What Ezekiel Elliott stated in his first interview as a Patriot

“Been at residence for some time — feels good to get again to ball, get on the market, get on the sphere and play the sport I really like. … It’s been a number of enjoyable,” Elliott instructed Brown. “I’ve been getting alongside nicely with the staff. I’ve recognized Rhamondre for a pair years, so it’s good having him within the operating again room. I feel I’ve been an excellent match and I’m having enjoyable.”

Stevenson will possible stay as New England’s high possibility at operating again, however the 28-year-old Elliott ought to serve a key position because the staff’s main backup possibility.

Despite the fact that accidents have sapped a number of the explosiveness discovered throughout Elliott’s prime tenure with the Cowboys, he was nonetheless efficient in what was thought of a down 12 months by his lofty requirements final season.

Elliott nonetheless managed to attain 12 touchdowns in 2022 with Dallas, with seven of these scores coming from the 1-yard line. As New England seems to be to watch Stevenson’s workload, Elliott will possible be referred to as on for punishing short-yardage and goal-line conditions.

While you consider Elliott’s pass-catching capabilities (57.5 receptions per season from 2018-21) and his repute as one of many higher pass-blocking operating backs within the league, Elliott’s big selection of strengths out on the sphere ought to cater nicely to a Patriots roster that values versatility.

“The significance of the again on this offense,” Elliott stated of the attraction of singing with New England. “That is undoubtedly a staff that wishes to run the ball and needs to be balanced.”

With simply three full practices beneath his belt, Elliott nonetheless has some catching as much as do as he seems to be to determine himself as a 1-2 punch within the trenches with Stevenson. However thus far, Elliott has been impressed with what he’s seen from his new quarterback in Mac Jones.

Throughout Tuesday’s follow in Foxborough, Elliott reeled in a pair of passes from Jones and one other off of a throw from Bailey Zappe.

“Mac’s a professional, man,” Elliott stated of Jones. “He does the whole lot like a professional. I might inform simply from going to dinner with him on my go to. He’s an excellent chief.”

Regardless of his transient time in New England, Elliott’s means to cube up opposing defenses in quite a lot of methods has put some his new teammates on discover. 

“When you may have a operating again that’s in a position to go within the recreation and primarily you’re considering ‘OK, he’s a downhill runner. He’s a bruiser.’ Then you definitely break up him out vast and you discover out that he’s in a position to run routes at a excessive stage, it makes the sport that a lot tougher,” security Adrian Phillips stated of Elliott. “Simply to name it, as a result of typically he is perhaps matched up with a linebacker and also you say ‘OK, that’s not one of the best matchup that we would like.’

“So now you may need to spin the entire scheme round simply to make it possible for we have now him lined the suitable method. So his means to have the ability to go on the market on the one place, two place, and be capable of run good routes, it ain’t going to do nothing however assist our offense.”