DaBruinz

How do you know that Maroney isn't taking the coaching. Because you chose to make that assumption?

Is Maroney allowed to be frustrated with fans and the media who attempt to look at things in a vacuum?

OH, NSA, Danny88 and others DO hate Maroney.

This kid is 22. So he's YOUNG. He's got 2 years less experience than someone like Addai. Could he have run the wrong play? Sure. I've seen Randy Moss, a 8+ year vet run the wrong play. I've seen other players do that. So, because Maroney runs a wrong play, its total damnation on him?

One of the things with ZONE Blocking is that there is no ONE hole for him to go through. There are several for him to pick from. One of the BIGGEST things that Maroney has to learn is Patience. Meanning, he can't be trying to run THROUGH his O-linemen. That's been my only qualm with Maroney.

Also, lets not forget that the O-line has been running this particular style of run blocking for about 18 months. They certainly aren't polished in the way that the Colts O-line is. They are getting there. And as they do, and as Maroney gains experience, they should click and we should see big things.



This is utter BS. Maroney was the STARTING RB and lost the position due to injury. Maroney was running better than Morris in the 3 games they both played in. Also, Maroney had more carries (54 to 33) than Morris in those games. And Morris was getting many carries later in the game.

DaBruinz

REALLY? Sorry to burst your bubble, but Maroney had 54 carries to Morris' 33. Since when does a team give their BACK-UP more carries than their feature back?



You clearly have not watched Thomas Jones run. Ronnie Brown is a punishing POWER BACK. Lynch is the only fair comparison, but even he dances around at times.

No, actually, it tells me two things. The first is that you don't understand the Zone Blocking scheme. Second, it tells me that because you don't understand, that you're assumptions are flawed.

The SCHEME is specifically designed to open up cut-back lanes. If they aren't opening, its the O-lines fault. NOT Maroney's.

NOW, should Maroney be hitting the holes that are there? YES. He shouldn't ALWAYS be looking for the cut-back. But that is something he should learn over time. He's 22 and has 21 less years experience running in college ball than Addai.

So the Pats used Heath Evans in a short yardage situation. You seem to forget that the Pats like to get EVERYONE involved. Its why they've got 20 different players who have scored TDs this year.

Are you saying that because Brady has scored 2 rushing TDs that the Pats don't trust their RBs in general?

danny88

Oh ooooooo. J man is this Reiss article gospel? I predict dabruinz comes into this thread in a rage in three two one .........

DaBruinz

Front Seven -
You clearly didn't watch the game. The Ravens weren't in a nickel or Dime package all night. And neither were the Eagles.

Considering how many of your assumptions are flawed, how can you say we have the inferior back of that group?

DaBruinz

As per usual, Danny88 brings nothing to the thread. Of course, I find it also funny that Patsfangr disappears and Danny88 shows up...

Buchanty

Just a quick note to say that I am not defending the disaster. Rather I am carefully choosing my words to support Maroney, which is what you are doing as well. I am counseled by both optimistic and pessimistic thoughts but allow the objectivity of results to lead my to my opinion. I have also tried to see through the eyes of the critics and determine why they might be seeing what they do. But in all I stand by BB's praise for his running back, his more than reasonable stats/achievements and ask for the season to run its course before rash decisions are made about Maroney. I am more than happy that he is on the team.

I dont think there is any harm in wishing for certain plays/opportunities which in turn leads me to believe that BB is leaving something in the tank.

Apologies if this sounds too defensive, but I feel that you have misread my attempts at support, patience and objectivity as attempts to defend the disaster. As I said in my first post on this thread, the disaster is a myth.

DaBruinz

What you MEANT and what you SAID are two different things. No one knew what you were thinking. Though I question whether or not you truly were.



Actually, I regularly counted 4 Dline and 3 LBs on the field for the Ravens. Not sure where you got that they were in Nickel and Dime. OH, and nothing like giving credit to the BEST run defense in the league.

WOW. So you think that Belichick and Pioli didn't know that Maroney ran with power, but wasn't a powerback? Maroney was NEVER a power back in college. NEVER. That was Marion Barber and Gary Russell. They were the short-yardage backs when Maroney was there. But Maroney still had double digit TDs while there.

And, if you think its not the coach's responsibility to figure out a way to best utilize the strengths of his players (read change his offense) then you clearly don't know a damn thing about football. Were you that stupid kid who was always trying to force the square peg into the round hole?

POUNDING the ball isn't what keeps the defense honest. RUNNING the ball effectively is. And if the Pats game plan doesn't call for "keeping the defense honest," how is that Maroney's fault. Its the fault of Brady, Belichick, McDaniels and the rest of the offensive coaching staff.

PonyExpress

That "reality" is in your mind. Maroney started every game he was healthy, and carried the ball more often. Morris got more reps while Maroney was out with a groin pull. Furthermore, Morris is made of "glass". He carried the load for 3 games with his "bonecrushing" style which so many fans pine for, and is now out for the year unable to help the team. The first game he playd vs. a decent defensive front, Dallas (which doesn't compare with Baltimore's) he ran for 14 yards on 10 carries. Maroney is playing, never fumbles, is making big plays in the passing game, improving as a blocker and running the ball competitively. I guess you expected Walter Payton at #21. Go check out Joseph Addai's performance lately. And Reggie Bush. Maroney's 36 and 43 yard catches vs. Baltimore, his 2nd and 3rd catches of the season, were both longer than any catch by Reggie Bush all year. Thomas Jones is 30 and averaging 3.6 yards per attempt. Ronnie Brown is out with a torn ACL. Marshawn Lynch is out with an ankle problem and averages 3.8 YPA. I'll take Maroney over those backs right now. And by next season, when he is fully integrated into the passing game, he will be the back so many of his critics beg for. If you followed the '06 draft carefully, you would know that scouts felt Maroney should be brought along slowly to maximize his value. The reasons for this were 1) He played in college at 205-210, and was projected to play in the NFL at 225. He would have to put on that weight and adjust to it 2) His college system had no passing game, so he would have to learn blocking and route running 3) he was coming out as a junior at age 21, so he would have to mature mentally and physically. BB has followed this guideline carefully. But bandwagon fans lack the patience to see it through. Maroney has to learn how to say healthy, and he is doing so. Durability is among the most important talents a RB can have. We are seeing that with Reggie Bush. Addai is banged up. Peterson already tore a knee ligament. The longer Maroney stays on the field healthy the better he'll be. I think some fans just don't understand how players are developed and matured. They are being completely unfair with Maroney. It reflects badly on the fan base and it is damaging to the psyche of young players when their own fans unjustly turn on them.

DaBruinz

WRONG. Its the coaches job to implement plays that play to his players strengths. Otherwise, the Pats wouldn't have switched to a ZONE BLOCKING system.

Maybe you should stop and think about what you are saying and what is reality because you clearly haven't done that.

No they weren't. The Zone Blocking scheme was added last year. A whole new set of plays and blocking.

You clearly don't understand the game half as well as you have yourself believing you do.

AndyJohnson

I should have said you were put in a position to have to defend the disaster.
Manufacturer facts are posted, so those responding are in a position of 'defending' something that isn't even accurate.