What Does Maroney have to do..

[Fantasic4x50x54x59x55]

What do you believe Maroney has to do this offseason to get to the next level, and take the next step to being a top 5 rb in the NFL? It's obvious he has the physical tools and vision to do it, but it doesnt come overnight...sometimes even with all the hype it doesnt come at all..(not saying it wont, dont jump down my throat!)

If your coaching him...what do you make him do this offseason? Bulk up?? Study films and Defenses more? a little of both?

One thing is for sure, He needs to lose the dancing behind the line and hit the hole..but That only came on after his injury, could be a combination of that and the rookie wall. (plus the difference in carries and games from college to pro).

Looking forward to The Predator vs the world round 2!

Have some fun with it guys..

 

[FirstAndGoal]

I've not commented on this before but unless he learns how to hit a hole, he isn't going to amount to much. A back who dances before he gets to the line is one who doesn't like to get hit and has little or no power when they're dancing before they hit the hole. I hope that he proves me wrong and shows better development next season but if he does the dancing he did late this year, he'll never develop. Dillon may be old and slow but he knows how to square his shoulders and hit a hole when he sees one. The Pats line doesn't have the personel to be great at zone blocking and that's what Maroney is suited for with his current "dancing" style. We'll see next season.

 

[zoostation]

Most people on this board had him in the HOF back in September.

 

[Tunescribe]

I've not commented on this before but unless he learns how to hit a hole, he isn't going to amount to much.

That's provided he has the holes to hit. I think our O line did a poor job of run blocking this past season. Maroney is not a power back who runs over people, he needs to be sprung and can't do it by himself. Consequently I believe this "dancing" allegation is unfair. He needs at least some room to work with where he can shift direction and make defenders miss.

 

[FirstAndGoal]

Not unfair at all. Dillon found holes that Maroney didn't find. A zone blocking scheme would take advantage of Maroney's style. He doesn't look like a downhill runner so far. Can you explain to me why Dillon had better success? Maroney has the speed to break one but Dillon rarely got tackled for a loss unless he was trying to go outside where he hasn't got the speed. Being a power back has nothing to do with it. Hitting a hole at full speed has nothing to do with running people over. You seem to be indicating that hitting a hole and power running to be the same thing. They aren't. Every back needs to hit the hole at full speed, not just the power runners. Maroney's speed and "dancing" are better suited to zone blocking where you're moving with the line and looking for that seam at this point in his play.

 

[Fantasic4x50x54x59x55]

I am sorry I have too dissagree. I really cant remeber and wont bother to look too far into it but the later part of the season, Maroney had some holes where he was square off one on one with a Linebacker with enough room to put the moves on him, but he didnt, he shuffled around looking for a diff hole with no one on the other side, and most of the time got stuffed or had to hustle just to make it back to the line of scrimage. Dont get me wrong, I expected this type of thing from him, (rookie wall, fatigue) and I dont want to sound negative at all, he had a great rookie year...but people placed a unfair bar over his head...

I believe he just needs to bulk up a tad and get more time with the OLINE and Really just pick apart bradys brain when it comes to reading Defenses and he should be fine. The hitting the hole i believe is more of a mental thing, comes with confidence in the OLINE and confidence in your own abilities. Things that usually dont come until your a few season in (yeah their are exceptions, but be real for a second, every player we draft isnt going to automatically be a carbon copy of some HOFer)..

offseason for maroney--
1.REST for a bit
2. Endurance,Weight Training
3. STUDY DEFENSES w/ Brady-Dillion etc etc etc
4. Drink more Kool aid :rocker:

 

[aabtec]

That's provided he has the holes to hit. I think our O line did a poor job of run blocking this past season. Maroney is not a power back who runs over people, he needs to be sprung and can't do it by himself. Consequently I believe this "dancing" allegation is unfair. He needs at least some room to work with where he can shift direction and make defenders miss.

I think that the OL is too focused on pass blocking. They figure that they can pass block and keep Brady in one piece and everything is fine...That mindset has too change...

 

[Fantasic4x50x54x59x55]

I think that the OL is too focused on pass blocking. They figure that they can pass block and keep Brady in one piece and everything is fine...That mindset has too change...

They did a good job of opening holes, where is this all coming from? they werent top notch but they did enough to get to the AFCG.. geeez.

 

[Fantasic4x50x54x59x55]

Intresting with the Zone Blocking thing...do you think its something we look into doing or strengthing in the draft/offseason.

 

[Fantasic4x50x54x59x55]

this is quickly turning into a bash maorney and the oline thread..which wasnt my goal. What does Maroney have to do to become a better back this offseason?

He had a GOOD rookie season. Leave it at that.. Threads about blocking schemes and the Oline and his performance i am sure will pop up elsewhere.

 

[FirstAndGoal]

This is the NFL, not high school. When you hear people who make the next level, it's always how fast the game is played. Holes open and close quickly in the Pros. A running back not only needs to know where to go but based on the defense, he needs to know how the line will block so that he knows what his likely avenues are. There are very few of the lanes that I think people sometimes expect at the Pro level.

 

[FirstAndGoal]

Intresting with the Zone Blocking thing...do you think its something we look into doing or strengthing in the draft/offseason.

You need linemen that can move horizonally well. Watch Dever. They're probably the best at it. Notice how the line moves like a wall to the left or the right and the back kind of flows with them until he sees a seam and then cuts back against it. That's usually an inside zone block of some kind. When the line flows and you see the crackback on the end, it's a stretch zone and the back takes it outside. I don't think our current line can do it. Dever's "undersized" line is this size because they're giving up size for speed.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Simple. Get more touches.

For god sake people he only had 175 touches and still averaged 4.3 yards a carry.

