Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Alert: TreVeyon Henderson’s Struggles Continue | Trade FIX?

Starting point is 00:00:00 Trevion Henderson isn't playing much, and that could lead to an addition by Mike Vrable in the Pat's front office. We start there. This is Locked-on Patriots. You are Locked-on Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast, part of the Locked-on Podcasts Network, your team every day. What's happening in? I'm your host, Nick Cattles, born and raised in New England. covering the Patriots for the past 16 years, also the co-host of the Greg Bedard Patriots podcast with Nick Cattels and did some talk radio in my day. On today's episode, if you listen

Starting point is 00:00:39 to the locker room, it's clear that Mike Vrable was the right hire at the right time. Also, as much as we want this team to bring in talent, we have to acknowledge the real challenges of doing so at the deadline. But first, the Trayvion-Henderson dilemma. We appreciate you joining the show, making us your first listening for being an everydayer the lockdown Patriots podcast is a proud partner the locked on podcast network your team every day and help a brother out help a podcast out don't forget if you're watching on youtube to like comment and subscribe today's episode is brought to by fan duel right now new customers can bet just five dollars it's five bucks and if your bet wins you'll get three hundred dollars in bonus bets to use across the app travion henderson

Starting point is 00:01:27 has not had the early impact this season that I anticipated, and a lot of others anticipated. We talked about his explosiveness. We talked about his past protection. What he could bring to this offense was a different element. The idea of Trayvion Henderson being shot out of a cannon to start 2025 was not absurd. A lot of people were talking about it. A lot of people believed it. And then you go from that.

Starting point is 00:01:56 the terrific camp, the preseason touches that got us all excited. His first touch as a New England Patriot in a preseason game, he takes a kickoff to the house. You go from that excitement, you go from those expectations to Trayvion Henderson getting all of nine snaps in Tennessee this past weekend. So the first question is, why, why is this happening? Why is Trayvion Henderson getting nine snaps against the Titans? well he's struggling he's struggling with the speed of the NFL he's struggling with the size of the NFL

Starting point is 00:02:32 and it's not only him running the football it's also pass protection and these are things that we've discussed at times over the past six or seven weeks but in Tennessee there were more examples in the first quarter the second drive of the game for the Patriots it's third and Shotgun formation, Travion Henderson is in the game. And Travion Henderson, he picks up a blitzer, but he does not sustain his block. And because he doesn't sustain his block, you get a late pressure. And when you get the late pressure, Drake May ends up sailing the football to Kyle Williams. Incomplete, you're punting the football away.

Starting point is 00:03:15 Travion Henderson has not yet caught up to the size and the speed of the league. And so when he's getting that initial block, when he gets the initial block, like he did against Tennessee, he just can't sustain that block. He can't hold it for long enough, which inevitably turns into a late pressure. Now, he did have, I'll be fair to Trayvion Henderson, he did have a better rep later in the game against the Blitz. But he has been uneven at best. And for the most part, has not been good in past protection, which is the biggest surprise about his game because everybody, thought from scouts to players to coaches to pundits to people like me creating content talking about the ability of travion henderson being able to protect a passer like he did at the

Starting point is 00:04:03 ohio state that was supposed to be an easy transition and it just hasn't been and when you compare travion henderson pass protecting to remandre stevenson past protecting honestly it's not close at this point. It's really not close at this point. I'll give you an example. Second quarter, Patriots, third drive of the game. The Tennessee Titans have a great punt. Great punt. Patriots start inside their own 10 yard line. It's the first play of that drive. First and 10, Drake May's back almost up against his own end zone. He gets a good pocket. Good job by the offensive line. But part of that is Ramandre Stevenson. Go back and watch this play again. Second quarter, Patriots third drive, great punt. It's the first play of that drive for the Patriots

Starting point is 00:04:55 offense. And Ramandre Stevenson does a great job picking up the blitz. Drake May decisive, hits Hunter Henry on an out route for 12 yards. We're moving the chains. And inevitably, that drive results in the crazy Austin Hooper touchdown in the corner of the end zone. That's the difference we're talking about. And it's not. not just in pass protection. It's also when Trayvion Henderson runs the ball. A lack of patience at time, a lack of vision. And when you compare that to Ramandre Stevenson in this Tennessee game, again, it's not even close. Third drive for the Patriots offense in the second quarter, first and 10, under center, Austin Hooper loses his block.

