What's with all the Maroney hate?

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

4.7 yards per carry. By the way, Sammy Morris averaged 4.5 .

Just some players that Maroney leads in the most important category, some by at least a full yard per carry:

Joseph Addai
Willis McGahee
LaDainian Tomlinson
Clinton Portis
Frank Gore
Willie Parker
Marshawn Lynch
Thomas Jones
Edgerrin James
Reggie Bush
Ahman Green
Rudi Johnson
Shaun Alexander
Jamal Lewis
Larry Johnson
Travis Henry

Okay, so he doesn't score a lot of TDs. Neither did Barry Sanders. Willie Parker has 2 TDs yet is an MVP candidate, and Bettis used to be their red zone back.

He also has ZERO fumbles thus far. He doesn't catch a lot of passes because that isn't his role.


So what is everyone's problem with Maroney? The guy has been banged up, which is normal for a guy in his first year or two. The Patriots need a healthy Sammy Morris or a bigger back for goal line situations, or they can continue to set NFL records by throwing for TDs.

In my opinion he is far from a bust, and a lot of people have unreasonable expectations.

 

[patsox23]

Everyone's problem is that many of them are being idiotic, impatient and childish. Your points KILL their argument and I hope will shut them up, but don't count on it.

 

[PATRIOT64]

I am not all that impressed by him but I am also not calling him a wasted pick or a bum yet either - I just hope he continues to develop into a guy that can carry the rock more often and with less injury time.

There is going to come a year where Brady may not have all his weapons or Brady gets injured and Maroney will need to be THE guy to carry the load,At that point we will see what he got,Its inevitable it will happen and he hopefully will be up to the task and ready.

 

[patsox23]

Well, so far he's averaging nearly 5 ypc. I hope that's sufficient for him going forward, guys.

 

[Hollywood_Brady]

i have no problems with maroney. its just that i based the progress of a player along with his draft class... and addai is way past maroney... im nt bashing him, im just disappointed... its like when your son who is a great sprinter and you expect nothing but the best for him and he won just the bronze medal on a 100-m dash... you still love him unconditionally but you are disappointed at that moment, it will fade away...

 

[patsox23]

i have no problems with maroney. its just that i based the progress of a player along with his draft class... and addai is way past maroney... im nt bashing him, im just disappointed... its like when your son who is a great sprinter and you expect nothing but the best for him and he won just the bronze medal on a 100-m dash... you still love him unconditionally but you are disappointed at that moment, it will fade away...

Addai has done a really nice job, he's a terrific back. He also runs against nickel and dime defenses. CONSTANTLY. Let's see if we can avoid the simplistic, short-sighted points and actually take a legitimate and tempered view of things, shall we?

 

[The 12th Man]

Good post. I completely agree with you. I can't stand reading all that "glass" crap and "bust" crap. Same goes for Merriweather and CJ for that matter. Maroney has done a solid job doing everything asked of him. 4.7 ypc is up there. Addai, although great in Indy's offense, would perform the same as Maroney if not worse if he was on our team because that's just what his role would be in our offense this year. Also, remember that this zone blocking scheme is new to all the O-linemen this year and their doing a great job.

 

[JaredOfNazareth]

When was the last time a teams RB lead them to a SB title? I would say either Marshall Faulk or Tarell Davis. So it hasn't happened this decade. In 2000 Lewis was the offense but they had an awesome defense. 2005 had Bettis and Parker but their defense got them there. Shaun Alexander came close. Elite backs don't win the title in this era. Last year Addai wasn't considered elite btw.

So what if Maroney isn't a pro bowler. He does keep defenses honest. He provides balance to the offense. He does get to the hole before the LB on 1st and 2nd down. He creates manageable down and distance for 3rd down. That's what 4.7YPC are all about.

Did anyone watch the game against the Redskins. Maroney was gashing them to start the game. He had 79 total yards in the 1st half. 11 of his 16 touches were in the 1st half. Brady stole two rushing TDs from Maroney on drives where Maroney got them to the goal line. These threads will go away after this Bills game. The TDs will come.

 

[PatsFanVancouver]

I'm guessing most people are disappointed because Addai has adjusted to the NFL faster and is playing at a very high level already. People compare the two because of the '06 draft. It's probably natural to say "what if".

When I saw Addai play in November last year, I was disappointed that NE selected Maroney. Then in February, I wondered if NE had selected Addai instead would the Colts have won. I guess every time the two teams meet the comparisons occur.

