For all the chances the Patriots have missed over the first three weeks, they still have an opportunity to emerge from Week 4 with a 2-2 record if they can beat the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
But even against a team like the Panthers — one of the few NFL clubs that may have less overall talent than New England — the Patriots will need to cut back on the turnovers after committing five in last Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The primary culprit of their ball-security woes, running back Rhamondre Stevenson, is the topic of our first Mailbag question of the week. Let’s dive in.
Hi Phil! Do you think the ball security is a more a technical sports issue with Rhamondre or psychological?- @clazzyclare
Clare! Great question. I think it’s both. There are times when you’re so focused on every other aspect of your job that placing the requisite amount of focus on the mechanics of holding the football slip your mind.
Therefore, there’s a mental element to it. But it’s really more of a fundamental issue. And an eminently fixable one.
How much more do you think the team can tolerate with Stevenson and his fumbling issues? Not necessarily saying cut him but surely leaving him a healthy scratch next Sunday to send a message should be on the table now? – @kieranb81
Kieran, I think you’re right. There’s an easy argument to be made that Vrabel needs to send a message to his locker room this week and bench Rhamondre Stevenson.
That doesn’t mean cut him. It doesn’t even mean to make him inactive; the Patriots have only three active-roster running backs and would be in a bind if only two were active Sunday and one was to get hurt. But they could easily swap the roles of Stevenson and Antonio Gibson. That would mean Gibson getting the start and the bulk of the early-down work.
Playing TreVeyon Henderson as a workhorse back might be playing with fire because his 5-foot-10, 205-pound frame hasn’t looked all that effective in an early-down-runner role. But using Gibson early and Henderson on passing downs, with Stevenson waiting in the wings for whatever opportunities come his way, seems logical.
Rhamondre has had fumbling issues in the past, but shouldn’t we be killing Drake Maye the same way we’re killing him & Pop (DeMario Douglas)? He took a couple of unnecessary sacks, one that led to a fumble, and an INT in the end zone. He played well, but those kept points off the board as well – @SelfMadeBreeeze
Definitely worthy of criticism, SMB. But they’re not moving on from Maye the way they could move on from Stevenson and hand the ball more often to capable players at his position. Maye is also younger, which isn’t a great excuse, but relative to Stevenson’s fumbling issues it helps make Maye’s problems make more sense.
I’m curious on the building’s perception on Drake Maye at this point? Ty Law this morning saying he’s the real deal (which I agree with). Do the Patriots think they got the dude internally and now it’s all about building around him or is verdict still out in Vrabel’s eyes? – @isaidit01
There’s a lot of belief in Maye inside the building, both from McDaniels and Vrabel, two of the most important people in Maye’s development. One of the reasons Vrabel was so attracted to the Patriots job last offseason was Maye’s presence.
They’re going to be patient with him, while also trying to push him to reach new heights, because they see high-end ability and makeup.
When do we decide Pop (Douglas) is not the guy we are hoping for? Boutte has outplayed him since last year I think moving forward it needs to be Diggs, Boutte, and rotate Chism and Williams to see who outperforms the other. – @ClosewithChapa
Danny, I think you’re looking at an offensive attack that features a lot of multi-tight end sets. That typically means two wideouts on the field.
Those wideouts, in my opinion, will be some combination of Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins on the outside and Stefon Diggs on the inside. None of them will play 90 percent of the snaps, as Mike Vrabel said on Wednesday, but that has become the clear top three at that position.
I’m not sure icing out DeMario Douglas will mean all that much for Efton Chism and/or Kyle Williams. Vrabel didn’t sound too eager to get either one on the field any time soon when asked about them this week.
When does Chism play over Douglas? I feel the Patriots are facing a lot of zones and I think Chism would be better suited for that. In my opinion, he would have got that 4th down. – @Fanfaron07
Fascinated to see if Vrabel feels the same way. Douglas’ output has clearly been a disappointment, but do Chism’s coaches view him as a better option? Or is he purely a developmental player who needs more time to marinate as a pro and just happens to play the same position as Douglas?
