New England Patriots
“We have to get him again. We’d like him. We completely want him.”
FOXBOROUGH – A pissed off Mike Vrabel stood on the podium after his group’s 21-14 loss to the Steelers and referred to as the 5 turnovers that sank their probabilities “very unlucky.”
Two of these turnovers got here on misplaced fumbles from Rhamondre Stevenson, who slammed his helmet on the sideline after letting go of the soccer ultimately zone on a key drive.
It was an aggravating setback for the veteran operating again whose efficiency in opposition to the Dolphins was instrumental in securing the Patriots’ first victory of the season last week.
Was it irritating? Sure. Pricey? For positive. However, Stevenson has but to achieve a degree the place the Patriots can afford to surrender on him simply but, Vrabel mentioned.
“Yeah, it’s such as you sit there, and we have been so enthusiastic about him and everyone is worked up about him,” Vrabel mentioned. “The followers are, and we all know what his capabilities are, and we’ve obtained to get him again. We’d like him. We completely want him.”
“We’d like his capacity, however we additionally must maintain the soccer,” the coach added. “It’s a protracted reply to let you know that I’m not likely positive 20 minutes after the sport what we’re going to do, however we’d like him as a result of he helped us win the sport final week, and it was a distinct story at the moment.
Standing at his locker, Stevenson instructed reporters that his fumbling downside was on the forefront of his thoughts. He had by no means fairly solved the difficulty final season, as he had seven fumbles unfold over the course of the 12 months. He made it by means of the primary two video games this season with out incident, however on Sunday the previous demons resurfaced.
Stevenson mentioned he appreciated Vrabel’s phrases, however added that they received’t imply a lot if he isn’t in a position to resolve the issue. He mentioned he educated with footballs that have been heavier than regular through the offseason as he tried to make the repair.
“I’ve obtained to carry onto the ball to have worth and put worth on this group,” Stevenson mentioned. “So, if I can’t maintain the ball, they don’t want me.”
Quarterback Drake Maye got here to Stevenson’s protection throughout his press convention, highlighting the up-and-down nature of life the NFL.
“He’s certainly one of our greatest gamers,” Maye mentioned. “I feel there’s nothing that I feel he can do that may change my view of him as a participant, as a teammate. He does all the things the suitable means. He is aware of simply as a lot as we all know. Ball safety is the No. 1 factor as a operating again, and he’s had an important season and an important final weekend.”
“That’s this league,” the quarterback added. “One week you’re heck of a sport and he was heading in the right direction this sport, and that occurs. He is aware of simply as a lot as anyone else. I simply pump him up, be there for him, and I do know we’d like him all through the season.”
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin mentioned Stevenson’s tendency to fumble was one thing that Pittsburgh got here in figuring out that they needed to reap the benefits of.
“We determine alternatives, and positively he had some fumble points final 12 months,” Tomlin mentioned. “So it was an agenda merchandise for us.”
Ball safety is a high precedence for the Patriots as effectively, and if the errors proceed Vrabel’s persistence with Stevenson might be examined.
Losing a one-score game by committing 4 extra turnovers than the opponent definitely didn’t sit effectively with the coach.
“We don’t must lose a soccer sport to know that turnovers are very arduous to beat,” Vrabel mentioned. “They erase all the nice issues that you simply do. They take away momentum. They take away factors, give them area place. We didn’t want to show it over as many occasions as we did to be taught a lesson. I feel we knew that earlier than. It was very unlucky.”
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