RB is an undiscussed weakness on the Patriots

[Family]

Stevenson fumbled yesterday on a play he shouldn't have, which has been an ongoing problem dating back to college.

He's obviously good enough to be a starter without them, but the fumbles are making Stevenson borderline unusable if this keeps up, or at minimum a player who will flat out cost games.

Who is the backup?

With the WR issues over the years, this is a scratch that has been ignored.

 

[rkarp1]

disagree
Stevenson will play until the fumbles bench him, while on the field, he will play well
Henderson will be a stud. fast, catches the ball, blocks. haven't seen a RB that turns the corner like him in NE for a long while.
Gibson is 230 lbs and fast. catches the ball really well.
I am leaning Larison in the last spot in a redshirt year.

 

[Family]

disagree
Stevenson will play until the fumbles bench him, while on the field, he will play well
Henderson will be a stud. fast, catches the ball, blocks. haven't seen a RB that turns the corner like him in NE for a long while.
Gibson is 230 lbs and fast. catches the ball really well.
I am leaning Larison in the last spot in a redshirt year.

I thought the plan was for Henderson to be the 3rd down back.

 

[Triumph]

Stevenson was drafted to replace Stevenson.

Why? Well, Stevenson is younger, less expensive, predicted to be better. I am assuming that he holds onto the ball. There is a cap savings with Stevenson traded and maybe the Pats can get a 3rd or 4th pick for him.

 

[Triumph]

I read that Mickey D has been making an emphasis to throw the ball to Stevenson.

 

[Triumph]

I thought the plan was for Henderson to be the 3rd down back.

You dont sit 2nd round picks with guaranteed contracts.

 

[BTTA]

I thought the plan was for Henderson to be the 3rd down back.

That seems to be the consensus but none of us know what McDaniels is thinking.

 

[Pape]

there are 5 guys on the roster... Guessing 4 rb roster spots...

rham will lose the starting to henderson...
henderson will take over...
this will be gibsons last year here... no guaranteed money left after '25
jennings averaged 2.5 ypc last year... needs to show more in preseason if he wants to hang on...
larison should replace the invisible jennings

there really isnt much to talk about due to the low numbers in the rb room

 

[State]

Young talent at OTs (at least RT) and TE are far bigger needs. Henderson is a complete back, with game-breaking abilities, who will preach on his commitment to Jesus.

Stevenson could be abducted by aliens and we’d still be fine.

 

[Uptown]

Not saying they should or will, just relaying the info..

 

[signbabybrady]

Im not trying to ignore Rham's fumble issues but let's not overreact to one play in training camp.

And for context it was at the end of a successful run and it seemed like he was just about starting to pull up as if the play was basically over. The defender played to the whistle and punched it out.

Very bad look for a guy with a reputation but also if it were live tackling it might not have played out the same way. It occurred in that ambiguous moment when the practice play is basically over but without real tackling everyone will interpret the end a little different. It doesn't excuse the fumble but it's context.

And they did rule it a turnover and Dobson came on.

 

[p8ryts]

Stevenson was drafted to replace Stevenson.

Why? Well, Stevenson is younger, less expensive, predicted to be better. I am assuming that he holds onto the ball. There is a cap savings with Stevenson traded and maybe the Pats can get a 3rd or 4th pick for him.

I think the popular theory is that Henderson's play must be managed to prevent injury. Personally, I prefer Gibson as the starter and Henderson as the third down back that can be a threat to run. Stevenson is good but he has taken the team out of several games in his career. Time to move on.

 

[Wozzy]

Stevenson will be the power back, if fumbles occur he’ll get benched for Gibson.

Henderson will be the speed back, if he falters Larison might get a shot.

I suspect Vrabel and Josh will get on Rhamondre’s azz about ball security. The starter will be Rham, the change of pace will be Henderson.

You need both speed and power, who “starts” or plays more snaps will be matchup dependent based on opponent. People get too hung up on “starters.”

 

[Family]

Im not trying to ignore Rham's fumble issues but let's not overreact to one play in training camp.

This isn't one fumble at a practice.

The team was horrible last year, but if it wasn't Stevenson's fumbling would have killed us.

I remember that was the rap coming out of the draft.

Stevenson will be the power back, if fumbles occur he’ll get benched for Gibson.

Henderson will be the speed back, if he falters Larison might get a shot.

Like I said, this is a really thin position.

 

[Real fan 02]

Stevenson fumbled yesterday on a play he shouldn't have, which has been an ongoing problem dating back to college.

He's obviously good enough to be a starter without them, but the fumbles are making Stevenson borderline unusable if this keeps up, or at minimum a player who will flat out cost games.

Who is the backup?

With the WR issues over the years, this is a scratch that has been ignored.

Gibson is the back up who's a more than capable RB, rham will be given every opportunity to be the bell cow under Vrabel.. it jobs rhams to loose.. Henderson will ultimately be a huge factor as well as the season goes on..

 

[Zuma]

I didn't know Gibson's ht/wt when the team signed him. I thought he was a smaller 3rd down back type. 6' 225lb is big enough to be a 1st down back for a few games if Rham is benched.

 

[signbabybrady]

This isn't one fumble at a practice.

The team was horrible last year, but if it wasn't Stevenson's fumbling would have killed us.

I remember that was the rap coming out of the draft.

I am aware of his history I just meant one dumb play in camp and we don't need to pile the entire history on him again.

Let's agree to say it's not a good start. But if he gets thru preseason clean are you really going to hold yesterday against him.

 

[Ring 6]

I thought the plan was for Henderson to be the 3rd down back.

Huh? Where did you get that from?
Henderson will be RB1A and ALSO the 3rd down back.
He should get 15-20 touches a game.
If Stevenson gets benched because of fumbling Henderson will be the man. Gibson would then move into a backup role.

 

[borisman]

Not saying they should or will, just relaying the info..

This past draft was loaded with quality RB's. If teams had a need for one, most of them filled it.
I would love to trade 'Mondre but unless a playoff-caliber team loses their top RB to injury we may not get much for him. I think Henderson and Gibson can carry the load. Larison would also need to show a lot more to push Stevenson out the door. Personally, I'm tired of the fumbling.

 

[Ring 6]

Stevenson fumbled yesterday on a play he shouldn't have, which has been an ongoing problem dating back to college.

He's obviously good enough to be a starter without them, but the fumbles are making Stevenson borderline unusable if this keeps up, or at minimum a player who will flat out cost games.

Who is the backup?

With the WR issues over the years, this is a scratch that has been ignored.

FYI your presumption is wrong. In 2 years at Oklahoma he has 3 fumbles, 1 lost