Does LoMo cement Pats RB strategy?

[captadamnj]

Whether you call Maroney an outright bust or not may still be up for debate, but he certainly has fell short of expectations. While listening to Sirius yesterday afternoon, they were interviewing Donald Brown from UConn and I caught myself thinking that he sounded like the type of player the Pats would be interested in. Today we get the Taylor signing. Having seen what the Pats did with Dillion, Jordan, Morris, et. al., will the Pats now be resigned under BB to be content picking up other teams cast offs and turning them in to functional elements moving forward? Is RB off the board moving forward in the draft in the top 3-4 rounds, reserving those picks for defense and OL primarily? It seems like a model that can work out just fine moving forward.

 

[DefenseRules]

I don't think that will be the case. I think that the Pats just didn't pick the right RB for their system. Maroney's style does not fit what BB wants from his running game. Go back and watch what Dillon did for us...THAT IS WHAT BB WANTS FROM HIS BACKS.
I don't know what Maroney's role will be on this team going forward. Maybe, they can use him the way they use Kevin Faulk.

 

[satz]

Why do you think we need to improve our running game was it that bad ?.
we rushed for 2400 yds this season and were only behind baltimore in the AFC in rushing yrds and were at a good 4.4 yds/rush.

the question you should ask is do you need to spend high draft picks or money so you can rush more ?.we beat the record set at 85 for rushing .
if we are the second team in rushing in afc why spend picks and money their when you are the bottom feeder in thrid down conversion and passing td`s.

maroney is still in his 3rd year and even though addai beat him by 150 yds in his first year ,he has been less durable then maroney in the last 2 yrs and is having concussion issues which are far worse plus he was asked to play injured quite a bit but BB just shuts guys down if they are injured.

satz

 

[captadamnj]

Why do you think we need to improve our running game was it that bad ?.

Certainly not suggesting the running game was bad, in fact, believe it was quite good last season. Also believe that LoMo has had some very good games for the team. Overall, however, the signings of Dillion, Jordan and Morris have seemingly provided more value (i.e. - more production for less money) then the drafting of Maroney. Hoping for the same for Taylor, but who knows, he could wind up being cut by the end of training camp! Looking or a consensus on the strategy moving forward.

 

[signbabybrady]

Looking or a consensus on the strategy moving forward.

With BB the only consensus is he will gether talent however he can get it draft, free agency, trades, the street, no matter of the age. where some people shy away he dives right in....most teams shy away from aging backs not BB he sees the short term value in guys like Taylor, CD, Morris, Lojo....

I'ld bet that once they have given up on Maroney they dive right back in and try again with a rookie back. Maroney is so young I'ld give him at least one more year.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I have no insider info but my gut tells me LoMo is getting traded.

 

[fair catch fryar]

I'm guessing that the Pats go into TC with Maroney, Morris, Taylor, and Green-Ellis. Very similar to last year minus Jordan. I thought they would cut one, but it seemed to work out fine.

 

[Pats726]

I think Maroney has a good shot of having a big year..he's a different type of runner...I would say Dillon embodied a toughness and durability that is rare..but going with ONE back mostly is ONLY one path of many that are successful. Having a few like they did last year is also a path..as I do not believe there is ONLY ONE WAY to do it. As for drafting early?? There is no reason..they have BJGE and will add another young one to develop..they do NOT need a high rounder...it has more to do with value and other needs..

 

[satz]

Certainly not suggesting the running game was bad, in fact, believe it was quite good last season. Also believe that LoMo has had some very good games for the team. Overall, however, the signings of Dillion, Jordan and Morris have seemingly provided more value (i.e. - more production for less money) then the drafting of Maroney. Hoping for the same for Taylor, but who knows, he could wind up being cut by the end of training camp! Looking or a consensus on the strategy moving forward.

Actually you are wrong in that as when avg dillion over his 3 yrs , the first year he was great then slid down to rushing less than maroney for the 2nd and 3rd year and made more money .
He did have 1 great year but did make more money in 1 yr than maroney in 3.

Morris i think was a 2 yr FA contract worth more than maroney 5 yr contract and last year maroney out rushed him 1 to 3 if you do not add the playoff.if you do then maroney rushed for like 1150 yds to morris 365 and making 1/4 of morris contract money

Jordan no idea but he made more money that maroney and got you similar performance numbers higher due to more games played.

