Stevenson fumbled a league-high seven times last season, and twice in Sunday’s loss to the Steelers.
After Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled two times in the New England Patriots 21-14 defeat on Sunday, head coach Mike Vrabel backed his lead back: “We need him.”
Hearing that message, Stevenson knew that came with one major qualifier.
“If I can’t hold onto the ball, they don’t need me,” Stevenson said.
Stevenson, who fumbled a league-high seven times last season, lost his first on New England’s opening drive of the game as he was stripped by linebacker Cole Holcomb. As the Steelers scored just eight plays later, Stevenson did not record another touch until the second quarter and largely played just third downs.
His next fumble then came with New England along the goal line looking for the game-tying touchdown, as Cameron Hayward stripped the ball lose which Pittsburgh recovered in the end zone. From that point on, he largely watched from the sideline and did not record a touch the rest of the game.
“Just attack practice like I do each and every day,” he said when asked what he can do moving forward. “Just have ball security at the top of my mind right now.”
Stevenson was coming off his best game in recent memory as he caught five passes for 88 yards and added 54 yards on the ground last week in Miami. The impact proves Vrabel’s assessment of needing the back correct, especially as spell-back Antonio Gibson also lost a fumble against Pittsburgh while rookie TreVeyon Henderson allowed another pressure in pass protection and has averaged just 3.4 yards per carry on the year as he continues to adjust t0 the pro game.
But, that’s only if Stevenson can keep the ball off the turf.
“I got to hold onto the ball to have value and put value on this team,” Stevenson said.
Category: General Sports