Even last game. A lot of fans will look to that 3rd down play as defining (he can't make it when it counts). At first, I thought that as well. Then the replay. Evans did not complete the block. Was he required to, though? Should Maroney have made it to the edge, and, around for the 1st. Inconclusive.

That's the way I feel about Maroney. Maybe he'll turn out to be a better fit for NE (did you see Addai slip on those hard cuts in SD. OK, could be the "dry" cleats). He seems to be a better runner from last year. But, NE needs him to be a excellent blocker/chipper and a trustworthy receiver as well. Faulk can't play passing downs forever.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Vancouver's got it right... basically every time people see Addai, they drool. That combined with the concept of a back crossing the goal line, especially in this age of fantasy football.

Maroney's a good back. If he could cross the stripe, that's another thing he would bring to the game. It definitely does not make him a BETTER 4.7 ypc guy because he can not get over the goal line. So people fixate on his goal line performance, as in, he could be better.

Some dumbasses who basically do not watch games but watch their fantasy teams probably hate him.

PFnV

 

[borg]

2008 Stats
90...Players in NFL with rushing TDs, Moroney...0
74...Players in NFL with a carry for 20 yards or more, Maroney...0 (Maroney and Brady are tied for 75th ...both with longest carry of 19 yards)
313...players with 3 or more receptions, Maroney ...2

 

[Flying Fungi]

the only aspect of this that bothers me is the extremism in trying to prove that Maroney is a bust or an inferior player

i can not recall a single poster ever saying that Maroney was an elite running back at this point in his career

the vast majority appear to feel that he has tremendous upside and hope that he can stay healthy

and then a vocal minority seem to be arguing against a non-existant opinion

Maroney is a decent starting running back that is being used effectively to augment a record shattering passing offense. He isn't being asked to pound the ball in the red zone and he isn't being asked to carry the ball 30+ times/game. That is an offensive design. Playing to Tom Brady's, Randy Moss', Donte Stallworth's, Wes Welker's and Ben Watson's strengths is NOT playing away from Maroney's strengths or weaknesses. These things are mutually exclusive in the 2007 offensive gameplan.

The best way to view LM is probably: A talented young RB with tremendous upside that has showns flashes of his talent, but has not been asked to carry the load. He is also a back that has had a few minor injury concerns, but nothing tremendously out of the norm for his position.

Anyone who calls this type of outlook 'homerism' is simply being antagonistic.

 

[Slagathor]

I think the hate comes from one place. Joseph Addai.

Our most hated rival took this guy after we supposedly took their guy, Maroney, and Addai has turned out to be a Pro-Bowl caliber back.

All the things he can do, run with power, catch, block...etc. is what we'd thought we see in Maroney.

Maroney is not horrible. He's a decent back that should serve our purpose. We've won with Antowain Smith for christ-sakes.

But unfortunately, he is no Addai, nor is he Marshawn Lynch. Our expectations were way too high.

 

[Flying Fungi]

I think the hate comes from one place. Joseph Addai.

Our most hated rival took this guy after we supposedly took their guy, Maroney, and Addai has turned out to be a Pro-Bowl caliber back.

All the things he can do, run with power, catch, block...etc. is what we'd thought we see in Maroney.

Maroney is not horrible. He's a decent back that should serve our purpose. We've won with Antowain Smith for christ-sakes.

But unfortunately, he is no Addai, nor is he Marshawn Lynch. Our expectations were way too high.

I disagree to an extent. The Patriots are not asking Maroney to carry the load. He isn't getting the carries or play calls that Addai is getting. If anything, this scenario can be used to reveal how much more central Tom Brady is to the Patriots offensive philosophy v the current Indy offensive philosophy. I would contend that Maroney and Addai would be doing the same things if the roles were reversed. And yes, this is speculation, but it cannot be disproven in spite of how strongly one might disagree with it.

Let's recall that the Patriots changed their entire blocking scheme and probably 50+% of their playbook in the offseason. Addai gets continuity and was THE MAN since his first game in Indy. Maroney was behind Dillon, and has seen some pretty big changes in his first 1.5 years in the league. Not to mention being held out of most of training camp and preseason in 2007.

