Do We Know What We Have in Maroney Yet?

[patpatriot]

Three quarters of the way into the season and I still don't have a definative feel for what kind of runner this guy is. He can run tough (as evidenced by his YAC) but we haven't seen that breakaway ability he had in college (and to some degree at the start of the season). He also has had lots of negative runs. Is he a guy that will be significantly better next year or is what we see what we are going to get? What I see is a solid starting NFL runner who could be on the level of a Fred Taylor (without the injuries) or Ricky Watters (both all-pros at one point) but not an LT, Alexander, or Johnson. What about you? What do you think Maroney's ceiling and floor is?

 

[hodgey]

I see some flashes of above average ability, but little to suggest he will have all pro ability. Time of course will tell, but I hope the production goes up in year 2 for our 1st and 2nd rounders from this year. I think it will, as I bought my son and I a Maroney jersey for xmas lol.

 

[SCPatBoy]

Three quarters of the way into the season and I still don't have a definative feel for what kind of runner this guy is. He can run tough (as evidenced by his YAC) but we haven't seen that breakaway ability he had in college (and to some degree at the start of the season). He also has had lots of negative runs. Is he a guy that will be significantly better next year or is what we see what we are going to get? What I see is a solid starting NFL runner who could be on the level of a Fred Taylor (without the injuries) or Ricky Watters (both all-pros at one point) but not an LT, Alexander, or Johnson. What about you? What do you think Maroney's ceiling and floor is?

I have seen enough. Maroney has it all in my opinion. It is difficult for RB's to get in a groove when they are alternating series and only carrying 10 -15 times a game. Even Barry Sanders would get those short gains and then every 10 carries would rip one off. MAroney defenitely has the burst and the break away speed. I think next year when he is getting the ball 2o times a game he will be up there in the league in rushing.

 

[SCPatBoy]

I see some flashes of above average ability, but little to suggest he will have all pro ability. Time of course will tell, but I hope the production goes up in year 2 for our 1st and 2nd rounders from this year. I think it will, as I bought my son and I a Maroney jersey for xmas lol.

You have got to be kidding! Right!

 

[rabthepat]

Three quarters of the way into the season and I still don't have a definative feel for what kind of runner this guy is. He can run tough (as evidenced by his YAC) but we haven't seen that breakaway ability he had in college (and to some degree at the start of the season). He also has had lots of negative runs. Is he a guy that will be significantly better next year or is what we see what we are going to get? What I see is a solid starting NFL runner who could be on the level of a Fred Taylor (without the injuries) or Ricky Watters (both all-pros at one point) but not an LT, Alexander, or Johnson. What about you? What do you think Maroney's ceiling and floor is?

My expectations of Maroney have dropped as the season has progessed. I think Addai of Indy has surpassed him in performance. I guess time will tell.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

My expectations of Maroney have dropped as the season has progessed. I think Addai of Indy has surpassed him in performance. I guess time will tell.

I the Pats had a passing attack that is feared like the colts, there would be alot more running room. Not to mention the o-line and graham were nicked up and missing at various points in the year.

In the middle of the season the Pats adjusted the way they were using him slightly having him in the two back set in the shotgun with brady. I thought when they used his pass catching ability showed the tip of the iceberg how he can be used.

with saying that, he still needs more experience on reading the holes quickly and hitting them fast before they quickly disappear. And they should stop trying to run up the middle with traps and using those wham blocks.

we need to remember he's a rookie

 

[spacecrime]

There are two things to consider, talent and consistency. You need both to produce week in and week out.

Talent is easy. Either you have it or you don't. If you don't have it, you never flash it on the field because, well, you can't.

If you do have talent, you will show it on the field. Not always, because that is consistency. But if you have talent you will flash it sometimes.

Maroney has talent, that is plain to see in some games. He does not have consistency. I think it is easier to learn consistency than to develop talent, so we are in a good spot with Maroney.

Remember he is still a rookie and not getting a lot of carries. RBs need carries to develope. Those will come.

I wouldn't worry much about how Addai is doing or not doing. He's a good RB same as Maroney. We got our guy. And I disagree with the poster who said Maroney has shown nothing of his college breakaway ability. Every kick return seems to be one tackler away from going the distance.

