stinkypete

Sorry if this has been posted in the past. Just came across the Football Outsiders running back rankings for 2010. The Patriots RBs scored surprisingly high given they've been a much maligned group among fans.

Maroney - Ranked 24th among running backs, just behind Thomas Jones, Fred Jackson and Frank Gore.

Faulk - Ranked #1 among backs with 20-99 carries.

Taylor - Ranked #5 among backs with 20 - 99 carries.

Seems a pretty effective group statistically. Maroney is below average but no epic fail as a starter, and the backups are the best in the game.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | RUNNING BACKS 2009

tombonneau

RB is a facile position for fans to complain about, so it's not surprising some choose to harp on it. But I've felt for the last couple seasons the Pats RB corp is more than adequate.

If anything, you can choose to complain about the playcalling -- oh, I don't know, like maybe 5-wide empty backfield on 3rd & 2 -- that telegraphs run/pass, but the when the RBs have room they do well enough.

Calciumee

We see our RBs as worse as they are, because none of them are 1000+ yard a season guys, but I think we have a good selection for us, as we use the committee approach.

If we had a clear number 1 that took 20+ carries a game, then we might see a big drop off!

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NEGoldenAge

Except for the Lawfirm, all of our backs have difficulty staying on the field. I'm curious to see how they perform with the influx of new WR and TE talent..... The loss of Mankins doesn't help.

DarrylS

Fans get enamored with "sexy", big yardage RB's... in reality as long as they compliment the passing game, no problemo....

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"Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.

Synovia

Yeah, Lawfirm just has trouble getting on the field, because hes a replacement level player.

There's a reason BB keeps saying the line was the problem, and not the RBs.

HEY BRO! WHAT UP?

This is a debate that will never go away. Maroney could easily get 1,000 and 10 TD's if they give him the ball (even with their soft O-line).

Triumph

Numbers can be skewed to look like anything you want.

The Jets truly relied on the Run Game last season while NE relied on Brady and the pass game. NE passes to get ahead and runs to win. In between they use the run to keep the other team guessing and off balance with draws and such.

Kevin Faulk is a trooper, but the fact that he led all RBs with 29 or less carries means jack squat. How useful is a 2 carry a game RB?

lillestroom

I seriously dont think there is a better 3rd down back than Kevin Faulk playing today.

But to think that the O line is better than average is stupidity. The RB core is average. Not great, not poor, but average.

Calciumee

There probably is, if I wasn't too tired to think, I would give an answer, but he is pretty good, and if he isn't, he is top 5!

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