TreVeyon Henderson’s Low Usage: Strategy or Issue?
Adam discusses why TreVeyon Henderson's carry count has dropped, pointing to tactical decisions rather than injury concerns, along with Stevenson's emergence.
Video Transcript
What is the situation that you're hearing back home, with Treveyon Henderson?
Is he, in fact, hurt?
Why aren't they utilizing him?
I need to know.
32 carries at the end of the regular season in back-to-back games.
I understand the pass blocking.
Is that it?
What is the reason why the guy only had three carries against Denver?
Yeah, I- for me, I, I, I don't think it's an injury concern.
I think it's a little bit of riding the hot hand, honestly, and Rhamondre Stevenson, while, you know, back in the first handful of games of the regular season had, had the fumble issues, since then, he's been clean.
And really going back to the last, let's say, five games of the regular season to where we are now through the playoffs, Stevenson's been exceptional.
He's not been Christian McCaffrey, but he's been, you know, really exactly what you're looking for: a methodical chain mover.
He can catch the ball, move it that way out of the backfield, and obviously is capable of finding some holes and, and, you know, bullying his way through some guys and moving the ball as a rusher as well.
But I don't think you can just, if you're Mike Vrabel, you know, leave Treveyon Henderson to sit there and watch.
I think you need both of these guys because, you know, what Stevenson does, and I said it, you know, he's it's yeah, he can blow up for a 55-yard catch or whatever, like we saw earlier in the postseason.
But generally speaking, it's, it's a lot of short yardage gains, and again, methodically, to use that word once more, moving the chains.
Your home run hitter is Treveyon Henderson.
That's the guy that can break one off and run for a 70-yard, you know, catch-and-run or just a carry, whatever it is.
So he's gotta get his opportunities.
I don't think investing over in his props is a bad idea, but if you wanna be concerned about usage like you're talking about, that's justified.
But I, I, I, think you need to, if you're Vrabel, both these guys, even though it's gonna be mostly Stevenson barring an injury, heaven forbid, both these guys need to be part of the game plan.
You know, it's all Kenneth Walker on the other side.
You know, that's, that's, that's your option with no Charbonnet.
You got two for New England to balance out just a little bit.
My only thing is, a- and, look, I think it's, it's good insight, Adam.
It's just I've been sitting next to Joe already for too long.
The reason Treveyon Henderson isn't getting the ball is he is not playing well at all, and Stevenson looks incredible.
It- that is largely what it boils down to.
It's the Super Bowl.
Yeah.
Henderson has a long career ahead of him.
He'll likely be the starting running back next year.
Treveyon Henderson is, yet to average more than three yards a carry in any of these games.
Uh- He's not been the more explosive back- Well- ... for six weeks!
Stevenson averaged two point- You just asked Adam if anybody at home knows if Henderson is hurt.
No!
Well, I No.
You lost your mind.
No, because he had How many carries did he have in the second game against Houston?
He had nine or 10.
12.
Okay, so- And 25 yards!
And he went down- They went, "All right, that's enough of that!"
Come on.
That was in garbage time, though, too.
I mean, he Did you He carried the ball in the fourth quarter when the game was al- already over.
You're making it sound like I, I don't know.
You're making it sound like the guy hasn't had 911 yards.
We're making Rhamondre Stevenson- ... out like he's Barry Sanders.
No, we're not!
I mean, come on.
He's not Barry Sanders.
No, I, I think, I, I think going back to what you're both talking about is, you know, one guy has played better than the other, and it's I'm not, as a talent, disputing Treveyon Henderson is You know, he's got a bright future ahead of him.
That's, that's the guy.
But maybe this weekend, he's not the guy.
Again, he's gonna get some opportunity, but, you know, as, as Kev talked about, like, the yards per carry and lack of YAC and all of that, like, it's, it's not been a good showing so far.
But again, that's for the offense across the board, you know, outside of a guy like Stevenson, who has played very well.
Well, listen, I think we're gonna talk to Adam again after this segment.
There's a couple of other things I wanna- Sure ... get to, but if during the break- Good, great, I'm here ... Kev, if you can, text, you know, Boston Louie or, or, you know- Yeah, exactly ... Uncle Steve.
No.
Maybe he knows.
"Hey, what Is Henderson on the tank?
Ask- Any, any, anybody know what's going on here?"
Ask him to ask Teddy Bruschi.
Ask Bruschi- Yeah ... to talk to Vrabel.
Anybody know what's going on here?
I, I, I- That'd be great!
I, I thought Teddy- Please.
Find it out.
What's happening?
