Pictorial anatomy of a Maroney carry

[Water Boy]

Here are a series of pictures of a running play from the first quarter of the Pats San Fransico game. I find this play to be the most glaring
example of the indecision, hesitance, and/or lack of vision that Maroney has displayed as a Patriots running back.

The Pats are lined up in a balanced I-formation with 2 TEs and 1 WR on their own 4 yard line. Maroney is out of view lined up directly behind the
FB, Heath Evans.

As the ball is snapped, Cassel hands off to Maroney. The play is designed to run to right side of the line of scrimage. San Fran's Left DE
is swallowed up in the middle of the line of scrimage. The Pats TE Thomas seals off the San Fran safety(or corner?) (No. 27)
who is playing close to the line of scrimage. A clear hole is developing off tackle on the right side of the line.

Maroney plants his left foot and appears to be making a cut towards the hole.

With a giant hole off right tackle, Maroney plants his right foot and begins a stutter step. This is the point where most NFL
running backs (e.g. Sammy Morris et. al.) would instinctively burst towards a developing openning.

Pat's RT Kaczur has the ILB, Willis locked up and the hole off tackle has clearly been established, however, Maroney appears
to be cutting away from the hole back towards the center of the line of scrimage.

Although a giant hole is present off right tackle, Maroney stutter steps and hesitates behind the line of scrimage and puts
his hand on the RT's Kazcur's back. Where are you going LoMo? At this point Maroney should reaching full speed 2 to 3 yards
beyond the line of scrimage in a dash for the endzone.

This is where the batteries in my camera died. I believe Maroney got 5-7 yards on this play, but this play should have gone for
at least 15-20. IMO this play illustrates that Maroney has serious tunnel vision as he never turns his head towards a gaping hole
(by NFL standards). This poor play has nothing to do with an injured shoulder. Yes this is one play, but it typifies the indecision, hesitance,
and/or lack of vision that Maroney has displayed during his NFL career. IMO, Despite his speed and power, Maroney lacks the instincts to be an
effective NFL running back and will not be resigned by the Patriots at the end of his current contract.

 

[maryjane]

It's quite obvious by now to all except the most homerific, that Maroney sucks. He is a bust of busts.

No more RB or WR picks in the first 5 rounds for the Patriots. Sorry, but they are poor poor evaluators of talent.

 

[Schmo]

Good post.

Obviously it is only one example, but it is something we have seen much too often.

On a positive and possibly OT note, this is what I love about the drafting of Mayo as a 1st rd pick. We drafted him to be the ILB of the future, but if he fails at that, he could also try his hand at OLB or even SS (especially w/ BB's concentration on a S/LB hybrid). Whereas Maroney, quickly finding his way off the team, can only otherwise be serviceable as a KR (not even a PR). That isn't enough to keep him on this team. Later round picks for RB's are far more reliable than other positions.
Example: Kevin Smith (Lions) 4.9 yds/carry, Steve Slaton (HOU) 4.8yds/carry - both 3rd round picks this year with a considerable amount of carries... not to mention Jamaal Charles (KC) (who at the time I was hoping the Pats picked w/ OAK's pick in the 3rd round and looks like he came out of a Kevin Faulk mold).

I know hindsight is 20/20, and it is easy to think that these picks are easy to make... but we are looking at an offense that will be a passing offense for a long time (fingers crossed). A 2nd to 4th round draft pick at RB will be just as good to the Pats as a first, merely because of the value of versatility, the chance of injury and less of a chance of a bust.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Lets just pile on the guy on IR. Give it a break. All you get rid of Maroney folks, you got your wish, he is gone for the season.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Hehe, it didn't take long to rouse the Maroney Defenders Club. Seriously though, this is frame by frame proof of what a lot of us already knew. For some reason Maroney lacks the vision and the conviction to hit the hole hard and fast. If Maroney ran like Morris, with his physical talents, he would be tearing up the league. But he's missing SOMETHING. And it's not just the health, although obviously it's not helpful when he can't even stay on the field.

PS I liked Kevin Smith alot during draft time and I was hoping we'd spend a 3rd round pick on him. Who knew that both Morris and Maroney would be out at the same time? Having that insurance policy would have been nice. But the Pats like Crable. So hopefully Crable develops.

 

[matt1073]

Nice pics you got anymore for the Maroney sucks bash thread

 

[BelichickFan]

It's just one play but is, indeed, very damning. And disappointing because we all know what Maroney can do when he hits the open field.

 

[BelichickFan]

I did notice that Belichick and McDaniels both referred to "good vision" when talking about BJGE. Probably not a coincidence.

 

[Patjew]

I did notice that Belichick and McDaniels both referred to "good vision" when talking about BJGE. Probably not a coincidence.

And Josh specifically mentioned that he "doesn't dance".

