MIA.
Truthfully, though, I wouldn't worry about Burkhead too much. He had a 22% target share last night. They don't have a lot of confidence in their TE's and are running a lot of 20 personnel (0 TE) and 21 personnel (2 RB, 1 TE, 2 WR). Last night with a lot of 2 and 3 WR sets, they are going to throw Burkhead in the backfield because he can catch + run, whereas if White is in there he is the obvious pass-catching back to the Steelers. It just adds a little versatility.
Burkhead will not have a 22% target share next week, I tell you that much.
rockaction
Footballguy
I'm not bothering reading because it doesn't seem that anybody but Anarchy99 watched the game. It was 33-3 and Pittsburgh stacked the box and gave the Patriots everything else by playing man coverage all night.
When you shove eight in the box with no TE, that's how you're going to get stuffed. He was in the backfield most of the night with no holes.
I'd sell, but only for a price that begs it. Right now I have Elliott, Michel, Jacobs, Singletary, and McCoy on my mainer, and I've got Michel locked at RB2 on my team. There really is no debate about it with me.
When you shove eight in the box with no TE, that's how you're going to get stuffed. He was in the backfield most of the night with no holes.
I'd sell, but only for a price that begs it. Right now I have Elliott, Michel, Jacobs, Singletary, and McCoy on my mainer, and I've got Michel locked at RB2 on my team. There really is no debate about it with me.
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Anarchy99
Footballguy
I am not BB, but I know him well enough as an observer that he is not going to change anything after a single game on opening night. In other seasons, NE has struggled in September and many times have been 2-2 record wise. BB is not going to start making tweaks to the usage pattern this soon, especially not for a first round pick, and especially not for a guy that practically carried the team in the most recent post season. Until we have more evidence that either Michel is not doing what he is supposed to, is hurt, or starts fumbling, I would not be concerned.
Also of note is that Brady several times switched from passing calls to running plays with either White or Burkhead in the game. They also played both guys at the same time. They may swap from a run to a pass with Michel in the game, but Michel wouldn't get the ball in that situation. If Brady does that, that means he sees the defense playing off the line and a running lane is available. Not really sure anyone can blame Michel for that.
rockaction
Footballguy
The only posts in here that make sense are accounting for personnel and what the Steelers are trying to do. Any historical Belichick nonsense is just that. Belichick is going to gameplan for what you give him, and that's play action if need be.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
This is silly. NE is one of the most predictable backfields to figure out in the entire league.
rockaction
Footballguy
Wrigley
Footballguy
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Correct. We know for now that they aren't going to run Michel in routes and he more than likely won't be in on passing downs. It makes his utility somewhat limited for now and it makes the defense able to key on him. It normally means it's a running play and he will be the one getting the ball. That's generally playing to the other teams strength (unless the opponent can't stop the run). Unlike prior seasons, NE doesn't have the TE personnel at the moment to really go run jumbo packages unless they use OL men as TE's. But they also have OL injuries, so that isn't really an option so they have to use Devlin.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
rockaction
Footballguy
I'm not sure what you were watching then, because it was fifteen carries by a New England back in a 33-3 blowout from the jump, which doesn't suggest anything but proper and consistent usage of a fantasy RB2.
It was the late game. I’m pretty sure we all watched it.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
I was watching that back struggle to get 1 YPC, and then not get carries later in a game script that I would have otherwise expected a healthy Michele to thrive in.
if they were down 30, would that be when they lean on Michele? No, that’s probably White.
So does a game have to be perfectly even in score for Michele to have his sweet spot for usage?
Just trying to figure out when Michele will be used otherwise since up 30 is Burkhead time, and down 30 is White.
So to use your phrase, I’m not sure what game you were watching, but in the one I saw, Sony Michele was absolutely terrible & then didn’t get used when they were ahead.
Yes, it's one game, but that’s all we have to go by for now.
rockaction
Footballguy
He struggled for 1 YPC but got usage that never varied. The other team saw the emphasis last year in the playoffs, noted it, and stacked the box and played man. That was all we have to go on. One team that stacked the box and defended what won the NEP the Super Bowl.
In expected run situations, which Michel was in last night, YPC goes way down. I forget who measured that, but for sure it does. Saying he was up so he should have gained yards just isn't true. The only thing worrisome last night about Michel, not Michele, is that he got no targets when it had been emphasized he might see some targets in the regular season. It's too bad I roster him, or I'd be looking to buy low. I hope Deshaun has a lousy game because I'm so confident in Michel I'll try and package McCoy and Roethlisberger to the Watson owner who has WIlliams and I won't blink when I do it. I've got six viable backs right now. Michel is a solid RB2 right now in my estimation, and that estimation won't waver because of one game.
