Bill Belichick explains Patriots veteran running back’s lack of playing time
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FOXBORO — Running back JaMycal Hasty has been on the Patriots’ roster for a month and has yet to make his team debut.
That could change this weekend with running back Rhamondre Stevenson out and veteran running back/wide receiver Ty Montgomery no longer on the roster.
Head coach Bill Belichick offered some insight into why Hasty, who was claimed off waivers from the Jaguars last month, has yet to play for the Patriots this season during Friday morning’s news conference.
“Gotten better, especially the last couple weeks,” Belichick said of how Hasty has acclimated. “He’s gotten more reps. Rhamondre hasn’t — I know last week was a walk-through week kinda thing, but still even those walk-through reps help him. I’d say he’s gaining on it.
“The biggest thing for any running back is pass protection. He’s done that. It’s not that he hasn’t done it. It’s just terminology and rules and adjustments. It’s not as simple as just blocking one guy. There’s a lot of — especially against (the Chiefs) there’s some moving parts where there could be multiple factors involved depending on what we’re in and what they give us. That’s where it’s hard to catch up in all of that in a short amount of time.”
Belichick wouldn’t confirm whether Hasty will be active Sunday against the Chiefs, though the Patriots do tend to like dressing three running backs. Ezekiel Elliott, Hasty and Stevenson are on the 53-man roster, and the Patriots elevated running back Kevin Harris from the practice squad last week.
Hasty has 101 career carries for 410 yards and 50 catches for 316 yards in four seasons.
“We’ll see,” Belichick said. “That’s the thing we work through during the week. Obviously, there’s mistakes during the week. That always happens. You correct those, and then you come to things later in the week, and you see how that’s coming together. ‘Is it still an issue? We feel like we have it.’ So, today is a good day for that to kind of see where players that haven’t played as much, how ready they are and maybe what they’re ready for. Maybe it’s not everything. Maybe it’s certain situations that you feel comfortable or not comfortable in. Or maybe they feel comfortable or not comfortable in. However it goes. I’d say in the next 48 hours — today and tomorrow — kind of when some of that comes together.”
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