New England Patriots - NESN.com
With a 4-2 record through six games, it’s safe to say that a lot of things have gone right for the New England Patriots so far this year. One position group that has not managed to meet expectations to this point, though, has been the running back room.
Entering the season, the Patriots were expecting running back to be an area of strength for them. With Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson and Antonio Gibson leading the way, New England had a strong trio in place.
Instead, this has arguably been the worst position on the roster through six games. Stevenson’s fumbling woes have continued, Henderson has struggled after a very impressive preseason and Gibson suffered a torn ACL in Week 5, ending his year prematurely.
Henderson’s struggles have been a bit of a head-scratcher. Not only is he not getting used as much as fans were expecting, but when he’s on the field, he hasn’t looked as sharp as he did over the summer when he had the team giddy with excitement.
That’s part of making the transition from college to the pros, and that’s not lost on the team. When discussing Henderson’s play, running backs coach Tony Dews made it clear that the second-round rookie is right where the team expects him to be in terms of his progression.
“When I talk to Josh (McDaniels) and just ask about the guys here in the past … he’s very much on par with what some of the other guys that played early as rookies … He’s continuing to get better,” Dews said of Henderson when speaking to reporters recently.
Henderson hasn’t necessarily been bad, but his performance has left a lot to be desired (41 carries, 148 yards, one touchdown, 16 receptions, 99 yards). With Stevenson looking like a shell of himself and Gibson out for the year, New England may need Henderson to figure things out sooner rather than later.
The former Ohio State Buckeye will have a great opportunity to do just that in Week 7, as the Patriots have a favorable matchup against the one-win Tennessee Titans on their hands. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon.
