Bill Belichick is a big fan of New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who the team selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Former Patriots running back James White recently assessed the team's running back group, which reminded him of the early 2010s.
Last decade, White was part of a medley of running backs featured in the Patriot's offense under Belichick. Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Danny Woodhead, and Kevin Faulk rounded out the group, who all fit the similar profile of not only being able to run the ball, but catch it out of the backfield as an additional receiver threat.
White provided an assessment of the current Patriots running back group led by Stevenson after Damien Harris signed with the Buffalo Bills during free agency.
“It’s not so often, as a Patriots running back, that you’re out there that many snaps,” White said to ESPN after Stevenson logged 66 per cent of the playing time last season and totaled 1,040 yards and five touchdowns on 210 carries. “Bill loves that guy, so he just has to capitalize on the opportunity.”
Despite White allegedly being in the good graces of the coaching staff, speculation still looms that the team may look to increase their backfield production with the addition of free agent Dalvin Cook - who the Minnesota Vikings released after they were unable to find any suitors via trade.
Furthering the conversation, White targeted training camp as essential for both veteran like Ty Montgomery and young players to prove their value to the team, which is still on the hunt for a complimentary piece for Stevenson should he fall to injury or endure the wear and tear over the course of a long NFL season.
“I see a bunch of talented young guys and then a savvy veteran in Ty, if he can stay healthy, to lead those guys kind of along,” White said. “Being around him a little bit last year, in OTAs and training camp, [Ty is] a guy who feels like he is still trying to prove himself and feels he has a lot left in the tank … he just hasn’t quite had a real opportunity.
“With Bill O’Brien coming back [as offensive coordinator], they’ll probably get back to having a ‘sub back,' and I feel like he’ll be the guy to take that on if they don’t have Rhamondre take on the full load.”
Despite the rumors of adding Cook, White believes that rooking running back Pierre Stone Jr. should continue to focus on the rigorous tests that will be thrown his way during training camp and use the preseason games to determine how many carries he should get per game, how much responsibility he can accept, and what type of runner can be alongside Stevenson.
