RB situation...

[mgteich]

I agree.

We should keep Maroney. At very least, he is an inexpensive backup.

That gives us open, open, Maroney, Faulk and Green-Ellis.

My suspicion is that Taylor will stay if he is healthy. He has signed as a two-year patch, and this is year. two.
_______________

MY CONCLUSION
1) Expect Morris to be cut.
2) Draft a running back or two if they are available to compete for two roster spots with Green-Ellis.

While a 4th for Maroney might be decent value, I'm not sure trading our only starting caliber RB who's under 30 makes a whole lotta sense. Morris and Taylor WILL sustain injuries at some point this year (could be for a week, could be for the season, when a RB hits 30 all bets are off). At that point our options would be:

1) Faulk as a full time runner (no)
2) BJGE starting (no)
3) Hope a rookie is ready to be the guy (not preferred)

Maroney is not ideal, but trading him makes little sense at this point IMO.

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

This is a great point. I have a feeling the true gem's of this stange free agency period have yet to reveal themselves...... Look at all the high end guys whom got released prior to March 5th. The second wave could be juicier and less expensive......

I have a feeling this is what BB, and the front office are waiting for.

There will most certainly be teams looking to dump salary.

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

I agree.

We should keep Maroney. At very least, he is an inexpensive backup.

That gives us open, open, Maroney, Faulk and Green-Ellis.

My suspicion is that Taylor will stay if he is healthy. He has signed as two-year patch, and this is year. two.
_______________

MY CONCLUSION
1) Expect Morris to be cut.
2) Draft a running back or two if they are available to compete for two roster spots with Green-Ellis.

I'm just curious mgteich, would you be ok drafting a RB in the 2nd round? Or are you in the camp of "we can't waste 2nd rounders on RB's this year, with so many other needs"?

 

[mgteich]

I'm OK with Belichick drafting a running back wherever he finds value. For example, I am fine with Spiller or Matthews. Yes, I am fine with those in the second.

The issue is always comparative value. If Belichick doesn't see much of a dropoff from the the running backs in the 2nd to the 4th, of course he'll wait.

A young stud running back signed for the next 4-5 years would be a huge help to this offense. I would note that there are no questions of need. We have exactly zero running backs signed for 2010.

And we obviously have an opening at running or two or three openings, depending on who's posting.

I'm just curious mgteich, would you be ok drafting a RB in the 2nd round? Or are you in the camp of "we can't waste 2nd rounders on RB's this year, with so many other needs"?

 

[carolinatony]

Morris:I've had enough of Morris. He's good when he plays, but I'm tired of him getting injured. I hope he gets cut.

Taylor: I thought he was going to have an outstanding season with the Pats, but once again, he gets injured. Because him and Morris are over 30, they both need to be cut.


:ditto:

Both have seen their better days.. We need a younger RB and one who can take it to the house every so often.

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

I'm OK with Belichick drafting a running back wherever he finds value. For example, I am fine with Spiller or Matthews. Yes, I am fine with those in the second.

The issue is always comparative value. If Belichick doesn't see much of a dropoff from the the running backs in the 2nd to the 4th, of course he'll wait.

A young stud running back signed for the next 4-5 years would be a huge help to this offense. I would note that there are no questions of need. We have exactly zero running backs signed for 2010.

And we obviously have an opening at running or two or three openings, depending on who's posting.

Understood. Thanks for the response.

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

Morris:I've had enough of Morris. He's good when he plays, but I'm tired of him getting injured. I hope he gets cut.

Taylor: I thought he was going to have an outstanding season with the Pats, but once again, he gets injured. Because him and Morris are over 30, they both need to be cut.


:ditto:

Both have seen their better days.. We need a younger RB and one who can take it to the house every so often.

I agree totally that we need to get younger, and I would have no problem with taking 2 RB's in this draft.
I'm still kinda on the fence with Taylor at this point, at least for this year.

 

[emoney_33]

The most troubling thing to me about Maroney were the critical fumbles he lost. I realize turn overs are going to happen, but he lost the ball at crucial moments in big games, and it definitely was a trend. You couple that with his indecisive running, and they are most certainly cause for concern.

It was a 3-game stretch. His career indicates that whatever the cause it isn't likely to be a long-term problem.

