Why We'll All LOVE Laurence Maroney next year.

[RussFrancis]

I hear alot of talk about drafting Darren McFadden with SF's pick in next year's draft. Sounds exciting, but give it up. Its not happening. And I dont need to bash McFadden to make the point. I'll just pump up Maroney instead.

Here's the deal with Laurence, imo. In watching him play last year, I liked most of what I saw from him, but he played hurt, and seemed to need a little more strength and bulk to his frame. Not nessecarily more weight, though another 5 or 10 lbs probably wouldnt hurt. But he's got the wiggle. He's got the moves. He has the speed. I like his vision. He sees the cutback when its there. But I thought he needed to improve his strength and durability. He's not great in short yardage, and doesnt break enough tackles. He needed to spend all offseason working out with the guys in the offseason conditioning program. I mean hit the weights HARD. But he couldnt do it. The off season shoulder surgery prevented that from happening. Everytime I saw him prior to camp, it seemed like his arm was in a sling. Tough to lift weights like that. Tough to do anything like that. Instead of coming into this season with more strength, he came in with the same or possibly LESS strength than he played with last year. Now, its tough to blame groin problems on a lack of strength. That's just an injury that will occur with backs from time to time. But there isnt a doubt in my mind that if after this season, he's able to put in the time in the strength and conditioning areas, that he'll come back next year and be the back we all know he can be. Imagine Maroney with his present skill set, but with added power. That's the RB Im looking forward to seeing in this offense.

The Pats always draft well. I have full faith in whatever the front office will do to improve the team. They'll no doubt add players that will be difference makers. But its not always nessecary to bring in new guys to strengthen a position. In the case of Laurence Maroney, we have the RB in place. He just needs to put in the time to continue to become a better player. Wait and see. Next year, he'll be the stud this team has expected him to be. The man is a team player with a great attitude. Let him work out with Richard Seymour and Ty Warren for about 6 months. You'll see what Im talking about.

 

[sieglo]

Funny thing about Maroney is that he always looks like he is running at half speed. He kind of picks his way up to the line, hesitates, makes a cut, and ends up picking up 8 yards. And leaves you with a feeling of disappointment because it didn't look too hard.

I can't imagine what this kid might be able to accomplish if he ever looks like he's moving at full speed.... I'm just surprised he hasn't broken one yet for a big play. He certainly has the potential. I wish they'd use him move on screens because I think he could be devastating in space.

 

[RussFrancis]

Funny thing about Maroney is that he always looks like he is running at half speed. He kind of picks his way up to the line, hesitates, makes a cut, and ends up picking up 8 yards. And leaves you with a feeling of disappointment because it didn't look too hard.

I can't imagine what this kid might be able to accomplish if he ever looks like he's moving at full speed.... I'm just surprised he hasn't broken one yet for a big play. He certainly has the potential. I wish they'd use him move on screens because I think he could be devastating in space.

I think at this point in the season, with depth a concern because of the loss of Morris, theyre just being careful not to overwork him. If he goes down, the team will be in big trouble. But I suspect when it gets down the nitty gritty later in the season, you'll probably see Laurence doing more of what youre talking about. The beautiful thing is they havent given teams all of those different looks with him to see on film. They may just be saving alot of that stuff for the playoffs. You know Bill. The guy always has stuff up his sleeve.

 

[patsox23]

Laurence Maroney DOES break tackles. All the time. He was one of the top RBs last year at yards after first contact.

 

[BelichickFan]

I'm kind of happy with the 4.7 YPC this year. I'm not sure what all the angst over Kool Aid is about.

 

[Flying Fungi]

blah blah blah

made of glass

yadda yadda yadda

kool aid drinkers

etc

Maroney can only run when he gets the ball. When he does get the ball, he looks great. Just so happens that the 2007 NEP are a passing offense, in spite of the balance in plays. The argument that LM has no TDs is a little weak as well, as the supposedly MUCH better Sammy Morris only had 3 before going to the IR.

Maroney is a talented back and is doing exactly what he is being asked to do, and quite successfully as well.

 

[FrontSeven]

Good point about the strength thing, and the injury to the shoulder "Russ".

I have no doubts that with Sammy returning the team is all set at that position. Even without Sammy I'm not worried about it. With Sammy, that is a snappy 1-2 combination that will get the job done for years.

 

[cavtroop]

blah blah blah

made of glass

yadda yadda yadda

kool aid drinkers

etc

Maroney can only run when he gets the ball. When he does get the ball, he looks great. Just so happens that the 2007 NEP are a passing offense, in spite of the balance in plays. The argument that LM has no TDs is a little weak as well, as the supposedly MUCH better Sammy Morris only had 3 before going to the IR.

Maroney is a talented back and is doing exactly what he is being asked to do, and quite successfully as well.

