Maroney

[cloud34]

Many people are questioning why he didn't play last night, that he might be in trouble for a roster spot, or he is slipping down the depth chart. I thought it was made very clear last week that the RB's were each going to get their turn with the #1 offense each week during pre-season. Rather than getting 5 or 6 carries each week apiece, they are getting 10-15 each, a chance to get into a rhythm, with the 1st team offense. Last week, it was Benny while the 1's played about a quarter. Last night, it was Taylor playing with the 1's for almost a half. Next week, it will be Maroney with the 1's for the entire 1st half and a series or two in the third quarter. That was the plan. Sounds pretty simple to me....Morris and Faulk aren't doing this because they are simply playing their roles as short yardage and 3rd down back respectively.

 

[shmessy]

Precisely. Makes sense.

 

[patsinthesnow]

BJGE gets the Saints.

Taylor gets the Falcons.

Maroney gets the Rams.

Thats 100% fair.

 

[JackBauer]

BJGE gets the Saints.

Taylor gets the Falcons.

Maroney gets the Rams.

Thats 100% fair.

Indeed. Probably worth running BJGE against the best team to see if he's worth a roster spot.

 

[shmessy]

BTW. Sammy Morris - - I love that guy. He PUNISHES defenders.

 

[BlueThunder]

I'm beginning to like the RBBC approach....let's hope Taylor and Morris stay healthy...

Maroney and Taylor carrying the load will be a nice combo....

BB may opt to cut BJGE and keep him on speed dial to get depth at another position of need. I'm not trying to outguess BB at this however. NOBODY knows what he has in mind with the roster this early. A couple more games in preseason may give us a bit more insight...


When are the first cuts due...how many?

 

[Gwedd]

Many people are questioning why he didn't play last night, that he might be in trouble for a roster spot, or he is slipping down the depth chart. I thought it was made very clear last week that the RB's were each going to get their turn with the #1 offense each week during pre-season. Rather than getting 5 or 6 carries each week apiece, they are getting 10-15 each, a chance to get into a rhythm, with the 1st team offense. Last week, it was Benny while the 1's played about a quarter. Last night, it was Taylor playing with the 1's for almost a half. Next week, it will be Maroney with the 1's for the entire 1st half and a series or two in the third quarter. That was the plan. Sounds pretty simple to me....Morris and Faulk aren't doing this because they are simply playing their roles as short yardage and 3rd down back respectively.

Yup. To be honest, I prefer a running back by committee approach rather than a single featured back. With multiple backs, you have options. With a featured back, not so much.

V/R

 

[Garbanza]

Age will always be a concern with this group - therefore injury is a big concern with this group. Dancing d-bag (Maroney) is the luckiest rb on the planet. By default, he is the #1 rb. I hope to God he watched Taylor run last night. Watched the way he hit the hole, followed his block, ran straight ahead, no dancing, no turning your back - just RUN.

The rb's will be Maroney, Taylor, Morris, Faulk and BJGE. They will carry five. Depth is key since you are pretty much guranteed an injury stint by Taylor and Morris.

 

[shmessy]

Yup. To be honest, I prefer a running back by committee approach rather than a single featured back. With multiple backs, you have options. With a featured back, not so much.

V/R

Plus, think about how much harder it is for an opposing team to gameplan against a team with 4 RB's with different styles. If th Pats can have three out of those four healthy at any time, then BB can drive opposing teams crazy. Throw in the Hernandez/Edelman factors out of the backfield and there can be alot of fun on handoffs this year (as long as that O'Brien guy can grow an imagination).

 

[Reckedtrek]

I enjoyed having Dillon especially his first season here in 2004, but if that one back slows down and/or gets injured, you become one dimensional pretty quick. I like the idea of the Running back by committee, but if it's run with 4 or 5 backs who make you say "meh" instead of 'wow"... it's not so great.

If the Pats can run the ball anything like they did last night, if Maroney can avg 4.0 or higher per attempt, this offense is going to be really fun to watch this season. With this kind of grind down the fourth quarter, eat up the clock ability, the team won't be losing many if any fourth quarter leads as long as the defense is decent.

 

[Uncle Rico]

I agree that it makes sense and it's unusual approach. I'm just curious how this translates into regular season.

