Maroney's benching

[aluminum seats]

Sort of shocked to see there isn't a single thread on this, considering the fixation the board has had on Maroney over the years. (Maybe I'm missing it? Apologies if yes.)

Anyway, what does everyone think? Seems to me this fumbling problem is a relatively new one, and sitting him down for the game after yesterday's drop at the goal line was a good idea. Combined with lategate, also seems Belichick is putting down the hammer a bit more now, which is all to the good. I think we see Maroney running very well in the playoffs, and holding on to the ball, too.

 

[FarScapeR]

Yeah, I'll take a benching over fumbles, which have been a nuisance for him this season, than a benching over not running hard enough, which he has of late.

 

[Mogamedogz]

I think Bill just finally have enough of him. 3 fumbles in the RZ is just inexcusable. You could argue that had he not coughed it up against Indy, the game was in the bag. That play had a bigger impact than 4th-2 or any other.

Id rather Taylor/Morris/Faulk sharing the load in the play-offs, with Maroney getting a few carries here and there. Hopefully Freddy gets a solid 15-20 carries next week to get the gears oiled up.

 

[Patspsycho]

I did notice that, and it felt to me like that was a big setback. I had thought Maroney was really getting into a groove.

 

[JackBauer]

I'd rather see Maroney, since he's our best RB.

 

[emoney_33]

I think it's impossible to tell whether it was related to the fumble (which was actually a TD) or not. For all we know, there are other reasons Maroney didn't get back on the field. Morris ran fine, we had the game pretty much in hand, they needed to get Taylor carries, Maroney is our most banged-up running back, and he fumbled for the 3rd time at the goalline. Who knows how big each factor was.

He definitely needs to work on whatever is the cause of the fumbles this year, but I still think he's our best back for the playoffs.

 

[Mack Herron]

Maroney continued to run well. Unfortunately, he also continued to forget to wrap 2 hands around the ball going into traffic. Because the previous lessons required a reminder, he sat for the remainder of hte game. I expect he whill see plenty of action Sun, including red zone carries.

 

[xmarkd400x]

I wonder why he tends to fumble near the goal line. Is he staying up just a little too long? Who knows.

I did say at the time that he probably wouldn't be back in the game, especially with Taylor healthy.

 

[JSn]

I didn't expect him to sit the whole game, that's for sure.

Do you think he takes the deep bench (inactive) next week to let Taylor and maybe even Law-Firm see some action?

Realistically, he's running amazingly well and it would be a shame if they don't get him back on the field to work his issue out asap. I would have let him run again right away, though I would spread the carries.

I also wondered if part of the plan was to rotate the backs by quarter anyway.

 

[DaBruinz]

I think Bill just finally have enough of him. 3 fumbles in the RZ is just inexcusable. You could argue that had he not coughed it up against Indy, the game was in the bag. That play had a bigger impact than 4th-2 or any other.

Id rather Taylor/Morris/Faulk sharing the load in the play-offs, with Maroney getting a few carries here and there. Hopefully Freddy gets a solid 15-20 carries next week to get the gears oiled up.

Well, Why don't you "make the case" then. Let's hear it.

As for Taylor/Morris/Faulk with Maroney only getting 4 or 5 carries, that is just dumb.

When you watch the replay, Maroney was over the goal line when the ball came out. It was a TD and Carey blew it. He proved he's just as stupid as his brother. It's IMPOSSIBLE for a ball to go straight down onto the goal line like it did and not have been in Maroney's grasp when he crossed the line.

BTW, when are you EVER going to give an opposing defense credit for making a play? You always seem to bag on a Patriots player in this sort of instance, yet you never give credit to the opposing defense. Of course, I didn't see you bagging on MORRIS either, when Morris coughed up the ball a few games back... You just over-looked it as if it never happened.

 

[aluminum seats]

I think it's impossible to tell whether it was related to the fumble (which was actually a TD) or not. For all we know, there are other reasons Maroney didn't get back on the field. Morris ran fine, we had the game pretty much in hand, they needed to get Taylor carries, Maroney is our most banged-up running back, and he fumbled for the 3rd time at the goalline. Who knows how big each factor was.

He definitely needs to work on whatever is the cause of the fumbles this year, but I still think he's our best back for the playoffs.

Nah, he was benched because of the fumble. Taylor was quoted saying something along the lines of "I told him to hang in there, things happen for a reason," etc.

 

[Sicilian]

Well, Why don't you "make the case" then. Let's hear it.

As for Taylor/Morris/Faulk with Maroney only getting 4 or 5 carries, that is just dumb.

