FOXBORO — All signs pointed toward the Patriots going run-heavy in their season opener against the Raiders, so it was surprising to see Josh McDaniels’ offense run the ball just 18 times in the 20-13 loss.
Even more shocking, the Patriots ran the ball just three times in the second half, and neither Rhamondre Stevenson nor TreVeyon Henderson received a single carry after the second quarter.
Head coach Mike Vrabel said the Patriots got away from the run because it was inefficient in the first half.
“Yeah, it just wasn’t one of our better plays,” Vrabel said. “Again, we just have to take advantage of the plays that we do call and hit it when we have guys open, and just being able to start the second half, being able to go down there and continue that drive, unfortunately not turn it over and be able to create some momentum in that situation.”
Overall, the Patriots averaged just 3.3 yards per carry in the game. Henderson had two runs called back by holding penalties. Stevenson and the Patriots’ offensive line, which features four new starters this year, failed to convert on two third-and-1 situations.
“I think to have a successful offensive play, it takes really everybody,” Vrabel said. “It takes the play caller, right? Getting the play in efficiently. It takes us being able to identify the players that we need to block, the ones that we’re not going to be able to block and the ones that when we block them and we’re in combination, that we have to move them. And then the backs have to run where they’re not. And we say that. So again, it’s not just the players that we have that we’re handing the ball to, it’s everybody. Again, we have a lot of confidence in the running backs, but also, we have to be able to have a great execution in any scheme. … The bottom line is we have to run the ball better and we have to run it more efficiently because then I think that all opens up some more of the stuff that we’re doing, can do and want to be able to do so that it’s not just a drop-back passing game.”
Henderson led the Patriots with 27 rushing yards while averaging 5.4 yards per clip. Stevenson averaged just 2.1 yards on seven carries.