Starting point is 00:05:39 Remandre Stevenson sees it, bounces out, then cuts in, and instead of a tackle for loss, he picks up four yards second and six under center good initial push by the offensive line but remandre stevenson he stays patient and he runs hard runs angry mac hollins helps him finish to add two or three yards at the end of this run an 11 yard run first and 10 same drive under center travion henderson comes into the game he gets the handoff he runs directly into the pile. No patience, no vision, didn't allow his blocks to actually happen so he could see what was in front of him. Just no patience runs into the butt of the offensive line and no cutback, no bounce out. And he ends up getting two or three yards instead of maybe being

Starting point is 00:06:32 able to bounce it out to the left if he was a little bit more patient, where maybe he hits a big run. And when you're talking about the Patriots run game, it's a slim margin of error. You need trust, you need consistency. And Trayvion Henderson just has not gained that trust from the coaching staff because he has not been consistent when he's been out there. Now, am I freaking out? Of course, I'm not freaking out. We can sit here and talk about what Trayvion Henderson isn't doing quite yet

Starting point is 00:07:01 without calling him a bust or saying he's not going to work out. He stinks. Everybody was lying about the camp that he had. He's not going to have that kind of an impact ever for this offense. we're seven games into the young man's career. And I know it's difficult to ask of all of you because you've seen draft classes not work out, especially 2024 aside from Drake May. But I believe Trayvion Henderson is too talented, he's too explosive to not eventually break through.

Starting point is 00:07:31 It's just the learning curve is a little bit more steep. And I also have a ton of confidence in this coaching staff, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Tony Dews running backs coach he's done it before he's worked with young running backs he is known as a tremendous coach Josh McDaniels we all know who he is and what he does Thomas Brown who came over as we know from originally the Rams and then went to the Panthers and then went to the Bears all three of those guys very respected offensive coaches and or coordinators and I believe Trayvion Henderson will eventually

Starting point is 00:08:06 break through but here's the thing I don't know when that's going to happen. And if this coaching staff can't trust Trayvion Henderson, if he's not getting more than nine snaps in week seven, then the Patriots have to look at running back as we approach the trade deadline. They have to look at running back. And if they don't build that confidence and trust within Trayvion Henderson over the next literally one or two weeks, they've got to make a move. Because if you don't make a move, then you have a running back room full of questions. Remandre Stevenson has done a pretty good job of bouncing back from that Steelers game, taking care of the football. He looked more confident. Again, patience,

Starting point is 00:08:46 vision. I thought he ran angry. I thought he was very good against Tennessee, especially in that first half. He was terrific. But what happens if he fumbles again or fumbles multiple times? Does he lose confidence and trust from the staff? And if that happens, do you go to Trayvion Henderson, can you go from nine snaps to taking over Ramandre Stevenson's job? And I know Terrell Jennings looked good at the end of the Tennessee game and ran strong and finished the runs that he had. But I don't think you're going to jump to Terrell Jennings as you're starting running back. So the clock's ticking, not on Trayvian Henderson's career, not on him becoming a bust

Starting point is 00:09:29 or any of that, but the clock is ticking for the Patriots to make a decision on whether or not, they believe they can ride with the three backs that they have. And if there's any question, if you want to do justice by your football team, you go out and you add somebody if you can do it, which brings me to this, as badly as the Pats might want to address running back or another position, the reality is it ain't that easy. We'll tell you why next. This is Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown podcast.

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Starting point is 00:11:02 apply. Again, that's promo code L-O-C-K-E-D-O-N-N-F-L for $20 off. Swipe, tap, Ticket, go, download game time today. So the reports are the Patriots are making calls. They're making calls. They're checking in on players. We've heard about maybe them addressing pass rush. Cornerbacks been thrown out there, maybe running back, maybe wide receiver, but the Patriots are making calls. And my expectation is that the Patriots, as I said last week, will be aggressive if a deal is there. If a deal is on the table and they feel like that deal can help them as a football team, I believe they'll be aggressive in making that trade. But here's the warning for all of you.

Starting point is 00:11:45 And I have to remind myself of this sometimes too, because sometimes I get a little ahead of myself. It's not easy. It's not easy to work a trade, especially during the season. You have to start with supply and demand. First of all, who's available? I see a lot of people saying, Trey Hendrickson, go out there and get Trey Hendrickson. Well, now that Cincinnati did what they did last week with Joe Flacko,

Starting point is 00:12:08 I don't think Cincinnati is running to the telephones, trying to make deals in getting rid of Trey Hendrickson. And reportedly, right now the plan is that they want to hold on to Trey Hendrickson. So he might not even be available. Brees Hall's banged up, Jets offense is a disaster. Maybe Brees Hall isn't available. Chris Alave is a name that I'm. I've thrown out there. Maybe Chris Alave is not available. Reports are the Saints are trying to work out a deal with Chris Alave. Now maybe of course they don't get that deal done and Chris Alave becomes available, but maybe they get the deal done or maybe they start working on the deal right now to then get it done in the offseason. Maybe Chris Alave is not available. So who is available? And then what's the price? Do you think it makes sense to make a move? Is it worth giving up what the team wants in return?

