The grind and pound power of Sony Michel

THOUSAND OAKS (News4usonline) – During the first three years of his NFL career, Sony Michel played ball with the New England Patriots. The responsibilities there for the fourth-year running back were more along with the smash and power football concept.

That was a whole different ballgame than what Michel is seeing now that he is a member of the Los Angeles Rams. Yes, Michel still gets in the middle of the grind of having to run the football between the tackles, but playing in Sean McVay’s offense opens up a new door for Michel, although that might not be reflected in his season numbers.

Through the team’s first 12 games, Michel has rushed for 426 yards. He had his biggest game of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars, rushing for 121 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries in the Rams’ 37-7 win. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford offered his take on Michel’s breakout game.

“Sony (Michel) I thought ran the ball really well,” remarked Stafford in his postgame comments. “Kind of going into the week, seeing the plan unfold, and I’m like, ‘This is a Sony Michel type of game.’ He’s just going to slug it out, wear on these dudes. I thought he was great in the pass game too. Gave him some opportunities in the pass game, did some nice stuff.

“I get a great view from where I’m at of him running the football and some of those four, five, six-yard runs are just things of beauty. And, you know, he’s a heavy guy. You know, when he starts running, I think the defenders feel it, so I was happy for him.” 

Punishing defenders with his bruising running style is what makes Michel effective as a downhill runner, McVay said.

“He’s physical. He’s tough. He’s got great contact balance and really good vision,” said McVay. “He’s just strong. When you’re just looking at Sony Michel, he’s a sturdy, tough back. So, all of those things are really reflective. He’s really conscientious, really smart. I’ve kind of mentioned it about (WR) Odell (Beckham Jr.) the last couple weeks, but people forget Sony came in here at the very end of training in camp and immediately is playing in Week 1, where he’s up and available against the Bears.”

“And then he had a huge workload against the Colts at the end of the game,” McVay added. “His football intelligence, makeup and who he is, is all about the right stuff. (I) love working with him. But I think ultimately the physicality, the build, his vision and his ability to be able to fall forward and kind of be able to naturally work edges, but deliver those body blows is what makes him a good physical-contact runner.”

The Rams got Michel through a trade with the Patriots in late summer for obvious reasons. With Cam Akers going down with a season-ending injury, the Rams had little or no choice but to get a backup plan. So they made a deal to bring in Michel.

With that trade, Michel said adios to the Patriots way and AFC play football.

“I feel like it’s a difference,” Michel said about playing for the Rams and in the NFC. “Obviously, everybody’s good in this league. It’s hard to win football games, but the reason why I say it’s different is that I’m in a whole different system and the way we’re able to spread the field. We run the ball a little different…out in space a little bit more. I mean, it’s really about the team. It’s a team philosophy. I won’t say the division because everybody has their own philosophy. It’s a little bit different.”

The adjustment period for Michel has been a mixed bag statistically. Prior to his breakout game against the Jaguars, Michel’s other productive workload outing came in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in which he rushed for 67 yards on 20 carries. The Rams are the No. 3 passing team in the NFL, so getting touches have come at a premium for Michel and the other Rams’ running backs.

“I’m adjusting,” remarked Michel after a team practice in October. “It’s been cool. It’s been fun being able to get accustomed to this offense. This team is predominantly a mid-zone, outside zone team. When I was in New England, I was running a lot of inside zone power, more downhill. I like to consider myself a football player, so I should be able to adjust to anything. It’s been great.”

Michel, who rushed for over 900 yards in each of his first two seasons in the league, was thrust into the position of being a more downhill runner, running in between tackles as opposed to being that home run hitter speedster he was at the University of Georgia. Many people sleep on that fact.

After all, it was Michel who busted loose for 181 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning 27-yard run against the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2018 Rose Bowl Game to lead the Bulldogs to a 54-48 win against a talented Baker Mayfield-led team.

This is the same Michel who was part of a super trio of star-studded running backs at Georgia that also featured D’Andre Swift (Detriot Lions) and Nick Chubb (Cleveland Browns). This is the same guy who was widely considered as one of the best high school running backs in the country while he starred at Amerian Heritage High School as a prep star. And yes, he was also a first-round draft pick. So you know he can ball.

Now is he the same runner who can turn on the jets the way he exploded on a big 75-yard touchdown run against the Sooners in the 2018 Rose Bowl Game? Michel thinks so.

“Yeah, just got to wait for that right opportunity,” Michel said. “Got to create the opportunities, definitely. It is a big difference in college and the NFL, but got to do it.”

Those opportunities come with production. Michel has been effective as a running back in the NFL by dialing in on the basics: focusing on simple fundamentals and experience.

“Sometimes as a running back, you know, I think, we always want to get those home run hit-and-runs,” Michel said. “Sometimes that leads to no yards gained because you’re doing too much. Sometimes, you just got to put your head down and get those tough yards, and eventually, you get that home run hit or play. And that’s kind of my outlook on it.”

Featured Image Caption: Los Angeles Rams running back Sony Michel (25) going through a pregame drill. Photo credit: Mark Hammond/News4usonline