patpatriot

Three quarters of the way into the season and I still don't have a definative feel for what kind of runner this guy is. He can run tough (as evidenced by his YAC) but we haven't seen that breakaway ability he had in college (and to some degree at the start of the season). He also has had lots of negative runs. Is he a guy that will be significantly better next year or is what we see what we are going to get? What I see is a solid starting NFL runner who could be on the level of a Fred Taylor (without the injuries) or Ricky Watters (both all-pros at one point) but not an LT, Alexander, or Johnson. What about you? What do you think Maroney's ceiling and floor is?

SCPatBoy

I have seen enough. Maroney has it all in my opinion. It is difficult for RB's to get in a groove when they are alternating series and only carrying 10 -15 times a game. Even Barry Sanders would get those short gains and then every 10 carries would rip one off. MAroney defenitely has the burst and the break away speed. I think next year when he is getting the ball 2o times a game he will be up there in the league in rushing.

SCPatBoy

You have got to be kidding! Right!

MrBigglesWorth

I the Pats had a passing attack that is feared like the colts, there would be alot more running room. Not to mention the o-line and graham were nicked up and missing at various points in the year.

In the middle of the season the Pats adjusted the way they were using him slightly having him in the two back set in the shotgun with brady. I thought when they used his pass catching ability showed the tip of the iceberg how he can be used.

with saying that, he still needs more experience on reading the holes quickly and hitting them fast before they quickly disappear. And they should stop trying to run up the middle with traps and using those wham blocks.

we need to remember he's a rookie

spacecrime

There are two things to consider, talent and consistency. You need both to produce week in and week out.

Talent is easy. Either you have it or you don't. If you don't have it, you never flash it on the field because, well, you can't.

If you do have talent, you will show it on the field. Not always, because that is consistency. But if you have talent you will flash it sometimes.

Maroney has talent, that is plain to see in some games. He does not have consistency. I think it is easier to learn consistency than to develop talent, so we are in a good spot with Maroney.

Remember he is still a rookie and not getting a lot of carries. RBs need carries to develope. Those will come.

I wouldn't worry much about how Addai is doing or not doing. He's a good RB same as Maroney. We got our guy. And I disagree with the poster who said Maroney has shown nothing of his college breakaway ability. Every kick return seems to be one tackler away from going the distance.

cstjohn17

Great question, I think is too early to tell... I think he has above average potential maybe even pro bowl potential. I am looking forward to seeing him next year after an offseason of NFL caliber weight training, I expect him to come in at a solid 225 pounds of muscle.

It is so hard with running backs because in most cases if guys get the carries they will get ok yardage 1000 - 1300 yards but they take such a beating more than half the battle is just being able to play when less than 100%. The durability and consistentcy of guys like Martin, Payton and Emmitt is really incredible.

The whole offense is still struggling for an identity making it even harder to judge. I like what I have seen and hope we see him bust lose in the playoffs.

Oswlek

While Addai has been surprisingly excellent in Indy, I am not willing to go that far yet. Addai plays in a system where he faces nickle defenses on 1st down and, even if that is not the case, almost never faces 8 men in the box. This plays perfectly with his strongest point, which is that he is a powerful runner.

By comparison, Maroney almost never *doesn't* face 8 men in the box on 1st down, and even may on 2nd downs. This plays against Maroney's weakest link, which is he still has a propensity to dance into a hole and look for a bigger play. Maroney has significantly more big play potential than Addai, but he does need to work on charging into the hole more. If he continues to stutter-step into the line than he will be what he is; a guy with unlimitied potential who doesn't quite live up to it.

If Maroney can learn to drive into the hole than watch out, because he has everything else you could ask for in a dominant back.

Remix 6

im sold. hes got it all..a complete back.

hes shown speed..stiffarms..lateral movement..hitting the holes..driving defenders back. he didnt let guys like Urlacher tackle him alone..he kept pushing and pushing. hes caught out of backfield and he has improved blitz pickup from the times we've seen


i think our OL and playcalling need work..in college he ran a lot of tosses..slants and zone options that he got to pick where he wanted to go after getting behind guard. now..we use a lot of inside runs..were a mix of zone blocking-power running but its not working the OL needs to give him more room ifwe wanna see bigger runs and if dont wanna wear him down by getting hit in backfield a lot. his YAC shows thath e gets hit a lot and then gets a little more.

let us run what suits his speed..get the OL to block a little better and he'll be great


we do face 8 men in box but thats not an excuse to the "power plays" we try to run with a RB that has it all..give him a shot to do what LT and others do..hes not Corey Dillon..hes faster and quicker..let him take some outside and beat people to the edge

patpatriot

Yes this is true but it is a different story when he is running from the line of scrimmage...why?

Krugman

I think Maroney is feared(or ast least respected)by opponents who are concerned about his abilities in the open field,he can be elusive as evidenced by his kick returns and on some of the running plays and few passing plays where he has broken out and scored or made hefty yardage.
In regard to Addai,he looks good,but his big day was against the Eagles in their nickel defence as someone has pointed out,other than that game his numbers have been decent,nothing spectacular.Maroney appears to be versatile in that he can be an every down back,I dont think Addai has the strength or power for short yardage situations(I havent seen him in that role,anyway).I'm looking for big numbers from this player in the future.

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