The Patriots didn’t make any additions to their 53-man roster forward of Tuesday’s NFL commerce deadline.
The Patriots had till Tuesday at 4 p.m. to swing any trades. They dealt away security Kyle Dugger to the Steelers and defensive finish Keion White to the 49ers final week however didn’t make any acquisitions through commerce.
The crew has taken a long-term strategy to crew constructing regardless of their 7-2 begin.
“I’ll remind you, we’re eight video games into what we really feel like is a program that we wish to construct, and we now have to proceed to seek out methods to enhance, determine it out and get it proper, and that’s all we’re making an attempt to do,” head coach Mike Vrabel mentioned final week. “Whether or not that’s having success early on within the season, mid-season or after the commerce deadline, no matter which may be, I believe we simply need to proceed to take that strategy.”
The crew’s greatest wants forward of the commerce deadline had been at operating again and edge defender. They’ll at the moment persist with Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings at operating again and Harold Landry III, Okay’Lavon Chaisson, Anfernee Jennings, Elijah Ponder and Caleb Murphy at exterior linebacker.
The Patriots even have operating backs D’Ernest Johnson and Rushawn Baker on their observe squad and Jashuan Corbin on observe squad injured reserve. Outdoors linebacker Bradyn Swinson can be on the observe squad.
As an alternative of buying a operating again to exchange Antonio Gibson, who tore his ACL in Week 5, the Patriots as an alternative elevated Jennings off of the observe squad in three straight weeks then signed him to the 53-man roster final Wednesday.
Jennings has carried the ball 18 occasions for 68 yards with a landing and caught one 9-yard cross in 4 video games this season.
Stevenson missed final week’s win over the Falcons with a toe harm. To fill his spot on the energetic roster, Johnson was elevated from the observe squad.
The Patriots have been inconsistent of their capacity to run the ball this season, although they’ve improved over the past three weeks. Stevenson has rushed 83 occasions for 279 yards with three touchdowns and caught 16 passes for 169 yards. He’s additionally fumbled 3 times. Henderson has carried the ball 67 occasions for 283 yards with a landing and fumbled as soon as. He’s additionally caught 20 passes for 131 yards.
The Patriots rank thirty first in EPA (anticipated factors added) per rush and twenty ninth in rush success fee. They’ve been one of many prime passing offenses within the NFL and one of many worst at operating the ball regardless of an offensive line that ranks eighth in ESPN’s run block win fee metric.
The Patriots’ protection ranks nineteenth in sacks with 20 on the season. They’re stout up entrance with Milton Williams, Christian Barmore and Khyiris Tonga at defensive deal with however may have used yet one more edge defender to help the cross rush.
Landry and Chaisson lead the crew with 5.5 sacks every. Landry has contibuted 36 complete pressures whereas Chaisson has 32 on the season. Their backups have performed inconsistently, nevertheless.
Anfernee Jennings, who was considered as a commerce candidate, sits behind Landry and Chaisson on the depth chart. He has simply 5 complete pressures on the 12 months. Ponder, a rookie, has three pressures on 53 complete snaps. Murphy, claimed off waivers from the Chargers two weeks in the past, has but to be energetic within the two video games he’s been on the 53-man roster. Swinson additionally has but to play this season.
White beforehand served because the Patriots’ third edge defender earlier than being traded. He had simply three complete pressures in 123 snaps and struggled in run protection. Truman Jones, who was energetic for one recreation as a observe squad elevation, was signed away by the Titans final month.
Regardless of some points constantly dashing the passer, the Patriots’ protection has excelled within the run recreation. They rank fourth in EPA per rush and fifth in rush success fee. Their 75.4 dashing yards allowed per recreation is the league’s lowest mark. Their 3.6 yards allowed per try ranks third-lowest.
