Patriots need to get more out of Henderson

[TheRainMaker]

I've been longing for ground game like 2004 where 1st downs were automatic. Dillon had 84 that year. The next best? Stevan Ridley in 2012 with 83 1st down runs. That dude was automatic that year. It's too bad the fumbles/Pollard knock out messed with his head. Blount had 68 in 2016 and Antowain Smith had 61 in 2001.

 

[PatsFan2]

Watched that play a million times trying to make sense of the blocking scheme.

Best I can think is that if Campbell doesn't stop to chip a guy and simply flies to his assignment (the ILB), he may have had a chance to get there. Maybe not even so, but at least he'd have had a chance. And with Campbell on the ILB, Rham could have accelerated instantly through the wide open middle. All the other missed blocks to the outside wouldn't have mattered.

So I'm going to go way against the grain here and say Campbell stopping to chip had a bigger impact on that play than anything else. Even if all the other missed blocks are more apparently obvious.

It's obvious what this OL we needs a RB who can cut back. One that goes against the grain or the original play: the guy that surprised me the most is Tubagoo Onwenu: what turnstile @ Guard.

 

[mayoclinic]

I’m amazed at the turnaround the Pats have had in a years time. You guys look very tough.

You have to put it in context ...

For 2 decades we dominated the NFL, with 2 separate SB runs sharing only the owner, HC, and QB. We were arrogant and entitled, expecting and accepting nothing less than excellence.

Then we fell from grace, and our fall was lower than low. We were humiliated, from champs to chumps. We were probably the worst team in the NFL last year, and we even screwed that up. Our roster was devoid of talent, depleted by bad draft after bad draft. Our starting OL wasn't qualified to be the backup OL for most teams. Our coaching staff was a joke. We weren't just awful, we were boring.

Just over 10 months ago, we really had little more than 2 things: a ton of cap space, and a 22 yo QB coming off a promising rookie season with a ton of talent and upside. Christian Gonzalez was an all-pro but injury prone, Christian Barmore was coming off of blood clots with an uncertain future, Marcus Jones was coming off of 2 years of injuries. We had overpaid to keep Kyle Duggar, Mike Onwenu, and Rhamondre Stevenson.

But our cap space and Maye was enough to make us a top coaching destination ...

10+ months later, we're giddy. Pretty much no one expected this, so soon. Most people would be happy with signs of hope that we might be in this position by 2026 or 2027.

A creampuff schedule helps, and there will undoubtedly be some bumps, but the rebuild has come much faster than expected. We look like a professional team again, and the combination of coaching staff and Maye's ascent is really something to watch.

Football in NE is fun again.

 

[oceansizer]

I do not know what is going on with Henderson but everyone should be better than Rham "the wall" Stevenson. This guy is just bad, so bad this season. He closes his eyes and goes straight to the "wall" after one yard. I know we are short now with our RBs but Rham is not a solution definitely.

 

[Vindicate]

He had his welcome to the NFL moment getting blown up on a block, so we haven't seen him much since. The Pats need to find a way to run the ball better.

100%. Not gonna lie, I was a little worried when he said that he was surprised by how hard you get hit in the NFL. But hopefully more reps will get him used to it.

 

[patman12]

Some of the Great ones create their own holes.

This is a family forum, sir.

 

[doesntmatter1]

Our run blocking is horrible and you can't expect Henderson to have success with it. With his speed he managed a run over 5 yards here and there. Look at Rham. Rham was able to have a 1000 yard season before and if our line blocks like they did against the Saints then I wouldn't expect him to get even 100 for the rest of the year lol.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

It's obvious what this OL we needs a RB who can cut back. One that goes against the grain or the original play: the guy that surprised me the most is Tubagoo Onwenu: what turnstile @ Guard.

One other point worth noting: despite what we've seen from Maye, NE has the third-highest percentage of offensive snaps against 8+ men in the box. It doesn't completely explain things, but it contributes to both Maye's success and the run game struggles.

 

[Hogo145]

He's been a big disappointment. Although tbf every aspect of our running game has been from run blocking and Stevenson turning the ball over like he dips his hands in butter every play. Josh has done well this year with Maye but I'd like him to get more creative with our running game. Run some designed passing plays for Henderson get him involved more than just runs up the gut which isn't his forte.

 

[thecore762]

No RB will be able to run behind this dogshit line.

They need to figure things out because these guys can’t run block for sh…

 

[mgteich]

No RB will be able to run behind this dogshit line.

