Maroney Doesn't Break Tackles - New England Patriots Forums

shazam · 01-21-2008, 01:57 PM

First, Maroney definitely played his best game of the season yesterday. He hit the holes hard, made some great cuts and lowered the boom when he needed to get first downs and the score. If he played like that all the time it would be great.

A lot of his yards, however, are due to the Pats great offensive line blocking and receivers downfield. They are creating massive holes that a lot of backs would look good running through. I think these guys should be getting more of the credit. If Sammy Morris were still playing I think we would see great production from him too.

I decided to start tracking his plays over the last month. The results are interesting.

Yards After Contact: Not many

Maroney had 2 long runs in the Miami game-- both of them he was untouched. He also had a few long receptions vs. Baltimore that he made great plays on -- again untouched. Too many plays the first guy to touch him brings him down. Welker, Stallworth and Gaffney break more tackles than Maroney does against the same guys. Cmon LoMo! Stay inbounds, lower the shoulder and stay on your feet--at least a little more!

Yards After Cut: A Lot

So after tracking the last few games, I realized Maroney is just a different type of runner. Even though he was in the same backfield as Marion Barber and has size, Maroney is really a finesse runner and needs a Corey Dillon or Sammy Morris to soften up the defense so he can slash and burn them.

Yes, he gets tackled a lot by the first guy to touch him which pisses me off. (I really loved Dillon's stiff arms!) BUT, Maroney makes it very hard for anyone to touch him. The first guy to touch him is really the 2nd, 3rd or 4th guy to have a chance to tackle him. So for Maroney the key stat should be Forced Missed Tackles or Yards After Cut. Speed and moves make people miss instead of running them over.

Keep ripping off 4-5 avg per run and the Pats win anyway! Lets just give credit where it is due.

Oswlek · 01-21-2008, 02:00 PM

Did we watch the same game yesterday?

bbabin · 01-21-2008, 02:00 PM

I don't care if his only ability is leaping over the defense for five yards a pop. However he does it is irrelevant to me. Also, he actually does a very good job of lowering his shoulder. This is especially evident when he is near the sidelines. I don't think I have ever seen him just run out of bounds, and he usually gains at least another yard by pushing the tackler.

FirstAndGoal · 01-21-2008, 02:01 PM

Excellent stats

A lot and not many. You must be a statistician in the real world.

aluminum seats · 01-21-2008, 02:03 PM

If you "tracked" a month's worth of his runs, I'd think you'd have more substantive stats than this.

MrBigglesWorth · 01-21-2008, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazam

First, Maroney definitely played his best game of the season yesterday. He hit the holes hard, made some great cuts and lowered the boom when he needed to get first downs and the score. If he played like that all the time it would be great.

A lot of his yards, however, are due to the Pats great offensive line blocking and receivers downfield. They are creating massive holes that a lot of backs would look good running through. I think these guys should be getting more of the credit. If Sammy Morris were still playing I think we would see great production from him too.

I decided to start tracking his plays over the last month. The results are interesting.

Yards After Contact: Not many

Maroney had 2 long runs in the Miami game-- both of them he was untouched. He also had a few long receptions vs. Baltimore that he made great plays on -- again untouched. Too many plays the first guy to touch him brings him down. Welker, Stallworth and Gaffney break more tackles than Maroney does against the same guys. Cmon LoMo! Stay inbounds, lower the shoulder and stay on your feet--at least a little more!

Yards After Cut: A Lot

So after tracking the last few games, I realized Maroney is just a different type of runner. Even though he was in the same backfield as Marion Barber and has size, Maroney is really a finesse runner and needs a Corey Dillon or Sammy Morris to soften up the defense so he can slash and burn them.

Yes, he gets tackled a lot by the first guy to touch him which pisses me off. (I really loved Dillon's stiff arms!) BUT, Maroney makes it very hard for anyone to touch him. The first guy to touch him is really the 2nd, 3rd or 4th guy to have a chance to tackle him. So for Maroney the key stat should be Forced Missed Tackles or Yards After Cut. Speed and moves make people miss instead of running them over.

Keep ripping off 4-5 avg per run and the Pats win anyway! Lets just give credit where it is due.

shazam!!!!!!!! keep your posts after opinion down. please

cartmen · 01-21-2008, 02:03 PM

this guy must be Wade Phillips stat man
What a regular Steven Hawking with the math there Chooch

Pats_2007 · 01-21-2008, 02:13 PM

Did you not see Maroney absolutely destroy Marlon McCree?

McCree went flying 10 yards when he contacted Maroney.

***Deus Irae*** · 01-21-2008, 02:15 PM

Hmm..... seems your timing sucks:

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/f...icleid=1067994

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/...ORTS/801210364

http://www.projo.com/patriots/conten....40ce40c1.html

http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/inde...000.xml&coll=1

BrianPat · 01-21-2008, 02:35 PM

No offense, but this thread is about 2 months late and at this time, it's dead wrong. I've seen Maroney cut around a defender and I've also seen him drive into them and move them back 3-5 yards. I think your looking at a prior game this year or you had a bad dream ;-)