So is Maroney capable of catching passes or what?

[Phokus]

I mean, i understood corey dillon not catching a lot of passes, but maroney always seemed like the type of guy that could, being a faster/shiftier kinda RB.

 

[Nordy]

He hasn't really had to. Brady has 70 completions and 42 of them have gone to Moss and Welker.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I mean, i understood corey dillon not catching a lot of passes, but maroney always seemed like the type of guy that could, being a faster/shiftier kinda RB.

I'm a bit surprised he hasn't caught any passes either...

Though clearly last season's 22 passes showed he CAN catch... for now I'd put this in the category of a BB shell game - strategy for the time being that lulls defenses into thinking he's not a receiving option, then BAM - big 20 yard play a la Kyle Brady

I think Stallworth is going to be a beneficiary of a big game in a similar way

It's all part of BB's plan to constantly keep defenses off balance, preparing for Patriots statistical tendencies only to have BB outsmart them again.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

With the way the Pats are playing now, why throw him the ball? I like how the Pats are bringing him along slowly by splitting carries with Morris and Faulk so Maroney will explode during the second half of the season.

 

[patsox23]

Maroney CAN, yes, as he showed in his rookie year. There just hasn't been much call for it this season. In fact, I'd venture to say he hasn't been thrown TO even once yet.

 

[MrClutch]

Not to worry. What we're doing now seems to be working perfectly fine, so why change it? Opponents will adjust to our gameplan and they may begin to catch on, and then we'll just change it up.

 

[thewaylifeshouldbe]

Maroney CAN, yes, as he showed in his rookie year. There just hasn't been much call for it this season. In fact, I'd venture to say he hasn't been thrown TO even once yet.

I can think of only one time he has been this year, and that was last week against the Bills. It was a screen play that looked like a winner; but Brady overthrew him.

I can't recall which quarter the play was in.

 

[cstjohn17]

Like most young RBs pass protection and pass receiving are new to him. With one of the top receiving RBs in the league (Faulk) and a better than average receiving backup (Morris) it doesn't leave a lot of situations for him to receive passes.

I don't think he creates mismatches in the slot so I doubt they will split him out wide. Also until he improves his pass blocking he won't get much 3rd down action which is where most RBs catch their passes.

Right now is a one dimensional runner, albeit an improving one.

 

[Flying Fungi]

Maroney CAN, yes, as he showed in his rookie year. There just hasn't been much call for it this season. In fact, I'd venture to say he hasn't been thrown TO even once yet.

no no

the correct answer is: 'he has a long ways to go'

(btw--he had a screen tossed to him on Sunday that either was a bad throw or he was out of position for--incompletion)

 

[RobertWeathers]

The coaches are being very carful with Kool-Aid's workload. Hes 8 months removed from major shouder surgery and in his second season (because of a minimized weight-lifting routine this offseason) isn't quite there from a durability perspective.

Hes averaging 18 carries a game and is on a pace for 288 this year. He'll catch a few passes this year, but will not be a 40-50 catch guy in this offense. My .02$

 

[frankiesfly]

Is Stallworth capable?

 

[everlong]

I watched Maroney on play action fakes a few times on Sunday and he blew up the Bills blitzers which is a really encouraging sign that he will be involved in the pass game in weeks to come because if the defense rushes a base 4 he'll slide out into the pattern.

I didn't feel he read the blitz pickups well last year so I think this is a big step.

 

[patsox23]

Like most young RBs pass protection and pass receiving are new to him. With one of the top receiving RBs in the league (Faulk) and a better than average receiving backup (Morris) it doesn't leave a lot of situations for him to receive passes.

I don't think he creates mismatches in the slot so I doubt they will split him out wide. Also until he improves his pass blocking he won't get much 3rd down action which is where most RBs catch their passes.

Right now is a one dimensional runner, albeit an improving one.

Pass receiving may be "new" to LoMar but the guy showed a surprising talent for it FROM THE BEGINNING last year and did a great job catching the ball last season - he was a real weapon in that role. I don't think he's a one-dimensional runner at all - he catches well, has high-end speed, can run up the gut and take punishment, gets yards after breaking tackles, and his pass-protect isn't nearly as deficient as some here would have it.

