In his second NFL season last fall, Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 1,040 yards while averaging 5 yards per carry.
He also carried more than his fair share of weight in the passing game with 69 receptions for 421 yards.
The former fourth-round pick was pretty much the only player on the New England offense that met or surpassed hopes and expectations in the “experiment” gone wrong that was the Patriots’ Matt Patricia-coached dysfunctional unit.
But in the midst of pad-less, non-contact OTAs this week in Foxborough, Stevenson made it clear he’s looking to do even more in 2023. Veteran backup and backfield best buddy Damien Harris having moved on to the Bills in free agency, Stevenson is ready to take his game, his leadership and production to another level.
The 6-0, 227-pound dual-threat declared that he’s ready to be “the guy.”
At just 25 years old, now the elder statesman in the post-Harris, post-James White running back room, Stevenson said he realizes “this is going to be my backfield.”
And he’s hoping to take his overall impact to “the next level.”
For a guy coming off more than 1,400 yards from scrimmage – ninth most among running backs – such talk should be music to the ears of suddenly hopeful Patriots fans. That’s especially true given the arrival of offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, bringing competency, experience and a proven track record to a role that lacked such things a year ago.
But it may not be enough for Stevenson and his admirably-selfish hopes to want to be the centerpiece of the backfield and maybe even the entire New England offense in 2023. Nope, he may NEED to be that.
His 1,000-yard rushing effort and team-best 69 receptions as a sophomore -- in part due to the fact that Harris missed time to injury while the rest of the offense was a hot-mess -- were obviously a breakout season. Any improvement on his production, role or impact from that bar would push Stevenson into the conversation with some of the best, most valuable running backs in the NFL. Think Christian McCaffrey. Or Saquon Barkley. Or Josh Jacobs.
It’s admittedly a lot to ask for. But it also is what it is.
Given the relative uncertainty or limited upside of many of his teammates on the offense, New England may indeed NEED Stevenson to elevate his game. Forget the guy, he may need to be “Da man!” this fall if the unit is to bounce back from the miserable product it fielded as a whole less than 12 months ago.
Stevenson seemingly expects to be great and certainly faces great expectations. That’s not something that can really be said for almost anyone else on the Patriots offense.
The quarterback will always be the most important figure on an offense at any level of football, most certainly in the NFL. As such, Mac Jones is the Reggie Jackson-style straw stirring the Patriots offensive drink. As he goes in his make-or-break third season will be the way the New England offensive goes.
Beyond that, Stevenson is clearly the most important guy on the depth chart from which O’Brien will try to cull together an attack that’s good enough to compete and try and keep pace in a loaded conference and AFC East.
Stevenson is the best returning offensive player the Patriots have. He had the best season for the unit a year ago, even as he wore down late in the year while doing his best to overcome the limitations of the group under Patricia’s watch.
Defenses are going to key on Stevenson this fall, at least early on. And they should. He was that damn good a year ago.
Now we’re going to find out just how good the budding star running back can be.