The New England Patriots will have a decision to make at their running back position. While Rhamondre Stevenson currently remains sidelined with a toe injury, the veteran is facing some stiff competition
for the No. 1 job once he returns: rookie TreVeyon Henderson has looked very good during Stevenson’s absence, with his game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday a career performance.
Unsurprisingly, a majority of fans wants the team to keep riding the hot hand. As a look at the results of this week’s SB Nation Reacts survey shows, 58% want Henderson to serve as RB1 the rest of the season.
Like the survey overall, however, the comment section also was not tilted significantly one way or the other:
PatsHowYouDoIt
Rhamondre. He’s built for the snaps. Use everyone else too.ATC13
Whoever is the hot hand. Mondre is easily the more polished pass blocker, can catch out of the backfield but when we think he has overcome his case of the fumblitis we see the ball on the ground again.
It is very evident early in the season something Trey did well in college was pass block but he wasn’t getting to his spots. At the NFL level he underestimates the speed of the rusher and was frequently out of position. If you can’t pass block in McDaniels offense you will not play, simple as that. Similar to if you can’t get to where the QB needs you, you won’t be on the field (looking at you Kyle Williams outside of that one beautiful catch and run).
The easy answer would be the home run threat as RB1 but the reality is he isn’t at the point of being a bell cow or having full control over the play book/scheme and being where he is supposed to be. I hope it changes. I know he had a phenomenal game but that second TD run I look at the same as the last Jonathon Taylor TD run this week, a lot of collapsing by the D-line coupled with poor tackling and he used his speed to bounce it outside. I thought the first Trey TD was more impressive he hit the whole and focused on 2 hands on the ball as he got to the second level (take notes Mondre). So unpopular for now I think it should still be Mondre for a tad longer. I think I have one more fumble before I say just leave him in locker room for good.GrogansHeroes
If Treyveon can pick up the blitz and stonewall him consistently, then go, TH, but I like Mondre’s ability to get hard yards.
If he (Mondre) holds onto the ball, we now have our own Thunder and Lightning!Felkey
I’d prefer to see more of a 1a and 1b type situation. I don’t really want to see Stevenson or Henderson getting 25 carries a game. That’s never been Stevenson’s MO and it almost certainly isn’t Henderson. Hell, draw up some plays with both of them on the field and see if we can get some confusion going.KissBillsRings
I’d be fine with a good mix of the two, would be very interesting seeing them in the same backfield like the old days…. Modern version of the Pony Express??
All in all, this week’s survey results look as follows:
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Besides the running back question, we also once again asked fans about their confidence in the team. Even though the Patriots played a close game against the Buccaneers, winning 28-23, an overwhelming majority of fans (98%) is feeling good about the club’s direction.
A similar number (97%) believe that the Patriots will come away victoriously on Thursday Night Football against the New York Jets. Out of all the participants in the weekly survey, 83% picked the home team to win by more than one score.