 

[cstjohn17]

Great question, I think is too early to tell... I think he has above average potential maybe even pro bowl potential. I am looking forward to seeing him next year after an offseason of NFL caliber weight training, I expect him to come in at a solid 225 pounds of muscle.

It is so hard with running backs because in most cases if guys get the carries they will get ok yardage 1000 - 1300 yards but they take such a beating more than half the battle is just being able to play when less than 100%. The durability and consistentcy of guys like Martin, Payton and Emmitt is really incredible.

The whole offense is still struggling for an identity making it even harder to judge. I like what I have seen and hope we see him bust lose in the playoffs.

Three quarters of the way into the season and I still don't have a definative feel for what kind of runner this guy is. He can run tough (as evidenced by his YAC) but we haven't seen that breakaway ability he had in college (and to some degree at the start of the season). He also has had lots of negative runs. Is he a guy that will be significantly better next year or is what we see what we are going to get? What I see is a solid starting NFL runner who could be on the level of a Fred Taylor (without the injuries) or Ricky Watters (both all-pros at one point) but not an LT, Alexander, or Johnson. What about you? What do you think Maroney's ceiling and floor is?

 

[Oswlek]

My expectations of Maroney have dropped as the season has progessed. I think Addai of Indy has surpassed him in performance. I guess time will tell.

While Addai has been surprisingly excellent in Indy, I am not willing to go that far yet. Addai plays in a system where he faces nickle defenses on 1st down and, even if that is not the case, almost never faces 8 men in the box. This plays perfectly with his strongest point, which is that he is a powerful runner.

By comparison, Maroney almost never *doesn't* face 8 men in the box on 1st down, and even may on 2nd downs. This plays against Maroney's weakest link, which is he still has a propensity to dance into a hole and look for a bigger play. Maroney has significantly more big play potential than Addai, but he does need to work on charging into the hole more. If he continues to stutter-step into the line than he will be what he is; a guy with unlimitied potential who doesn't quite live up to it.

If Maroney can learn to drive into the hole than watch out, because he has everything else you could ask for in a dominant back.

 

[Remix 6]

im sold. hes got it all..a complete back.

hes shown speed..stiffarms..lateral movement..hitting the holes..driving defenders back. he didnt let guys like Urlacher tackle him alone..he kept pushing and pushing. hes caught out of backfield and he has improved blitz pickup from the times we've seen


i think our OL and playcalling need work..in college he ran a lot of tosses..slants and zone options that he got to pick where he wanted to go after getting behind guard. now..we use a lot of inside runs..were a mix of zone blocking-power running but its not working the OL needs to give him more room ifwe wanna see bigger runs and if dont wanna wear him down by getting hit in backfield a lot. his YAC shows thath e gets hit a lot and then gets a little more.

let us run what suits his speed..get the OL to block a little better and he'll be great


we do face 8 men in box but thats not an excuse to the "power plays" we try to run with a RB that has it all..give him a shot to do what LT and others do..hes not Corey Dillon..hes faster and quicker..let him take some outside and beat people to the edge

 

[patpatriot]

And I disagree with the poster who said Maroney has shown nothing of his college breakaway ability. Every kick return seems to be one tackler away from going the distance.

Yes this is true but it is a different story when he is running from the line of scrimmage...why?

 

[Krugman]

I think Maroney is feared(or ast least respected)by opponents who are concerned about his abilities in the open field,he can be elusive as evidenced by his kick returns and on some of the running plays and few passing plays where he has broken out and scored or made hefty yardage.
In regard to Addai,he looks good,but his big day was against the Eagles in their nickel defence as someone has pointed out,other than that game his numbers have been decent,nothing spectacular.Maroney appears to be versatile in that he can be an every down back,I dont think Addai has the strength or power for short yardage situations(I havent seen him in that role,anyway).I'm looking for big numbers from this player in the future.