Starting point is 00:13:00 And let's not forget that when you look at the AFC, and you can even argue the NFC, in the NFL this year, there's a wide open feeling to it. There are a lot of teams right now that feel like they can make a run. Yes, you have your favorites. You can look at the Indianapolis Colts as the possible favorite or the Kansas City Chiefs or the Buffalo Bills. But there's still three or four teams that might be contenders to win the title, might not be contenders. by the end of the year to win the title. There's a bunch of other teams that are in the mix, including the Patriots, who right now sit as the number two seed in the conference.

Starting point is 00:13:39 And then you look at the NFC, it might even be more wide open than the AFC. And when you have so many teams jockeying for playoff position in believing they might have a shot, hey, all we've got to do is make this run. If the Baltimore Ravens win this week, I guarantee you they're going to tell themselves we're on the brink of finding a way to win games. we are going to make this run. We got Lamar Jackson and if we can win a string of games, we can get into the playoffs and who knows what happens. Derek Henry starts running the football and he doesn't fumble anymore. We fixed the defense coming off the by week. We figured it out.

Starting point is 00:14:14 We self-scouted. Yada, yada, yada. And so when you have so many teams that are battling to get into the playoffs and feel like they're still in the hunt, then you might have less people available because the trade market is not flush with options and then you get through all of that and you start to talk about fit and fit matters fit absolutely matters when you acquire a player it's not like acquiring a second baseman in baseball you just plop them in second base here you go you're a second baseman play second base will hit your seventh bingo bango no big deal basketball to a point you acquire somebody who is a stretch big he's a stretch big you fit him where he fits boom put him on the on the court

Starting point is 00:15:01 bang boom there it is figure out the minutes and you got somebody who can help you football's a completely different animal it's different than hockey it's different than pretty much all the sports that we talk about the four major ones because when you acquire a player you got to make sure that that that player fits your team does that player fit the scheme does that player do things that you think translate to your scheme your system that they did at the prior stop now yes So you can get a pass rusher and just say pin your ears back and go. Not every single position is like that. But you have to make sure for most of these positions, for most of these players,

Starting point is 00:15:38 they fit your scheme, even the offensive line, defensive line. How do they fit up front? And then you've got to think about is the player that we acquire, is that person a quick learner? Are they a quick study? Do you feel confident that if you acquire that player, they'll be able to jump right in, not miss a beat, impact it? You go back to like the Akeep to Lebes of the world.

Starting point is 00:16:00 That worked. You go, you acquire a corner. You say you're going to play man coverage a lot and it works out. But it doesn't always work out. Sometimes players take time to figure stuff out. And they learn their prior scheme and their system easy. But then they jump to a different system, a different scheme. And they have all sorts of issues.

Starting point is 00:16:23 And they never truly figure out how they can make. an impact with that team that acquired them. Speaking of impact, what's the impact on other guys? If you go out there and you acquire a Jacoby Myers, for example, who's coming off the field? Is it Mac Hollins? Do you want Matt Collins off the field? Do you think Mac Hollins helps you more as a run blocker and some of the things that

Starting point is 00:16:46 he can do in the red zone? So do you really want to make a deal for Jacoby Myers? What are you giving up for Jacob Myers? And is it worth trading for somebody like Jacoby Myers? if they're not going to give you a huge tick in the right direction, right? How much does Jacoby Myers move the needle? And what would justify making that move? What does Jacobi Myers impact on the receivers?

Starting point is 00:17:09 What if you want Kyle Williams to get more snaps by the end of the year? How does that impact Kyle Williams? These are all questions, not even to mention the culture. You bring a player in from outside of the room, how do they fit the culture? And that's why I believe if the Patriots are going to make a trade or trades, they're going to bring in guys that they have done their homework on or have a personal relationship with, i.e. Jacoby Myers, who worked with Josh McDaniels. Josh McDaniels would know precisely how to use Jacoby Myers. Jacoby Myers would know the

Starting point is 00:17:42 offense. You slide them in. And you know who the player is. You know who the personality is and you feel much better about a trade for someone like that. Chris Alave played at Ohio State. Of course, we know Mike Vrable's background. What kind of work does Mike Vrable get done on Chris Ilave, do they feel like he's the right fit? Do these players that you're ready to acquire or want to acquire or might acquire, do they fit your timeline? There are so many layers to this. It's not fantasy football.