I think what we are seeing here is the fans (myself included) yearning for a true, old-fashioned 'franchise back' that gets the ball 25+ times a game. I find that fun to watch. However, the NFL, especially the more observant teams, are quickly moving to a 'RB by comittee' approach - it saves wear and tear, and having two B RB's is better than having an A and a C RB. Splitting carries and sharing loads is the wave of the future, otherwise you'll wear out your star RB in just 3-5 years, or even over the course of a season.

 

[Flying Fungi]

I think what we are seeing here is the fans (myself included) yearning for a true, old-fashioned 'franchise back' that gets the ball 25+ times a game. I find that fun to watch. However, the NFL, especially the more observant teams, are quickly moving to a 'RB by comittee' approach - it saves wear and tear, and having two B RB's is better than having an A and a C RB. Splitting carries and sharing loads is the wave of the future, otherwise you'll wear out your star RB in just 3-5 years, or even over the course of a season.

I think we are witnessing the evolution of 'situational football' being more fully applied to the running game. Maroney only gets the ball at very specific moments. I do not think that this is a reflection on him, as some would swear. Rather, it is a reflection of an evolving coaching philosophy.

 

[borg]

Zero TDs, longest run of 19 yards, 2 catches in 2007. One could argue that Brady's inflated TD pass numbers are a direct result of BB's lack of faith in LM 's goalline ability. Morris was the goalline RB, and now Tom Brady is the only option. Maroney has become a 2-down between the 20's RB who excels when the defense is in a neutrally balanced run/pass scheme. Argue all you want about ability, broken tackles, YPC...but BB has defined his role for reasons he understands.
What my eyes tell me is that LM runs to upright, without any leverage at contact on the Line of scrimmage. He is able to shed some thigh tackles from angles. The most disturbing stat I see is his inability to break the long run. When you consider that safeties are worrying about the Pats deep passing game, one carry for 19 yards is woeful. Maybe he hasn't been healthy enough to get more than a dozen carries/ game, who knows, but when Morris went down...so didn't the Pats best RB...IMO

 

[RPMCanes]

I think they ought to start looking for Tedy Brouhaha's heir apparent in the draft.

 

[cavtroop]

I think we are witnessing the evolution of 'situational football' being more fully applied to the running game. Maroney only gets the ball at very specific moments. I do not think that this is a reflection on him, as some would swear. Rather, it is a reflection of an evolving coaching philosophy.

Yeah, I guess thats pretty much what I was getting at, jsut in a not-so-well spoken way

As another poster posted, I don't think it's that BB has no confidence in LM on the goal line - it's just that we have other options, that are working better for us, more reliably. Why try to force LM to punch it in there, when there are 4783 other ways to get it in, also. Saves wear and tear, and we still get the TD.

 

[RussFrancis]

blah blah blah

made of glass

yadda yadda yadda

kool aid drinkers

etc

Maroney can only run when he gets the ball. When he does get the ball, he looks great. Just so happens that the 2007 NEP are a passing offense, in spite of the balance in plays. The argument that LM has no TDs is a little weak as well, as the supposedly MUCH better Sammy Morris only had 3 before going to the IR.

Maroney is a talented back and is doing exactly what he is being asked to do, and quite successfully as well.

Take off the homer glasses once in a while. This team hasnt gotten better by not being critical of its own players. Noone said he's made of glass, and noone brought up the fact that he hadnt scored a TD. Until you did. But being objective, why do you think Maroney doesnt have a TD after 9 games? This team is on an NFL record breaking TD pace, and Laurence is the only one without a score after 91 touches. Im not hating on him for it, Im just saying.

Look, Ive got nothing but love for Maroney. Im not arguing that we need another back. But the fact of the matter is, if youre not getting better, youre only getting worse. And to keep getting better, youve gotta be honest about what you need to improve. And put in the work. The man spent the entire offseason with his arm in a sling. Can anyone honestly try and make a case that Laurence Maroney improved like that?? Obviously not. Im not exactly 'disappointed' with 4.7 a carry and no TDs considering the team's success. I just know that with the right offseason work, those #s will only get better.

 

[Flying Fungi]

Zero TDs, longest run of 19 yards, 2 catches in 2007. One could argue that Brady's inflated TD pass numbers are a direct result of BB's lack of faith in LM 's goalline ability. Morris was the goalline RB, and now Tom Brady is the only option. Maroney has become a 2-down between the 20's RB who excels when the defense is in a neutrally balanced run/pass scheme. Argue all you want about ability, broken tackles, YPC...but BB has defined his role for reasons he understands.
What my eyes tell me is that LM runs to upright, without any leverage at contact on the Line of scrimmage. He is able to shed some thigh tackles from angles. The most disturbing stat I see is his inability to break the long run. When you consider that safeties are worrying about the Pats deep passing game, one carry for 19 yards is woeful. Maybe he hasn't been healthy enough to get more than a dozen carries/ game, who knows, but when Morris went down...so didn't the Pats best RB...IMO

I understand the tendency to think this way. I have not appointed Maroney as a Top 5 NFL back. But I do recognize that there is a fallacy to thinking that Maroney isn't a top quality back because of what he isn't being asked to do. Saying that Tom Brady is the only option is hardly a negative aspect on Maroney.

