AP photo The Patriots feel running back Sony Michel's physical style has been perfect for their offense.

By TOM KING

Staff Writer

How valuable has rookie running back Sony Michel been to the New England Patriots this season?

His ability to fit in has been key, according to Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

“He’s got a good run style that’s really allowed us to be a physical football team,” McDaniels said, “and he’s a very, very willing participant in blitz pickup.”

And, McDaniels said, he understands the offense.

“He’s a smart guy,” he said. “He understands what his assignments are, what his rules are when we put hi in those situations. … He’s been able to add another element to our (running back) room in terms of his toughness and his play style that we really enjoy.”

McDaniels said Michel has gotten great guidance from Patriots running backs coach Ivan Fears.

“I would be lying to you if I told you that Sony wasn’t a better player now than he was when he first got here,” McDaniels said, “and a lot of that has to do with Ivan Fears and the room that he’s in.”

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Believe it or not, the sting from last year’s Super Bowl loss to Philadelphia still bothers a lot of the Patriots who were on that team. Just ask linebacker Kyle Van Noy.

“After what happened last year in the Super Bowl, guys are hungry,” Van Noy said in an interview Wednesday on Boston radio station 98.5 “I feel we got humbled. Guys aren’t taking anything for granted.

“Going through a humbling expereince and the process and see where we are right now it’s that much more satisfying.”

Van Noy said after the Red Sox won the World Series, the Patriots want to keep the train running.

“We want to bring something special back to this place,” he said. “I don’t think we talk enough and celebrate enough how crazy it is to live in Boston with all the sports teams. You guys are spoiled, but I’m spoiled too.”

Van Noy said the Patriots are itching to get to Atlanta for Super Bowl LIII.

“It just feels right,” he said. “We’re excited to get down there and get to work. We’ve worked extremely hard to get to this point and we’re anxious to go. ….

“Everything this year has been amazing.”

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According to reports, one from the NFL Network, it’s likely former Tampa Bay Bucs and longtime Rutgers University head coach Greg Schiano will join the Patriots defensive coaching staff in a role yet to be determined.

Schiano has been a good friend of Bill Belichick, and has reportedly helped him with some coaching in the past. He had been the defensive coordinator at Ohio State but left at the end of this season to pursue other potential jobs, preferrably in the NFL.

It makes sense, since the Patriots are expected to lose defensive assistant/unofficial defensive coordinator Brian Flores to the Miami Dolphins as he is reportedly their choice to be their next head coach. Flores can’t be officially named until after the Super Bowl.

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Patriots owner Robert Kraft sat down with former New York Giants defensive lineman Michael Strahan on Wednesday for an interview on Good Morning America. Kraft was first asked about how to solve a problem like the botched non-call in the Saints-Rams NFC title game.

“That’s a good question,” he said with a grin. “But first of all, we have one more game left, and we love the refs.”

Kraft mentioned referee Ben Dreith’s infamous roughing the passer call on the Patriots Ray Hamilton during a 1976 AFC Divsional Playoff game that helped the Oakland Raiders win as another example of a playoff call gone wrong.

“We have to be diligent in getting it corrected,” Kraft said. “They (the refs) have a tough job.”

On the laser pointer story at Arrowhead Stadium: “It doesn’t happen when you come to Foxborough. I hear the word laser and and on that drive (Tom Brady) was laser focused. As part of the security check, we have to make sure those things don’t happen.”

Kraft was asked about the key to his success since he bought the Patriots 25 years ago this past Monday.

“In anything in life, the key is getting good people around you,” he said. “… In any culture, people disagree but keeping it in the family. Once you have tood people, the key is continuity.”

What impresses him the most about quarterback Tom Brady?

“The thing thats most impressive to me, he is still the same guy when I met him out of Michigan,” Kraft said. “He is the nicest person, genuine. He’s the same person today as he was when he was fourth on the depth chart back in 2000.

“He cares, he connects, and I think he’s able to do that in the huddle with guys half his age. …. He puts team first, and I think that definitely spreads.”

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Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay threw kudos to the Patriots this week.

“You have so much respect for the way they’ve operated,” McVay said, adding he got familiar with the Patriots during joint training camp practices between the Patriots and Washington when he was the Redskins offensive coordinator a few years ago.

McVay said the challenge is going to be in the preparation.

“Coach Belichick’s the best at this,” McVay said, saying the Rams need to get several players involved in the offense. “You know they have a great understanding of how to attack you.”

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