Two things were immediately obvious about Patriots running back J.J. Taylor when he arrived in New England as an undrafted rookie out of Arizona a year ago.
Taylor is small, not just for an NFL field but real-world small at 5-6, 185 pounds. Yet when he steps on a football field, regardless of the level, he brings a playmaking spark.
And while both those things are still very much true, the young running back is working hard to expand his game and grow his potential contributions.
The passing game is always an area young running backs must work on. Taylor was and is no different.
“J.J.'s always saw things very well. The thing that sort of held him back is what he did in the passing game was a little bit limited in what we needed him to do,” Patriots longtime running backs coach Ivan Fears said in a Wednesday Zoom call. “And he's picked that up big time. He's picked that up big time. He's made some great strides in the passing game, he's a hell of a lot more productive as a route runner -- whether we can catch him or coming out of the backfield. And the kid is just, he stepped up, he stepped up and figured out that he's got to learn what we do. And he still makes some crazy ass mistakes, but for the most part, he's doing a hell of a job for us. He really is.”
While it’s still a work in progress, Taylor’s gone from not being a realistic option in the passing game as a rookie to at least being worthy of consideration working behind James White in that area.
“He still has those moments, but I have to admit J.J. has come a long way. A LONG way. I mean, last year we wouldn't have thrown him into the passing game to save his ass,” Fears said. “But right now, yeah he stepped up and he's made it kind of interesting for us. He's still got -- I can't tell you what it is, there are a couple of things he's got to do for us before we say, you know, we'll leave him there in the passing game all the way. There's still a couple little things he's gotta do.”
And when Taylor has the ball in his hands, his ability to give defenders problems remains obvious. He averaged 7.8 yards per carry on 23 rushes during the preseason while picking up 62 yards on 10 receptions. Also a factor in the return game, Taylor added a 23-yard punt return and a 29-yard kickoff return to his summer stat sheet.
“As a runner? As a runner, this son-of-a-gun, I'll tell you what: He's gonna cause some people some problems,” Fears raved. “He's little as shit, and people kind of find it hard to find his butt. When he goes to the line, they can't find him. So that makes it exciting for him, he gets some plays that [other] guys don't get, because of his size. But he's strong, he makes people miss, he's explosive, he's got great vision. The kid's got some stuff going on. I'm kind of happy to have him around. I hope we have a chance to make something happen.
“I think you're gonna like this kid when he's out there on the field.”
It’s clear that Fears already likes Taylor and the role he plays – along with Damien Harris, White, Brandon Bolden and rookie Rhamondre Stevenson – in maybe the best backfield committee the veteran coach has ever opened a season with.
“This year's group is probably as deep as it's ever been, as far as talent level goes and as far as guys making plays and being productive in the preseason,” Fears said. “I tell you what, right now, yeah this is a pretty deep group. These guys can all play multiple roles, no doubt.”