I'm reasonably sure that Maroney, Morris and Taylor all make this team (and Faulk of course, but he's not really part of this discussion). How do they handle their snaps when real games start? Does Maroney get a half then Taylor, then Morris and Maroney the next game?

Seems unlikely, but at the same time BB is feeling out the value of letting RBs stay in for longer stretches. If that approach has value now, does it have value come regular season?

 

[cloud34]

I agree that it makes sense and it's unusual approach. I'm just curious how this translates into regular season.

I'm reasonably sure that Maroney, Morris and Taylor all make this team (and Faulk of course, but he's not really part of this discussion). How do they handle their snaps when real games start? Does Maroney get a half then Taylor, then Morris and Maroney the next game?

Seems unlikely, but at the same time BB is feeling out the value of letting RBs stay in for longer stretches. If that approach has value now, does it have value come regular season?

This is more about running with the 1st team at this point during the pre-season. Once the regular season starts and the 1st team is playing the entire game, I think you see Taylor and Maroney splitting carries, with Morris in short yardage and Faulk on 3rd down.

 

[DaBruinz]

The Pats, as a whole, were below average on short yardage situations where they didn't have Brady do a QB Sneak. Taylor, Morris and Maroney all had issues last year. Hopefully, that will change this year.

 

[cloud34]

The Pats, as a whole, were below average on short yardage situations where they didn't have Brady do a QB Sneak. Taylor, Morris and Maroney all had issues last year. Hopefully, that will change this year.

I think the short yardage problems last year are on the OL, who had pass blocking as a mindset as a unit, much more than a a grind it out, get down and dirty OL. It seems they (the coaching staff)are making a concerted effort to change that mindset this year.

 

[patsox23]

Many people are questioning why he didn't play last night, that he might be in trouble for a roster spot, or he is slipping down the depth chart. I thought it was made very clear last week that the RB's were each going to get their turn with the #1 offense each week during pre-season. Rather than getting 5 or 6 carries each week apiece, they are getting 10-15 each, a chance to get into a rhythm, with the 1st team offense. Last week, it was Benny while the 1's played about a quarter. Last night, it was Taylor playing with the 1's for almost a half. Next week, it will be Maroney with the 1's for the entire 1st half and a series or two in the third quarter. That was the plan. Sounds pretty simple to me....Morris and Faulk aren't doing this because they are simply playing their roles as short yardage and 3rd down back respectively.

You are completely right, and anyone reading into the carries last night and having a hissy fit needs to actually pay attention, even slightly, to the Patriots, Belichick and things that get said during the week. In other words, be ACTUAL fans.

 

[Patspsycho]

The rb's will be Maroney, Taylor, Morris, Faulk and BJGE. They will carry five. Depth is key since you are pretty much guranteed an injury stint by Taylor and Morris.

That is the sensible approach I am going with.

 

[WhiZa]

Saints: BJGE with the 1s, Maroney with the 2s.

Falcons: Taylor with the 1s, Morris with the 2s.

Rams: Maroney with the 1s, BJGE with the 2s?

Giants: Morris with the 1s, Clayton with the 2s?

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

BTW. Sammy Morris - - I love that guy. He PUNISHES defenders.

Ha, it was painful watching that safety take a helmet to the chest twice in a row.

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

The last couple years, BB sometimes had his running backs each playing a quarter during a game. Maybe he wants each back to play three quarters during a game this year and then take a couple games 'off', i.e. with reduced work load.

That would in theory keep everybody fresh and still allow each back the chance to pick up a head of steam during a game, instead of being rotated out every 15 minutes.

And of course you can match the running back versus the opponent's particular weaknesses.

I think Maroney is still an equal role player to the other backs, if not outright number one, but perhaps the whole concept of having a number one back is moot this year.

 

[Dagg]

From RB perspective its hard to get into the game with only 10 or 12 carries. I played in college as a time share rb and carrying the entire load and it always took 5 to 7 carries to get a feel for a def and get in rythm with OL.

On the flip side I was very motivated during the time share year to distinguish myself but ulitmaetly my stats (ypc) were always better (and it makes sense)when I had 20 plus. Its hard to explain but you just get in a zone physically and mentally after a certain amount of carries its more of a felling than anything else really hard to describe.

That said I like our RBs alot IMO I would start Taylor (but i dont think bb will deviate from committee) I like the way he hits the holes and hes a good pass blocker. That said we are in good shape if injuries occur. I love me some Sammy as well.