Chances Maroney has a big year in 2009?

[Bring Back Antowain!]

I might be in the minority, but I think Pats running back Laurence Maroney might be able to have a big year in 2009.

Yeah, I know the backfield is crowded. I know Maroney's injury problems and dancing tendencies. However, no one on this board can deny that he's got natural talent, acceleration, speed, power, and size.

We didn't get to see much of him in 2008, mostly due a broken bone in his shoulder. However, he still is only 18 months removed from the greatest stretch of his career and still is only 24 years old.

I'm just saying I wouldn't count Lomo out so quick and I wouldn't be surprised if Maroney is the starting back come September and if he has his best season as a pro.

What do you guys think the chances of this are?

 

[BradyBranch39]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

Well, he has Freddy around now to help be a great 1-2 punch. With Morris and Faulk around too, our running game should be even better than last eyar.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

I might be in the minority, but I think Pats running back Laurence Maroney might be able to have a big year in 2009.

Yeah, I know the backfield is crowded. I know Maroney's injury problems and dancing tendencies. However, no one on this board can deny that he's got natural talent, acceleration, speed, power, and size.

We didn't get to see much of him in 2008, mostly due a broken bone in his shoulder. However, he still is only 18 months removed from the greatest stretch of his career and still is only 24 years old.

I'm just saying I wouldn't count Lomo out so quick and I wouldn't be surprised if Maroney is the starting back come September and if he has his best season as a pro.

What do you guys think the chances of this are?

I may be in the minority too but I think with so many options at RB - including Taylor, Faulk, Morris as well as Maroney, I tend to think that Maroney isn't exactly going to be carrying 30 times a game.

And even if he weren't splitting carries four ways, I tend to get the feeling that our offense will be somewhat Tom Brady and Randy Moss/Wes Welker focused... and that the run will simply be used to set up the pass.

From a game plan standpoint alone, if you've got an over/under on whether Maroney has his best season ever, put all your money on the Under.

 

[SoCal Pmen]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

I may be in the minority too but I think with so many options at RB - including Taylor, Faulk, Morris as well as Maroney, I tend to think that Maroney isn't exactly going to be carrying 30 times a game.

And even if he weren't splitting carries four ways, I tend to get the feeling that our offense will be somewhat Tom Brady and Randy Moss/Wes Welker focused... and that the run will simply be used to set up the pass.

From a game plan standpoint alone, if you've got an over/under on whether Maroney has his best season ever, put all your money on the Under.

Agree. This is going to be a year of RBBC which is fine by me if it keeps the troops fresh for the playoffs. Only certainty will be Faulk on 3rd downs.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

Now by big year you mean, he stays healthy and rushes for 600-800 yards while being in a committee? That would a successful season to me because the Pats aren't going to give majority of the carries to just one running back. I like this approach because it will keep everybody fresh and extend their careers.

 

[Bartmac36]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

Even if he stays healthy, I think at this point it's Morris' job to lose so if Morris stays healthy and continues to put up good stats and Fred Taylor does what we brought him here to do, then I don't see Maroney making it past 800 rushing yards tops...

But then again, there's always a chance Maroney finally runs it up the middle and exposes his true talent. In that case I would say Maroney could get the sarting job and even break 1,000 yards...but that scenario is more unlikely than the first one...

 

[efin98]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

The success for him first would be staying off IR. Then it would be to get a dozen or more touches per game with a good yards per carry amount. Then it would be to score some rushing TDs. Then it would be to have several highlight reel rushing plays.

I can see him doing the first, but I'm not sold on him doing anything else. I have him as third on their running back chart behind Morris and Taylor. I don't believe he goes ahead of them without one of them becoming injured for an extended period of time.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

Depends on how you define big year, really. I don't think any of our RBs will have a big year in the traditional sense, but I do think that it's likely that Maroney will contribute quite a bit. If he can keep up that 4.6 YPC for 8-10 carries per game, and has developed into a capable enough blocker to be on the field for passing downs, I'll be pretty pumped.

And as far as I'm concerned, the last point might be the most important. And btw, in his 3 year career Maroney has been IRed once, so I don't get the sentiment that it'll be an achievement in its own right if he can somehow pull it off. He's gotten banged up, yeah, but it's not nearly as bad as some people on this board make it out to be, and if you look around the the league you'll quickly find that it's not uncommon among RBs.

