My thoughts on Sony Michel

[SammyBlueCat]

Sony is good and so are all of other runnin' backs!

JUST LIKE I COACH EM'!!!

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Sony was damaged a good bit in college and I do expect him to miss quite a few games each year.

The good news is Harris is exactly what we need to compliment Sony. He can run, catch and is decent in pass protection.

 

[Brick27]

Watched every Sony game at Georgia. He missed 5 games his freshman year due a fractured shoulder blade of all things.

After that, he played in 13 of 13 his sophomore year, 12 of 13 junior year, and 14 of 15 senior year. Lets keep the narrative that he’s “always” missing lots of games though..

 

[Ivan]

I didn't notice any 10% increase in his breakaway speed during the season. Defenders always seem to catch up to him in the open field.

Emmitt Smith ran a 4.7

Vision is far more important than breakaway speed, reading blocks right and making the right cut at the right time is what matters the most.

 

[SBLIII]

Sony was damaged a good bit in college and I do expect him to miss quite a few games each year.

The good news is Harris is exactly what we need to compliment Sony. He can run, catch and is decent in pass protection.

Michel is fairly durable. I do not expect him to miss many games this year.

 

[luuked]

Emmitt Smith ran a 4.7

Vision is far more important than breakaway speed, reading blocks right and making the right cut at the right time is what matters the most.

Bingo. I'd rather have the RB who consistently takes what the OL creates for him, rarely gets tackled behind the line and so far has shown good ball security (except for the one play he got injured on in Chicago) than one who for every 20 yard run gets tackled a couple of times behind the LOS or simply reads his blocks wrong.

That "doing his job" aspect of it all is the most underappreciated thing in the entire BB tenure even though it is right under everyones nose. I'd take the reliable, low variance player all the time.

 

[woolster22]

Bingo. I'd rather have the RB who consistently takes what the OL creates for him, rarely gets tackled behind the line and so far has shown good ball security (except for the one play he got injured on in Chicago) than one who for every 20 yard run gets tackled a couple of times behind the LOS or simply reads his blocks wrong.

That "doing his job" aspect of it all is the most underappreciated thing in the entire BB tenure even though it is right under everyones nose. I'd take the reliable, low variance player all the time.

Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis says hi!

 

[Ivan]

Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis says hi!

Comparing BJGE to Michel is like comparing Cole Beasley to Edelman. Michel has more big plays his rookie season than BJGE had in his career.

 

[woolster22]

Comparing BJGE to Michel is like comparing Cole Beasley to Edelman. Michel has more big plays his rookie season than BJGE had in his career.

Read the last paragraph of the quote. "Reliable low variance player" over the home run threat. While there are more explosive threats all over the league, Sony is a top tier back of the BJGE type. Wont make a million people miss, wont run away from everyone, but he has great vision and is a punishing runner who seems to thrive on contact. A very reliable runner who can pick up chunk yardage occasionally. That's not too far off BJGE, who did the same thing in cinci before they drafted a couple young athletic backs (kinda like we did post BJGE).

 

[luuked]

Read the last paragraph of the quote. "Reliable low variance player" over the home run threat. While there are more explosive threats all over the league, Sony is a top tier back of the BJGE type. Wont make a million people miss, wont run away from everyone, but he has great vision and is a punishing runner who seems to thrive on contact. A very reliable runner who can pick up chunk yardage occasionally. That's not too far off BJGE, who did the same thing in cinci before they drafted a couple young athletic backs (kinda like we did post BJGE).

To be fair Ivan's comparison of Beasley to Edelman is apt from that point of view as well then.

I don't have an issue with people calling Michel a high-end BJGE. I don't really see how that is a bad thing. As with many things it seems like some like flashy players over efficient ones.

 

[Ivan]

To be fair Ivan's comparison of Beasley to Edelman is apt from that point of view as well then.

I don't have an issue with people calling Michel a high-end BJGE. I don't really see how that is a bad thing. As with many things it seems like some like flashy players over efficient ones.

I think Michel has much more big play ability than some here are giving him credit for. He’s really good between the tackles and he can take big chunks out of defenses when he gets to the second level. He may not take it to the house every time but I think that’s more because he is breaking his runs in the middle of the field, and not on the edges, where fewer defenders have a shot at him.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I think Michel has much more big play ability than some here are giving him credit for. He’s really good between the tackles and he can take big chunks out of defenses when he gets to the second level. He may not take it to the house every time but I think that’s more because he is breaking his runs in the middle of the field, and not on the edges, where fewer defenders have a shot at him.

Agreed, but BB might keep Michel between the tackles. Michel ran a 4.54 sec 40 - he is not a 4.4 guy. Harris ran a 4.57 sec 40, so Harris is going to make Sony look fast. I like the BJGE comparison, let's hope BB learned with the Maroney pick that vision is critical for a RB, athleticism is secondary. BJGE seems to confirm learning that lesson. The back with vision who has 4 ten yard carries is preferred the more athletic back with 1 forty yard carry in my opinion. So if we stay between the tackles, limit negative plays, pound the rock and have limited breakaway plays, all is well with me.

