The New England Patriots continue to struggle to produce any semblance of a running game after six weeks of the season, only averaging 91.5 rushing yards per game, which is the seventh-lowest in the NFL this season.
The running back room of Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson only averages 50.8 yards per game combined and 3.3 yards per attempt this season.
It was a new low for the Patriots in Week 6 against the New Orleans Saints, as New England’s running backs combined for only 45 yards, with each having their longest of the game go for seven yards.
In two games this season, quarterback Drake Maye has led the team in rushing: 45 yards in Week 3, 28 yards in Week 6. After six weeks, the run game for New England is nonexistent this season, and it’s not hyperbole to say so.
That said, the offensive line is doing a decent job of giving the running backs opportunities, but it could be better as the Patriots only average 1.9 yards per attempt before contact. In Week 6, they were even worse, averaging just 0.3 yards before contact, according to Pro Football Focus.
One way to get the running game going is by using specialty-designed runs to give the running backs just a little more space to make a play. The Patriots have only opened this section of the playbook a few times this season. However, they should consider putting it to use more often, as it’s been successful and gives them more variety in calling plays with different personnel packages.
How the Patriots Can Get the Run-Game Going This Season
In Week 1, the Patriots pulled out a really funky bunch concept out of 22-personnel with Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson as the tailbacks lined up right behind the guards, while Mack Hollins was positioned as the fullback less than a yard behind them. This turned into a handoff-sweep action to the left side to Henderson with Stevenson and Hollins as the lead-blockers.
In Week 2, New England ran two back-to-back plays that didn’t work too well at the time, but now five weeks later, I think it’s worth giving it another shot. The first play was in 11-personnel while the second play was in 22-personnel, but both included Hunter Henry in motion to the left side.
In Week 4, they ran a series of jet sweep actions to both sides of the field that picked up big gains out of 21-personnel. It started with a jet sweep to Antonio Gibson on the right side for 21 yards. On the next play, the Patriots faked the jet sweep to the same side and handed it off to Stevenson, who gained 22 yards on the left side.
At the end of the day, the running backs need to start making some plays themselves on the ground. However, I do think that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels needs to call more of these specialty and exotic run schemes to not only get the run game activated early on, but also keep opposing defenses on their toes.
With Gibson out for the season after tearing his ACL in Week 5, it’s going to be on the shoulders of Stevenson and Henderson to carry the team out of the backfield this season. That is, unless New England swings a trade for an RB.