In expected run situations, which Michel was in last night, YPC goes way down. I forget who measured that, but for sure it does. Saying he was up so he should have gained yards just isn't true. The only thing worrisome last night about Michel, not Michele, is that he got no targets when it had been emphasized he might see some targets in the regular season. It's too bad I roster him, or I'd be looking to buy low. I hope Deshaun has a lousy game because I'm so confident in Michel I'll try and package McCoy and Roethlisberger to the Watson owner who has WIlliams and I won't blink when I do it. I've got six viable backs right now. Michel is a solid RB2 right now in my estimation, and that estimation won't waver because of one game.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
There is no need for Michel to be running up his carries this early in the season. They were ahead by 30. They could have given snaps and carries to Bolden or Burkhead. This week they chose Burkhead. If Burkhead got hurt, they would not care as much as if it had been Michel. This is Burkhead's third season in NE. He's had as many carries as Michel had this week once . . . Week 1 last year when Michel was hurt.I was watching that back struggle to get 1 YPC, and then not get carries later in a game script that I would have otherwise expected a healthy Michele to thrive in.
if they were down 30, would that be when they lean on Michele? No, that’s probably White.
So does a game have to be perfectly even in score for Michele to have his sweet spot for usage?
Just trying to figure out when Michele will be used otherwise since up 30 is Burkhead time, and down 30 is White.
So to use your phrase, I’m not sure what game you were watching, but in the one I saw, Sony Michele was absolutely terrible & then didn’t get used when they were ahead.
Yes, it's one game, but that’s all we have to go by for now.
So to answer your question, up by 30 or down by 30 the RB won't be Michel. Up by 7-14 it would probably have been Michel if they wanted to run the clock. Again, the biggest part of all of this is that IT WAS THE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON. If Michel is averaging 1.0 ypc after 60 carries and we are in October, then yes, we should be concerned.
The bigger issue will be who NE uses at TE to block and if their OL holds up as they already have had some injuries. Because if those two things don't get straightened out, the other RB's won't be able to gain much on the ground either. So instead of people wondering what is wrong with Michel and when will they bench him, people should understand that BB and McDaniels will be working on why they didn't get more out of the running game. And for now I would tend to think that the breakdown or those that were not doing their job was not Michel.
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Judge Smails
Footballguy
I want him in December
Anarchy99
Footballguy
I think this is another example of fantasy owners not thinking like coaches. There were lots of people posting about which NE TE was the one to own based on numbers from prior seasons essentially from Gronk. I suggested there was no NE TE to own because NE does what fits their team, and what fits their team is playing to their strengths. This year, TE is not a strength. I openly wondered why this year FBG's projected the team totals for NE TE's to be the same as prior years with Gronk. It didn't make any sense.
NE circa 2019 is based on WR's and RB's. That's what is going to get them where they need to go. BB already knows he doesn't want to expose TB to too many hits. Even with a strong passing game, NE is going to run the ball a lot and half roughly a 50/50 pass to run ratio when at all possible. They are not going to go crazy passing unless they are behind (which I am really struggling to figure out how often that will be).
So yes, guys like Burkhead may see some extra carries because NE will likely be running a lot. White might get some runs that started out in the huddle as passes. Bolden might get in here and there. Devlin might vulture a few receptions and TD's. But this team is still going to run a lot and Michel is going to get a lot of carries. IMO, Harris is the wildcard, as so far he was the odd man out. He would be the primary competition to Michel (if there were to be one), as we know who White and Burkhead are. He may be more in direct competition with Burkhead, as they may share similar attributes. Certainly worth monitoring as time goes by.
So if Hot Sauce is on to something (ie if MIchel were in any danger of a reduced role), I would think the guy that would be next man up would be Harris not Burkhead.
NE circa 2019 is based on WR's and RB's. That's what is going to get them where they need to go. BB already knows he doesn't want to expose TB to too many hits. Even with a strong passing game, NE is going to run the ball a lot and half roughly a 50/50 pass to run ratio when at all possible. They are not going to go crazy passing unless they are behind (which I am really struggling to figure out how often that will be).
So yes, guys like Burkhead may see some extra carries because NE will likely be running a lot. White might get some runs that started out in the huddle as passes. Bolden might get in here and there. Devlin might vulture a few receptions and TD's. But this team is still going to run a lot and Michel is going to get a lot of carries. IMO, Harris is the wildcard, as so far he was the odd man out. He would be the primary competition to Michel (if there were to be one), as we know who White and Burkhead are. He may be more in direct competition with Burkhead, as they may share similar attributes. Certainly worth monitoring as time goes by.
So if Hot Sauce is on to something (ie if MIchel were in any danger of a reduced role), I would think the guy that would be next man up would be Harris not Burkhead.
