FOXBOROUGH – Kevin Faulk has walked in Rhamondre Stevenson’s shoes.
Like Stevenson, the Patriots Hall of Fame running back was once a chronic fumbler. He understands Stevenson’s plight. He gets the back’s despair.
During his first five seasons with the team, Faulk fumbled 16 times. In 2000, his second year, he put the ball on the ground six times.
Faulk tried all kinds of remedies. Former offensive coordinator Charlie Weis even had him carry the football under his arm the entire day.
It took awhile, but Faulk managed to break the habit.
He believes Stevenson will, too.
So what cured Faulk?
Speaking with the three-time Super Bowl winner Thursday, he answered the question with a name.
Corey Dillon.
The former Cincinnati Bengals running back arrived in New England in 2004, six years into Faulk’s run.
Faulk explained that he first watched and studied film of Dillon from his 2003 season, when he registered no fumbles during the 13 games he played. Faulk noticed that Dillon always carried the ball in his left hand.
He asked the veteran back why.
“Corey said that’s the hand I feel comfortable with,” Faulk explained. “And he wasn’t going to play with any other hand than his left hand. He didn’t care what side he was running on. He told his coach: ‘Do you want me to run the ball and get yards, or do you want me to worry about what hand I got the ball in?”
It’s not unusual for backs to move the rock from one hand to the next, depending on what side they’re running. Coaches preach having it secured in the right hand if you’re running to the right side, left if you’re on the left.
For Dillon it was always the same. While his overall fumble numbers weren’t special (28 in 10 seasons), but certainly good enough especially given the number of times he touched ball (2,800). Good or bad, the message hit home with Faulk.
“If you watch my film from that point on, you won’t see me with the ball too many times in my right hand,” Faulk said. “Seventy-five percent of the time it would be in my left hand because of what Corey told me. And I always kept that with me as a player.
“I even tell that to the players I coach and train. I know your coach is going to tell you if you’re on the right, carry it on the right. But if you’re not comfortable, don’t. Because you’ll just keep fumbling the ball.”
Stevenson worked with heavy balls during the offseason, after fumbling seven times last year. Losing two more against the Steelers Sunday was crippling.
“The crazy thing for me, watching Rhamondre (Sunday), every time (he fumbled), the ball was in the right place,” Faulk said.
If he was going to critique anything, Faulk thought Stevenson should have put two hands on the ball when he was falling down at the goal line. The second one, Faulk couldn’t find much fault.
“He had the ball high and tight. It’s just one of those things,” Faulk said. “But, if he feels comfortable with the ball in a certain hand, I’d definitely do that.”
Faulk would also recommend that Stevenson cover up with the second hand more frequently.
“Any time you feel somebody around you, I’d wrap it up especially for right now,” Faulk said. “Especially to build your confidence back up, you’ve gotta start little by little. Take small steps.”
Bottom line: Do whatever works.
“You’ve gotta try everything,” Faulk said. “I tried everything. Do whatever you gotta do.”
Then there’s the mental aspect. If fumbling is in a player’s head, it’s hard to get that picture out.
Faulk said that while he always felt bad putting the ball on the ground, it wasn’t hard to remove the image.
“It’s tough, but that’s our job,” Faulk said. “Our athletic ability isn’t the only thing we get paid for. We’re getting paid for the mental aspect of the game, and what we have to deal with as well.”
Beyond Faulk, fumbling isn’t a new issue for Patriot backs. Stevan Ridley lived in Bill Belichick’s doghouse because he couldn’t hold onto the football. The back had four fumbles in back-to-back years. He didn’t get a second contract.
Faulk is another story. He was a fixture for 13 seasons.
Belichick stuck with his clutch third-down back. He also didn’t completely bench Faulk during his difficult times holding onto the football.
“I didn’t play as much as I should have played because of it,” Faulk said. “But at the same time, I played because I could do other things. And (Belichick) took that chance on me.”
Faulk said he hasn’t reached out to Stevenson during this recent stretch but is open if the back wants or needs to chat.
He’s confident Patriots coach Mike Vrabel will handle it the right way. Judging by practice, Stevenson appears to have dropped in the pecking order behind rookie TreVeyon Henderson and veteran Antonio Gibson.
“Vrabel is going to stick with him and make sure the problem is cured,” Faulk said. “He’s gotta snap out of it. And I think he will.”
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