Sony Michel reportedly ‘much improved’ in terms of passing game role

If early reports are to be believed, Patriots running back Sony Michel has made tremendous strides in diversifying his skill set as a receiving option.

It’s hard to find much to criticize in New England Patriots running back Sony Michel’s rookie season last year.

The first-round pick out of Georgia rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and had six touchdowns in the regular season, and then another six touchdowns in the postseason. He averaged a robust 4.5 yards per carry during the regular season, then kicked it up a couple notches to 4.7 yards per clip in the playoffs.

All in all, his inaugural NFL campaign was a resounding success. It’s not hyperbole to suggest that the Patriots might not be where they are today – six-time world champions – were it not for Michel’s impressive downfield running and continued improvement along the calendar year.

The one area Michel really didn’t contribute much in, however, was as a receiver. Whenever Michel was on the field – especially as opposed to when more talented pass-catching backs like James White and Rex Burkhead were on the field – opposing defenses usually assumed that the Patriots planned to run.

Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has made a name for himself by creating the perfect juggernaut, year in and year out, up in New England, and he’s done it largely by making this offense unpredictable. One week they’re a power-running team, the next they’re spreading out their receivers five-wide. One week they’re unveiling gadget plays and trick formations, the next they’re rolling out two tight-end sets like it’s 2011 again.

All this is to say that McDaniels doesn’t want to send out an offense that telegraphs his play-call intentions every game. Michel is too talented and valuable a player to keep on the bench in favor of Burkhead, so it wasn’t a surprise to hear reports coming out of Foxborough this summer that Michel was actively working to improve his abilities as a pass-catcher.

Not only does Michel advance his own stock and playing time opportunities by developing his hands as a receiver, but by doing so, he frees up McDaniels to come up with even more diverse, unpredictable gameplans that will leave opposing defensive coordinators guessing as to what the Patriots plan to do.

Per NBC Sports’ Josh Alper, Michel’s work has already begun to pay off. New England running backs coach Ivan Fears said that Michel was “much improved” in his pass-catching abilities, and that the second-year player was bound to make a massive leap in all receiving categories this season.

Here’s what Fears said exactly, per Alper:

"“The whole key to make it so we’re interchangeable, everybody looks at us saying they can do both. We like to be in that kind of mode, they got to worry about Sony catching the ball as well as running the ball. I think you’ll find Sony is going to do very well in the passing game, and I bet you’ll find James White and the rest of the guys doing very well in the running game also. We’re going to try to keep that going.”"

It’s important to note that Fears also suggested James White could have a greater role as a pure runner this season as well. White actually did quite well in that position early-on last season while Michel missed time due to injuries.