 

[Ivan]

Agreed, but BB might keep Michel between the tackles. Michel ran a 4.54 sec 40 - he is not a 4.4 guy. Harris ran a 4.57 sec 40, so Harris is going to make Sony look fast. I like the BJGE comparison, let's hope BB learned with the Maroney pick that vision is critical for a RB, athleticism is secondary. BJGE seems to confirm learning that lesson. The back with vision who has 4 ten yard carries is preferred the more athletic back with 1 forty yard carry in my opinion. So if we stay between the tackles, limit negative plays, pound the rock and have limited breakaway plays, all is well with me.

If people want to believe that Michel is like BJGE that’s their choice, I don’t see it at all and think he’s a much more dynamic player than BJGE ever was. Just because they use him between the tackles it doesn’t mean he’s just a grinder. And I think the reliance on 40 times is just a weak way to evaluate a player. I get that he isn’t Chris Johnson but he isn’t slow by any means.

 

[luuked]

I think Michel has much more big play ability than some here are giving him credit for. He’s really good between the tackles and he can take big chunks out of defenses when he gets to the second level. He may not take it to the house every time but I think that’s more because he is breaking his runs in the middle of the field, and not on the edges, where fewer defenders have a shot at him.

I agree and that's why if someone really wants to compare him to BJGE then the floor for this comparison is "high end version" of the Lawfirm.

Michel is one of the best pure RBs we have ever had under BB. And that is after his rookie season.

 

[Ivan]

I agree and that's why if someone really wants to compare him to BJGE then the floor for this comparison is "high end version" of the Lawfirm.

Michel is one of the best pure RBs we have ever had under BB. And that is after his rookie season.

Yep, agree completely.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Yep, agree completely.

I agree too. Maybe I should have said that Michel has Maroney's dynamic ability (4.51 40) coupled with BJGE's vision (4.6 40). The best of both is one of the best RBs we have had.

I only list the 40 time because it is an indicator of "break away" speed. Michel is closer to Maroney, Harris is closer to BJGE. I am sure we will hear that Harris is not fast later this year.

 

[woolster22]

If people want to believe that Michel is like BJGE that’s their choice, I don’t see it at all and think he’s a much more dynamic player than BJGE ever was. Just because they use him between the tackles it doesn’t mean he’s just a grinder. And I think the reliance on 40 times is just a weak way to evaluate a player. I get that he isn’t Chris Johnson but he isn’t slow by any means.

I was simply saying his style of play is pretty close to BJGE. Obviously, Sony has much better athletic ability. I said it in responce to someone theorizing BB prefers the 10 carries for 4 yards/per vs the guy that breaks one for 40 but loses yards on 3 and gets stopped for a few on the rest.

Sure, Sony has chunk play ability, but he carries that ability while being that Steady-Eddie, minimal negative plays, takes what he can set up and moves forward through contact guy. This kid can keep his feet/momentum and make a move in space to make a defense pay. One of my favorite things is he seems to thrive on contact early in games, often persuing it rather than settle for his 8-10 and get out of bounds. I never said he equated to BJGE. I was just pointing out a steong similarity in their styles. Where they diverge is where Sony's athletic ability clearly seperates him from lawfirm. Maybe saying he has LoMos body attached to BJGE's head works better for you?

I just don't understand the disdain for comparing two backs who both run efficiently on the back of their superior vision (ability to read/set up blocks and see things before they develop). I don't think anyone ever said Sony was slow (maybe slow in comparison to someone) , just that he isn't exactly a home run threat.

 

[Ivan]

I was simply saying his style of play is pretty close to BJGE. Obviously, Sony has much better athletic ability. I said it in responce to someone theorizing BB prefers the 10 carries for 4 yards/per vs the guy that breaks one for 40 but loses yards on 3 and gets stopped for a few on the rest.

Sure, Sony has chunk play ability, but he carries that ability while being that Steady-Eddie, minimal negative plays, takes what he can set up and moves forward through contact guy. This kid can keep his feet/momentum and make a move in space to make a defense pay. One of my favorite things is he seems to thrive on contact early in games, often persuing it rather than settle for his 8-10 and get out of bounds. I never said he equated to BJGE. I was just pointing out a steong similarity in their styles. Where they diverge is where Sony's athletic ability clearly seperates him from lawfirm. Maybe saying he has LoMos body attached to BJGE's head works better for you?

I just don't understand the disdain for comparing two backs who both run efficiently on the back of their superior vision (ability to read/set up blocks and see things before they develop). I don't think anyone ever said Sony was slow (maybe slow in comparison to someone) , just that he isn't exactly a home run threat.

I just think that Michel is a much more dangerous back than BJGE was. BJGE ground out his 4 yards, Michel can go 30-40 on any carry.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I just think that Michel is a much more dangerous back than BJGE was. BJGE ground out his 4 yards, Michel can go 30-40 on any carry.

Are people saying Law Firm is better than Sony?

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Are people saying Law Firm is better than Sony?

I don't think it's a stretch to say that Law Firm's 2010 season was better than Michel's rookie season, but Michel has more upside. Neither BJGE nor Michel have had many long runs, although I expect more as Sony's develops; his career is still young. Let's not downplay how solid the Law Firm was for us, however. He had more wiggle than we give him credit for in this thread.

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