Are People Sleeping On Sammy Morris?

[Fixit]

Personally, I think that's a bigger pickup than it appears. He put up some decent numbers behind Miami's dotted line, he has good hands, and I can see him taking a good chunk of the workload off of Maroney's shoulders.

Am I crazy?



Wait...don't answer that. Just tell me what you think about Morris, instead.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Morris is going to be a very good backup and great player to have if Maroney is hurt for a week or two.

He put up 4.1 YPC as a backup.

 

[TeamPats]

I think the simple fact that Belichick went after him at the start of Free Agency is very telling. Right away there were 3 players the Patriots wanted, Morris, Thomas, and Brady. We know just how much BB reveres both Brady and Thomas but not much is said about Morris. At the time, we pretty much had our pick of any RB on the market. If I recall we might have signed Morris on the first day of Free Agency, in fact I think he might have been our first signing. Right away we went after Morris which lead me to believe that while playing Miami, BB had much of the same respect for Morris as he did for Welker and went after him. I agree 100% that people are sleeping on him and look forward to seeing him backup Maroney and Faulk and from what I've heard, watch him dominate Special Teams as well.

 

[Mike the Brit]

"On' -- you said "on". Sorry, misread the thread title ... Thank goodness!

 

[Fixit]

"On' -- you said "on". Sorry, misread the thread title ... Thank goodness!

That's my next thread. :rocker:

 

[stinkypete]

Sammy Morris is a big time sleeper pickup. His career stat line is 374 carries, 1469 yards, 14 TD's, 3.9 YPC. That's a solid season out of a full time starter.

What surprises me is how little Morris has touched the ball over a 7 year career. He must be a solid special teams player as well. He has 65 tackles in 92 career games. Not bad.

Morris filled in nicely as a replacement for Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown in 2004 and 2006. Ran over us in two different games. Problem is he's always been stuck behind solid starters or even two back sets. He has had little chance to run the ball but he's been solid when he does.

The good thing about his lack of touches. He's a very young 30 in running back years.

 

[WhiZa]

"On' -- you said "on". Sorry, misread the thread title ... Thank goodness!

someone has a secret

 

[WhiZa]

I think the simple fact that Belichick went after him at the start of Free Agency is very telling. Right away there were 3 players the Patriots wanted, Morris, Thomas, and Brady. We know just how much BB reveres both Brady and Thomas but not much is said about Morris. At the time, we pretty much had our pick of any RB on the market. If I recall we might have signed Morris on the first day of Free Agency, in fact I think he might have been our first signing. Right away we went after Morris which lead me to believe that while playing Miami, BB had much of the same respect for Morris as he did for Welker and went after him. I agree 100% that people are sleeping on him and look forward to seeing him backup Maroney and Faulk and from what I've heard, watch him dominate Special Teams as well.

good analysis. I can't wait to see what Morris has in store

 

[RobertWeathers]

Every scouting report I have read on this guy is favorable. Just looking at his stats, he has been very productive for some not-so-decent teams. He plays with good football sense (as in STs and blitz pickup). He has good production in the passing game and runs hard between the tackles.

A key stat teams look for is the 1st down % carries and pass reception. The stat can be bogus depending on the role the player has in the offense (some are short yardage backs, 3rd down backs, etc.) For the sake of making a ridiculous comparison over his career, Morris 1st down per rush % is about 24%. Tomlinson's in 22%. We all know LT is 10x the player Morris is but considering that Morris is pretty much a 1-3 down fill-in, that's not too bad of a number. To compare it to the current RB's, K. Faulk's is 17%. Maroney's was 23%, and in his 3 years with the Pats, Dillon was 24%. Not bad at all.

In comparing Morris' 1st downs per reception with others, K. Faulk is about 38% (we all know hes a 3rd down and is a better open field runner than Morris so that makes sense) and Morris is about 29%. Maroney was 50%, but that might be too small of a sample to make an assesement. Tomlinson is 28%

IMO based on numbers, BB sees this guy as pretty damn productive in a reserve role/spot starter.

Oh yea, the guy was a one-man wrecking machine when he played up last year....