Now no where did maroney was bad value as you paid less and got better performance then high paid FA RB

 

[WhiZa]

RB was never on the board in the top rounds as long as we signed a FB (Evans). We had our 5 RBs going into 2009 Maroney, Morris, Faulk, Lawfirm, FB

Instead we sign Taylor, and not a FB so it looks like the Pats will either 1) use a OL as a FB from now on or 2) have to cut or trade one of the RBs. Maroney or Lawfirm look like the top candidates at this point.


EDIT: I just looked up Maroney's cap number and if we cut him we lose 340k in cap space. It's more beneficial to keep Maroney and hope he contributes something then it would be to cut him. Lawfirm now looks like the odd man out unless the Pats need to free up 1.2 mil by cutting Morris.

 

[mayoclinic]

I don't think that will be the case. I think that the Pats just didn't pick the right RB for their system. Maroney's style does not fit what BB wants from his running game. Go back and watch what Dillon did for us...THAT IS WHAT BB WANTS FROM HIS BACKS.
I don't know what Maroney's role will be on this team going forward. Maybe, they can use him the way they use Kevin Faulk.

I would agree with this. I wanted DeAngelo Williams over Maroney in 2006. Maroney has the talent. Not sure he has the heart or the running style/instincts. If anyone can teach him, it's Fred Taylor.

He's not a bust, he just hasn't lived up to expectations. He has 2 years remaining on a cost-effective contract, and he'll provide some quality yards as part of a stable of RBs. Trading him would be an ineffective move, unless someone ponies up a silly offer. He has a lot of work to do to earn his next contract, though.

 

[RoughingthePasser]

I'm a supporter of Maroney.
He has been working at running more north-south and direct.
He has great speed and if he can utilize our guys better up front and find the holes than the LB's and DB's will have a hard time catching him when he breaks.

He needs to run lower to the ground to. He carries in an upright position.

I hope he improves.

 

[zoostation]

I have no insider info but my gut tells me LoMo is getting traded.

Gotta give him one more year and see what he can do healthy (if he can stay healthy). Taylor is obviously a temporary fix. As much as LoMo frustrated me.... I think he is still the future.

 

[upstater1]

The most disheartening part of the Maroney story is that he figured out how to run in the NFL in the second half of 2007, and then he forgot it.

 

[captadamnj]

Was hoping not to start another is he or isn't he thread on Maroney, but I guess anytime his name is mentioned, that's going to be a big part of the discussion.

Let's try asking this. Are you a fan of NE using a running back by committee approach with other team's cast-off's, or would you prefer to have a big name back through FA or the draft? And is BB comfortable that the committee approach is how the team can be successful at the position?

 

[mgteich]

As we have for many years, our preference is to have a clock killing back and to have the best third down back in the league. We have that in Taylor and Faulk. We also need a second back to share the load throughout the season, and in case of injury. We have that back in Morris. We need a blocking fullback who can catch the ball, and who is a top special teamer. We will have this when we re-sign Evans.

Finally, since running backs (especially older ones) are prone to injury, we need a 5th (rb or fb) with a defined role. That role COULD be inactive backup, there in case of two injuries (BJGE had that role for most of the 2008 season). We are lucky to have Maroney who can be a change of pace back against certain teams, and is also a top kick returner.

I don't understand all of this Maroney as the back of the future. He is in his 3rd year, with one more year on his contract. We should NOT focus on development. We should focus on him producing as a role player NOW. He is well worth what he is paid, as are all our running backs. As was the case with Jordan (last year's #4 rb), Maroney COULD have a big year and be a major contributer, or not.

Was hoping not to start another is he or isn't he thread on Maroney, but I guess anytime his name is mentioned, that's going to be a big part of the discussion.

Let's try asking this. Are you a fan of NE using a running back by committee approach with other team's cast-off's, or would you prefer to have a big name back through FA or the draft? And is BB comfortable that the committee approach is how the team can be successful at the position?

 

[brdmaverick]

LoMo should have absolutely DOMINATED in an offense that features Brady, Moss, and Welker, and yet he didn't. He goes down with even the slightest contact (think Antowain Smith after year 1).

 

[simkin_belinelli]

We cant play a dancer in a football game, sorry .

So much fantasy files for someones...

 

[BradyBranch39]

We'd all have 19-0 t-shirts if McDaniels had utilized Maroney in the SB.

 

[alvinnf]

I have no insider info but my gut tells me LoMo is getting traded.

Hopefully to Denver for Daniel Graham.