New England Patriots - NESN.com
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel wants more from the running game.
In the Patriots’ 25-19 win over the New Orleans Saints, quarterback Drake Maye led the team with 28 rushing yards. Rookie TreVeyon Henderson rushed for 27 yards on nine carries, while Rhamondre Stevenson had 18 yards on 13 carries.
After getting a chance to watch the tape and look back on the game, Vrabel knows the run game has to be better. The head coach is looking for more consistency from the run game.
“We’ll keep working. We’ve had some good runs, we’ve had some pitiful ones, too,” Vrabel said on Monday. “We just have to make sure that there’s a consistency, that we’re coaching the details, that we’re coaching the demeanor, understand that it’s going to be some dirty runs in there.
“We’re going to have to make a guy miss or break a tackle, things that we’ve done throughout the season, and be able to do all those while taking care of the football and trying to move the line of scrimmage. Probably wished we had some more production in the run game there at the end.”
Vrabel believes the run game could be struggling due to both backs focusing on protecting the football. Stevenson has had some fumbling issues, but the coach wants more from the lead back.
“I wouldn’t say that it’s just Rhamondre,” Vrabel said. “I think that that’s something that probably both backs that played yesterday, that carried the ball yesterday, probably are focused on. I think there’s a balance there. We’ve talked about that.”
The Patriots’ run game has a chance to get back on track against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday as the Titans’ defense is allowing 4.5 rushing yards per attempt.
