Dillon/Maroney Mark

[Murphys95]

Been following this one all season....the Pats running tandem is the first in 26 years to each run for 700 yards or more in the same season. It was last accomplished in 1980 by Don Calhoun and rookie Vagas Ferguson.

Good season by the duo.

 

[hwc]

The most amazing thing is the balance in carries and yardarge between the two this year. 199 carries for Dillon; 175 carries for Maroney. Both should be fresher than the average back going into the tournament.

BTW, all four of the Pats' RBs averaged at least 4.0 yards per carry this year.

 

[Murphys95]

The most amazing thing is the balance in carries and yardarge between the two this year. 199 carries for Dillon; 175 carries for Maroney. Both should be fresher than the average back going into the tournament.

BTW, all four of the Pats' RBs averaged at least 4.0 yards per carry this year.

I think what really impressed me was Dillon's energy at the tail end of the season. It's clear he doesn't have the break-away speed like he used to, but boy can he still pound it in there.

 

[Fixit]

I don't think that combo's going to work out. I heard that Corey Dillon was going to be pissed that they brought a rookie in and he'd revert to being a clubhouse cancer.

What? You say Corey's been a mentor to him? That can't be right. The experts said it would never work, and they know what they're talking about!!!

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Been following this one all season....the Pats running tandem is the first in 26 years to each run for 700 yards or more in the same season. It was last accomplished in 1980 by Don Calhoun and rookie Vagas Ferguson.

Good season by the duo.

Absolutely, good season by the duo -- and has been pointed out, it keeps them both fresh.

The glut in available backs, coupled with the faster-moving draft economics of our current cap/FA era, has militated for back platoons on so many teams, that we're probably just looking at the local face of the phenomenon.

Taking nothing from our own guys, look at Maurice Jones Drew/Fred Taylor, and Julius Jones/Marion Barber, for two easily noted other examples. We have three excellent combo-packs on three NFL teams, where it use to be an oddity to have one. (Obviously Addai/Dominic Rhodes doesn't count, because Dominic Rhodes doesn't count.)

Something tells me that at least for a little while, we'll see more and more of these... good to be in on the ground floor though, indeed.

PFnV

 

[sieglo]

Dillon does have enough burst to turn the corner.... That isn't even questionable. He's punched through defenses into the secondary with that burst any number of times. What he doesn't have is the speed to outrun cornerbacks..... But not many do.

 

[shmessy]

Anyone else feel that BB purposely held Corey's carries down a bit more this year so as to have him rested and ready to blast for the playoffs?

He looked like a different back down the stretch.

 

[Murphys95]

Anyone else feel that BB purposely held Corey's carries down a bit more this year so as to have him rested and ready to blast for the playoffs?

He looked like a different back down the stretch.

Don't know about the BB withholding thing, but Corey certainly looked re-energized down the stretch. I tell ya, I'd love to see him complete a big run against the Jets (he always seems to get caught from behind once he's out in the open!).

 

[TruthSeeker]

The most amazing thing is the balance in carries and yardarge between the two this year. 199 carries for Dillon; 175 carries for Maroney. Both should be fresher than the average back going into the tournament.

BTW, all four of the Pats' RBs averaged at least 4.0 yards per carry this year.

Wow, that's weird, I predicted 225 carries for Dillon and 150-175 for Maroney. I think Maroney had an excellent rookie season, Maroney and Gostkowski (100+ points) were our two best rookies, and have made huge contributions to our team ! Go Pats !!!

 

[Kdo5]

Wow, that's weird, I predicted 225 carries for Dillon and 150-175 for Maroney. I think Maroney had an excellent rookie season, Maroney and Gostkowski (100+ points) were our two best rookies, and have made huge contributions to our team ! Go Pats !!!

It was a nice balance because I never really got the thought that there was a primary running back. They both got around the same number of carries.

Maroney had a good rookie year. Not Addai or Bush's numbers but who cares? He has done a very good job as a rookie and I wouldnt take Bush, Addai or Drew-Jones above him. Hes got himself a good attitude too. 6 TD's for him, nice.

And congradulations to Corey, broke OJ's spot in the all time rushing list. He also tied a franchise record and his now career best in TD's with 13. :rocker:

Congrats to Dillon & Maroney on a good season.

PS: Gost & Maroney had good rookie seasons but dont leave out Ryan O'Callaghan, he was our steal in this years draft.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Been following this one all season....the Pats running tandem is the first in 26 years to each run for 700 yards or more in the same season. It was last accomplished in 1980 by Don Calhoun and rookie Vagas Ferguson.

Good season by the duo.

I was a huge Vagas Ferguson fan (he was great at Notre Dame, Joe Montana's halfback), thought he was going to be a star. then again, I though Hart Lee Dykes was gonna be a star. Oh well. Vagas had a fine rookie season, got hurt during the following training camp, the same training camp that rookie Tony Collins was at. Tony Collins went on to have a fine rookie season (1000 yards ?), and we never heard from Vagas again.

 

[jczxohn1]

If Maroney hadn't missed a few games, their carries would prob have been even closer to equal.

 

[Murphys95]

I was a huge Vagas Ferguson fan (he was great at Notre Dame, Joe Montana's halfback), thought he was going to be a star. then again, I though Hart Lee Dykes was gonna be a star. Oh well. Vagas had a fine rookie season, got hurt during the following training camp, the same training camp that rookie Tony Collins was at. Tony Collins went on to have a fine rookie season (1000 yards ?), and we never heard from Vagas again.

Good memory on Ferguson! Vagas broke the record for most yards by a Patriots rookie in 1980, then Tony Collins broke his record the following year. Ferguson had 818, Collins 873.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Good memory on Ferguson! Vagas broke the record for most yards by a Patriots rookie in 1980, then Tony Collins broke his record the following year. Ferguson had 818, Collins 873.

Thanks, I had high hopes for Vagas, but Tony Collins sure eased the pain, a fine running back in his days as a Patriot.

 

[ayjackson]

'85 was a great year for Pats running backs with James gaining about 1600 yards from scrimmage and Collins over 1200.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Anyone else feel that BB purposely held Corey's carries down a bit more this year so as to have him rested and ready to blast for the playoffs?

He looked like a different back down the stretch.

Shmessy, this was my stock answer this year for guys screaming for "Bench Corey! Maroney's our best back! Keep him on the field!"

The one-two punch doesn't work like your standard fanboy's mind (my own included, if I go by first instincts!)

The fan always wants to have THE superstar, or at least someone he can convince himself is "A" superstar, and of course wants the team to magically win all the time.

The coach understands the team logic of a platoon done right. A platoon will keep both guys fresh, and lets you use your young legs not to just replace the older guy, but to extend his life within a given season, and also (likely) his total number of NFL seasons.

I think platoons have definite downsides: if your team is emotional and undisciplined, the platoon can make your team less than the sum of its parts. For the Pats, it seems to have worked great. And HELL YES I want to see Corey back again, until he shows any sign of slowing down.

Okay rant over,

PFnV

 

[shakadave]

Been following this one all season....the Pats running tandem is the first in 26 years to each run for 700 yards or more in the same season. It was last accomplished in 1980 by Don Calhoun and rookie Vagas Ferguson.

Good season by the duo.

Vegas Ferguson! Thank you for that memory!