This is what I know--when Maroney gets the ball, he looks very good to me. He shifts a little, hits the hole, looks like he's getting nothing and is tackled after an 8yd pickup. I don't think he runs too upright, but he isn't one of those little guys that is all hunched over. Maroney isn't a bruiser, but doesn't avoid contact downfield. He is being asked to be a 'between the tackles' running back and I don't see many plays going to the outside with any of the RBs this season. I simply get the sense that Maroney's carries are being limited by design, and not by player flaws. With Morris going to IR, if Maroney was viewed as incapable of performing within the offensive design, the team would have made a move to bring in someone who could.

All indications, by my perception, are that Maroneys stats are a product of offensive design, and not player limitations.

 

[oldskool138]

But the fact of the matter is, if youre not getting better, youre only getting worse. And to keep getting better, youve gotta be honest about what you need to improve. And put in the work. The man spent the entire offseason with his arm in a sling. Can anyone honestly try and make a case that Laurence Maroney improved like that??

So you're saying Maroney has gotten worse this year.

 

[RussFrancis]

So you're saying Maroney has gotten worse this year.

Im definitely saying he hasnt gotten better this year, and its because he wasnt able to put in the work he need to. And that in time, he's going to get a whole lot better. Thats been my point all along. Why are guys trying to spin this negatively?

 

[Flying Fungi]

Take off the homer glasses once in a while. This team hasnt gotten better by not being critical of its own players. Noone said he's made of glass, and noone brought up the fact that he hadnt scored a TD. Until you did. But being objective, why do you think Maroney doesnt have a TD after 9 games? This team is on an NFL record breaking TD pace, and Laurence is the only one without a score after 91 touches. Im not hating on him for it, Im just saying.

Look, Ive got nothing but love for Maroney. Im not arguing that we need another back. But the fact of the matter is, if youre not getting better, youre only getting worse. And to keep getting better, youve gotta be honest about what you need to improve. And put in the work. The man spent the entire offseason with his arm in a sling. Can anyone honestly try and make a case that Laurence Maroney improved like that?? Obviously not. Im not exactly 'disappointed' with 4.7 a carry and no TDs considering the team's success. I just know that with the right offseason work, those #s will only get better.

That wasn't aimed at you--it was a preventative post, as lately any discussion of Maroney ends up with a few folks questioning his talent and health.

I think that there is a flaw in the logic that believes that, because the Patriots are setting a record scoring, Maroney is playing poorly by not getting in on the action. The offensive design is to score a ton of points quickly and then score more. In past seasons this wasn't the case, and we saw Pokey Smith get 30 carries/game as a norm. It was--keep the game close until the end and burn the clock. Now, the plan seems to be--score quickly, build a lead and keep the game out of range. Maroney is a casual observer. If anything, the guy is extremely lucky--he gets to save himself from the pounding that Steven Jackson, Frank Gore, Shaun Alexander and other backs being asked to carry the load end up suffering through.

 

[ALP]

i agree, Maroney is gonna be a beast next yr....teh best back in the league maybe

im not kidding

 

[RussFrancis]

That wasn't aimed at you--it was a preventative post, as lately any discussion of Maroney ends up with a few folks questioning his talent and health.

I think that there is a flaw in the logic that believes that, because the Patriots are setting a record scoring, Maroney is playing poorly by not getting in on the action. The offensive design is to score a ton of points quickly and then score more. In past seasons this wasn't the case, and we saw Pokey Smith get 30 carries/game as a norm. It was--keep the game close until the end and burn the clock. Now, the plan seems to be--score quickly, build a lead and keep the game out of range. Maroney is a casual observer. If anything, the guy is extremely lucky--he gets to save himself from the pounding that Steven Jackson, Frank Gore, Shaun Alexander and other backs being asked to carry the load end up suffering through.

I whole heartedly agree. Maroney is being spared the hard and heavy goalline contact, and short yardage stuff to avoid the unnessecary pounding. And that obviously contributes to his not having yet scored. But its been successful because he's staying healthy. Imo, behind Brady and a couple of others, he's the most important member of this team right now. We need him to maintain that balance to keep Ds honest. Some may think Maroney's played poorly. Im not one of them. I appreciate how well he's played. I just know how much better the kid's going to continue to get. Maroney's only 22. His best days are definitely ahead of him.

 

[oldskool138]

Maroney is being spared the hard and heavy goalline contact, and short yardage stuff to avoid the unnessecary pounding.

That's the funniest thing I've read on these boards today.