Bob Ryan on Laurence Maroney

[crowell33]

Last night at 10:00 on Comcast Sportstonight, Bob Ryan disagreed with the recent speculation by Troy Brown, Albert Breer, and Michael Felger about Maroney being released. Ryan feels that Maroney WILL most likely make the 53 man roster.

He did say however, that even if Maroney were to stay healthy for all 16 games ( he never has in his 4 year career ) that he would be "very, very, surprised if Maroney was ever capable of gaining 1000 yards" ( 62.5 per game avg. ).

Ryan not going way out on a limb here, Maroney's career high is 835 yards.

 

[Fencer]

250 carries at 4 yards per carry?

Maroney could do both those figures, if healthy.

Could he stay healthy under even that much pounding? Hmm ...

 

[the wrothbroughterer]

250 carries at 4 yards per carry?

Maroney could do both those figures, if healthy.

Could he stay healthy under even that much pounding? Hmm ...

He's never topped 200 carries either.

He's our 3rd best back when he's healthy and with the entire RB corps in a contract year things aren't looking good for him.

 

[DaBruinz]

He's never topped 200 carries either.

He's our 3rd best back when he's healthy and with the entire RB corps in a contract year things aren't looking good for him.

He may not have topped 200 carries as a pro, but he did it his last 2 years of college.

The number of carries in a season has as much to do with the Patriots offense as it does with him.

OH, and Maroney was healthy last year but was sat out of the last game against Houston due to his fumbling the previous weeks.

Maroney was the Pats BEST back last year. Unless you want to ignore the number of draw plays that Morris and Taylor got.. If you do that, then sure, Maroney was 3rd best....

 

[Criptonite]

I'm not a big Maroney guy, but how is he not a lock to make this team? Morris and Taylor are very old for a RB and both are frequently injured. They're good, but they are not dependable at all. They're injured much more often than Maroney. Faulk obviously isn't going to carry the load. He almost never gets double digit carries. Then you have a 25 year old RB who's played 3 full years at an average level and who's getting paid very little in the last year of his contract. It only makes sense to give him another chance. It wouldn't be shocking for him to have a great season in 2010. Why would you cut him? To make room for Benjarvus? So you can add another special teamer? All that will do is bring less certainty to the RB position.

I expect Maroney to have another average year, putting up like 800 or 900 yards and getting 4.2ypc. Then in 2011, I wouldn't be surprised if no other team bids high on him and we resign him as a backup. Sure that's disappointing for a 1st round draft pick, but in the grand scheme of things, he can be a player who's talents we utilize for many years in a backup role ala Faulk.

 

[RayClay]

Just silly all around. Look at the roster. No one is seriously thinking he won't make it, unless BB has some stealth running back from the outback of Australia hidden somewhere.

Of course he can gain 1,000 yards if healthy, even in a rotation. It isn't that hard. Any NFL running back who plays every game could. Even missing 2-3 games it's not a phenomenal feat.

 

[mgteich]

Even if Belichick has a stealth RB he is ready to trade for, Maroney would still make the roster as a #4 RB and kick returner.

Just silly all around. Look at the roster. No one is seriously thinking he won't make it, unless BB has some stealth running back from the outback of Sustralia hidden somewhere.

Of course he can gain 1,000 yards if healthy, even in a rotation. It isn't that hard. Any NFL running back who plays every game could. Even missing 2-3 games it's not a phenomenal feat.

 

[Fencer]

Even if Belichick has a stealth RB he is ready to trade for, Maroney would still make the roster as a #4 RB and kick returner.

Agreed. Unless his troubles are due to lack of work -- and they don't seem to be -- he's safe.

 

[Armen Da Pats Fan]

Yup, I saw that.

but, he also said he really expects nothing from Maroney and he sets the bar very low on his expectations of SLoMo so he won't be disappointed!

Pretty strong words for a starting NFL running back on a top tier team, wouldn't you say?

Amd it's not like Ryan is a Pats basher...he is a pretty even-keeled guy when it comes to talking Patriots football (unlike say a Felger or a Borges, who have obvious Belichick axes to grind).

I wonder if Pittsburgh or Indy or Jax or the Jets or San Diego is saying, "Yeah, well, we know our guy sucks, but we just set our expectations real low and then we're not disappointed..."

Why does everyone in the universe see how mediocre this kid is except for Belichick?

It just baffles me!

 

[JackBauer]

Maroney is fine.

 

[Armen Da Pats Fan]

I am not against keeping Maroney at all...

My wish is that he would be groomed as the heir to kevin Faulk and we go out and get someone to be our every down back...

I so wanted Darren McFadden a couple of years back and Belichick did not even sniff him...