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

It was a 3-game stretch. His career indicates that whatever the cause it isn't likely to be a long-term problem.

4 fumbles lost in 8 games. 3 games in a row, and it all happened the second half of last year.
We really will not know if it was simply a fluke case of fumbleitis, or something else more severe, until next year.

Maybe he's starting to lose confidence in himself, or thinking too much. What ever the cause, I'm pulling for the guy, but I just don't believe he will ever be a feature back for this team. And yes I realize we don't feature one back, but someone always gets the lion share if they have the talent.

 

[emoney_33]

4 fumbles lost in 8 games. 3 games in a row, and it all happened the second half of last year.

As I said, it really amounts to a 3-game stretch because that last fumble is ONLY relevant BECAUSE of that 3-game stretch.

We really will not know if it was simply a fluke case of fumbleitis, or something else more severe, until next year.

Of course we can't see the future, but we have more data than a 3-game stretch to look at. He has NEVER been fumble prone in his college or NFL career. Thus we can draw the conclusion that the chance of fumbling becoming an issue going forward is very small.

Maybe he's starting to lose confidence in himself, or thinking too much. What ever the cause, I'm pulling for the guy, but I just don't believe he will ever be a feature back for this team. And yes I realize we don't feature one back, but someone always gets the lion share if they have the talent.

He's been the "feature" back in 2007 and 2009, so your use of the word "never" does not make sense to me. Any RB getting the lion share is not likely to happen on this team. To get a RB significantly better than Maroney such that you want him getting the vast majority of carries will cost money. It would be putting a lot of money into a high-risk position, when the difference in production vs. $$$ doesn't warrant it.

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

As I said, it really amounts to a 3-game stretch because that last fumble is ONLY relevant BECAUSE of that 3-game stretch.



Of course we can't see the future, but we have more data than a 3-game stretch to look at. He has NEVER been fumble prone in his college or NFL career. Thus we can draw the conclusion that the chance of fumbling becoming an issue going forward is very small.



He's been the "feature" back in 2007 and 2009, so your use of the word "never" does not make sense to me. Any RB getting the lion share is not likely to happen on this team. To get a RB significantly better than Maroney such that you want him getting the vast majority of carries will cost money. It would be putting a lot of money into a high-risk position, when the difference in production vs. $$$ doesn't warrant it.

Let me re-phrase that for you then a "true" feature back, you know one that doesn't tip toe from side to side and run into his blockers.
One that doesn't get benched repeatedly for missing blocking assignments, or underperforming. That kind of feature back, he will never be.

To get a RB significantly better than Maroney, is a simple case of drafting the right one to fit our system, and that's not going to break the bank. There goes that assesment.

You don't always have to go out and sign the highest priced talent to upgrade, and yes believe it or not that even applies to our players. There are quite a few RB's in this draft that could step in and make Maroney look like yesterday's news.

 

[emoney_33]

Let me re-phrase that for you then a "true" feature back, you know one that doesn't tip toe from side to side and run into his blockers.
One that doesn't get benched repeatedly for missing blocking assignments, or underperforming. That kind of feature back, he will never be.

Just as soon as you let me know how on earth you know why Maroney was benched at any given point in time.

To get a RB significantly better than Maroney, is a simple case of drafting the right one to fit our system, and that's not going to break the bank. There goes that assesment.

That IS going to break the bank in the sense that in order for a draft pick to have a high CHANCE of success, you need to waste a higher pick. So you waste a higher pick and depending on HOW high, waste more money. Now I'm ALL for drafting a RB in this draft, just not for trading Maroney and hoping a rookie replaces his production, and then still have to rely on 2 old guys for depth.

You don't always have to go out and sign the highest priced talent to upgrade, and yes believe it or not that even applies to our players. There are quite a few RB's in this draft that could step in and make Maroney look like yesterday's news.

Again I agree, I'm all for drafting a RB. Just don't throw all you eggs in a rookie RBs basket, that's all I'm saying. Especially when maroney is so cheap.

 

[HarkDawg]

Why can't ppl realize RB's are a dime a dozen.....?




We are a much different team full of holes now!!!!!

Maroney can get us an additional pick to FIX more pressing needs.

