A few trends I don't like

[sebman2112]

The Patriots are almost only bringing Maroney into the game when they plan on using him to run. He was only in on 23 out of a possible 58 offensive snaps, and NE used him on 15 of those 23 snaps. I don't like this as it's basically telling the opponent "Maroney's in the game, so he's going to run"

That being said I thought he did a good job for the amount of carries NE gave him, and he ran much better against that Colts D, than he did in the AFCCG.
For comparison, if he had run the ball 24 to 25 times Sunday, his projected rushing totals would have equaled out to something like 93-97 yards rushing.

Anyways, I think the Patriots need to start using Maroney more, and not just as a RB. He can catch the ball out of the backfield just fine, and has the ability to get extra yards after the catch, so hopefully they start using the full extent of his ability.

 

[PatsRI]

I'm confused, do you mean throw to him more because I could have sworn he was in there for a few play actions which is the point isn't it?

 

[ALP]

i agree, maroney is a 1st round pick, he should be a star, give him the opportunity to show so...

i wish the pats start doing a little like the colts are...all power...

just have maroney in the back field, not next to Brady, and have him do pass protection, and run...

and when u run with maroney, just go straight down the field, use the power NE has, dont just try and confuse the Defense...

i believe we are capable of doing that...so hopefully we will start to implement maroney more...

 

[sebman2112]

I'm confused, do you mean throw to him more because I could have sworn he was in there for a few play actions which is the point isn't it?

You don't get it? He's in the game for only 23 snaps, and out of those 23 snaps he's rushing the ball 15 times. That means the majority of the time he was in the game NE was using him.

Now, I would like to see him get more rushes each game, but I'd also like to see him get more looks as a receiver, and more snaps on offense. I just don't like having an offensive talent like Maroney sitting on the bench for 35 out of 58 offensive snaps, and I don't like that NE's not using his pass catching ability. Basically, some of the snaps Faulk is getting could have very easily gone to Maroney, and there's more of a surprise to this as well.

 

[Patriots Nation NY]

I agree, but the coaching staff must see something in Faulk or maybe the trust factor comes into play in those passing situations.. Think about it? How many times since 2001 have Faulk bailed them out?

 

[patsox23]

Faulk was in there a lot because we were passing a lot and Faulk EXCELS in pass-protection while Maroney is okay at it, and still learning. In addition, for some reason Kyle Brady wasn't in for pass-protection/help-out-the-OTs-duty so it was wise to have the more experienced blocker, Faulk, in there.

On a side note, I thought Maroney did a terrific job running the ball yesterday.

 

[kas]

With Morris out, Maroney is the only guy capable of carrying the load successfully. It's vital that we keep him fresh. Faulk can handle more passing snaps because he is usually releasing into a route which is less taxing than getting hit by big guys. Also, Faulk has become an exceptional pass blocker. When the weather turns and we need that 30 carry game from Maroney everyone will be happy that he's nice and fresh.

 

[DarrylS]

It is not a sprint, it is a marathon.. cold weather is coming, much rather have a fresh running back instead of a beat up one for the stretch.

 

[cstjohn17]

It is not a sprint, it is a marathon.. cold weather is coming, much rather have a fresh running back instead of a beat up one for the stretch.

Good point, what a luxury the Patriots have had of working players into the games (Seymour, Harrison, Maroney, etc.). As others have said I don't think we will see any of Maroney on 3rd downs with Faulk around. Faulk is too good at receiving, blocking and is clutch, why fix what is clearly not broken.

maroney must continue to improve his blocking, teams seem to blitz when he is in the game, either to disrupt the QB or to stuff the run. If he stands a few guys up and opens up a deep play action pass then the Safeties and LBs will have to play back a bit more.

We plays a series of very physical run oriented teams, I expect the team to focus on run defense fundamentals and getting a more consistent rushing attack.

 

[FrontSeven]

I am shocked that they didn't throw to him yesterday but maybe the shallow playing Mike basically took that away.

 

[Ring 6]

We are so far the highest scoring offense in the history of the NFL.
I am perfectly happy responding to these type of 'complaints' about our gameplanning and schemes by saying BB and McDaniels know 1000x more than any of us about how to run this offense.