If you gave him another 75 to put him at 250 which still isnt a whole lot hes going to break the 1000 yard mark.

 

[NEPatriot]

Simple. Get more touches.

For god sake people he only had 175 touches and still averaged 4.3 yards a carry.

If you gave him another 75 to put him at 250 which still isnt a whole lot hes going to break the 1000 yard mark.

While I agree that he did dance too much, I think this is a big part of it. A back needs touches to get into the feel of the game. I think the same goes for the OL. Having one primary back has got to make it easier for them to know what he's going to do. Plus, I think late in the year we just gave up on the run way to early.

 

[SVN]

make him more involved in the passing game . He can be like faulk or thurman thomas or someone. Not of the same caliber maybe but if he is able to catch the ball or split wide , it will give us more options.

 

[Krugman]

I agree with you ,Fantasticxxxxx,Maroney had a good year,most of us thought he would have a better year because of some of the things we saw in the early season.I still think he can be an impact RB,recalling some of the good things he did(ie the burst of speed he used to score a TD against JAX,the stiff-arm TD against Cinci,the recieving TD where he juked the defender) and I think with a year under his belt we will see much more of this.Lets hope,anyway....

 

[Seneschal2]

That's provided he has the holes to hit. I think our O line did a poor job of run blocking this past season. Maroney is not a power back who runs over people, he needs to be sprung and can't do it by himself. Consequently I believe this "dancing" allegation is unfair. He needs at least some room to work with where he can shift direction and make defenders miss.

I completely agree except for the "poor job of run blocking" comment. More like avg than poor.

Not unfair at all. Dillon found holes that Maroney didn't find. A zone blocking scheme would take advantage of Maroney's style. He doesn't look like a downhill runner so far. Can you explain to me why Dillon had better success? Maroney has the speed to break one but Dillon rarely got tackled for a loss unless he was trying to go outside where he hasn't got the speed. Being a power back has nothing to do with it. Hitting a hole at full speed has nothing to do with running people over. You seem to be indicating that hitting a hole and power running to be the same thing. They aren't. Every back needs to hit the hole at full speed, not just the power runners. Maroney's speed and "dancing" are better suited to zone blocking where you're moving with the line and looking for that seam at this point in his play.

A few points:

Dillon is not as explosive to the hole like Maroney.

Maroney doesn't dance.

Dillon has mucho NFL carries compared to Maroney, enabling him to read blocks better...and squeeze through some holes that aren't easily recognizable to the rookie. To borrow the famous words of Gil Santos -- "Now THAT'S an NFL RB!"

Regardless of what BB has said in the past about NOT designing separate plays for each RB, because the D would be better able to read the play based on offensive personnel. I think he'll re-visit that subject by focusing on the OL blocking instead. Improved blocking that will put Maroney in a position to succeed. If BB doesn't -- Maroney's talents are in jeopardy of being wasted (this subject was covered in another thread).

I believe he just needs to bulk up a tad and get more time with the OLINE and Really just pick apart bradys brain when it comes to reading Defenses and he should be fine.

He's already at 220 -- we don't want to turn him into a power runner by having him bulk up. His stiff arm is good enough.

And I think you mean pick the brain of his RB coach. Doubt Brady could advise him on reading defenses when carrying the ball. Unless a QB sneak counts...

I think that the OL is too focused on pass blocking. They figure that they can pass block and keep Brady in one piece and everything is fine...That mindset has to change...

I agree. It will change. Next season's offense will still be balanced...but with numerous reps in TC with Maroney and the O-line. We'll also work hard at stretching the field more with the downfield passing game. All of which will assist Maroney.

 

[stcjones]

I've not commented on this before but unless he learns how to hit a hole, he isn't going to amount to much. A back who dances before he gets to the line is one who doesn't like to get hit and has little or no power when they're dancing before they hit the hole. I hope that he proves me wrong and shows better development next season but if he does the dancing he did late this year, he'll never develop. Dillon may be old and slow but he knows how to square his shoulders and hit a hole when he sees one. The Pats line doesn't have the personel to be great at zone blocking and that's what Maroney is suited for with his current "dancing" style. We'll see next season.

I couldn't agree more about his need to hit the hole quicker. But I also think that this has alot to do with our offensive line's inability to open up the holes much...if at all....He looks (on replay) as if he sees the hole...starts to go to it and it is closing up FAST....Because, when you look at this guy's college film......the holes created were pretty big.....and he hit them and took off like a rocket.

So my feeling is...first and foremost we need to IMPROVE our OL run blocking....Scott Zolak said last night that he feels like our O line is great...I disagree....We need some work there....
If we can create the openings...Maroney will be HUGELY successful....He should excel UP THE MIDDLE...as well as he does in taking it outside.......One man's opinion

 

[stcjones]

make him more involved in the passing game . He can be like faulk or thurman thomas or someone. Not of the same caliber maybe but if he is able to catch the ball or split wide , it will give us more options.

I think he needs more work in the receiving game.....He does not seem to be as much of a threat in the receiving game as he should be...They did not seem to have alot of confidence in him there this year.....I think he could be tremendously successful catching the screen or swing out pass ...if they sell it well.....You give this guy some room or seperation....or BLOCK well for him....He will be a top RB in the league....one man's opinion

 

[BradyManny]

I just can't put up with this "what's wrong with Maroney" stuff. It's even more annoying than the Chad Jackson hate.

Yes, Maroney suffered from happy feet at times, but there's too many variables that go into a running attack to simply blame it on the RB when it either fails or succeeds. And for this disgusting revisionist "we shoulda picked Addai" stuff we've been hearing of late, swap Addai and Maroney, and I think Maroney runs for approximately 8 billion yards for the Colts this season.