New England Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson proves his worth vs. Jags
New England Patriots rookie running back Rhamondre Stevenson broke through the 100-yard barrier with 107 running yards in a stellar game in Week 17 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Stevenson, a favorite in this space, has been threatening to break out for weeks and he got his opportunity and cashed in on it against the Jaguars.
Stevenson’s final line came in at 19 runs for 107 yards and two touchdowns, with a healthy 5.6 yard-per-carry game.
Rhamondre Stevenson has had a solid rookie year for the New England Patriots
Stevenson was a pre-draft suggestion in this space and has certainly more than justified his fourth-round selection by the Patriots in the 2021 NFL Draft. In short, he was a steal.
To date this season, Stevenson has racked up 572 yards and five touchdowns in only 11 games. Had he been selected or been able to play in all 16 games, he’d likely be knocking on the door of a 1000 yard-season and 8-10 touchdowns.
This space predicted 700 yards on the ground and 10 touchdowns earlier. Absent the missed games, he may have been right on target on those predictions.
Stevenson is a true triple threat who hearkens memories back to LeGarrette Blount, one of this long-time observer’s favorite Patriots running backs.
Stevenson can hurt you in several ways. He’s big, listed anywhere from 226-246 pounds, and he can bulldoze you if you take him on head-on.
In addition, he’s fast, much faster than a big back usually is. Louis Riddick, a terrific NFL analyst, said this about Stevenson in a tweet in the pre-season,
RB Rhamondre Stevenson’s preseason tape for the @patriots is just ridiculously good. Smooth, great feet, vision, strength, breakaway speed…and they got him in the 4th!!!! He obviously put in the work to be ready to hit the ground running in camp. Love to see it. @dreeday32
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) August 27, 2021
Riddick’s opinion is greatly valued here. He’d be this space’s choice to be the next general manager of the New England Patriots. I hope that’s the high praise intended. He’s a star.
Stevenson is just beginning to hit his stride as an NFL player. Barring injury, he’ll continue to get better and better.
That bodes well for a Patriots team that has an emerging star in Damien Harris on board as well as the superlative all-purpose back Brandon Bolden available too.
That’s a stable of running backs any NFL team would be happy to have. And next season, the inimitable James White, pass-catcher par excellence, will be back to add to that room.
The New England Patriots got another steal in the draft with Rhamondre Stevenson
This space has not been reticent to rip the Patriots’ drafts to shreds if warranted. The two-third-round pick tight ends in 2020 are examples of poor choices by the team recently.
Yet, even in that draft, the team scored big time with such players as Kyle Dugger and Michael Onwenu. The 2021 draft was even better.
The Patriots landed their quarterback of the future, Mac Jones, the first gunslinger since 2016 to lead his team to the playoffs in his rookie season. That’s nice, indeed.
They also landed Christian Barmore, the best defensive lineman this side of Vince Wilfork in New England, and then Stevenson.
dark. Next. Mac-Attack leads the Pats to victory over the Jags
That’s a knockout draft, even from one of their biggest draft critics. And Stevenson, coming in the fourth round, may prove to be the best “value pick” of them all.
This pick was an absolute steal, aka grand theft larceny. Patriots owner Mr. Robert Kraft wanted a great draft and he got it. Credit to Bill Belichick for that one.
Yet, special kudos also go to Dave Ziegler, appointed Director of Player Personnel in the offseason. Ziegler has delivered wonderfully, including bringing aboard Rhamondre Stevenson. And the more production the Patriots can get from Stevenson this season, the more dangerous they become.