In this week's edition of the NFL Notebook, we look at the most memorable moments of the 2018 regular season, update the big board when it comes to career catches from Tom Brady, find out where the Patriots ended up when it came to their penalty totals, and wonder about Josh Gordon's ultimate legacy with this year's team. But first, a former Patriots' running back who was a part of two Super Bowl teams says he likes the look of the New England backfield heading into this postseason.
1. The Patriots’ ability to run the ball this year has — at times — mirrored the great New England teams of the early 21st century, a group led by the likes of Antowain Smith and Corey Dillon that was able to churn out consistent yards on the ground while keeping the heat off Tom Brady. Smith, who ran for 2,781 yards and 21 touchdowns in his three years with the Patriots (2001-03), told me this week this year’s group of backs is capable of doing the same thing he and the rest of the New England backs were able to do 15-plus years ago.
“Everyone knows that you have to lean on the run game at this time of year, and I think they have the capability to do that when they need it,” Smith told BostonSportsJournal.com. “You need a run game to be able to set the tone, but you also need the group to be able to run well enough to keep the pressure off Tom. They’ve done well with that so far, and I think they can keep that going this postseason.
“As a group, they’ve done a good job of getting it done,” he added. “One of the things that’s stood out to me is they’ve done it in a unique way — most of the time, we’ve had two different backs, a big back and a smaller, quicker like. Like me and Kevin Faulk, Corey and Kevin. Or when it was LeGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis. Now, they have two smaller types of guys in Sony (Michel) and James (White) — more of a committee — but they’re still getting the job done.”
Smith has been impressed with all three of the backs the Patriots have leaned on this year.
“I love Sony — he can run between the tackles, he has good speed on the outside, and does a nice job catching it when they ask him to,” Smith said. “James is like the Faulk of the group — he can catch the ball and run as good as anyone in the league. And Rex Burkhead, he’s that classic tweener a guy who can run it, but also has good hands out of the backfield and gives you a little shiftiness when you need it.”
NFL crews assessed a record 3,447 penalties in 2018. First-year referees Shawn Hochuli and Shawn Smith and their crews finished 1-2 in penalties with the Hochuli crew assessing 253 and the Smith crew 228.
— Rick Gosselin (@RickGosselin9) January 1, 2019