FOXBORO — The Patriots are properly conscious of their greatest present want for veteran depth on their roster.
That’s why the crew has introduced in free brokers Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette and Darrell Henderson for visits or exercises since reconvening at Gillette Stadium final week. The Patriots want a veteran operating again.
But since they haven’t signed one but although they launched James Robinson in June, Ty Montgomery is “day to day” with an damage and starter Rhamondre Stevenson — who spent Monday’s follow on a aspect discipline engaged on his conditioning — is having his load managed in follow, per a supply, the Patriots had been relying on 2022 NFL Draft picks Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong on Monday within the first absolutely padded follow of the summer time.
“It’s a huge opportunity for me and Kevin,” Strong mentioned after follow Monday. “We’re both in our second year, both young. We’re just trying to get our roles on the team and showcase it out here.”
It’s completely attainable that Harris and Strong are simply the operating again depth that the Patriots want behind Stevenson. Harris is a thickly constructed fireplace hydrant of a operating again who can plow between blockers and decide up yards in short-yardage conditions. He mentioned Monday that he labored this offseason on his cross catching, and it’s exhibiting in follow. Harris appears snug catching the ball. The Patriots consider Harris has seen main enchancment over the previous season.
And Strong is a thinner, sooner again who most likely finest initiatives within the mould of a Kevin Faulk or James White as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Clocked with a 4.37-second 40-yard sprint on the NFL Scouting Combine final 12 months, the hope is that Strong may very well be a house run hitter both as a ball service or pass-catcher out of the backfield.
But Harris and Strong mixed for simply 35 touches as rookies final season behind Stevenson and Damien Harris, who departed for the Buffalo Bills in free company. It was assumed that Robinson would fill Harris’ void, however accidents triggered a brief keep in New England.
“They’re two other guys that have taken a big jump in year two,” head coach Bill Belichick mentioned in regards to the second-year backs. “Good offseasons, manner forward of the place they had been final 12 months. Both confirmed flashes of excellent issues final 12 months. I believe the expertise and confidence with them is far better than it was final 12 months.
“Obviously, the biggest challenge for all backs is pass protection and blitz pickup in the passing game. All of those guys are more comfortable carrying the ball than some of those other things that come with the position, but they’ve worked hard at that, so we’ll see how it goes.”
Harris, who was the lead again in follow Monday with Stevenson restricted and Montgomery out, began final season on the follow squad however completed his rookie marketing campaign with 18 carries for 52 yards with a landing. Strong had some special-teams miscues however carried the ball 10 occasions for 100 yards with a landing and caught seven passes on seven targets for 42 yards.
“It’s a big opportunity to get better at knowing the plays because (Stevenson) gets certain plays,” Harris mentioned about his elevated workload Monday. “And now when he’s not in, we all get the plays.”
Harris got here to the Patriots as a sixth-round pick of South Carolina final season. He earned All-SEC honors in 2020 after main the league in dashing with 1,138 yards on 185 carries with 15 touchdowns. He noticed his manufacturing decline in 2021 after present process again surgical procedure and wound up with 153 carries for 655 yards with 4 touchdowns earlier than declaring for the draft.
Harris mentioned he has “a lot of confidence in myself” when requested how he would really feel if he needed to carry the load for the Patriots.
Strong was a fourth-round pick of South Dakota State. He completed his faculty profession averaging 7.2 yards per carry over 4 seasons. He registered 1,686 yards on 240 carries with 18 touchdowns as a senior whereas including 22 catches for 150 yards.
Harris and Strong each mentioned they’re not centered on whether or not the Patriots signal one other operating again.
“It’s good to learn from the vets about the game within the game,” Harris mentioned, nevertheless.
“I just focus on myself and what I can do better, what I’m trying to do for my future,” Strong added. “That’s a coach question.”
The Patriots even have operating again J.J. Taylor, who initially signed as an undrafted free agent out of Arizona, however he’s now in his fourth season with the majority of that point spent on the follow squad. The 5-foot-6, 185-pound again has averaged 3.0 yards per carry in his profession.
Source: www.bostonherald.com