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I join those who suffered confusing mental images reading this thread title. I was having images of the low caste families in India living on their alloted section of sidewalk...after reading a number of Morris threads, I'd say the majority of folks here know he will help the team and be a welcome addition to the RB corps. Now, when can we talk about Fixit being crazy? I been making a list waiting for that day.

 

[Fixit]

Now, when can we talk about Fixit being crazy? I been making a list waiting for that day.

I dunno...that thread might crash this forum.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I dunno...that thread might crash this forum.

It's been too quiet for Ian, he needs something to liven up his life.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

...images of the low caste families in India living on their alloted section of sidewalk...

Is that a fact?

 

[patsox23]

Are we seriously such homeristic fan-boys that we're interpreting Sammy Morris's lack of action at RB as a good sign??? Listen, I have as much faith in BB & Pioli as anyone here, but not every pick-up is some super-secret, Belichick Autism-skill where he tricks the league and gets a steal on what EVERYONE ELSE assumed was just a journeyman back. Let's maybe take a breath here.

Will Morris contribute? I have no doubt. Is he a good, solid, all-around RB who can help out on S/T's? Sure. But good Lord, like he's some secret (but somehow proven!) legit running back - this is asinine and beneath the generally sensible Patriot fan-base. Breathe, people.

 

[Oswlek]

Are we seriously such homeristic fan-boys that we're interpreting Sammy Morris's lack of action at RB as a good sign??? Listen, I have as much faith in BB & Pioli as anyone here, but not every pick-up is some super-secret, Belichick Autism-skill where he tricks the league and gets a steal on what EVERYONE ELSE assumed was just a journeyman back. Let's maybe take a breath here.

Will Morris contribute? I have no doubt. Is he a good, solid, all-around RB who can help out on S/T's? Sure. But good Lord, like he's some secret (but somehow proven!) legit running back - this is asinine and beneath the generally sensible Patriot fan-base. Breathe, people.

This is a little over-the-top, dontcha think?

Unless I am misreading things, I don't think anyone is saying that Morris is some super-secret weapon, just that he is a capable backup who could most certainly fill in for a game or two if Maroney has injury issues. The lack of use positive was about more tread being on his tires, and I can't see how anyone could disagree with that.

So if you think that people are being homeristic about their views of Morris (capable backup and spot starter, excellent special teams contributor) what are your views? That the guys will have a hard time even earing a roster spot?

 

[Fixit]

Are we seriously such homeristic fan-boys that we're interpreting Sammy Morris's lack of action at RB as a good sign??? Listen, I have as much faith in BB & Pioli as anyone here, but not every pick-up is some super-secret, Belichick Autism-skill where he tricks the league and gets a steal on what EVERYONE ELSE assumed was just a journeyman back. Let's maybe take a breath here.

Will Morris contribute? I have no doubt. Is he a good, solid, all-around RB who can help out on S/T's? Sure. But good Lord, like he's some secret (but somehow proven!) legit running back - this is asinine and beneath the generally sensible Patriot fan-base. Breathe, people.

Maybe you've been too busy hyperventilating to notice that no one's said anything like that. We've said that he'll do a nice job taking some of the load off of Maroney, he has good hands, he's a solid special teamer, and he has low mileage. I guess I missed where people compared him to vintage Marshall Faulk.

Sheesh.

OMG! Maybe he will be like vintage Marshall Faulk!!! Belichick does it again!!!

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

OMG! Maybe he will be like vintage Marshall Faulk!!! Belichick does it again!!!

You Krafty devil you, now shush, you'll spoil the surprise. :snob:

 

[Mike the Brit]

OMG! Maybe he will be like vintage Marshall Faulk!!! Belichick does it again!!!

If he's like vintage Antowain Smith that's OK by me.

 

[sebman2112]

Yes! Some talk like they don't want him to see many carries and act like he's not really going to help much. If you ask me in certain situations Sammy Morris could be a key addition.

 

[patpatriot]

I don't remember much about his running style but I do remember that when he was with Buffalo he was a lights-out third down receiver. So that's another role he can pay-backing up Faulk.

I just wish we still had a 3rd and 1 bruiser like Dillon. Evans is big enough but he's too slow. I hope Morris can be that guy.