Super Bowl 53: Takeaways and lasting impressions

Sony Michel is for real, and the future of this offense.

Not since the days of Corey Dillon has the Patriots offense possessed a running back like Sony Michel.

The Georgia product came exactly as advertised in his rookie season, again proving Belichick to be as capable a GM as he is a head coach. Michel’s selection at No. 31 in the first round of last year’s draft may have come as a bit of a surprise, but just 10 months later, it looks like a steal.

Michel missed three games due to injury, and still finished with 931 yards on the ground and another 50 through the air. He also rumbled for six touchdowns and a 4.5 yards per attempt rushing average. Those are phenomenal numbers any way you look at them.

What’s really scary for opposing defensive coordinators is that Michel may just be getting started. Especially as Brady continues to potentially do less and less as he ages, Michel is set up to be the engine of the offense that makes the whole thing go. If he can log a solid offseason of work – and perhaps improve his pass-catching ability – he stands a real chance of becoming a true three-down back, and might even crack the NFL’s Top Ten list of running backs in 2019 (he finished No. 15 this season).