When you watch the replay, Maroney was over the goal line when the ball came out. It was a TD and Carey blew it. He proved he's just as stupid as his brother. It's IMPOSSIBLE for a ball to go straight down onto the goal line like it did and not have been in Maroney's grasp when he crossed the line.

BTW, when are you EVER going to give an opposing defense credit for making a play? You always seem to bag on a Patriots player in this sort of instance, yet you never give credit to the opposing defense. Of course, I didn't see you bagging on MORRIS either, when Morris coughed up the ball a few games back... You just over-looked it as if it never happened.

These are my feelings too. Not that I'm happy about the "fumble" itself (really needs to protect the ball to avoid any doubt), but it shouldn't have been an issue. It was a touchdown.

As for giving the D credit, I agree to an extent. If a defender comes up from an angle and punches the ball out or gets a helmet on it, that's a good play by the D, and tough luck for the RB most likely. I see a lot of fumbles in the NFL (not Maroney necessarily, just general), where the ball carrier basically just gets tackled and drops the ball. Those I pin on the fumbler, so it can work either way.

For this fumble, tough to say, as we didn't have an angle to see HOW the ball came out. Which brings up another point: Why on earth do we have instant replay, but not cameras that can see from both sidelines? I wanted to see the Maroney fumble from the OTHER side because we clearly had no way to see the ball from behind him.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

i could see benching for the remainder of the half. but you're up by that much.. you'd think you want to get the kid back in there and get his confidence back up.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

i think the reaction to his fumbling is different than the (unfair) reaction he got for dancing and "not trying" and "not playing hard."

i think people regard fumbling more like a mistake...something he tries to control but has trouble with...they don't like it but understand it, even if they think he should be benched at times for it. i think they (again, unfairly) regarded the other stuff as a matter of attitude and effort.

 

[Rob0729]

Belichick has benched players including guys like Richard Seymour in the past for a poor performance in games only to start them the next game. I wouldn't read too much into this. Maroney could be back as the starter come next week.

In fact, if Morris struggled in replacement of Maroney, Belichick might have replaced him with Maroney within a series or two. But once Morris rattled off that 55 yard run, he won the right to complete the game at least until they put Taylor in when the game was in hand.

 

[102 Pat]

I for one will be holding my breath when the Pats get into the red zone and he's in at RB.

 

[Sicilian]

Belichick has benched players including guys like Richard Seymour in the past for a poor performance in games only to start them the next game. I wouldn't read too much into this. Maroney could be back as the starter come next week.

In fact, if Morris struggled in replacement of Maroney, Belichick might have replaced him with Maroney within a series or two. But once Morris rattled off that 55 yard run, he won the right to complete the game at least until they put Taylor in when the game was in hand.

It's also entirely possible that the gameplan from the beginning was to use Maroney early, Morris in the middle, and clean up with Taylor at the end. The fumble may have expedited that switch, and then once Morris did well like you said it made the decision easy. I would expect us to rotate these three in the playoffs, and this could have been a way to get them used to that.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

i could see benching for the remainder of the half. but you're up by that much.. you'd think you want to get the kid back in there and get his confidence back up.

i've defended Maroney out here a lot (a lot!), especially against some of the more ridiculously unfair and ill-informed attacks he got earlier this year.

but, ball security anywhere on the field and especially in the red zone is another matter.

you just can't turn the ball over in the red zone, especially in December and January when a play like that could cost your team its season. there have to be consequences for doing it and sitting out the rest of the half in a game the Pats were dominating is fair in my book; unless you're Tom Brady and have earned the right to a few "Get Out of Jail Free" cards over the years.

 

[emoney_33]

Belichick has benched players including guys like Richard Seymour in the past for a poor performance in games only to start them the next game. I wouldn't read too much into this. Maroney could be back as the starter come next week.

In fact, if Morris struggled in replacement of Maroney, Belichick might have replaced him with Maroney within a series or two. But once Morris rattled off that 55 yard run, he won the right to complete the game at least until they put Taylor in when the game was in hand.

Yep, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Maroney will continue to be the starting RB as he has been every game he's been healthy. Although I can see Maroney getting rest and not playing much, if at all, next week. In the playoffs though I fully expect a healthy Maroney to be starting.

 

[bradydaman29]

I wonder why he tends to fumble near the goal line. Is he staying up just a little too long? Who knows.

I did say at the time that he probably wouldn't be back in the game, especially with Taylor healthy.

Part of his problem is he runs too high. So when he gets in traffic like that, he CAN'T fall down because he's being held up and the D can just start pulling on the ball. I guess running high is OK if that's your style, but once there's some contact he needs to get lower.