They need to figure things out because these guys can’t run block for sh…

ROFL

This line protects well enough to have us in 1st and in the top 10 in Offense. With better play from LB's and defensive coaching, or even one or two fewer fumbles by the RB's, we would be in even better shape.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

ROFL

This line protects well enough to have us in 1st and in the top 10 in Offense. With better play from LB's and defensive coaching, or even one or two fewer fumbles by the RB's, we would be in even better shape.

Pass blocking has not been a problem, but run blocking most certainly has been.

 

[mgteich]

A DIFFERENT PERSEPCTIVE
1) Josh should be more creative in the run game. However, he has been quite capable of being very productive out of run game sets. Henry, Hooper and whoever is in the slot have been doing very well.

It is NOT clear that being a top passing team and having poor running stats is terrible. Teams don't respect our receivers, and Maye continues to make them pay. AND the receivers are getting healthier and more effects. Williams has been a disappointment so far as a rookie, but the production from the current top four has been really great.

BOTTOM LINE, we need to keep running, but if they give us the pass, then we can win that way.

2) Yes, we need a 3rd RB to share reps. Henderson is limited in the number of reps where he can be effective.

3) Complaining about the OL is about the worst nonsense I have heard on this board this year. Our OL will continue to imporve, but it may already be an average NFL OL which is plenty good enough to get us into the playoffs as is our Offense as a whole.

Curiously, it has been the Defense that needs to continue their improvement and health on the EDGE and SAFETY.

 

[Zuma]

A DIFFERENT PERSEPCTIVE
1) Josh should be more creative in the run game. However, he has been quite capable of being very productive out of run game sets. Henry, Hooper and whoever is in the slot have been doing very well.

It is NOT clear that being a top passing team and having poor running stats is terrible. Teams don't respect our receivers, and Maye continues to make them pay. AND the receivers are getting healthier and more effects. Williams has been a disappointment so far as a rookie, but the production from the current top four has been really great.

BOTTOM LINE, we need to keep running, but if they give us the pass, then we can win that way.

2) Yes, we need a 3rd RB to share reps. Henderson is limited in the number of reps where he can be effective.

3) Complaining about the OL is about the worst nonsense I have heard on this board this year. Our OL will continue to imporve, but it may already be an average NFL OL which is plenty good enough to get us into the playoffs as is our Offense as a whole.

Curiously, it has been the Defense that needs to continue their improvement and health on the EDGE and SAFETY.

Josh should be calling a lot more 1st down pass plays. It's currently too predictable per usual. Run more of 2nd if they want.

 

[Real fan 02]

Chalk it up to him being a Rookie: not gonna lie I was expecting a little more. We need a capable vet like Henry to fill the void. That said plenty of season left he could still come on. It's not how you start it's how you finish. That said I really liked RB Cam Skattebo Pre Draft.

Henderson was the right pick. Sometimes rookie take time to come on.. Henderson have shown flashes but just not consistently.. sweet feet was redshirt his rookie season... as the weather gets worse the running backs will be more of a factor. Rham is running not to fumble instead of how he usually runs...

 

[Real fan 02]

Josh should be calling a lot more 1st down pass plays. It's currently too predictable per usual. Run more of 2nd if they want.

Pass to open up the run...

 

[Zuma]

Pass to open up the run...

It should be the case at this time. Might not be necessary in the future.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

It should be the case at this time. Might not be necessary in the future.

Pass to open the run is easy to say, but proving hard to do for us.
Maye had what, 180 yds and 3 tds in the first half…..and still our RB ran for 45 yds on 22 carries.
Pass to run sounds nice, but isn’t working for us.

 

[Zuma]

Pass to open the run is easy to say, but proving hard to do for us.
Maye had what, 180 yds and 3 tds in the first half…..and still our RB ran for 45 yds on 22 carries.
Pass to run sounds nice, but isn’t working for us.

Because the Patriots hold the world record for most 8+ men in the box from the D. Throw more on 1st down with success and you will watch those 8+ on 1st down turn to 4-5.

 

[Real fan 02]

Pass to open the run is easy to say, but proving hard to do for us.
Maye had what, 180 yds and 3 tds in the first half…..and still our RB ran for 45 yds on 22 carries.
Pass to run sounds nice, but isn’t working for us.

We've been here before.. we won playoff games and SBs with less than ideal running game production.. KC is a recent example they weren't that good of running team and recently won a championship and recently made it back to one...

Essentially IMO it's fan nitpicking... this version of the Drake maye patiots are winning inspsite of having "fixable " issues..