 

[The_Dragon]

We are so far the highest scoring offense in the history of the NFL.
I am perfectly happy responding to these type of 'complaints' about our gameplanning and schemes by saying BB and McDaniels know 1000x more than any of us about how to run this offense.

The lack of a power runner would still concern me. Like the short yardage situation that we couldn't convert last night - Sanders tackle, field goal. Sammy Morris is being missed at the moment. IMO anyway...

 

[Deus Irae]

The Patriots are almost only bringing Maroney into the game when they plan on using him to run. He was only in on 23 out of a possible 58 offensive snaps, and NE used him on 15 of those 23 snaps. I don't like this as it's basically telling the opponent "Maroney's in the game, so he's going to run"

That being said I thought he did a good job for the amount of carried NE gave him, and he ran much better against that Colts D, than he did in the AFCCG.
For comparison, if he had run the ball 24 to 25 times Sunday, his projected rushing totals would have equaled out to something like 93-97 yards rushing.

Anyways, I think the Patriots need to start using Maroney more, and not just as a RB. He can catch the ball out of the backfield just fine, and has the ability to get extra yards after the catch, so hopefully they start using the full extent of his ability.

Given the RB situation with Morris out for the year, I don't know that the team isn't going to keep limiting Maroney for the rest of the regular season. My guess is that they'll try to 'save' him for the playoffs, where they can use him as much as is needed.

 

[bradmahn]

Given the RB situation with Morris out for the year, I don't know that the team isn't going to keep limiting Maroney for the rest of the regular season. My guess is that they'll try to 'save' him for the playoffs, where they can use him as much as is needed.

Just 'Maroney bein' Maroney.'

 

[Deus Irae]

Just 'Maroney bein' Maroney.'

Given that the alternatives are Eckel and Evans or overworking Faulk, I'd call it a smart move rather than firing a dig at a player who has no control over his number of plays..

 

[oldskool138]

We are so far the highest scoring offense in the history of the NFL.
I am perfectly happy responding to these type of 'complaints' about our gameplanning and schemes by saying BB and McDaniels know 1000x more than any of us about how to run this offense.

BB said on nitwit radio today that the Pats probably stuck to their original game-plan too long yesterday.

I will say this, the coaches did a hell of a lot better managing the team this time than they did during the AFCCG.

 

[bradmahn]

Given that the alternatives are Eckel and Evans or overworking Faulk, I'd call it a smart move rather than firing a dig at a player who has no control over his number of plays..

There was no criticism intended in my post. It was a play on "Manny bein' Manny," and how the Red Sox rested him prior to the playoffs.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

With Morris out, Maroney is the only guy capable of carrying the load successfully. It's vital that we keep him fresh. Faulk can handle more passing snaps because he is usually releasing into a route which is less taxing than getting hit by big guys. Also, Faulk has become an exceptional pass blocker. When the weather turns and we need that 30 carry game from Maroney everyone will be happy that he's nice and fresh.

the pats really need a second rb

barlow? rhodes?

 

[patsox23]

The lack of a power runner would still concern me. Like the short yardage situation that we couldn't convert last night - Sanders tackle, field goal. Sammy Morris is being missed at the moment. IMO anyway...

NOT CONVERTING THAT SHORT YARDAGE SITUATION YESTERDAY WASN'T MARONEY'S FAULT. Please let's try to live in, ya know...the WORLD. That was on the OG and Heath Evans. That was an inexcusably TERRIBLE job by the blockers. The ONE guy, literally the ONE, you really need to account for, and you let him slip into the backfield in an instant. Ridiculous.

Blaming LoMar for that is similiarly ridiculous.

 

[The_Dragon]

NOT CONVERTING THAT SHORT YARDAGE SITUATION YESTERDAY WASN'T MARONEY'S FAULT. Please let's try to live in, ya know...the WORLD. That was on the OG and Heath Evans. That was an inexcusably TERRIBLE job by the blockers. The ONE guy, literally the ONE, you really need to account for, and you let him slip into the backfield in an instant. Ridiculous.

Blaming LoMar for that is similiarly ridiculous.

I didn't blame him for it - I suppose the point I was trying to get across is that at the moment I would not be confident of running the ball successfully in short yardage situations. Morris offered us that and I don't think Maroney does.


But I agree that Sanders got into the backfield too easily on that play.