One of the few locks that the Patriots might seemingly rely on heading into the 2023 season was Rhamondre Stevenson’s play as one of many NFL’s finest younger working backs.
So, it’s been a fairly main shock to see Stevenson battle three video games into the season.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is clearly standing by his 25-year-old ball provider, nevertheless.
“Yeah, I think Rhamondre reads blocks really well,” Belichick stated Monday morning on a video convention name with the media. “Probably as good as anybody we’ve had here. He’s got really good vision. He can find space in the defense and he’s very good at lateral cuts and getting downhill, running with power. Yeah, I think his vision’s really good.”
Stevenson is averaging simply 2.9 yards per carry after his latest 19-attempt, 59-yard efficiency in Sunday afternoon’s win over the Jets. He’s picked up 134 yards and a landing on 46 carries, and 124 of these yards have come earlier than contact, per Pro Football Reference. His 0.2 yards after contact per carry ranks forty third amongst 47 certified working backs.
Fellow Patriots working again Ezekiel Elliott ranks one slot decrease at forty fourth, however with 28 carries for 122 yards, he’s averaging 4.3 yards per try with simply 0.1 coming after contact. Stevenson has damaged three tackles, whereas Elliott has but to shed a deal with.
“I think the big thing for running backs is the amount of yards they can gain, let’s call it on their own,” Belichick stated Monday morning. “And that features organising blocks and utilizing their blockers. Any of us can run in there and get what the play’s blocked for. The good backs will get greater than that, whether or not that’s organising blocks to create more room for themselves to run or breaking tackles and getting additional yards when the protection has an opportunity to get them down.
“Look, there can be great 2- or 3-yard runs. Sometimes there’s nothing there, there’s not even a yard there and a back can get 2 or 3 yards out of it, and those are good runs. You just have to evaluate the plays and evaluate the way the player’s carrying the ball. Is he getting the most out of what’s the way it’s blocked? He can’t do anything about the blocking other than use what’s there and make the most of it. And obviously, ball security is a big part of this.”
Elliott seemed like the higher participant on Sunday, carrying the ball 16 occasions for 80 yards. Stevenson additionally had a drop within the passing sport. Elliott fumbled in Week 1.
The Patriots’ offensive line struggled via the primary two weeks of the season. They performed significantly better in Sunday’s Week 3 win over the Jets. They face one other powerful matchup Sunday in opposition to the Cowboys.
Source: www.bostonherald.com