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Assessing the Redskins First Round Options: RB Sony Michel

By Jacob Camenker

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Sony Michel #1 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs to the end zone for a touchdown tying the game 31-31 in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Sony Michel #1 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs to the end zone for a touchdown tying the game 31-31 in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Sony Michel #1 of the Georgia Bulldogs is tackled by Deionte Thompson #14, Ronnie Harrison #15 and Mack Wilson #30 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Sony Michel #1 of the Georgia Bulldogs is tackled by Deionte Thompson #14, Ronnie Harrison #15 and Mack Wilson #30 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

The case against Sony Michel

Michel does have some areas to improve, and that’s what currently makes him more of a late-first round guy than an early first round guy. The first comes in the passing game.

While Michel can do everything that a top passing back needs to do in the NFL, the Georgia product could stand to improve his catching ability. At times, he had issues hanging onto the ball and that resulted in drops. It wasn’t often that this happened, but it was still a bit of a concern for him. If he can get more accustomed to adjusting to the ball and moving quickly after catching, he will be a success.

In terms of some of Michel’s other weaknesses, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein offered the following as a criticism of Michel.

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"Plays with aging bull mentality in short yardage and needs to improve his feel for finding creases. Will duck head and finish prematurely if he doesn’t see an early opening to work with."

This is definitely a sensible criticism of Michel, and that’s part of the reason that Chubb got more of the short yardage work for the Bulldogs in 2017. Still, Michel has the strength and size to be a bruiser in short yardage and goal line situations. If he can work with a quality running backs coach and improve his vision, he will undoubtedly get better.

In terms of these weaknesses, they are not massive ones for Michel. He looks like a sure-fire success at the NFL level and he could continue his rise as draft season goes along.

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