For years the New England Patriots have deployed a multi-back scheme offensively. They would have an early-down back capable of churning up yardage between the tackles paired with a player who excelled in the passing game. Depth was key as the Patriots would have players capable of filling both roles behind them on the depth chart.
It is a model that the rest of the league has begun deploying in recent seasons. There are very few bell-cow, every down backs remaining in the NFL. Coincidentally, one of them actually resides in the Patriots’ backfield.
2021 fourth-round pick Rhamondre Stevenson out of Oklahoma burst onto the scene in his sophomore year. He opened the season in a timeshare with Damien Harris but by the end of the season, he was the sole owner of the backfield.
In his breakout campaign, Stevenson carried the ball 210 times for 1,040 yards and five touchdowns. He was an excellent safety valve for the quarterbacks as well, receiving 88 targets and turning them into 69 receptions for 421 yards and another score.
Stevenson finished the season tied for 10th in touches, becoming an integral part of the Patriots’ game plan offensively as the season went on. A former Patriots legend, running back James White, believes that the former Sooner is in for another big workload in 2023.
“It’s not so often as a Patriots running back that you’re out there that many snaps,” White said after Stevenson logged 66% playing time last season. “[Coach] Bill [Belichick] loves that guy, so he just has to capitalize on the opportunity.”
With Harris moving onto the Buffalo Bills and James Robinson, the team’s only running back signing of the offseason getting released three months later, Stevenson is in line for a monster workload. But, it would not be surprising to see New England add some more established depth.
Right now the depth chart behind Stevenson is Ty Montgomery, J.J. Taylor, Pierre Strong Jr. and Kevin Harris. Outside of the nine-year veteran Montgomery, there isn’t much, if any, NFL experience to rely upon from the other three.
“I see a bunch of talented young guys and then a savvy veteran in Ty [6-0, 216], if he can stay healthy, to kind of lead those guys along,” White said. “Being around him a little bit last year, in OTAs and training camp, [Ty is] a guy who feels like he is still trying to prove himself and feels he has a lot left in the tank … he just hasn’t quite had a true opportunity.
“With Bill O’Brien coming back [as offensive coordinator], they’ll probably get back to having a ‘sub back,’ and I feel like he’ll be the guy to take that on if they don’t have Rhamondre take on the full load.”
Stevenson has proven to be more than capable of carrying the workload in the backfield. But, having a complementary change of pace back is the Patriots’ way. Unless someone emerges early on in training camp, expect some more competition to be brought in behind the locked-in No. 1 option Stevenson.
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