 

[Slagathor]

I disagree to an extent. The Patriots are not asking Maroney to carry the load. He isn't getting the carries or play calls that Addai is getting. If anything, this scenario can be used to reveal how much more central Tom Brady is to the Patriots offensive philosophy v the current Indy offensive philosophy. I would contend that Maroney and Addai would be doing the same things if the roles were reversed. And yes, this is speculation, but it cannot be disproven in spite of how strongly one might disagree with it.

Let's recall that the Patriots changed their entire blocking scheme and probably 50+% of their playbook in the offseason. Addai gets continuity and was THE MAN since his first game in Indy. Maroney was behind Dillon, and has seen some pretty big changes in his first 1.5 years in the league. Not to mention being held out of most of training camp and preseason in 2007.

I can't agree with that at all. RIGHT NOW, Maroney is not capable of doing most of what Addai does for the Colts. I know we want our guy to seem just as good, but he isn't.

 

[KoolAidDrinker]

I disagree to an extent. The Patriots are not asking Maroney to carry the load. He isn't getting the carries or play calls that Addai is getting. If anything, this scenario can be used to reveal how much more central Tom Brady is to the Patriots offensive philosophy v the current Indy offensive philosophy. I would contend that Maroney and Addai would be doing the same things if the roles were reversed. And yes, this is speculation, but it cannot be disproven in spite of how strongly one might disagree with it.

Let's recall that the Patriots changed their entire blocking scheme and probably 50+% of their playbook in the offseason. Addai gets continuity and was THE MAN since his first game in Indy. Maroney was behind Dillon, and has seen some pretty big changes in his first 1.5 years in the league. Not to mention being held out of most of training camp and preseason in 2007.

Also, as was pointed out, the Pats only need the threat of the run to keep the offense "balanced". I think they are smart to hold down the number of touches for Lawrence until we really need them (EG: the cold days in December and January). Losing Sammy early makes this even more pronounced.

As for how good Lawrence really is, we really don't know. We'll see down the stretch.

 

[Flying Fungi]

I can't agree with that at all. RIGHT NOW, Maroney is not capable of doing most of what Addai does for the Colts. I know we want our guy to seem just as good, but he isn't.

And therein lies the rub. Your view is not wrong, but it also cannot be proven. Addai is being asked to do much more in a completely different offensive scheme. He has also experienced a very different set of circumstances.

Let's take a few examples of RBs having success in one but not so much with another scheme: Reuben Droughns in Denver, in Cleveland and in NYG. Droughns had a monster year in DEN, had a decent next year in CLE and is a virtual non-factor in NYG. So is Droughns a good back or a bad back? Or is it the DEN system? Edgerrin James was great in Indy, and then experienced a terrible season in AZ (rebounded this year, but that can be attributed to Leinert/Warner/Rattay/Hasselbeck). Maybe the Indy system shares similarities with DEN in terms of being a great scheme for RB success? Look at Dominic Rhodes! Released by OAK--he was very successful in his role in Indy--Kenton Keith for crying out loud!

Now--with the exception of Corey Dillon's 1600+ season--what has the NEP offensive philosophy been like for the last 10 years? Nothing like DEN and IND I can tell you that much. Or we would have made JR Redmond a very wealthy FA with some other team.

 

[PATSNUTme]

So, lets see if I have this right. I'm going out with this girl. She very good looking, smart, great personality, works hard, and a very good dancer.

But then I see her class mate and she is better looking, smarter, and a better dancer. She also belongs to someone else and I can't have her.

So, now I'll dump all over my girl because she is not up to the standards of the girl that I can't have.

Is that about right? Is that the point that people are trying to make about Maroney?

 

[Slagathor]

So, lets see if I have this right. I'm going out with this girl. She very good looking, smart, great personality, works hard, and a very good dancer.

But then I see her class mate and she is better looking, smarter, and a better dancer. She also belongs to someone else and I can't have her.

So, now I'll dump all over my girl because she is not up to the standards of the girl that I can't have.

Is that about right? Is that the point that people are trying to make about Maroney?

Thats's the way I look at it.

 

[iapatsfan]

I am not a Maroney hater. I just wish people would take him for what he is - an avg to below avg NFL back. That was a nice list of backs that have a worse YPC than Maroney. How many of them would you take in 1 second over Maroney? Most of them. My point has always been if he is not good in short yardage, and he is not a good 3rd down back (not good at blocking or catching the ball), why shouldn't we consider a back we don't need to replace in short yardage and on 3rd down? Other teams have backs that do both, why are we sold on one that can't?