The Patriots continued winning despite it, but their lack of success in the run game had been a serious concern leading up to their Week 7 matchup with the Titans.
For at least one week, that issue was resolved in Sunday’s 31-13 win over the Titans, when the team collectively rushed for 175 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries in their fourth straight victory.
Fumbles had previously been an issue for the Patriots’ running backs — especially Rhamondre Stevenson — but it also appeared that they were possibly too focused on ball-security.
“We don’t want to get lackadaisical at the sidelines or going to the ground or near the end zone. One thing you find is when guys make moves or do things that the ball can’t come off their body,” head coach Mike Vrabel said Monday on WEEI. “It was about ‘don’t let ball security paralyze us. Make sure that our O-line is getting into the combinations and making sure that the backs are doing a good job of getting to the line of scrimmage and then you just have to run.’ But we can’t sit there and dance and wait, and we also can’t just plod it up in there for 2 yards and think that’s going to be enough.”
Players said after Sunday’s win that there was a major emphasis placed on running the ball early against the Titans.
The Patriots began their first drive with four straight runs for 38 yards.
“I thought we were more decisive,” Vrabel said Monday. “I thought we gave them a chance early at the line of scrimmage. To be able to get into the line of scrimmage, to be able to make some breaks and give them some space, there’s a lot there to continue to improve on. If you want to hit some big ones, you’re going to have to be able to block support players, you’re going to have to be able to block safeties, block force.
“But I thought we got them through the line of scrimmage at times. I thought we were decisive. There were times where there wasn’t anything there and we got a couple yards, and then there were times where there was things there and we got double digit runs.”
Stevenson carried the ball 18 times for 88 yards with a touchdown. Quarterback Drake Maye also was a factor on the ground with 62 yards on eight rushing attempts.