![\"Jun](\"https:\/\/theleadsm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/USATSI_26411819-1600x1067.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Drake Maye enters his second season as the face of the New England Patriots, looking to take the next step in his development.<\/p>\n
After flashing his potential as a rookie in 2024, Maye quickly earned the trust of Patriots fans.<\/p>\n
Now, with upgrades across both the roster and coaching staff, there\u2019s a renewed sense of optimism in Foxborough. For the first time since Tom Brady\u2019s departure, the Patriots feel like they\u2019re building toward something meaningful.<\/p>\n
New England is a playoff hopeful, but in a loaded AFC, they still have a long way to go before they can call themselves true contenders. For that to change, they\u2019ll need to do everything possible to elevate their young quarterback.<\/p>\n
One of the best ways to do that in Year 2 is to establish a consistent and efficient rushing attack.<\/p>\n
While the Patriots\u2019 ground game wasn\u2019t their biggest problem last season, it wasn\u2019t reliable either\u2014 especially when they needed it most.<\/p>\n
At first glance, the numbers were solid: New England finished\u00a013th in both rushing yards (1,969) and yards per carry (4.4). But those figures don\u2019t reflect how situationally unreliable the run game actually was.<\/p>\n
The Patriots ranked\u00a030th in rushing EPA and 29th in rushing success rate, two advanced metrics that better capture down-to-down effectiveness. In short, the run game didn\u2019t help much when it came to staying on schedule or finishing drives.<\/p>\n
That was evident in critical moments. They averaged just\u00a02.2 yards per carry\u00a0on third-and-short (29th in the NFL) and picked up first downs on just\u00a022.6% of all rushes (27th).<\/p>\n
The failure to convert in tight spaces bled into the team\u2019s redzone success, where they ranked\u00a030th in redzone touchdown percentage.<\/p>\n
On first downs, the Patriots were\u00a028th in rushing success rate, which often forced Maye and Jacoby Brissett into predictable passing situations behind one of the league\u2019s worst offensive lines.<\/p>\n
And to top it off, New England\u00a0led the league in rushing fumbles, compounding an already inefficient ground attack with costly turnovers.<\/p>\n
If the Patriots want to support Maye\u2019s development in 2025, the run game needs to be a real asset. It has to be a consistent, situationally effective tool that keeps the offense on track.<\/p>\n
Josh McDaniels returns as the Patriots\u2019 offensive coordinator with a reputation as a creative offensive mind. While much of his success is tied to Brady, his offenses consistently produced on the ground.<\/p>\n
Across 13 seasons as New England\u2019s OC, McDaniels led the offense to\u00a0eight finishes in the top 10 of rushing yards, and they primarily did so without a traditional workhorse back.<\/p>\n
The 2025 Patriots appear to be equipped for a similar committee approach:<\/p>\n
The group doesn\u2019t need to break any records, but it must be dependable\u2014 particularly in short-yardage and redzone scenarios where last year\u2019s unit faltered.<\/p>\n
\nThe New England Patriots best running back is 2nd round pick TreVeyon Henderson. #NEPats<\/a> <\/p>\n
The Ohio State product will have a large role in the passing game based off of the way Josh McDaniels has utilized RBs in the past. A big season is in store. pic.twitter.com\/9ql0DbvaOa<\/a><\/p>\n
— Patriots Lead (@Patriots_Lead) August 3, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n