Starting point is 00:18:10 I play fantasy football. It's not fantasy football. And the biggest mistake the Patriots can make is if they deal an asset that can help them in the future and the trade doesn't end up working. You know, Seth Walder, a VSPN, regraded all the deals that were done last year. And he looked at one of them that jumped out at me. It was Amari Cooper.

Starting point is 00:18:33 Amari Cooper to Buffalo. The Buffalo bills got Cooper in a sixth round pick. Cleveland got a 2025 third round pick and a 2026 seventh round pick. That trade was made on October 15th. So a week ago, if you're looking at this season. The original grade that Seth Walder gave the bills, and I liked the trade at the time, Seth, Seth Walder gave the Buffalo bills an A-minus for that. that Amari Cooper trade.

Starting point is 00:18:58 The new grade for the bills on that deal is a D plus. It didn't work. It did nothing for them. Amari Cooper ended up retiring after joining the Raiders for a couple days this off season. The original grade for the Browns was a B. The new grade for the Browns from Seth Walder is an A-minus. Worked out swimmingly for the Browns to get a third round pick and a seventh round pick for Cooper in a sixth. buyer beware how close are you what is the actual impact of that player buyer beware not everything works out perfectly

Starting point is 00:19:37 are you willing to risk assets to bring somebody in understanding that it might not work and you wasted those assets which you might need to build this thing the right way by the way the Patriots did pick up defensive end outside linebacker Caleb Murphy off waivers. He played in Tennessee in 2023. I think he's going to be mostly a special teams guy, but maybe he helps them on the edge and we'll see what happens. We know that Keon White and Anthony Jennings are both reportedly on the block. So maybe that's what the Patriots are thinking.

Starting point is 00:20:14 All right, while one former head coach is on the precipice of football immortality, the present H.C is proving to be the right guy. That's next as we continue with today's episode of Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. I'm Cody Roark from Lockdown, Brockwoods, and this episode is brought to you by Peloton. Peloton is shaping the future of fitness

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Starting point is 00:22:38 Mike Vrable is changing the culture and the vibes in Foxborough. We'll talk about that coming up, especially some revealing comments from the locker room. But first, let's talk about a head coach of the past. Bill Belichick is officially one of 12 coaching Hall of Fame finalists. Now, if you're wondering, you look at how this situation works out, this initial wave happens, then you've got, you know, know the 12 finalists and then you whittle them down and inevitably we find out if any of these

Starting point is 00:23:14 12 guys will make the football Hall of Fame, the NFL Hall of Fame. And look, we could all feel a certain way about Bill Belichick and we all know what's happened in the past year or a couple of years and how weird it's cut at North Carolina. But he clearly, he clearly is a first ballot hall of famer. He won eight Super Bowls in the NFL. Six as a head coach. And if you even want to look beyond all the accomplishments with the Patriots, think about the impact that Bill Belichick had on the game of football.

Starting point is 00:23:50 Think about the impact that Belichick had on the defensive side of football. His defensive game plan is at the Hall of Fame. He just had an unbelievable impact within the game. And so he needs 80% of the votes. There are 50 voters. He needs 40 of the 50 votes to officially be put into the Hall of Fame. He absolutely should be. It's unequivocal to me.

Starting point is 00:24:20 If anybody debates it, they're out of their mind. That's my own opinion. We're all entitled to those. And can he be hurt by some of the grudges? Yes. Can he be hurt by some of the pettiness on his side and other sides? Absolutely. Can he be hurt by SpyGade?

Starting point is 00:24:38 and deflake it. If certain people want to use that against him, I'm sure they will use that against Bill Belichick. But he is no doubt a Hall of Famer. He's one of the easiest calls in the history of the game to be put in. And it should be first ballot. And it would be kind of entertaining if Robert Kraft also got in. But Bill Belichick deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

Starting point is 00:25:05 So hopefully he gets in. Let's move on to Mike Vrable. Through the first seven weeks of this season, it's clear to me, and I think it's clear to many of you that Mike Vrable's the right guy for this team, the right guy at the right moment. And he is truly galvanizing his group. And when Mike Vrable was hired, and I wanted him hired in 2024 before I found out about the Gerard Mayo contract and how that was a done deal already, apparently behind closed doors, I wanted Mike Vrable to be the head coach. Coach, when Bill Belichick was done, when they, quote, unquote, mutually parted ways, i.e. Bill Belichick got fired. I thought Mike Grable should have been the dude. Should have been the dude from the get-go. We all know what happened, but here we are. And when Mike Grable was hired, and this was part of my argument back at 2024, I talked about him being a leader of men. He knew how to lead a room. He knew how to get buy-in. And we see that. He is galvanizing this group. And I'm talking about young players. I'm talking about old. older players, DeMario Douglas in the locker room, or maybe it was on Monday with the media, DeMario Douglas said, quote, it starts with our coaches and then the players.

