The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Patriots’ Stevenson ready to be ‘the guy’
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Rhamondre Stevenson emerged as the Patriots’ lead option in the backfield last season over Damien Harris, who seemed to lose his top role early in the season and never reclaimed it after catching the injury bug late in the year.
Going into this season, though, there’s no question.
Harris is gone after signing with the rival Bills in free agency, meaning Stevenson is the unquestioned leader of the Patriots’ running back group. After a strong second season, when he tallied 1,040 rushing yards, the third-year back seems ready for the responsibility that comes with that. The 25-year-old is trying to be more of a leader in the running back room. And he wants to be counted on to produce for the Patriots on a weekly basis.
“That’s what’s being asked of me right now,” Stevenson said of his blooming leadership after the Patriots’ OTA session on Tuesday. “I’m trying to take that step. It’s still early, but I’m trying to take that step to be a leader.”
As the Patriots start their early work and preparation for the upcoming season here in June, with minicamp set for next week, Stevenson said his conditioning has been a focus.
“Just getting in shape again, just getting my wind back,” Stevenson said. “Damien’s out of here now so I’m kind of the guy, so just trying to make sure I’m ready for the end of the season.”
That’s key for Stevenson, who shouldered a heavy workload last season with 279 touches, which ranked tied for 10th in the NFL among running backs. He admitted toward the end of last season that he was feeling that load a bit. With that experience under him, he knows how to prepare for what should be
potentially an even heavier season in 2023.
“I’d just say the same thing I was doing, just more consistency,” Stevenson said. “Just doing the same thing every day, just taking care of my body and just trying to be proactive. …
“It’s just a long season. You just have to mentally prepare for that long season. That’s the best thing you can do, just mentally prepare, just know that it’s a 17-game season and have to get after it.”
Stevenson is a Patriots breakout candidate in 2023. There were some changes to the coaching staff, but most of the same players are returning to the offense. He’s comfortable and ready to be a key leader for this group as it looks to take a big step from last season.
“I think just getting years under your belt in this league brings confidence,” Stevenson said. “I think I’m pretty confident, just being around almost
the same guys for three years, just building that chemistry is bringing us closer and play better.”
Filling a big void
After being a fixture of the Patriots defense for 13 seasons, Devin McCourty retired this offseason. From a leadership perspective, especially for the secondary, that will be almost impossible to make up.
But Kyle Dugger, who’s entering his fourth season, is hopeful they can collectively. And it seems he’s taking some initiative as one of those lead voices.
“That’s somebody you can’t replace, and he was huge on communication,” Dugger said. “Big voice back there for us. That definitely has to pick up from everybody but definitely, knowing the defense and things, I want to make sure I communicate as much as I can to make sure it’s not a drop-off.”
Gonzalez fits in
After missing the team’s first open practice last week, Patriots top draft pick Christian Gonzalez was present on Tuesday and he earned reps with the first-team defense, as he lined up across Jonathan Jones in the first 11-on-11 period. It looks like the Patriots have big plans for the rookie cornerback they took at No. 17 overall, and his teammates came away impressed with his athleticism.
“It’s pretty effortless just the way he does everything, really,” Dugger said. “The way he moves in and out of breaks, he runs easy, he just looks very light, very fluid. So it’s very easy to see.”
New role for Mills?
Last month, Jalen Mills tweeted his intentions of making a list of the top safeties in the NFL. A cornerback the last two seasons with the Patriots, Mills seems to be in the mix to return to safety — where he played in 2020 with the Eagles — to help fill the void left by McCourty.
On Tuesday, Mills was playing in the slot with Gonzalez and Jones on the outside. It’s certainly too early to define roles, but the Patriots love Mills’ versatility and he said he’ll be ready whenever his name is called.
“Jalen’s a smart kid,” coach Bill Belichick said. “He has a lot of playing experience in different spots. He’s done a good job for us.”
Mills was briefly released by the Patriots in March before resigning on a one-year deal. He didn’t want to share details of what happened.
“That’s all in the past,” Mills said. “I’m here, I’m happy, I’m a Patriot.”
Odds & ends
Tempers flared briefly at Tuesday’s practice, as Cole Strange and Anfernee Jennings got into it during a skirmish after a play. Christian Barmore was a late participant to the action and threw a punch at Strange before David Andrews took him away. Strange and Barmore proceeded to watch the rest of practice from the sideline. …
Belichick said Monday’s OTA session was a “big day” as the Patriots ran a significant number of plays and “got a lot done” before they tempered things down with a light session on Tuesday. …
The Patriots signed Ed Lee, a rookie wide receiver from Rhode Island, as a free agent on Monday and he participated Tuesday as part of a light wide receiver group that did not include Kendrick Bourne or Juju Smith-Schuster. “Just gives us a little more depth at the position,” Belichick said of Lee. “We had him here in rookie minicamp, have an opportunity, have a spot for him, so take a look at him in OTAs here and see how it goes.”