I think Maroney will be splitting time with Morris/Faulk more than expected

[PATRIOT64]

I expect Maroney obviously to see more action than last year when Dillon was here but I may be only one of a few or less on here that thinks BB will be using Morris in split time much more often than people think.

Its a known fact that BB absolutely loves Sammy Morris (In a player-love way of course ) and did what it took to get him here,I do not think Morris will be in for just a few plays and I would not be surprised at many a game to see him in about 1/2 of the game as Maroney will be in and of course with Faulk and Evans in the mix as well depending on situations and formation calls.

I just don't see BB taking a chance on using Maroney as a full time heavy carrier and will split duties more often than many think.

Maroney's shoulder may be a factor as well as to why BB brought Morris to help in keeping that shoulder fresh and avoiding reinjury and I truly expect this is what we will see in 2007 with what many of you called a 2 headed monster attack of course without the bulldozer Corey was.

I just don't see Maroney carrying heavy loads like some here do.

Like I have said somewhat earlier in the preseason I see Maroney with about 950-1,100 Yards if he stays healthy and Morris with 2nd highest rushing on the team with about 750-800 yards or so - I think it will be that close.

Your thoughts?

 

[Slagathor]

I expect Maroney obviously to see more action than last year when Dillon was here but I may be only one of a few or less on here that thinks BB will be using Morris in split time much more often than people think.

Its a known fact that BB absolutely loves Sammy Morris (In a player-love way of course ) and did what it took to get him here,I do not think Morris will be in for just a few plays and I would not be surprised at many a game to see him in about 1/2 of the game as Maroney will be in and of course with Faulk and Evans in the mix as well depending on situations and formation calls.

I just don't see BB taking a chance on using Maroney as a full time heavy carrier and will split duties more often than many think.

Maroney's shoulder may be a factor as well as to why BB brought Morris to help in keeping that shoulder fresh and avoiding reinjury and I truly expect this is what we will see in 2007 with what many of you called a 2 headed monster attack of course without the bulldozer Corey was.

I just don't see Maroney carrying heavy loads like some here do.

Like I have said somewhat earlier in the preseason I see Maroney with about 950-1,100 Yards if he stays healthy and Morris with 2nd highest rushing on the team with about 750-800 yards or so - I think it will be that close.

Your thoughts?

I have to say i had no strong feelings for Morris either way, but he looked like a huge asset Friday night. Another great pickup by the brain trust.

 

[FarScapeR]

Morris looked solid on Friday, especially on that third down play when he caught the ball short and fought the rest of the way to first down.

Still, I think it's very easy to assume Maroney is made of glass based on his running style and recent surgery, but the kid can take hits as good as anyone else.

 

[Nordy]

I'm sorry but this is ridiculous. The only way Morris is only 150-200 yards behind Maroney is if Kool-Aid gets hurt.

 

[RobertWeathers]

We had a big thread over this about a month ago. I agree. I believe BB will keep Kool-Aid fresh and IMO his # of carries at seasons end will be < 300 and total yards will be 1100 or so.

 

[PATRIOT64]

I'm sorry but this is ridiculous. The only way Morris is only 150-200 yards behind Maroney is if Kool-Aid gets hurt.

Dear New Troll
Thanks for your opinion of it being a ridiculous situation by your opinion in your first post...now go back to under the bridge that you came up from :bricks: .

 

[PatsSteve1]

I don't know how the yardage will work out, but I don't expect Marooney to be more than a 20 carry a game RB. With Morris, Evans and Faulk getting the rest in no particular order. I don't think the Patriots will want to wear him out.

 

[Pats726]

I think it will be split as well...no way Maroney gets used up..and more chance of injury...I think it all depends on the situation as well..If the team is in a lead by a few scores..more for the bangers...Morris Evans...

 

[Water Boy]

Its a known fact that BB absolutely loves Sammy Morris (In a player-love way of course )
Your thoughts?

Thanks for qualifying that statement. If you hadn't, I would have assumed you meant that BB loves Morris in a romantic way.

Did Faulk get any carries against Carolina? I'm really anxious to see how he is taking to the new zone blocking scheme. I could see Faulk doing some damage in the running game in this scheme - and not just on a draw plays on 3rd down and long.

 

[Nordy]

Dear New Troll
Thanks for your opinion of it being a ridiculous situation by your opinion in your first post...now go back to under the bridge that you came up from :bricks: .

I'm sorry. You're right. We drafted Maroney in the first round because he can't be a feature back and we want him to split carries with a career back-up like Sammy Morris. Yeah Morris will spell Maroney at times, but to think that Morris is going to be right behind Maroney as far as carries and yards go IS ridiculous. If Belichick and Pioli didn't think Maroney can be a feature back then they wouldn't have drafted him in the first. And if Morris is being used almost 50/50 with Maroney, that's a BAD thing.

 

[Vern]

I thought I might agree until I read your post, to which I say "not THAT much of a split!" Also, this isn't about Morris so much as having 4 good weapons at RB.

I think Maroney WILL get closer to 17-18 carries a game though, not the 22-25 that some are projecting. But you really can spread out the rest quite nicely. Here might be the season average carries per game:

Maroney 18
Morris 6
Evans 3
Faulk 2 (will get more touches though, but screens, outlet recs etc.)

That's 29 carries, which is about perfect in a 60 plays per game average (there will be a few QB sneaks and scrambles to make it 30+ runs total).

