Why did the Patriots abandon the run against Raiders?

FOXBOROUGH – The Patriots all however deserted the run sport within the second half of Sunday’s loss to the Raiders, as a substitute choosing 46 passing makes an attempt from Drake Maye on a soggy day in Foxborough.

With rookie TreVeyon Henderson being one of many breakout stars of the preseason, a trimmed down Rhamondre Stevenson hungry for a bounce again yr, and the shifty Antonio Gibson, operating again was alleged to be a power for the Patriots this season.

Collectively, the three backs notched 18 carries for 60 yards within the opener. The efficiency didn’t encourage confidence within the teaching employees to go for extra touches on the bottom.

“It simply wasn’t certainly one of our higher performs,” Vrabel mentioned, when requested why the Patriots went away from the run. “Once more, we simply need to benefit from the performs that we do name and hit it when we’ve guys open, and simply with the ability to begin the second half, with the ability to go down there and proceed that drive, sadly not flip it over and be capable to create some momentum in that scenario.”

Vrabel mentioned after the sport that the Patriots wanted to do a greater job of giving Drake Maye some assist. The protection did a fairly good job maintaining the Raiders in test. Kayshon Boutte had one of many higher video games a Patriots receiver has had in years.

The second-year quarterback regarded jittery with a number of excessive throws throughout his first time beginning a house opener at Gillette Stadium, and the interception he threw was a backbreaker.

However, the shortage of manufacturing within the run sport solely added to the issues by making New England’s offense one dimensional.

“The underside line is we’ve to run the ball higher and we’ve to run it extra effectively,” Vrabel mentioned. “As a result of then I believe that each one opens up some extra of the stuff that we’re doing, can do and wish to have the ability to achieve this that it’s not only a drop-back passing sport.”

The blame doesn’t fall solely on the operating backs, although, Vrabel mentioned. The offensive line struggled to create sufficient house for them.

“Getting the play in effectively,” Vrabel mentioned. “It takes us with the ability to determine the gamers that we have to block, those that we’re not going to have the ability to block and those that once we block them and we’re together, that we’ve to maneuver them, after which the backs need to need to run the place they’re not.”

“And we are saying that. So once more, it’s not simply the gamers that we’ve that we’re handing the ball to, it’s everyone.”

Solely 5 groups gained fewer dashing yards than the Patriots in Week 1. The Raiders had been a center of the pack run protection final yr, giving up 116.6 yards per sport.

However, they confirmed up Week 1 in opposition to the Patriots.

“Simply wanting on the movie, man, the backers performed very well downhill,” proper deal with Morgan Moses mentioned. “Clearly Devin White has been round for a very long time they usually got here in with Jamal Adams who has all the time been a fiery plug within the NFL.”

“I believe we’ve bought to proceed getting a hat on a hat, and hopefully these two-yard runs flip into 5 yard runs, flip into ten, after which we get the ball shifting.”

Stevenson bought the majority of the touches, and Henderson had essentially the most yards. Gibson was the odd man out with only one carry for 3 yards.

“I believe a few of it’s simply primarily based on the play and the stream of the sport and understanding that they’re all going to have a job,” Vrabel mentioned. “TreVeyon goes to have a job, and Rhamondre goes to do some issues.”

“So, I don’t assume it’s ever going to be excellent, and we’ve to judge every thing to ensure that we’re getting it proper primarily based on quantity, who’s taking part in, who’s getting the ball, who’s attempting to get the ball. It’s onerous to all the time dictate once we throw it, who will get it, however regardless of the scheme is that we’re executing it and with the ability to keep balanced.”

Khari A. Thompson

Sports activities Reporter

Khari Thompson covers skilled sports activities for Boston.com. Earlier than becoming a member of the group in 2022, Khari coated school soccer for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.