With New England Patriots center David Andrews out for Sunday’s game, New England had to rely on Joe Thuney to step up at center. His impact was certainly felt in a big way.
Specifically, his impact was felt in the running game for the Patriots. It seemed as though every Patriots runner was able to break off at least one big run over the course of the afternoon.
Sony Michel had nine carries for 117 yards, while Rex Burkhead had 49 yards rushing on the day as well. He also had three touchdowns , two of those on the ground. In total, New England rushed for 250 yards on 38 carries. Averaging 6.6 yards per carry, a 38-yard rush was the groups longest of the afternoon.
In particular, Thuney was able to generate a good push from the line. This particularly helped Burkhead, who was more apt to run straight through holes then passed to the outside. Thuney did a good job of making running lanes and creating big enough gaps for break had to run through. He was able to generate penetration from the snap and the running backs were able to take advantage of this.
The run-first style completely changed the course of the game. The Las Vegas defensive line did a nice job of generating pressure on quarterback Cam Newton. Although they had only two sacks on the afternoon, it seems like they were in the backfield on almost every play.
Having recognized this, Josh McDaniels and the coaching staff did a nice job of realizing that the running game was going to be a focal point. This was where Thuney really shone. In a ground-and-pound game that beckoned to years past, he was able to drive and create holes and running lanes consistently. With that type of play style difficult in the trenches, he certainly deserves credit and staying consistent.
Losing Andrews for Sunday’s game was certainly not the most ideal situation. Nevertheless, Thuney stepped up and was able to make in the absence of Andrews minimally felt. At a crucial position, the substitution seemed seamless, especially in the running game. His ability to stand in and make room for the running backs contributed to an effective game plan against an aggressive defense.
