New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt must be thrilled by the sentiments expressed by running back Rhamondre Stevenson.
Stevenson, who will celebrate his 26th birthday on February 23, demonstrated his capability to handle a full workload throughout the 2022 season. He seized the lion’s share of running back snaps from Damien Harris, who subsequently departed for Buffalo in free agency. Stevenson amassed 1,040 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 210 carries while also contributing 421 receiving yards.
The 2023 season, however, bore some resemblance to the 2021 campaign, during which, as a rookie, Stevenson played second fiddle to Harris. This time around, he shared the workload with veteran Ezekiel Elliott. Stevenson, who missed the last five games due to injury, carried the ball 156 times for 619 yards (averaging 4.0 yards per carry) and scored four touchdowns in what marked his third professional season since being drafted in the fourth round out of Oklahoma.
Following his signing as a free agent in the summer, Elliott appeared in all 17 games, accumulating 955 scrimmage yards. He rushed for 642 yards on 184 carries (averaging 3.5 yards per carry). Stevenson, known for his hard-running style and his admission that he “love[s] playing all three downs,” has been on the field for an average of two out of every three offensive snaps over the past two seasons.
Stevenson, speaking through the Boston Globe, emphasized the significance of maintaining continuous involvement in the game, getting into the rhythm drive after drive, rather than being in and out of the lineup. He stressed that running backs understand this well, noting that it’s challenging to find momentum with a sporadic playing schedule.
Stevenson seemed to hit his stride as the season progressed, but unfortunately, a nagging ankle injury cut his season short. In the three games leading up to his Week 13 injury, he consistently gained over 85 yards rushing and totaled over 100 yards from scrimmage. With his dynamic abilities, Stevenson is ready and capable. Now, it’s up to Van Pelt to unleash Stevenson’s potential, hoping that a revitalized running game can provide a much-needed boost to the struggling passing offense.