Hawg73
Mediocre with flashes of brilliance
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From Mike Reiss today. Pierre Strong's college coach is all in on Strong to succeed quickly.
New England Patriots could look to rookie Pierre Strong Jr. to spell injured James White
With White starting camp on the PUP list, the Patriots are looking at other options at third-down back and Strong could be a 'perfect fit.'www.espn.com
1. Strong option: In a perfect Patriots world, veteran James White will recapture the form that made him the NFL's most productive pass-catching running back before sustaining a serious right hip injury last September. From 2015 to 2020, no running back in the NFL had more receptions (364), receiving yards (3,161) and receiving touchdowns (25).
But White has opened 2022 training camp on the physically unable to perform list, which initially has the Patriots considering other options.
Pierre Strong Jr., the 2022 fourth-round pick from South Dakota State who posted the fastest 40-yard dash time among running backs at the NFL combine (4.37) this year, is one of them.
In an interview with ESPN.com, South Dakota State coach John Stiegelmeier described a player who appears to be an ideal fit for the role.
As a pass-catcher: "He's phenomenal. That's his greatest strength. He has unbelievable hands -- very soft. We would like to isolate him on a linebacker and say 'advantage Pierre.'"
Blitz pickup: "We never worried about him. I think he showed that in the [Shrine] Bowl game, where he blocked FBS All-Stars and stood in there. We work it; it's not something we take for granted. We go full speed with a linebacker coming right at you [and] you can't cut him. So Pierre's courage and ability is right where it needs to be."
Speedy rookie Pierre Strong Jr. could fill in for the injured James White in the third-down running back role. AP Photo/Michael Dwyer
In 48 career games with the Jackrabbits, who play in the Football Championship Subdivision, Strong Jr. totaled 62 receptions for 581 yards and three touchdowns.
He might have had increased production if he wasn't as successful as a pure runner, where his speed and running style in a zone-based scheme helped him amass 4,669 yards on 631 carries (7.2 avg.) and 40 touchdowns.
"His ability to get his legs up in the air is unique, so you're really trying to tackle one leg if you get to him," Stiegelmeier said. "He was not a stop-and-try-to-juke-a-guy [runner]. He would do it full speed, in the open field, and to break down and tackle when he's going full speed is really tough."
When Stiegelmeier (entering his 26th year) reflected on five seasons of coaching Strong, he said the way it started spoke volumes -- a redshirt freshman in 2017, and then deep on the depth chart to begin 2018.
"He kept working hard, we had some injuries, and then the last half of the [2018] season he ended up being our leading rusher," he said.
"His humility, his ability to be a team player and do what is asked of him and not want more, but prepare for more -- that's not a common trait nowadays. Young men, student-athletes, want it and think they should be getting it. Pierre was patient, humble, and when he got his chance exploded."
The Patriots have traditionally been patient with rookie passing backs. White hardly played in 2014 after New England selected him in the fourth round, and Shane Vereen played sparingly in 2011 after being tabbed in the second round.
That gave them time to adjust to the demands of blitz pickup -- often cited as the No. 1 responsibility to earn the confidence of the coaching staff -- and the NFL as a whole.
In 2022, the Patriots have Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson as their top traditional running backs, with Stevenson saying one of his offseason goals was to become more of a factor in the passing game. Thick-legged rookie Kevin Harris (sixth round, South Carolina) adds depth behind them.
Then, in the more traditional passing back role, there's White, Strong, third-year player J.J. Taylor, and eight-year veteran slash option Ty Montgomery, who was signed as a free agent in March.
"I've had a number of people who follow the Patriots say Pierre is a perfect fit for their philosophy in terms of using running backs," Stiegelmeier said.
Like Tim commented, that was exactly what you want to hear from a College Coach about a new Patriot.
I watched a bunch of clips of Strong after we drafted him and the main thing I took away was just how many huge holes Strong had at SD State. There were so many long runs and he was often
in the opponents backfield without being touched, so I couldn't get a feel for how he'll be breaking pro tackles. In addition, I expected he would look faster or more explosive, but he's got a different style or something. Not that I'm saying he looks slow by any means, but I thought he showed patience to let a hole develop and then takes off.
On paper, he's got everything, but he's got a big jump to make. I'm not expecting that he'll be a huge surprise and start making splash plays as a rookie, but you can see that
we have layers of depth at the 3rd down back position so we don't get stuck without a viable option when White went down with the hip. We've got a rookie, a 3rd-year guy and a
productive vet, but the best option is that White is somehow able to get back to where he was. I couldn't count how many times last season Mac was scanning the field on 3rd down and nobody was really open. He and a healthy James White would have been deadly.
I suppose it's possible that Strong is the best candidate to fill that role while White heals and he'll be productive right away, but I won't count on it.
