Running Back: It’s Gonna Be Maroney

[Armen Da Pats Fan]

I am just feeling like Maroney is the odd man out.

Here are my reasons:

• BenJarvus Green-Ellis is just too good to let go. He seems to be the future at running back in Foxboro. Maybe even the present!

• Fred Taylor has played well and earned a spot. He keeps things warm for BJGE.

• Kevin Faulk is not going anywhere, obviously. He is a classic third-down back with sure hands and understands Belichick and the "Patriot Way". In my opinion, he deserves the Tedy Bruschi treatment when it is time for him to retire. A class act and a great Patriot!

• Sammy Morris, despite injuries, is the closest thing to a fullback they have on this team and he has shown he is a strong north-south runner when he’s healthy.

• Maroney, after being given opportunity upon opportunity, just doesn’t seem to step up and grab the bull by the horns.

I don’t know what it is with this kid. Is he not “football smart”? Does he not take coaching?

Whatever it is, he seems to be the “fifth wheel” in a group of four running backs.

Yes, it will be a big hit to the team’s scouting and ego to admit that they blew a first-round pick on a bust, but that hasn’t stopped them before. I beleive Belichick always thinks of what’s best for the team first and of the five men mentioned above, Maroney is the least of them.

Anyway, I think everyone would agree it’s either Morris or Maroney. BJGE locked his spot up last night.

I am real interested to see what happens here tomorrow @ 4pm.

(By the way, how about BJGE last TD? He literally looked like he was faster than everyone on the field. He just shot through the hole and was gone to the pylon. That was a nice run.)

 

[patsinthesnow]

prepare to get FLAMED LIKE YOU NEVER SEEN FLAMES BEFORE!

 

[DSal]

I think they'll keep 5. Maroney's not going away. He's a good ball carrier. At the very least he could play the Kevin Faulk role when Faulk retires, but I think he's more than just a 3rd down back. He's had a string of bad luck with injuries and, yes, he hesitates at the line - just like BJGE did all of last night when there was no hole. Be patient. Maroney will be ok.

 

[satz]

prepare to get FLAMED LIKE YOU NEVER SEEN FLAMES BEFORE!

How can you make a statement like that ,maybe he is married.

 

[Kontradiction]

Question: What did BJGE do against the Giants' STARTERS? This is a rhetorical question, by the way.

 

[PatsGAgirl]

I absolutely agree....Maroney is great out in the open field....he just can't seem to bust through holes at the line or make quick decisions. It drives me crazy watching him dance back there.

I see BJGE as the future for the Pats as well. I enjoy watching him bust through the hole and take off.

If any RBs get cut, I think it should be Maroney.

 

[BradyManny]

Any guy who was on that field last nite is fighting for a roster spot. The one's that were held out are getting ready for Week 1 vs. Buffalo. Maroney will not be cut, BJGE might be.

 

[GullyFoyle]

Ive been as hard on Maroney as anyone, and it is obvious he is not a 4 down back. But what about him as a gradual replacement for Faulk, someone suggested that and I think its a good idea because it plays to his strength;running in space

 

[cavtroop]

I disagree. I think Maroney will take Faulks spot next year or the year after -whenever Faulk retires. We've already seen the seeds of this, with Maroney getting some more looks in the passing game. Remember, Faulk wasn't particularly good for his first few seasons, then came on the scene as a great 3rd down/pass catching back.

BJGE has a place on this team. I think we'll carry 5 RB's. If anyone gets cut, it may be Morris however.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Green-Ellis finished the preseason with a team-high 249 yards on 49 carries, a 5.1-yard average.

Say what you want against backups or w/e, but Green-Ellis earned the roster spot.

I hope we discard Morris because I think we can.

 

[PatsSox363804]

Really don't see it happening, I think we'll carry 5 RBs.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Maroney is not going anywhere, dows everyone here forget about his peformance in the 2007 AFCCG?

Plus he has trade vaule, so no way he gets cut.

Look for either Morris or Taylor to get the axe (if any), they basically have the same skill set.

 

[Rob0729]

If Maroney was the one being cut, he wouldn't have been playing with the ones all preseason and sitting out last night's game. That is just the facts. If someone gave Belichick a sweethearts deal in a trade for him (doubtful), he might consider it though.

Maroney has been injury prone, but he has also produced when he was healthy. People already forget the end of the 2007 season and in the playoffs where he ran for over a 100 yards in four out of five games. People compare him to Joseph Addai unfavorably, but the guy has been more productive since the mid of 2007 than Addai even being on IR.

Maroney is not going. Morris might go if Belichick is worried about his durability. Belichick is high on Maroney.

As for BJGE being the future of the Patriots, he is more likely a roll player if anything. The guy is amazing against back ups, but inconsistent against the starters.

 

[dtbrks]

I don't think Maroney is getting cut, nor do I think the Law Firm is the future at RB. I could be proven wrong.

 

[TimU]

I don't think Maroney will be cut. In fact I think he will start and get the bulk of the carries.

 

[BelichickFan]

Question: What did BJGE do against the Giants' STARTERS? This is a rhetorical question, by the way.

It's an unfair rhetorical question as our backup OL was in at that time.

 

[condon84]

Maroney is not going anywhere, dows everyone here forget about his peformance in the 2007 AFCCG?

Plus he has trade vaule, so no way he gets cut.

Look for either Morris or Taylor to get the axe (if any), they basically have the same skill set.

+1.

I can't see Maroney being cut. His track record shows that he can carry the load when healthy. We can always trade him and get something back. Also, wouldn't it cost us more (cap hit) if we cut him?

Maroney gets a lot of grief on these boards. When I watch the Pats, the guy barely has holes to run through. It's like the defense knows what's coming.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

I am just feeling like Maroney is the odd man out.

Here are my reasons:

• BenJarvus Green-Ellis is just too good to let go. He seems to be the future at running back in Foxboro. Maybe even the present!

I like BGE but lets not get ahead of ourselves. He's more than made a case to be on the 53 and I think he should be but we need to see how good he's going to be when NFL defences know him and plan for him. We need to be patient...

Maroney isn't the odd man out, he just has different qualities. Maroney can contribute in the passing game, screens and flats where he is better with the ball in some space. He's not a hard runner but he's certainly not odd as we like backs who can catch a pass.

 

[Rob0729]

I don't think Maroney is getting cut, nor do I think the Law Firm is the future at RB. I could be proven wrong.

I'm with you. This is why I hate the preseason. BJGE has had a great preseason, but he didn't have any carries in the starting line up and now people are deeming him the future of the Pats even after he was inactivated down the stretch last year and had more bad or unimpressive games than great games last year.

 

[bucky]

It's an unfair rhetorical question as our backup OL was in at that time.

That's a very good point. And it actually raises a point that's much more interesting that this beaten to death subject of Maroney. Out backup OL is very good by backup standards and I wouldn't be surprised if we somehow keep 10 guys on the OL.