New England Patriots
“When Mike Vrabel said they need Rhamondre, it’s because of stuff like this.”
It’s been a rocky start to the season for Rhamondre Stevenson, as the Patriots running back has more fumbles than touchdowns and has only eclipsed 40 rushing yards once in six games.
Stevenson continued to struggle Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, totaling just 18 yards on his 13 carries and dropping the lone pass that came his way.
Despite Stevenson’s woes, head coach Mike Vrabel is still turning to the veteran on a frequent basis.
Former Patriots running back Damien Harris, who mentored Stevenson back in 2021 and 2022, noted that Stevenson does a lot that doesn’t show up in the box score.
“When Mike Vrabel said they need Rhamondre, it’s because of stuff like this…” wrote Harris, now an analyst for CBS. “Hell of a throw and catch by Drake and Pop, but just watch the effort by 38 !!!!!!!”
The play Harris is referencing came late in the first quarter, when Drake Maye found DeMario Douglas for what would have been a 61-yard touchdown. It was called back because of a highly questionable offensive pass-interference call on Stefon Diggs, but it still made for a memorable highlight nonetheless.
Stevenson, who wasn’t on the TV screen initially, sprinted downfield and leveled safety Jonas Sanker to ensure Douglas had a clear path to the end zone.
While Stevenson has made his presence felt as a blocker, he’s still searching for consistency as a runner.
Among 55 qualifying running backs, Stevenson’s is graded 54th (53.1) via Pro Football Focus. The lone back behind him is New England rookie TreVeyon Henderson (52.6).
When asked Monday morning if perhaps Stevenson is now focused a little too much on protecting the football, Vrabel said that “probably everybody is.”
“I wouldn’t say that it’s just Rhamondre,” Vrabel told reporters. “I think that that’s something that probably both backs that played yesterday, that carried the ball yesterday, probably are focused on. I think there’s a balance there. We’ve talked about that. I know when we don’t turn it over, we’ve won those three games.”
Another reporter inquired whether more variety in the run game would benefit the Patriots. Vrabel said he believes there has been variety in that area and that one specific situation doesn’t define New England’s overall execution in that realm.
“We’ll keep working,” Vrabel told reporters. “We’ve had some good runs, we’ve had some pitiful ones, too. We just have to make sure that there’s a consistency, that we’re coaching the details, that we’re coaching the demeanor, understand that it’s going to be some dirty runs in there and that we’re going to have to make a guy miss or break a tackle.”
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