Over 2007 I would project conservatively to:
Maroney 270 for 1100 yards
Morris 110 for 400 yards
Evans 35 for 160 yards
Faulk 25 for 140 yards
Projected Total: 440 for 1800 yards

(Above assumes some games missed by some RBs)

Compare to 2006 (excluding QB and spot carries)
Dillon 199 for 812
Maroney 175 for 745
Evans 27 for 117
Faulk 25 for 123
2006 Total: 426 for 1797

Compare to (excluding QB and spot carries):
2005 Total: 365 for 1315
2004 Total: 460 for 2081

Your mileage may vary. But it's bracketed pretty well comparatively, both by player history and team history.

Morris is going to be twice the contributor Patrick Pass typically was, which means less carries needed for Maroney for the team to still get to 1800 total rush yards. If Evans or Maroney up their YPA, 2000+ total rush yards could be in reach. If injury or other strikes, closer to 1500, but still good.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

i agree but I don't think Morris will be that high in yardage. I think Maroney will have just over 1000-1100 and there will be a good chunk of yardage split between faulk, morris, and evans.

I think they'll try to preserve Maroney much like Papelbon(hate to bring any baseball reference in here)

but who knows we could all be wrong.

 

[PatsSteve1]

I'm sorry. You're right. We drafted Maroney in the first round because he can't be a feature back and we want him to split carries with a career back-up like Sammy Morris. Yeah Morris will spell Maroney at times, but to think that Morris is going to be right behind Maroney as far as carries and yards go IS ridiculous. If Belichick and Pioli didn't think Maroney can be a feature back then they wouldn't have drafted him in the first. And if Morris is being used almost 50/50 with Maroney, that's a BAD thing.

Saying a RB is going to split some time with other RB's doesn't mean he's not the feature back. Even LT splits time with whatisname. I can't recall it right now. In 2004 when Corey Dillon WAS the Patriots feature back he still only had 23 carries a game. I agree Morris shouldn't, if all stay healthy all year, right behind Marooney in yardage. 20 carries a game at a 4 yard average per run is just about 1300 yards in a 16 game season. Over 4 per run and the total goes up.

 

[Nordy]

Saying a RB is going to split some time with other RB's doesn't mean he's not the feature back. Even LT splits time with whatisname. I can't recall it right now. In 2004 when Corey Dillon WAS the Patriots feature back he still only had 23 carries a game. I agree Morris shouldn't, if all stay healthy all year, right behind Marooney in yardage. 20 carries a game at a 4 yard average per run is just about 1300 yards in a 16 game season. Over 4 per run and the total goes up.

Tomlinson and Turner don't split carries. Just because the back-up comes in for a few carries a game doesn't mean carries are being split. Yes Morris and Faulk will come in and do some things, but if Maroney's carries are being split that's a bad thing and means Maroney isn't as good as he should be.

 

[PatsSteve1]

Tomlinson and Turner don't split carries. Just because the back-up comes in for a few carries a game doesn't mean carries are being split. Yes Morris and Faulk will come in and do some things, but if Maroney's carries are being split that's a bad thing and means Maroney isn't as good as he should be.

Your taking split differently than I mean it. I don't mean split in half. IMO Marooney will get about 2/3 of the carries if evenone is healthy.

 

[primetime]

If Belichick had such manlove for Morris, he would've signed him a few years ago when the Bills cut him. I think he's a good player and will get a fair share of carries, but this isn't going to be a platoon. Maroney's the number one premier back.

 

[PATRIOT64]

If Maroney struggles on the ground to move the chains I think the possibility of much more Morris in action is likely.

Like I said earlier, BB absolutely loves Morris and wanted him right out of college and now that hes got him I don't think Morris will be anywhere near a bench warmer unless by chance Maroney turns out to be an absolute stud this year and stockpiles yardage and BB uses the other guys for mop up duty

 

[Fencer]

I think one guy who'll lose carries to Morris is Evans. Except when he's in the role of injury backup, I think the idea number of carries for Evans per game is approximately 0. Maybe 1 just to keep the opponent guessing.

Yes, I know Evans runs well occasionally. But it sure seems occasional.

I also think that short-yardage-back-by-committee didn't work so well last season. Maroney excels once he gets past the line of scrimmage. If the whole point of the play is getting the back THROUGH the line of scrimmage, I predict Morris will wind up usually getting the carry.

 

[PATRIOT64]

I think one guy who'll lose carries to Morris is Evans. Except when he's in the role of injury backup, I think the idea number of carries for Evans per game is approximately 0. Maybe 1 just to keep the opponent guessing.

Yes, I know Evans runs well occasionally. But it sure seems occasional.

I also think that short-yardage-back-by-committee didn't work so well last season. Maroney excels once he gets past the line of scrimmage. If the whole point of the play is getting the back THROUGH the line of scrimmage, I predict Morris will wind up usually getting the carry.

IMO Seeing Heath on the field this year will be somewhat of a rarity and will usually mean one of two things..

We are ahead by at least 24 points or more or we are behind by 24 points or more or BB comes up with a goaline plan using Evans,I just don't see him otherwise unless BB wants to keep the back position fresh and rotates.

 

[Fencer]

IMO Seeing Heath on the field this year will be somewhat of a rarity and will usually mean one of two things..

We are ahead by at least 24 points or more or we are behind by 24 points or more or BB comes up with a goaline plan using Evans,I just don't see him otherwise unless BB wants to keep the back position fresh and rotates.

Basically my thinking.

I don't really expect Morris to take enough generic feature back reps away from Maroney to need to be kept fresh, so I don't think he'll need Evans to spell him much in whatever the scope of his short-yardage situational role winds up being.