 

[Patjew]

Hehe, it didn't take long to rouse the Maroney Defenders Club. Seriously though, this is frame by frame proof of what a lot of us already knew. For some reason Maroney lacks the vision and the conviction to hit the hole hard and fast. If Maroney ran like Morris, with his physical talents, he would be tearing up the league. But he's missing SOMETHING. And it's not just the health, although obviously it's not helpful when he can't even stay on the field.

PS I liked Kevin Smith alot during draft time and I was hoping we'd spend a 3rd round pick on him. Who knew that both Morris and Maroney would be out at the same time? Having that insurance policy would have been nice. But the Pats like Crable. So hopefully Crable develops.

I'm not a basher or defender.

We have seen Maroney play like a beast before, i.e. the end of the season last yr and especially the AFCCG. So why didn't he this year?

 

[BionicPatriot]

That's what I like about him too. He just gets the ball and goes through the hole. You see up there why Maroney isn't made for this system. This line is built for a running back to get it and GO!

 

[JSn]

I'm not a Maroney defender (heck, the only flag I have to wave says "Quit Nick-Picking, Hug an RT today!") but let's be fairish. The TV views of a game are just a shade different from the field-level views. Probably Maroney read your posts on Kaczur and just assumed he had to try and follow Koppen.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

It'll be interesting to see what Ben Franklin Green Acres shows today vs. St.L. The guy looked good against a piss-poor, depleted Denver squad that already had given up 100 yards to Morris. It would be kind of nice if BJGE busts out... and I'll just leave alone the whole Maroney bust/made-of-glass discussion. At the very least, he'll have to be a guy whose "early career was marred by injuries."

One irony every Pats fan has to face, is that we all get to watch Marion Barber tear up the turf, and the talking heads say "His running style, where he goes looking for contact and relishes it, and runs so hard, might make for a shorter career..." Well okay. As it stands right now, uh, evidently Maroney's style isn't exactly extending his.

PFnV

 

[Frezo]

It'll be interesting to see what Ben Franklin Green Acres shows today vs. St.L.

This is his breakout game! He bought a pair of Mr. Haney's patented "Anti-Stumble Trigriponator Turf Cleats". Coupled with a set of Mrs. Douglas' "Flap Jack Shoulder Pads" how can he miss?

 

[PATSNUTme]

Why bring thes up now? The guy is on IR so he not a factor for the rest of the year.

I will also bring up the he played very well toward the end of last season and the "Maroney is a bust" and "Maroney is made of glass" posters had to eat some serious crow.

Sorry to be such a homer as to state facts.

 

[Va_Pats_Fan]

Why bring thes up now? The guy is on IR so he not a factor for the rest of the year.

I will also bring up the he played very well toward the end of last season and the "Maroney is a bust" and "Maroney is made of glass" posters had to eat some serious crow.

Sorry to be such a homer as to state facts.

Its a "what have you done for me lately" league, and fan base apparently. I like Maroney, I liked the pick, and think he has mad potential. But, potential is nothing if you can't stay on the field. He also hasn't changed his dancing style. These are the two things that have to change for him to go from "good and serviceable", to a back that is worth his 1st round choice. The numbers he has put up, we could of got from someone drafted in a much later round.

If it dances like a duck, and its injured like a lame duck....


its probably a duck.

 

[Deus Irae]

Why bring thes up now? The guy is on IR so he not a factor for the rest of the year.

I will also bring up the he played very well toward the end of last season and the "Maroney is a bust" and "Maroney is made of glass" posters had to eat some serious crow.

Sorry to be such a homer as to state facts.

Not surprisingly, some of the crow eaters are now thumping their chests again.

 

[BelichickFan]

Why bring thes up now? The guy is on IR so he not a factor for the rest of the year.

The fact that he's out for the year doesn't change what those pictures show. Nor does it change these facts :

Morris : 4.4 YPC
Jordan : 4.4 YPC
Faulk : 6.6 YPC
BJGE : 5.0 YPC
Maroney : 3.3 YPC

Maroney looked great at the end of last season. And the sample sizes for the above numbers are small. But it is what it is and the pictures are what they are. I like Maroney but . . .

 

[Deus Irae]

The fact that he's out for the year doesn't change what those pictures show. Nor does it change these facts :

Morris : 4.4 YPC
Jordan : 4.4 YPC
Faulk : 6.6 YPC
BJGE : 5.0 YPC
Maroney : 3.3 YPC

Maroney looked great at the end of last season. And the sample sizes for the above numbers are small. But it is what it is and the pictures are what they are. I like Maroney but . . .

But what? Take away last week and review Morris' numbers. Looking at Jordan, he only had one good game before going on the shelf. This running game was in shambles prior to last week, and it wasn't just Maroney feeling the effects. Here's the numbers, from an earlier thread:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/10/167079-bb-matt-our-quarterback.html#post1109153

Per NFL.com

Morris is averaging 3.2 YPA
Maroney is averaging 3.3 YPA
Jordan is averaging 4.4 YPA, but he's had only 24 carries and has only averaged more than 3.7 YPA in one game this season.

 

[matt1073]

How can a first round draft pick not hit a hole that big ?