The New England Patriots upped their record to 4-2 after beating a pesky Saints’ team in New Orleans. It’s been a solid but not entirely unexpected beginning of the Mike Vrabel era. The winning record is due to Drake Maye’s brilliant quarterbacking, even with a pitiful running game, which may now be partly due to the backs concentrating on not fumbling. Whatever the reasons, it’s not working.

Not turning the ball over is an attribute that can’t be overestimated. Fumbling, a staple of veteran Rhamondre Stevenson, the presumptive top back on the squad, had to be cleaned up if the Patriots were to stop self-destructing as they did in their only two losses.

The good news is – the fumbling is subsiding. The bad news is the Patriots’ running game still can’t get out of its own way. As the old song said, “Something’s gotta give” if the Patriots are to realize their potential. They can easily make the playoffs and maybe a lot more if they can get that run game untracked. What changes have to take place to make that happen?

The Patriots’ offensive line and the running backs have to improve or the offense will fall apart

An offensive lag in the Patriots’ overall game was to be expected with a new Head Coach, offensive system, and an offensive line with four new starters. Fortunately, the team has an emerging star in quarterback Drake Maye, whose talent level compensates for a whole host of other deficiencies.

Maye’s brilliance and the addition of Stefon Diggs have elevated the passing game. The O-line has pass-blocked well. Yet, the running game is still floundering. The holes aren’t there, and the blocking up front needs improvement. To make matters worse, the only Patriots running back averaging more than four yards per carry was Antonio Gibson at 4.2. He’s now out for the year with an ACL injury.

The two other running backs are Rhamondre Stevenson, who’s averaging a paltry 3.1 yards per carry, and rookie TreVeyon Henderson, who sits at 3.6. No back has a carry for more than 22 yards. The directive to avoid costly fumbling may be causing the backs to be more concerned about not fumbling than about gaining yardage.

Yet, Stevenson’s fumbling is chronic. He was a solid contributing factor in gifting the Pittsburgh game to the Steelers and should have one foot out the door. Now, when he may have put a lid on the fumbling, his running is feeble. Against the Saints, he rushed for a mere 18 yards on 13 carries, a 1.4-yard average. For the season, he has only 167 rushing yards in six games. He’s trade bait.

TreVeyon Henderson has to be the solution

Rookie second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson is now finally getting more carries with Gibson on the shelf. He doesn’t have worries about fumbling. He doesn’t fumble. It’s time for Vrabel to turn Henderson loose with more carries and allow him to get into the rhythm of a game. There’s no doubt that he should now be the bell-cow back. Vrabel has to get that right.

Henderson got nine carries against the Saints but gained only 27 yards. There weren’t any holes. Regardless, his carries should increase. It’s only a matter of time until the rookie speedster explodes for a big gainer. Vrabel should broadcast that Henderson is the No. 1 back and force opposing teams to game plan to bottle up his explosiveness. He’s a touchdown waiting to happen on any given play.

Another major issue with the running game is the play-calling. Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels telegraphs his runs so clearly that no one in the stadium has any doubt when one is on the way. It’s time for Vrabel to instruct him to put more deception into the run game by adding some razzle-dazzle using RPO, misdirection, and other trick plays to get Henderson in space, where he’s electric.

Fear of fumbling was likely a contributing factor in Stevenson’s dismal running performance against the Saints. That’s no surprise. He’s on thin ice, and another costly fumble could hand him a ticket out of town at the trade deadline. Yet, the rookie second-round pick Henderson is another story altogether.

He doesn’t fumble and isn’t worried about it. What he needs is running room, and it’s on the offensive line to start opening lanes for him. The telegraphed run play-calling also needs to cease. All this is on Vrabel. If both happen, expect Henderson as the lead back to sparkle. There’s no doubt that if he gets any room to run whatsoever, he’ll add a new dimension to the offense. He’s the Patriots’ best option.