Maroney/Addai Comparison Since Matchup - Page 2 - New England Patriots Forums

MetalBleachers · 01-02-2008, 09:06 PM

I think we should all get on the same page in one regard: like him or not, disappointed or not, Maroney is the man for the foreseeable future. No McFadden nor free agent RBs in 2008. It's just not going to happen. It's Maroney, Morris and Faulk for as long as each can do his job.

I think that Maroney had a solid if unspectacular game vs. the Giants that will help him in the playoffs and maybe into the future.

I don't think the comparable stats prove that Maroney and Addai are comparable at this point. Take away the Miami game and we're looking at a very different story.

Anything anyone agrees on? Or am I just

?

onegameatatime · 01-02-2008, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C'est La Vie

If Maroney and the Pats were on the 10 yard line, and Jets(as in Lawrence "Jets" Maroney) broke through the line and there were NO ONE IN THE SECONDARY, that would be a 90 yard run, correct? And if the field were 200 yards long, it's be a 190 yard run. What was the length of that other long run? That was a little more impressive, as RM was out front with a block. Point is, as we were reminded of when Addai caught a 73 yard screen pass, you can't always count on plays like that. Take the top two runs out for both players, and see what you get.

If you go down that hole. you have to consider how often they were asked to get short yardage -- e.g., got 2 yards on 3rd and 1. Or how Maroney had several shorter TD runs when maybe he could have gotten more otherwise.

Actually, FootballOutsider does something like this and I believe they rank Maroney as #1 in effectiveness.

onegameatatime · 01-02-2008, 09:33 PM

Why can't we just agree that these are two very good backs on two very good teams?

And that because they are on great passing teams, but teams that use personnel differently, they are asked to do different things from each other and from some other backs in the NFL?

theflinger · 01-02-2008, 09:57 PM

Excellent work. That took quite a bit of effort, and you should be commended.

For what it's worth, although I haven't had time to do a lot of film lately, Maroney does seem to be improving a lot in pass protection.

This post, combined with FO's stats, will surely convince my friends who have already decided that Maroney is terrible.
Also note, Maroney hasn't fumbled the ball once. In this offense, that is HUGE, since the role of our running game is basically "keep 'em honest and don't screw up".

As for the Giants game- Maroney did well. He got stuffed a few times, but every time that I saw, there were multiple guys in the backfield. And if the Maroney haters watched- the same thing happened to faulk.

(Impressions are so easy to make- baseball taught me that first. I trust the stats).

theflinger · 01-02-2008, 10:04 PM

One more thing:
If any of you actually remember when Faulk was new to this team, you'll remember he was not good as pass protection. He made himself good. In fact, at this point, I'd say Maroney is already better than he was, which bodes well if Maroney is a hard worker.

And all of this after major shoulder surgery.

patsox23 · 01-02-2008, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyJohnson

If Maroney had carried 350 times and averaged 4.5 a carry, gaining 1575 yards, and our offense was mediocre, I somehow think there are fans out there that would think Maroney was better. I do not know why.

I guess some people want the team to have the success it has had, but at the same time want it done on terms they like better. I do not know how anyone can criticize the RB on the best offense ever because the best offense ever was so good at throwing the ball it didn't hand off to him a lot.

By the way, I thought Maroney played a tremendous game against the Giants. The stats do not illustrate that, but if you watched that game, you could not come away without thinking he played very, very well. There are stats for you.

COULDN'T AGREE MORE. Thanks for articulating it so well.

bradmahn · 01-02-2008, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C'est La Vie

True, and fine. All 12 of his rushing TD's came from inside the 19. I can attest that most of those were insdie the ten, and probably inside the 5.

5 of Maroney's 6 TD's came inside the 19 yard line. Confused, didn't he score on 2 long runs a few weeks ago??

Anyway, you can look up situational stats if you want, sure the goal line stops progress, but with a 12-5 edge in TD's inside the 19, I'd say Addai is affected more adversely by this than Maroney.

EDIT:
It would be interesting to see how often NE RAN on 3rd and short, and how often the RAN Maroney, versus say, Faulk. I doubt (but I do not know) that Maroney has picked up more 3rd and shorts than Addai.

Maroney ran the ball 11 times on 3rd down, gaining 80 yards and FIVE first downs. ONE of those runs was a 59 yarder. So, 10 runs gained 21 yards, and I assume 5 first downs(since I don't think they would count the TD as a TD AND a first down).

Addai ran the ball 27 times on third down, for 108 yards. Gained 16 first downs. Longest run of the bunch was 12 yards.

And second and short? Fourth and inches? Not all "goal line carries" come on third down.

As has been said, Maroney had the second best success rate out of all backs this season while Addai was sixth. Maroney had a DVOA that was higher than Addai's as well (9th and 16th respectively). Addai had a higher DPAR (more total value) and I would imagine that would come as a result of more carries and such.

I don't believe this thread was to knock Addai, who is a good back, it was more intended to end all this "Maroney is made of glass; he's a bust" garbage.

patsox23 · 01-02-2008, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetalBleachers

I think that Maroney had a solid if unspectacular game vs. the Giants that will help him in the playoffs and maybe into the future.

I think that undersells his performance. I think it was far more than solid.

theflinger · 01-02-2008, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradmahn

And second and short? Fourth and inches? Not all "goal line carries" come on third down.

As has been said, Maroney had the second best success rate out of all backs this season while Addai was sixth. Maroney had a DVOA that was higher than Addai's as well (9th and 16th respectively). Addai had a higher DPAR (more total value) and I would imagine that would come as a result of more carries and such.

I don't believe this thread was to knock Addai, who is a good back, it was more intended to end all this "Maroney is made of glass; he's a bust" garbage.

Precisely.
Note (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/rb.php) that Maroney actually has a higher DVOA than Adrian Peterson. Ruh roe.

theflinger · 01-02-2008, 10:28 PM

Here's an interesting comparison.

In attempting to correct for the "historic passing offense" factor into the running game, check out Marshall Faulk in 2001, as part of the greatest show on turf:

r = previous stat rank.

Player Team DPAR r PAR r DVOA r voa runs yards td fum s.r. r
M.Faulk STL 43.1 2 45.7 1 25.0% 1 27.3% 260 1382 12 2 56% 1

39-L.Maroney NE 26.4 6 29.8 6 18.6% 9 22.8% 185 835 6 0 58% 2

If you're in the ballpark with a HOF RB, not to mention very comparable to, you simply CANNOT be considered a bust.