Mike Vrabel comments on Rhamondre Stevenson's fumble, state of RB room
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel hasn't lost sight of the benefits of having both Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson.
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel did not appear to be considering benching running back Rhamondre Stevenson following his loss of a fumble during the Week 2 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Stevenson had lost two fumbles the previous season as well, and the early fumble from the first drive in the current game felt reminiscent of that.
Despite the setback, Stevenson managed to return to the game and contribute with a couple of plays, including a 39-yard touchdown run by TreVeyon Henderson in the first quarter. This performance has sparked debate about whether Henderson should be taking more carries. However, Vrabel's statements at a press conference on Wednesday indicated that there will be a split workload for the two running backs.
"I think that they both can help us," Vrabel stated. "We can all see that when we were playing well offensively, that they both had major roles." Vrabel also praised Stevenson for his comeback performance, noting that they need every player and are aware of the importance of ball security. Stevenson has been a consistent contributor to the Patriots' offense, but he must improve in holding onto the ball.
This balance of confidence in Stevenson's abilities and encouragement to play free of overthinking is a strategy Vrabel employs to help the player perform at his best.
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