The New England Patriots, who struggled in 2023 ending the regular season with a 4-13 record will be heading into a re-structuring period after 6-time Super Bowl champion Head Coach Bill Belichick parted ways with the team.
After a disappointing ending to the Belichick era, the Patriots will look to may their way back to the top of the league under former linebacker Jerod Mayo. Who is set to replace Belichick as head coach after 24 seasons with the program. New England has also hired Cleveland Browns Offensive Coordinator Alex Van Pelt to their staff, who is a believer in pushing the offense forward through the run game.
Patriots Running Back Rhamondre Stevenson Wants to Feature as Workhorse Next Season
Rhamondre Stevenson, who had a rough season in 2023 only generated 619 yards and 4 touchdowns in 12 games on the ground. While injuries played a role in his struggles, Stevenson was not used on third down or in the passing game. In 2022, Stevenson took over on third downs due to James White retiring. Which is part of the reason why he was able to take over the starting job heading into 2023.
“I love playing on all three downs,” Stevenson said. “Playing running back on third down is totally different from first and second down. It’s a totally different position. You have to pick up the blitz, run your route, keep the quarterback safe. There’s a lot that goes into it. But when you do it right, it’s like an accomplishment.”
Under Belichick, New England rarely used a workhorse and preferred to have multiple options out of the backfield. Stevenson split time with Ezekiel Elliott last season, who is now a free agent. Entering a contract season, Steveson will have the chance to command the Patriots backfield.
Stevenson Ran for 1,461 Scrimmage Yards in 2022 Season
The one time we saw Steveson treated as a workhorse back was in 2022, where he ran for 1,461 yards from scrimmage and led the Patriots in receiving for multiple games. Damien Harris, who started in front of him at the time dealt with injuries and missed multiple games. Which gave Stevenson the chance to be used on all three downs.
When used as a workhorse, Steveson produced at a high level. He will have the opportunity to do so once under new OC Alex Van Pelt, who believes running the ball wins championships. Kevin Harris, JaMychal Hasty and Ke’Shawn Vaughn are the current running backs behind Stevenson heading into the 2024-25 season.
For More Football News
Follow me on Twitter at JHadawi2! To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Football, click here! For a free $50 in bonus bets on FanDuel Sportsbook, click here!