The Patriots didn’t have a lot occurring offense. A fierce Jets cross rush didn’t depart Mac Jones time to do a lot of something when it got here to throwing the soccer.
Enter Rhamondre Stevenson.
Along with Jakobi Meyers, the Patriots working again just about saved the day. He was an enormous a part of the offense within the Patriots 22-17 win over the Jets.
Stevenson led each groups with 71 speeding yards, and added 72 receiving yards. The 143 yards was the second-most whole yards he’s had from scrimmage in a recreation.
With Damien Harris in additional of a restricted function since getting back from a hamstring damage, Stevenson has actually emerged the previous few weeks. He’s been the lead again and the third-down again, all rolled into one.
“He’s just an all around great player. He can catch really well. I tell him all the time, you’ve got some really good mittens, man. That’s what we need,” wideout Kendrick Bourne stated of Stevenson. “To be able to be versatile, having a pass-catcher out of the backfield is so big.”
Stevenson’s 35-yard run on the primary play within the third quarter helped set the tone for a greater half for the offense, and led to the workforce’s solely landing of the day with Meyers catching a five-yard cross. But largely, offering a viable outlet for Jones popping out of the backfield has been large.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick singled him out in his post-game remarks.
“Stevenson is obviously just a tremendous back,” stated Belichick. “He makes a lot of yards on his own making solid yards after contact.”
Against the Jets, Stevenson continually broke tackles, whether or not he was working the soccer, or pulling in a cross and gaining yards after catch. Stevenson stated being such an important presence within the passing recreation was merely a product of how the sport transpired.
“That’s just how the pieces fell,” stated Stevenson. “There was no stress on getting me the ball in the passing game. It just happened like that.”
DeVante Parker left the sport within the first quarter with a knee damage. Tyquan Thornton, Nelson Agholor and Hunter Henry have been all restricted to 1 catch, whereas Jonnu Smith had three.
After Meyers, who had 9 catches for 60 yards and a landing, it was Stevenson who delivered with seven catches. The previous two video games, he’s had 15 catches. He had 14 receptions in all of final season.
With James White retiring earlier than the season after an unsuccessful comeback from a hip damage, somebody needed to step up in that third down again function.
Before that even occurred, Stevenson spent the offseason making an attempt to enhance as a pass-catcher, and in blitz pickup.
“As soon as the offseason came last year, that’s the first thing I worked on, just route-running, recognizing the defense, things like that. If feel like it’s coming into play and I’m doing a good job at it.”
His seven catches helped transfer the chains, and preserve drives alive. He was actually good in each roles.
“He’s reminding me of James White,” stated Bourne, passing alongside an enormous praise. “So, just to keep that kind of third-down threat with all our other wideouts and threats, it kind of makes it hard to stop us in a sense. Proud of that dude.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com