The Patriots are signing former Dolphins and Texans running back Lamar Miller to a one-year contract, a source confirmed.
The move, which was first reported by Adam Schefter, adds Miller to a thinned-out backfield with Sony Michel on PUP (foot) and Brandon Bolden on the Covid-19 opt-out list.
Miller is attempting to come back after tearing his ACL in the Texan's third preseason game on Aug. 24. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in his last full season, when he rushed for 973 yards (4.6 average) in 14 games. He ran for over 1,000 yards in 2014 and '16. He's averaged at least two receptions per game in four of his seven seasons.
Miller, 29, was one of the league's top two-way backs — behind a bad offensive line in Houston — for much of his career. He's also an excellent pass protector, and should have an easy transition into the Patriots' system after Miller's time with Bill O'Brien.
This feels like many other Patriots reclamation projects, though most have come at receiver, where a host of veterans (some attempting to come back from injuries) failed to work out, including Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker and Cam Meredith. No harm and no foul on minimum deals, as long as you're not passing up someone who could actually contribute.
But is this move just about depth? Or could there be another reason?
BSJ ANALYSIS
The easy explanation is this is just shoring up the team's depth at running back. But there are easier ways to do that if you're just holding a spot warm for Michel and/or Harris. The Patriots could have signed any number of younger running backs looking for a chance.
Skate zone!! ? pic.twitter.com/iJMDip0K2u
— Lamar Miller (@millertime_6) July 30, 2020
By signing Miller, you could almost hear Michel and Harris sitting up a little straighter in their meeting room chairs. Miller is not some sort of plug-the-gap guy. He was a seriously talented running back in this league and has a heck of a lot more agility, speed and tackle-breaking ability than Michel has if Miller is recovered (most of the time, players don't have their explosiveness fully restored until the second year after ACL surgery.)
Lamar Miller holds the longest rush attempt in both Dolphins and Texans history (both 97 yards).
The Patriots haven't had a rush attempt of 40+ yards since 2017. pic.twitter.com/6QzTIgsyVn
— Pick Six Podcast (@picksixpod) August 10, 2020
It's not quite as dramatic, but it is similar to bringing Cam Newton (off two injury campaigns) into a QB room with the likes of Jarrett Stidham. Now you have Miller, coming off injury, into a running back room where only Michel and Harris are vying for the first two downs. Like Newton, Miller can do other things the competing backs have yet to do — catch the ball and block in pass pro.
To me, Miller is here to give both Michel and Harris a sense of urgency. The team probably wasn't crazy that Michel waiting until May to fix his troublesome foot, and he's still not ready three months later. Plus, Michel hasn't exactly been an ironman dating back to his college days at Georgia.
It's also important to note the Patriots signed Miller right after he visited with the team. This is a bit unusual for them and shows they liked very much what they saw.
The popular line about Harris during his lost rookie season after being a third-round pick was that there were just no openings for him to play since none of the backs suffered a serious injury. That may partially be true, but if you're talented and the team's running game is struggling like it did for New England last season, then the team is going to find a place for you on the field. That is, unless you're struggling in the classroom and practice field, and the team can't trust you.
Like we've written a few times on this site in the offseason, this camp was set up to be a showdown between Michel and Harris. Whoever lost the battle might have very well been ticketed for a trade out of town.
Signing Miller only reinforces that notion. Michel and Harris better step it up, with a bonafide veteran option with proven success in this system now on the roster.