 

[APatrioticVirginian]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

Depends on who we trade him to. I fully expect Matt Jones to have a big year for us

 

[stinkypete]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

Depends on who we trade him to. I fully expect Matt Jones to have a big year for us

??????????

 

[signbabybrady]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

I think he will be a good part of a great and balanced RB group as he is the outside runner, Morris the inside guy, Taylor does it all, and Faulk is awsome at all he does....I am hoping that having 4 solid backs frees up Maroney to return kicks again I remember the crowd rising to their feet almost everytime when he returned kicks a few years ago.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

Depends on your definition of "Big Year." 1,200 yards and every down? I don't think so. He stays healthy, contributes as part of the tag team, has two or three really big games and does 700 or so yards for the season? That would be a big year in my book.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

Even if he stays healthy, I think at this point it's Morris' job to lose so if Morris stays healthy and continues to put up good stats and Fred Taylor does what we brought him here to do, then I don't see Maroney making it past 800 rushing yards tops...

But then again, there's always a chance Maroney finally runs it up the middle and exposes his true talent. In that case I would say Maroney could get the sarting job and even break 1,000 yards...but that scenario is more unlikely than the first one...

I tend to think there won't be a starter per se this year at all - it will be a clear "by committee" approach - and any one of the four could be called on depending on the play

Injuries could certainly change that however.

But noting that there is still a big question about the state of the secondary, I don't even expect to see the Patriots take the foot off the gas pedal and begin handing the ball to their RBs even when they are up by a few scores. If the D has questions they wouldn't want to give a team any chance to get back in the game and will continue to throw as well as run.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

Fred Taylor surprises and gets the majority of the carries as proving the best out of this bunch.

Maroney has 400-500 yards then probably goes on the annual IR list by late november.

 

[nantucketguy]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

I say we should trade him. He sucks and his hangnails keep him out. We got Fred Taylor and Sam "Locamotive" Morris running up the gut. I think we could get a 2nd rounder for him, or maybe a good LB/S prospect

 

[jays52]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

I say we should trade him. He sucks and his hangnails keep him out. We got Fred Taylor and Sam "Locamotive" Morris running up the gut. I think we could get a 2nd rounder for him, or maybe a good LB/S prospect

Hangnails. Hangnails? En serio? Do you have any concept what kind of beating these players take game to game? Do you understand the sacrifice these players make each season? Have you ever played a meaningful down of football while hurt? Sometimes you can't play through an injury and be successful. See, if you had played a down, you would understand a concept known as hurt vs injured. If you are hurt, you are in pain but can play. If you are injured, you are in the same, or even less pain but cannot play. Maroney was injured, not hurt. Because of the nature of his ding, he couldn't play effectively. Accordingly, his being on the roster while ineffective was detrimental to the team.

He doesn't suck, he's not soft, and once he learns the nuances of the position, he will be a highly effective back.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

Hangnails. Hangnails? En serio? Do you have any concept what kind of beating these players take game to game? Do you understand the sacrifice these players make each season? Have you ever played a meaningful down of football while hurt? Sometimes you can't play through an injury and be successful. See, if you had played a down, you would understand a concept known as hurt vs injured. If you are hurt, you are in pain but can play. If you are injured, you are in the same, or even less pain but cannot play. Maroney was injured, not hurt. Because of the nature of his ding, he couldn't play effectively. Accordingly, his being on the roster while ineffective was detrimental to the team.

He doesn't suck, he's not soft, and once he learns the nuances of the position, he will be a highly effective back.

C'mon, it was only a broken shoulder.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

Fred Taylor surprises and gets the majority of the carries as proving the best out of this bunch.

Maroney has 400-500 yards then probably goes on the annual IR list by late november.

Annual IR? He's been IRed once in his career so far. I'm pretty sure that, for something to be considered annual, it has to have actually happened multiple times...

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

Annual IR? He's been IRed once in his career so far. I'm pretty sure that, for something to be considered annual, it has to have actually happened multiple times...

LOL. I was going to post the same thing. I think Brady qualifies under this meaning of "annual IR trip" too...:nono:

 

[Patjew]

Re: Chances Maroney has a Big Year in 2009

I'm predicting LoMo runs for 750-950 yds this yr.