Patriots OC Josh McDaniels hints to offensive game plan change in Week 2 against Dolphins

Increased running back workload could benefit quarterback Drake Maye

Fifth-year veteran Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie second-rounder TreVeyon Henderson led the backfield in Week 1, combining for 12 carries as the Patriots adopted a pass-heavy game plan while trailing for the majority of the second half. McDaniels only called one run for a running back after halftime, which went to third-stringer Antonio Gibson and gained three yards.

Of the two lead ball-carriers, Henderson had the better game, gaining 51 yards (27 rushing, 24 receiving) on 11 touches (five carries, six receptions). Stevenson had seven carries for 15 yards (2.1 yards per carry) while adding two receptions for 12 yards.

Maye tied with Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler for most Week 1 pass attempts (46). McDaniels can help the young quarterback, selected No. 3 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, by diversifying the Patriots offense when it faces the Miami Dolphins in Week 2.

While McDaniels simply noted his desire to get the ball in his running backs' hands more often, that should likely come in the form of carries instead of passing targets. Only Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers running backs had more receptions in Week 1 than Henderson and Stevenson, who combined for eight.

During one crucial sequence against Las Vegas, McDaniels abandoned the run completely at the start of the third quarter while up three, 10-7. He called six consecutive passes on a possession that ended with a Maye interception.

As talented as the second-year quarterback is, McDaniels may have put too much on his plate in the opener. Making a concerted effort to emphasize the run game would ease the burden. Per Stats Perform, the Patriots, who are No. 27 in third-down conversion rate after Week 1 (28.57 percent), needed an average of 6.93 yards per third down, which ranked No. 23. Maye was 7-of-10 for 57 yards, converting three times, including just once on six attempts facing 3rd-and-8 or longer.

According to SumerSports data, the Patriots operated out of 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers) on 69.12 percent of their offensive plays, including 62.26 percent on early downs. In Week 1, the Dolphins struggled to stop the run out of 11 personnel, with the Indianapolis Colts, who had Week 1's second-shortest average third-down distance (4.73 yards), ranking eighth in expected points added (EPA) per rush out of the formation.

Henderson and Stevenson might find similar success, which could put Maye in more advantageous situations than he found himself in against the Raiders. They'll need the ball more often than they got it in Week 1 for that to happen, and McDaniels appears ready to rectify that mistake.