GREEN BAY, Wisc. — The Patriots received their first take a look at Ezekiel Elliott in a navy blue No. 15 apply jersey Wednesday and are already enthusiastic about what the three-time Pro Bowl choice can deliver to their offense.
Elliott’s whirlwind 24-hour span of flying from Dallas to New England, signing his one-year contract, touring to Green Bay with the remainder of his teammates and going over the fundamentals of the offense ended with him taking part in walk-through drills in his first official day as a Patriots operating again.
“Zeke’s awesome so far,” quarterback Mac Jones stated Wednesday. “Already was in there getting some reps, so that was pretty cool to see fresh off a plane trying to come out here and compete. But yeah, he seems like a great fit. Really want to just take him under our wing. He’s a guy who’s played a lot of football in the NFL. So, just trying to learn from him, too.”
The Patriots labored individually as a workforce on Clark Hinkle Field underneath the backdrop of Lambeau area earlier than becoming a member of the Packers at Ray Nitschke Field for joint practices. Elliott took handoffs from Jones and Bailey Zappe and caught passes from Jones earlier than sitting out the remainder of apply as fellow operating backs Rhamondre Stevenson, Kevin Harris and J.J. Taylor dealt with the full-contact workload.
Jones’ major concern was ensuring Elliott seemed the a part of his new workforce.
“He just got here. He was just in his pajamas,” Jones stated laughing. “Really simply making an attempt to get him some Patriots gear and ensure he’s good to go. He is aware of soccer. It’s simply the terminology is just a little bit totally different. I’m not frightened about him. I feel most significantly, the road is doing a very good job within the operating sport proper now. I do know he sees that. He’s excited.
“Him and ‘Mondre are going to be a great 1-2 punch. And then the other guys, too. You can’t forget about the other guys in our room. So, it’s going to be good.”
The Patriots initially hosted Elliott on a go to late final month after they’d additionally proven curiosity in free-agent operating backs Leonard Fournette and Darrell Henderson.
The workforce’s backfield already wanted a reliable veteran to enhance Stevenson earlier than backup Pierre Strong began lacking apply time final week. Stevenson carried the load for the Patriots as Damien Harris, who signed with the Buffalo Bills as a free agent this offseason, handled accidents. Stevenson’s workload was being managed early in apply to verify he might keep contemporary by way of the season. Adding Elliott will assist that, as effectively.
“Yeah, it’s good to have Zeke,” head coach Bill Belichick stated. “We had a good visit with him, and I look forward to working with him.”
Elliott carried the ball 231 occasions for 876 yards with 12 touchdowns for the Cowboys final season earlier than getting launched for contractual causes in March. It was the primary season of Elliott’s profession that he averaged lower than 4 yards per carry. He additionally caught 17 passes for 92 yards.
Belichick made positive Elliott was ready to deal with some apply time Wednesday.
“I spent time with him last night and on the trip, on terminology and plays and protections, things like that,” Belichick stated. “We’ll work him in there when he’s ready and we’ll see how that goes.”
Stevenson, who carried the ball 210 occasions for 1,040 yards with 5 touchdowns final season, received to know Elliott in 2021 once they have been underneath the identical company.
The Patriots beginning operating again had been mum on Elliott earlier than the signing grew to become official. Now he stated he feels Elliott will assist the workforce “tremendously” and that their video games will complement one another “very well.”
“The way he runs the ball, his determination, his relentlessness,” Stevenson stated when requested what he admires about Elliott. “He’s just going to give it all he’s got.”
The Patriots’ offensive line has been banged up throughout coaching camp with left deal with Trent Brown, left guard Cole Strange, middle David Andrews and proper guard Mike Onwenu, who stays on the bodily unable to carry out listing, lacking time. Brown and Andrews are again, however Strange, Onwenu and swing deal with Calvin Anderson – on the non-football sickness listing – stay out.
The Patriots’ remaining blockers have had hassle defending Jones. They additionally struggled of their preseason opener final Thursday towards the Houston Texans. The mixture of Stevenson and Elliott might take stress off of Jones and the passing sport.
“I think he’s a great add to the team,” Brown stated. “Another veteran presence in the running back room. Another good running back to add on with Rhamondre. I think we can do some special things with those guys and that group.”
The Patriots haven’t actually had a operating again by committee like Stevenson and Elliott. They sometimes have a giant early-down runner who contributes little within the passing sport and a smaller third-down again within the mould of James White or Kevin Faulk. Stevenson and Elliott are backs who can deal with an early-down workload, catch passes out of the backfield and maybe most significantly, choose up a blitz.
Though Elliott’s addition might trigger the Patriots to run the ball extra closely, his versatility, together with Stevenson’s, must also make the offense much less predictable than they might have been with a delegated pass-catching again.
Source: www.bostonherald.com