Then, this past draft (while admittedly a thin year for backs), we could have packaged picks and traded up for CJ Spller or grabbed Ryan Matthews from Fresno State.

It just seems like Belichick is happy and contented with SLoMo for some reason. Go figure.

 

[JackBauer]

Yeah. I know we all lament BB passing on Darren McFadden.

 

[RayClay]

Ryan just says stuff, i don't think he makes an herculean effort to keep up.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Yeah. I know we all lament BB passing on Darren McFadden.

It keeps me up at night. I'm still pissed.

 

[Reckedtrek]

Maroney is just a part of the running back by committee approach. If you don't have a true #1, get what you can out of four #3's.

I'm hoping we draft a true #1 in the 2011 draft, although I am not pissed at BB for not drafting a back this year because the most recent draft was not exactly loaded with RB talent.

 

[goheels22002]

I am not against keeping Maroney at all...

My wish is that he would be groomed as the heir to kevin Faulk and we go out and get someone to be our every down back...

I so wanted Darren McFadden a couple of years back and Belichick did not even sniff him...

Then, this past draft (while admittedly a thin year for backs), we could have packaged picks and traded up for CJ Spller or grabbed Ryan Matthews from Fresno State.

It just seems like Belichick is happy and contented with SLoMo for some reason. Go figure.

I'd love to see Maroney dancin' with the stars for the Jets to give the LBs time to smack Sanchez in the **** after he hands the ball off.

I agree with Armen. Maroney is the most maddening back ever. I think that BB and crew will be watching the daily transactions for released RBs every day. The Pats just are not the same without a big Corey Dillon type who can block and eat clock when necessary with the threat of ripping off a 10-15 yarder every once in a while. We all hoped Fred Taylor might be that guy but age is such a huge factor for NFL RBs.

 

[goheels22002]

It keeps me up at night. I'm still pissed.

Last we checked, the Pats won the Division last year. What have the Raiders won with McFadden? Zippo. And at LB, you'd have what if BB doesn't pick Jerod Mayo? Mayo is the cornerstone of a young and improving defense with speed and youth at all three levels. Sleep well, my friend.

 

[Nonentity]

The Pats just are not the same without a big Corey Dillon type who can block and eat clock when necessary with the threat of ripping off a 10-15 yarder every once in a while. We all hoped Fred Taylor might be that guy but age is such a huge factor for NFL RBs.

He was injured last season but looked good enough when he was on the field, no reason why he can't be a good runner this season - except for the age factor.

It'd be a real shame if his last 'good' season was interrupted by injury and this season just doesn't work out.

250 carries at 4 yards per carry?

Maroney could do both those figures, if healthy.

He looked a much more assertive runner last season, until fumbleitis struck. Sounds motivated in interviews and had the guts to say it was a mental thing and that he had got the message. Full credit to BB there too, by the way, great man management from him. I also remember that Bill was giving him one-on-one film sessions, which helped no end.

If he starts hot then we will keep giving him the ball. That's how a running-back-by-committee system works. If you're getting the yards, you get the ball.

I think Maroney gets close to 1000 yards this season, even if he doesn't get there. Mankins needs to report though, he's a key run-blocker in our OL.

 

[goheels22002]

He was injured last season but looked good enough when he was on the field, no reason why he can't be a good runner this season - except for the age factor.

It'd be a real shame if his last 'good' season was interrupted by injury and this season just doesn't work out.



He looked a much more assertive runner last season, until fumbleitis struck. Sounds motivated in interviews and had the guts to say it was a mental thing and that he had got the message. Full credit to BB there too, by the way, great man management from him. I also remember that Bill was giving him one-on-one film sessions, which helped no end.

If he starts hot then we will keep giving him the ball. That's how a running-back-by-committee system works. If you're getting the yards, you get the ball.

I think Maroney gets close to 1000 yards this season, even if he doesn't get there. Mankins needs to report though, he's a key run-blocker in our OL.

Mankins is outta here. so don't get your hopes up about that. On the Pats official News page, they have a story about Nick Kaczur taking over. The Mankins situation is the major opportunity to bring in a game changer - it would be nice to see a deal for a quality RB unfold for Mankins. The money could probably work out since the Pats were willing to pay top dollar for Mankins until he became a greedy douchebag.

 

[ScrewDrvr]

when healthy, Fred is easily the best running back on this team. Just look at the video of last years Falcons game where he was actually given time to get in a rhythm. He still has speed, can still push the pile, still has some moves, excellent pass blocker, and this is his 13th year now as a pro RB, he knows how to play the game.
But like I said, when healthy... You cant stop getting older.

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