Patriots in questionable spot in NFL.com’s ‘triplets’ rankings
On Sunday, NFL.com put out a ranking of the league’s top “triplets.” The New England Patriots finished at the bottom of the list.
Cam Newton, Sony Michel and Julian Edelman made up the group of three. Out of those three, Edelman has the most experience in the Patriots system. Edelman looks to be the glue that holds everything together, as he enters 2020 looking for his second consecutive 1,000-yard season.
Heading into the 2020 season, Newton enters new surroundings, as he tries to prove himself following a rocky ending in Carolina. Michel looks to put together a solid third season, after he saw increases in rushing yards and touchdowns.
Ali Bhanpuri had the following breakdown for the New England trio.
“The Pats see a rankings slide at every position from last year’s edition,” Bhanpuri wrote. “Michel’s productivity, in particular, fell off a cliff in 2019, as he finished the season ranked last among all running backs in scrimmage yards per touch (3.9, min. 200 touches). His drop-off was undoubtedly a byproduct of an entire unit failing to muster any real momentum, but his one-dimensional game pushed him down among the RBs.
“Although Edelman broke the 1,000-yard mark and, for the fourth straight season, averaged just over 11 yards per catch, he fell among receivers because guys like Cooper Kupp and DeVante Parker surpassed him by developing into legit No. 1 options. Both Michel and Edelman could get a huge boost, though, if Newton — who was passed over repeatedly this offseason — resembles the QB he was before foot and shoulder injuries robbed him (and football fans at large) of his unique skill set. I’m cautiously optimistic about which Cam we’ll see in 2020. If he’s indeed closer to the 2015 version: Good luck, league. You know the man’s kept receipts.”
It will be interesting to see if Michel can bounce back after struggles last year. With both Newton and Edelman having worked hard this offseason, this unit could surprise some. A big part of the offense will fall squarely on the shoulders of these three, as they look to bring some stability in the post-Tom Brady era.
