Determining how to get the best out of 2025 NFL draft second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson is “likely” to lead New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to “experiment” with a special package to get the rookie running back onto the field more often.
The experiment is described by Patriots.com Staff Writer Evan Lazar. He referred to a sparingly used sub-package as McDaniels’ best way to utilize Henderson and veterans Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson.
Getting all three the touches they need will be tricky, but Lazar pointed to how “McDaniels has historically used running backs in a role-specific platoon, where there is a lead early-down back, a sub-package back, and then a third-down specialist. If that’s the case again, Stevenson is a natural fit as the bruising early-down back, while Henderson and Gibson vie for snaps for snaps in lighter personnel groupings and passing situations.”
Having Henderson tussle with a proven commodity like Gibson for work in the passing game would be a waste of a prominent draft pick. Especially if “Henderson is too talented to limit his snaps to specific situations.”
Fortunately, there’s a solution, since “the Pats will likely experiment with different two-back or ‘pony’ packages this season.”
Putting a pair of dynamic running backs into the formation together will open up a range of possibilities for McDaniels and quarterback Drake Maye. Particularly if one of those backs possesses Henderson’s versatility and natural big-play threat.
Patriots Can Make ‘Changeup’ Central to Offense
The ‘Pony’ backfield package makes sense for the Patriots, but Lazar cautioned, “the league-average usage for “pony” packages was just 9.2% of snaps last season. Teams that used it most frequently, such as the 49ers and Ravens, were at around 40 percent. But it’s not something offenses typically major in as a base package – it’s more of a changeup.”
This personnel grouping can be more of a wrinkle in McDaniels’ scheme. At least based on how a team Lazar didn’t name used the set last season.
It’s the Tampa Bay Buccaneers whose use of the ‘Pony’ package to get fourth-round pick Bucky Irving involved is instructive for Henderson and the Patriots. This play where Irving split out wide then went in motion to run a sweep off right tackle, highlighted by Pewter Report’s Joshua Queipo, is perfect for Henderson.
The latter has excellent receiving skills, so he’d be a credible threat lined up as a wide receiver. Henderson is also studying one of the great Patriots pass-catching backs who was often moved into space pre-snap by McDaniels.
Of course, Gibson is a converted wide receiver, so he would also be an asset from this look. Pairing Henderson and Gibson in some sets would lead to the creative screen pass the Bucs ran against the New York Giants and highlighted by Underdog’s Josh Norris.
Gibson could be the receiver on this play, while Henderson stays in the backfield to help Maye, thanks to another of the former Ohio State star’s core talents.
TreVeyon Henderson Has Multi-Down Value for Patriots
Henderson has already received praise from Pats legends for his blocking skills. His talent in this area makes the first-year back a must when the Patriots are facing third-and-long, but Henderson’s ability to put defenders on skates can also be valuable in the running game.
This play run by the Cincinnati Bengals, another sweep out of ‘Pony’ personnel, succeeded in large part because of a block by running back Khalil Herbet (34), per Mike of Bengals Talk.
Henderson leading the way for Gibson or dynamic undrafted free agent Lan Larison, would be a quick route to a big play on the ground. There are a myriad of combinations at McDaniels’ disposal, even if his own preference would be to use a more traditional version of two-back personnel.
McDaniels can still keep things simple, but a thunder and lightning combination of lead workhorse Stevenson and speedy Henderson would keep defenses guessing. It’s just one more reason why the Patriots need to make their pony experiment the core of how they use a potentially transformative member of this year’s draft class.
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