When the New England Patriots selected running back Rhamondre Stevenson in the 2021 NFL draft, they had hopes he would complement Damien Harris to form a solid one-two punch.
After injuries derailed the end of Harris’ career in New England, Stevenson quickly took over as the workhorse and broke out in 2022.
Stevenson rushed for 606 yards in 2021 and 1,040 yards in 2022. He added 69 catches in 2022, showcasing his ability to get open in space and be a reliable chain-mover. His emergence made it abundantly clear that Harris’ time was over in a Patriots uniform, especially as they drafted two running backs in the 2022 NFL draft in Pierre Strong Jr. and Kevin Harris.
Strong Jr. and Harris might not replace Damien’s production at his peak, but their skill sets will allow the Patriots to replicate it for cheap. Stevenson, however, has the makings to be a star, and with Bill O’Brien running the offense, there may be writing on the wall for him to have an even bigger role.
At Alabama, O’Brien’s offense utilized a running back with similar skill sets in Jahmyr Gibbs. Gibbs is a fantastic runner first, but he was also the nation’s best receiving back in 2022. He was so good that opposing defenses treated him like a premier receiver. O’Brien moved Gibbs all around the formation—out of the backfield, in bunch sets, in the slot and in motion.
Stevenson isn’t as polished of a route runner as Gibbs, but he has the ability to be used in a similar fashion, and in tandem with backup running back James Robinson.
Having both runners with the tools to thrive as pass catchers will allow O’Brien to use both and confuse defenses. Gone are the days of Sony Michel in the backfield, which typically meant it was a run play almost 100 percent of the time. Stevenson and Robinson will allow O’Brien to also scheme up matchups, allowing there to be room over the middle for experienced YAC receivers like Juju Smith-Schuster and Kendrick Bourne.
Space clearing was a major issue in 2022, and using Stevenson in a much larger, focal point of the offense in 2023, will alleviate this. Many may be worried with usage, but his skill set will unlock the rest of the offense, especially for Mike Gesicki and Hunter Henry, who should have plenty of room up the seam.
Stevenson will likely touch the ball 300-plus times in 2023, but it ultimately will be worth it for O’Brien and Mac Jones, who should thrive in a hybrid of the west coast offense and Alabama’s offense.
This offseason has provided a glimpse into the plan, as O’Brien and the Patriots reshaped the offense playing into Jones’ three best attributes: accuracy, decision-making and processing speed. He will thrive in an offense with dynamic playmakers like Stevenson, Smith-Schuster and Bourne, who are all dangerous with the ball in their hands. They also added Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte, who share similar attributes that will complement.
If the Patriots wish to have any sort of success in 2023, they need a matchup nightmare, and right now, Stevenson, is the only player that teams gameplan for on offense. So why not unlock the entire offense by dictating coverages and creating mismatches, while an improved offensive line allows Jones to thrive as a “point guard” in this potentially explosive offense?
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