Oh my goodness..... Maroney is bad in this system and is a below avg RB here


with a 3 or 4 I would call it Bittersweet but AWESOME


b/c Maroney did not live up to a 1 (24) RB..... Blame the system or BB... Maroney was not good.

Honestly.... If we can get a 3 or 4 in a DEEP Draft..... I would draft need positions. We do not NEED lo-mo.

we can do better with him gone and fixing his inconsistencies with an additional pick to solve other problems on the team.

The current problems are far more troubling than losing a RB that has done very little in his time as a Patriot.


Pick 3 or 4 could be an OLB.... WR, TE etc....

who know's?.... it is a pick that we NEED

we do not need LO-MO. He is not the future.

 

[Fencer]

Couldn't we replace him with a rookie, as previously suggested?

Not if the rookie is as bad at blitz pickup as most rookies.

 

[supafly]

Just as soon as you let me know how on earth you know why Maroney was benched at any given point in time.



That IS going to break the bank in the sense that in order for a draft pick to have a high CHANCE of success, you need to waste a higher pick. So you waste a higher pick and depending on HOW high, waste more money. Now I'm ALL for drafting a RB in this draft, just not for trading Maroney and hoping a rookie replaces his production, and then still have to rely on 2 old guys for depth.



Again I agree, I'm all for drafting a RB. Just don't throw all you eggs in a rookie RBs basket, that's all I'm saying. Especially when maroney is so cheap.

Why couldn't they simply draft another young RB in the draft in the 2nd rd, and pay him even less than Maroney made at #24 with another rookie deal? Why would this be so extremely un-efficient cost wise?

 

[BillBelichickFan79]

Would love to pick up a 3rd by moving back in the draft or possibly trading a player so we could pick up Montario Hardesty.

 

[supafly]

Not if the rookie is as bad at blitz pickup as most rookies.

Very valid point, but there's always the possibility you may get someone who is decent at blitz pickup--therefore only stepping down from Maroney's blitz pickup in a minor way.

We could even possibly kill 2 birds with 1 stone with a bigger bruiser type who can block effectively and play some snaps at FB too.

 

[emoney_33]

Why couldn't they simply draft another young RB in the draft in the 2nd rd, and pay him even less than Maroney made at #24 with another rookie deal? Why would this be so extremely un-efficient cost wise?

It's not inefficient cost-wise. It's foolish football-wise to rely on a rookie 2nd-rd RB to save $1M.

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

Just as soon as you let me know how on earth you know why Maroney was benched at any given point in time.

There was more than a couple of games last year that he started then just disappeared, as in was sitting on the bench. I know a couple of those involved the fumbles because following them he didn't return. I believe another one was when he nearly got TB's head taken off. Obviously I can't say exactly what the reasons were, but it sure wasn't because he was lighting it up out there.

That IS going to break the bank in the sense that in order for a draft pick to have a high CHANCE of success, you need to waste a higher pick. So you waste a higher pick and depending on HOW high, waste more money. Now I'm ALL for drafting a RB in this draft, just not for trading Maroney and hoping a rookie replaces his production, and then still have to rely on 2 old guys for depth.

See this is where we disagree. You view it as a "wasted" pick. I view it as our next potential "feature" back. Rookie contracts where we are selecting are extremely cheaper than signing free agents, so I have no idea why you feel it is such a waste of money.

I've resigned to the fact that we will be keeping Maroney this year, so I have no argument there, but the guy(s) we bring in this year will obviously end up replacing him if all goes as expected. I also don't see Morris being here for this upcoming season, or at least I hope he is not here.

Again I agree, I'm all for drafting a RB. Just don't throw all you eggs in a rookie RBs basket, that's all I'm saying. Especially when maroney is so cheap.

Agree 100%. We'll have Maroney, Faulk, Taylor(?), and 2 rookies (or 1 rook. and 1 FA)

 

[emoney_33]

Very valid point, but there's always the possibility you may get someone who is decent at blitz pickup--therefore only stepping down from Maroney's blitz pickup in a minor way.

We could even possibly kill 2 birds with 1 stone with a bigger bruiser type who can block effectively and play some snaps at FB too.

"possibly". This ignores any and all risk. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.