 

[Oswlek]

I think Maroney is feared(or ast least respected)by opponents who are concerned about his abilities in the open field,he can be elusive as evidenced by his kick returns and on some of the running plays and few passing plays where he has broken out and scored or made hefty yardage.
In regard to Addai,he looks good,but his big day was against the Eagles in their nickel defence as someone has pointed out,other than that game his numbers have been decent,nothing spectacular.Maroney appears to be versatile in that he can be an every down back,I dont think Addai has the strength or power for short yardage situations(I havent seen him in that role,anyway).I'm looking for big numbers from this player in the future.

Addai has enough power, but Indy's OL is actually quite poor in obvious run situations. I question whether Addai has breakaway abilities.

 

[patpatriot]

Forgot the floor

I listed a couple of players who I thought Maroney could be compared to ultimately as a ceiling but I forgot to list his possible downside. I think, worst possible case, we are looking at another Willie Parker here...still not bad.

 

[Oswlek]

Re: Forgot the floor

I listed a couple of players who I thought Maroney could be compared to ultimately as a ceiling but I forgot to list his possible downside. I think, worst possible case, we are looking at another Willie Parker here...still not bad.

Right this second Parker is better, but I don't think Maroney has far to go to catch him.

That said, we all have seen guys who look like worldbeaters that never again look as good as they did at the outset, so I don't think Parker could be considered a worst case.

 

[patsox23]

I see some flashes of above average ability, but little to suggest he will have all pro ability. Time of course will tell, but I hope the production goes up in year 2 for our 1st and 2nd rounders from this year. I think it will, as I bought my son and I a Maroney jersey for xmas lol.

I'm not sure it would be fair to say, "YES - all-pro ability" but to say that he has only above-average ability - what are you WATCHING? The guy is being brought along slowly, he's had some typical rookie ups and downs, but he has the whole package. Everyone who seems him play - not just us, but teammates, local media, national media, coaches, literally EVERYONE - loves this kid's upside. So far he's been terrific. Not sure on what you're basing such a tempered outlook, but I sure hope you're wrong.

"Little to suggest he will have all pro ability?????"

 

[Oswlek]

I'm not sure it would be fair to say, "YES - all-pro ability" but to say that he has only above-average ability - what are you WATCHING? The guy is being brought along slowly, he's had some typical rookie ups and downs, but he has the whole package. Everyone who seems him play - not just us, but teammates, local media, national media, coaches, literally EVERYONE - loves this kid's upside. So far he's been terrific. Not sure on what you're basing such a tempered outlook, but I sure hope you're wrong.

"Little to suggest he will have all pro ability?????"

Even if Maroney never improves anything but bringing his decisiveness up to a Dillon type level, he is an improved Pats' passing offense from possible probowl consideration.

 

[mcbee]

At this point Addai is better. He can make something from nothing, Maroney can't. Once Maroney gets through thte line he is electric, but more often than not, he gets stoned at the LOS. Party it's our line, it sucks, no holes, but his reed thin legs just can't plow through people.

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

I love what I have seen. When you step back and look at the whole package, you see a kid who is a threat to take every KO the distance. He is still learning how to catch the ball but when he comes out on a flare or circle route, he makes people miss. In a way, it kind of reminds me of Marshal Faulk in space (not directly comparing the two). As for his running, I always remind myself that he is learning a new blocking scheme, has had various o-linemen opening holes for him, and has had to adjust to the speed of the defenders across the ball from him. All in all, if every rookie we have could produce like this his first year in the league and have the upside this kid has shown, we could book super bowl trips from now through 2012.

 

[Seneschal2]

If the Pats had a passing attack that is feared like the colts, there would be alot more running room. Not to mention the o-line and graham were nicked up and missing at various points in the year.

Minor correction. The Pats had no passing attack to start the season...while currently still a work in progress. No comparison to what Brady & Co. have worked hard to attain and what Manning's had intact from the get-go -- none whatsoever.

Yes this is true but it is a different story when he is running from the line of scrimmage...why?

Vision and open field ability. Can't use these strengths from the set position when facing the LOS. Not until he gets through a hole (if there is one) will these qualities apply. On KOs he's given the open field from the start w/ no congested LOS to deal with.

On topic: The breakaway runs from Maroney will manifest once our passing game and run-blocking gain more consistency. IMO, opposing defenses aren't threatened by our downfield passing game. When we finally get Jackson (or someone) to stretch the field -- Maroney will shine...