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The most likely outcome is Stevenson gets deactivated this week, Taylor takes his spot against the Jets, and BB limits Harris' workload some. Stevenson has had fumbling issues from high school on. He also showed up to training camp out of shape and couldn't pass his physical. So he is due to get the rookie treatment.
They realistically can't sit Harris. They don't really have anyone with any experience behind him . . . Stevenson and Taylor are green. That would have been a viable option had MIchel still been around, but they aren't going to trot Bolden out there for more than a few carries. The last time he had more than 15 carries IN A SEASON was 2015. I guess if they really got fed up with Harris they could use White, but he's only had 10+ carries 4 times in 105 career games.
You keep pointing that out, but it doesn't make any difference. It's in the record book as a fumble. NE lost possession and that contributed to them losing the game. It's not like that was the only issue for Stevenson the past 2 months. Whether he was down or not, he got stripped of the football by a defender. That's been one of his primary issues. Similarly, BB is not going to treat a rookie (with a fumbling issue) the same as a 3rd year player (without a fumbling issue) when everyone in the building loves Harris. No one said each situation is the same or that each will be treated similarly.
IMO, Harris likely still has one more mulligan coming before they would consider altering his status. The last time a NE RB had more than 2 fumbles in a season was 2013. I know they put a huge emphasis on ball security and regularly practice possession drills. When they have joint practices with other teams, a lot of the opponents go "WTF are they doing and why so often?"
Yes. This year in particular Robert Kraft made a point to go on record that the team's drafting record in recent years hasn't been very successful and they were going to be more collaborative in the war room working with scouts, coaches, consultants, etc. Bill clearly has final say, but I think there are more voices getting a chance to speak and having their opinions known. Bill certainly gets 51% of all the vote and decisions.
correction...his alarm clock will malfunction making him late....never to be heard from again.
You have to believe that if Stevenson starts breaking long ones like he had in the preseason it's going to matter. IF he can fix the pass pro...big if.
I doubt we see Stevenson in any significant role any time soon. He may not even suit up this week. I would put him on garbage time duty for at least a month. I doubt he will see many touches when the game is still in doubt. In terms of pecking order and workload, I think what happened last week made a huge dent in his short term stock / value.
To be brutally honest, the only opinion of who is the best RB on the team is BB's . . . not yours, or mine, or anyone else's. I can promise you that what you consider "best" is not using the same criteria as the coaching staff, which would certainly include (in no particular order):
IMO, Stevenson being active or inactive shouldn't impact Harris much. Someone was going to be their RB2 and spell Harris. With Stevenson in the doghouse last week, that caused Harris to run out of gas, ask out of the game a couple times, and ultimately likely contributed to him coughing the ball up late.
I think JJ is being slotted to fill a a Burkhead type role. IMO, not quite up to Lewis either as a runner or a receiver . . . But could be a mismatch depending upon how defenses line up and who covers him.
- Smaller workload than Lewis
Maybe he improved some, but Fears said this summer that last year there was no way they would have put him out there as a receiving option.