“We can only get five right now, we’ve only been taking five (receivers to games),” Vrabel said Wednesday. “That can change each week. And he’s working hard, working in practice. We’ll evaluate that each week as to what his role would be and how he can help us. But that’s kind of where that is.”
What do you personally believe is the reason that Kyle Williams isn’t getting more snaps on offense? Is it the Baker situation again and he doesn’t know where to line up? Do they genuinely believe the guys ahead of him are better suited for scheme? What is the reason? – @617Betta
Betta, Williams just hasn’t surpassed the veterans ahead of him on the depth chart. Based on my understanding, it’s not that he’s unaware of what he’s supposed to do while he’s out there.
Keep an eye out for a conversation I had with Williams later this week. He’s not discouraged. Just needs to bide his time until he can show the coaching staff that he’s one of their best options.
MORE PATRIOTS
Understanding health concerns, should the patriots call the Saints about (Chris) Olave and maybe the Bears about DJ Moore? I know the offense has been better outside of turnovers but this team still needs some juice – @Soxnation0613
The passing offense has been surprisingly efficient when they aren’t turning it over, SoxNation.
They’re eighth in EPA per pass play through three weeks. That’s outstanding given the talent in that huddle. But I’m not sure I see them swinging a big deal with high-end draft capital going out the door for one of those two guys. Might have to wait for the draft to add the kind of receiver help you’re looking for.
Tune into Next Pats this week (6 p.m. ET on Fridays on NBC Sports Boston) for our “Who’s Next?!?” segment where we identify potential 2026 draft picks. We include a wideout pretty much every week, and this week we’re looking at one from the place I call “The Other WR U.”
If results don’t show in the win column how long until it’s time to throw the season to the rookies? I know several are getting play time but start playing the ones that aren’t and up the snaps of the ones that are – @CynicalPatsFan
Long way away from that, CMS. One thing Vrabel can’t do, if you ask me, is allow losing to become the norm. Once that becomes acceptable, it’s very difficult to dig yourself out of that mentality.
I think low expectations seeped into the locker room last season and led to the Patriots losing games they shouldn’t have lost, ultimately pushing ownership to move on from Jerod Mayo and his staff. That won’t happen with Vrabel, but if they’re out of the playoff mix and waving the white flag by playing rookies (if those rookies don’t deserve it), that’s a bad sign for the start of this regime.
Is the lack of passes over 20 yards due to inconsistent blocking up front? Jim writing from Sicily. #QuickSlants – @JimGilhooly1957
That could be part of it, Jim, since the Patriots have the ninth-quickest average time to throw (2.70 seconds) in the NFL, per NextGen Stats.
They also don’t have many down-the-field separators on their roster. Maye looks comfortable throwing deep, but with his line and his weapons, it doesn’t make sense for those types of calls to be staples for Josh McDaniels.
Am I stupid for being optimistic? It feels so much different than the last 2 years. It feels close. – @patriots4evah
You’re not wrong. They have a significantly more watchable offense. They have more talent on both sides of the ball. It’s a better team. Mindless errors like the ones that plagued them last week have masked what is a more competent football product.
Hold onto the ball — easy enough, right? — and they’re 2-1 looking at a matchup with one of the least talented teams in the league at home in Week 4.
How do you feel Will Campbell is developing? – @Mike1896540911
Still waiting to hear from the “He’s got short arms, it’ll never work!” crowd.
It’s been a relatively small sample. And, no, Campbell hasn’t been perfect. He had issues on a game against the Steelers that led to a sack, and Pittsburgh pass-rusher Nate Herbig seemed hard for Campbell to handle at times. But he’s been fine overall.
Through three weeks, Pro Football Focus has him graded as the 11th-best pass-blocking tackle in football. You’ll take that if that’s where he sits by season’s end. Let’s see how it goes over the course of the next month or so and revisit.