Why did the Patriots abandon the run against the Raiders? Mike Vrabel explains.
"It just wasn't one of our better plays," Vrabel said.
FOXBOROUGH – The Patriots all but abandoned the run game in the second half of Sunday’s loss to the Raiders, instead opting for 46 passing attempts from Drake Maye on a soggy day in Foxborough.
With rookie TreVeyon Henderson being one of the breakout stars of the preseason, a trimmed down Rhamondre Stevenson hungry for a bounce back year, and the shifty Antonio Gibson, running back was supposed to be a strength for the Patriots this season.
Together, the three backs notched 18 carries for 60 yards in the opener. The performance did not inspire confidence in the coaching staff to go for more touches on the ground.
“It just wasn’t one of our better plays,” Vrabel said, when asked why the Patriots went away from the run. “Again, we just have to take advantage of the plays that we do call and hit it when we have guys open, and just being able to start the second half, being able to go down there and continue that drive, unfortunately not turn it over and be able to create some momentum in that situation.”
Vrabel said after the game that the Patriots needed to do a better job of giving Drake Maye some help. The defense did a reasonably good job keeping the Raiders in check. Kayshon Boutte had one of the better games a Patriots receiver has had in years.
The second-year quarterback looked jittery with several high throws during his first time starting a home opener at Gillette Stadium, and the interception he threw was a backbreaker.
But, the lack of production in the run game only added to the problems by making New England’s offense one dimensional.
“The bottom line is we have to run the ball better and we have to run it more efficiently,” Vrabel said. “Because then I think that all opens up some more of the stuff that we’re doing, can do and want to be able to do so that it’s not just a drop-back passing game.”
The blame does not fall entirely on the running backs, though, Vrabel said. The offensive line struggled to create enough space for them.
“Getting the play in efficiently,” Vrabel said. “It takes us being able to identify the players that we need to block, the ones that we’re not going to be able to block and the ones that when we block them and we’re in combination, that we have to move them, and then the backs have to have to run where they’re not.”
“And we say that. So again, it’s not just the players that we have that we’re handing the ball to, it’s everybody.”
Only five teams gained fewer rushing yards than the Patriots in Week 1. The Raiders were a middle of the pack run defense last year, giving up 116.6 yards per game.
But, they showed up Week 1 against the Patriots.
“Just looking at the film, man, the backers played really well downhill,” right tackle Morgan Moses said. “Obviously Devin White has been around for a long time and they came in with Jamal Adams who has always been a fiery plug in the NFL.”
“I think we’ve got to continue getting a hat on a hat, and hopefully those two-yard runs turn into five yard runs, turn into ten, and then we get the ball moving.”
Stevenson got the bulk of the touches, and Henderson had the most yards. Gibson was the odd man out with just one carry for three yards.
“I think some of it is just based on the play and the flow of the game and knowing that they’re all going to have a role,” Vrabel said. “TreVeyon is going to have a role, and Rhamondre is going to do some things.”
“So, I don’t think it’s ever going to be perfect, and we have to evaluate everything to make sure that we’re getting it right based on volume, who’s playing, who’s getting the ball, who’s trying to get the ball. It’s hard to always dictate when we throw it, who gets it, but whatever the scheme is that we’re executing it and being able to stay balanced.”
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