I'd say, in fact, that he is as well-rounded a RB we've had since Curtis Martin was here.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

I didn't feel he read the blitz pickups well last year so I think this is a big step.

True but few rookies do well at blitz pickups initially......most not having had to do it in college, or at least not as often...

 

[everlong]

True but few rookies do well at blitz pickups initially......most not having had to do it in college, or at least not as often...

I agree. I wasn't being critical of him not being able to do it last year, it was praise for picking it up this year. Some backs never get it, Cobbs comes to mind, and some take longer than 2 years.

 

[Oswlek]

When you win games as handily as NE has, you have the ability to leave a few bullets in the revolver.

 

[cstjohn17]

Pass receiving may be "new" to LoMar but the guy showed a surprising talent for it FROM THE BEGINNING last year and did a great job catching the ball last season - he was a real weapon in that role. I don't think he's a one-dimensional runner at all - he catches well, has high-end speed, can run up the gut and take punishment, gets yards after breaking tackles, and his pass-protect isn't nearly as deficient as some here would have it.

I'd say, in fact, that he is as well-rounded a RB we've had since Curtis Martin was here.

He could be the most rounded since Curtis Martin, Edwards was looking pretty good until that damn beach volleyball game. I like Maroney and hope he does well, coming of his injury the Pats are doing a nice job working him in. I was encouraged to see a couple blocks in the Bills game because against SD he looked lost.

But pass receiving is new to him... I can't call him great when he only caught 22 passes last year and 21 in three years of college. 43 catches in 4 years, about 10 per year is not a lot.

I think he will show steady progress and end up with about 25-30 catches this year, next year the number will increase as he plays more on 3rd downs.

 

[patsox23]

But pass receiving is new to him... I can't call him great when he only caught 22 passes last year and 21 in three years of college. 43 catches in 4 years, about 10 per year is not a lot.

I think he will show steady progress and end up with about 25-30 catches this year, next year the number will increase as he plays more on 3rd downs.

It's disingenuous to use his college stats against him - that offense didn't throw the ball to its backs much (or much at all, IIRC). Also, by all accounts LoMar surprised the staff with his receiving skills from Day One, like a duck to water. Finally, considering he split time (and, frankly, even if he hadn't), 22 catches for a potential-stud RB is really solid.

Also, if you have KEVIN FAULK on your team, why would you not take advantage? And why wouldn't you understand that, as a result of having an elite pass-catching RB as your 3rd down back, Maroney's receiving #s would be less, through no fault or limitation of his own?

 

[Oswlek]

It's disingenuous to use his college stats against him - that offense didn't throw the ball to its backs much (or much at all, IIRC). Also, by all accounts LoMar surprised the staff with his receiving skills from Day One, like a duck to water. Finally, considering he split time (and, frankly, even if he hadn't), 22 catches for a potential-stud RB is really solid.

Also, if you have KEVIN FAULK on your team, why would you not take advantage? And why wouldn't you understand that, as a result of having an elite pass-catching RB as your 3rd down back, Maroney's receiving #s would be less, through no fault or limitation of his own?

Excellent point.

 

[cstjohn17]

It's disingenuous to use his college stats against him - that offense didn't throw the ball to its backs much (or much at all, IIRC). Also, by all accounts LoMar surprised the staff with his receiving skills from Day One, like a duck to water. Finally, considering he split time (and, frankly, even if he hadn't), 22 catches for a potential-stud RB is really solid.

Also, if you have KEVIN FAULK on your team, why would you not take advantage? And why wouldn't you understand that, as a result of having an elite pass-catching RB as your 3rd down back, Maroney's receiving #s would be less, through no fault or limitation of his own?

Why is it disingenuous? His stats are his stats aren't they? The run first offense in Minn. has put him behind other RBs. Again (I LIKE THE KID), it sucks that every time someone doesn't ballwash or adore a Pats player they need to put a disclaimer in their post.

Faulk - I think I said the exact same thing at least twice in this thread. Maroney is the 3rd best receiving RB on the team and it is quite a drop-off from Faulk. Until #39 plays more on 3rd downs he won't catch a lot of passes.(which won't happen until he improves pass protection or Faulk is not in the lineup)

IMO he is an average receiver by NFL running back standards, but he is improving and could prove to be solid option in the passing game.