Starting point is 00:26:22 We're all close. I think this is the first team that the offense and defense are close. We're close. And he's talking about personally, this group seems to like each other. And that is in no small part because the guy at the time, stop. Stefan Diggs talking about winning in Tennessee said, I don't care what he said. He, as in Mike Vrable. I don't care what he said. We wanted to win this for him, unquote. So younger players, older players, they're buying in. Vrable has their attention. Mike Vrable has galvanized this group.

Starting point is 00:27:01 And when you reach the players, that's when you get the buy-in. And you not only get buy-in, you get a less complacent group they're willing to to listen to you and appreciate you and they understand the challenges that are ahead they believe in you they believe in your message they will be accountable they will be responsible because you show accountability you show responsibility to the guys that are in that room whether you show it to the media at all times we can talk about that but when you're in the room when you're dealing with these players all 53 or individually what are the conversations like and it's pretty obvious these players they really love to this point playing for Mike Vrable and I'll also bring this up the

Starting point is 00:27:48 combination of Mike Vrable and his understanding of analytics and being a former player and being a coach a head coach in prior years has led him to manage players in certain ways and we shouldn't overlook that. Jelani Tavai, this is from a Taylor Kyle's post. Tivai called Mike Vrable a dude when asked what makes the head coach so easy to play for. Adding that Vrable is a player's coach who makes sure guys are right physically and mentally. And I think you can draw a direct line from Jolani Tavai's quote to what we just saw happen over the past three weeks. That's how you win three straight games on the road because players are feeling right.

Starting point is 00:28:32 They're feeling right physically. They're feeling right mentally. And that's because they believe the head coach is doing what's best for them. They believe that Mike Vrable is taking care of them. You see some of this stuff with the coaching staff and some recent stories that I've read. The coach is saying that Mike Vrable will give them time to go have dinner with their families, to go to their kids sporting events, understanding that, yeah, you ask a lot of the coaches when they're in the building. but make sure they get out of the building from time to time,

Starting point is 00:29:03 so they appreciate what they have in life. It puts things in perspective, and it builds a bond between the coaching staff, and it helps the relationship between Mike Vrable and the rest of the staff that he has. And the players feel the same thing. They believe that Mike Vrable, with every fiber of his being,

Starting point is 00:29:19 is going to do what's best for them physically and mentally. And you can argue or not argue about how Mike Vrable has gone about it, but I think the results speak for themselves so far. You win three straight games on the road, It's a very tall task for any team, no matter who you're playing. And you need to be physically and mentally ready, and you need to be physically and mentally tough. And that comes from the head coach.

Starting point is 00:29:41 Understanding the pulse, keeping them hungry, keeping them humble, managing expectations. And that's why an opposing executive told Mike Sando of the athletic recently, quote, they are a good team. I do not think they are a great team, but here is what they do not do, beat themselves. That is the nature of that. coach talking about Mike Vrable. There is a fear factor of accountability, unquote. And that's why when Aaron Schatz posts that the Patriots will have the easiest schedule in DVOA history since 1978 based on current ratings, I'm not too worried about the Patriots

Starting point is 00:30:18 overlooking their competition. I have confidence that the Pats won't lose due to overlooking who they're playing because of Mike Vrable, because he will keep them grounded, because he will keep them humble because he will make sure they appreciate the challenge of being a professional football player weekend and week out. The staff, some of the veterans, Mike Vrable, I believe they will keep their eyes on the prize and not get too far ahead. That wraps up this edition of Lockdown Patriots. Thank you for making us your first listen and for being in every dare.

Starting point is 00:30:53 Reach out to me on Twitter at Nick C. Radio and don't forget to throw a comment in on the YouTube channel. hit that like button. Give us a thumbs up if you're watching on YouTube and subscribe, getting closer and closer to 7,000. For your second listen, get a double dose of Lockdown NFL podcast with Tyler the Madman Roland and Tony Wiggins.

Starting point is 00:31:10 Find Lockdown NFL on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. Have a great day. And we will see you tomorrow for the crossover episode. Getting ready finally for the Patriots and the Browns, week eight at Gillette. Thank you.

Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Alert: TreVeyon Henderson’s Struggles Continue | Trade FIX?

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