What's with all the Maroney hate?

[STFarmy]

Everyone's problem is that many of them are being idiotic, impatient and childish.

Yeah, what are we, Red Sox fans? (Yes I love the Sox too, but we all know how impatient and petulant most of their fanbase can be. Remember when they were calling for Pedroia's head at the beginning of the season?)

 

[RussFrancis]

Who here likes the kindof season Tom Brady is having? The record setting marks he's on target to achieve? The all-time staggering #s, the greatest season of all-time pace? Because that's what it is this year with Brady. Watching an NFL Network program the other night of the top 10 greatest single seasons of all-time by an individual player, you know the '04 Manning season topped the list. And it was a pretty impressive list. And you know what season is about to top that one. Brady is about to be on the top of that list. You know why that's possible? Besides Brady being great? The #s that guys like Laurence Maroney have sacrificed this season. Maroney could probably have 3 or 400 hundred more yards and atleast 5 or 6 TDs if they just wanted to wear him out. But then Brady wouldnt be on the record TD pace, the offense probably wouldnt be scoring at an all-time pace, and this team wouldnt be crushing every other in site. And we'd probably be hurting at RB because we'd have worn out our starter while his backup was already down. We'd be winning by 7 or 10 instead of by 17 and 20.

Sure, Id love to see more out of Maroney this year. But as I said before, the guy spent all off season unable to work out and prepare the way a high level NFL player needs to. The shoulder surgery and the rehab took care of all that. And guys need to remember the kid was playing late last season with a bum shoulder that would eventually take all offseason to heal. So, I dont doubt the kid's toughness for a second. I knew coming in this year he wouldnt be at his best. So, 'underperforming' doesnt come as a shock. But he's averaging close to 5 a tote, and he hasnt fumbled, and he's keeping Brady clean when called upon. And right now, that's good enough for me.

This all-time great season by Brady and these records havent been without sacrifice. Do we know why Adalius Thomas played in less than 10 total plays against the Colts a couple weeks ago? Because he was asked to. Guys on this team do what theyre told and dont ask questions. Egos are checked. Brady is in the midst of the greatest season of all-time, and this team is unbeaten and looking healthy and rested and ready for a stretch run to a 4th title. And everyone's falling in line and doing their part. There's more at stake this year now than just winning games. This season is more about legacy. Bill's camera scandal has demanded an extreme approach. But right now, this is a big-picture situation. Legends are being secured. We're witnessing one of the greatest seasons in the history of sport. And one of the first guys Im ready to thank is Laurence Maroney.

 

[MDPATSFAN]

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?

Poor analogy.

A better one is that you pay top dollar to a Russian mail order bride company for a top rung bride. Then your buddy pays less for a 2nd tier bride and she ends up being better looking, a better cook and better in the sack.

Maroneys situational stats: Averaging only 2.3 yards per carry in the redzone.

http://www.nfl.com/players/laurencemaroney/situationalstats?id=MAR273311

 

[Flying Fungi]

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?

Once again, I have to question the premise of your statements.

If a RB is not thrown at, is he then a bad receiver?

If he is not used in short yardage or 3rd down plays, is he a bad short yardage/3rd down back?

Maroney is not being used as the focus of the offensive philosophy. If we had ANY of those backs that you'd take in a second (which I would not necessarily), the offensive philosophy WOULD NOT CHANGE. The 2007 New England Patriots ARE A PASSING ATTACK TEAM. Moss, Stallworth and Welker were brought in. Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch were NOT brought in.

 

[iapatsfan]

Poor analogy.

A better one is that you pay top dollar to a Russian mail order bride company for a top rung bride. Then your buddy pays less for a 2nd tier bride and she ends up being better looking, a better cook and better in the sack.

Maroneys situational stats: Averaging only 2.3 yards per carry in the redzone.

http://www.nfl.com/players/laurencemaroney/situationalstats?id=MAR273311

My point exactly! K Faulk is our 3rd down back, and Maroney SUCKS in the red zone, so why shouldn't we consider a back that can do it all and just be spelled by Faulk once in awhile (McFadden)? We have a RB we can use on 1st or 2nd down, but if it comes to short yardage or 3rd down, we must take him out. That is reality.

 

[iapatsfan]

Once again, I have to question the premise of your statements.

If a RB is not thrown at, is he then a bad receiver?

If he is not used in short yardage or 3rd down plays, is he a bad short yardage/3rd down back?

Maroney is not being used as the focus of the offensive philosophy. If we had ANY of those backs that you'd take in a second (which I would not necessarily), the offensive philosophy WOULD NOT CHANGE. The 2007 New England Patriots ARE A PASSING ATTACK TEAM. Moss, Stallworth and Welker were brought in. Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch were NOT brought in.

My argument is not for this year. I could argue with the passing attack we have this year, almost any RB could be averaging over 4 YPC for us. My worry is for next year and after. Everyone agrees the personnel for our passing game will most likely change next year (Moss or Stallworth or both). Has anybody seen anything from Maroney that would make them comfortable having him compensate for whatever we lose from our passing attack next year. I would think the answer would be a definitive no.

 

[Flying Fungi]

My point exactly! K Faulk is our 3rd down back, and Maroney SUCKS in the red zone, so why shouldn't we consider a back that can do it all and just be spelled by Faulk once in awhile (McFadden)? We have a RB we can use on 1st or 2nd down, but if it comes to short yardage or 3rd down, we must take him out. That is reality.

Maroney ISN'T USED IN THE RED ZONE.

He neither sucks nor excels because he ISN'T USED in these scenarios!!

Why are you being so damned obtuse? This is the offensive strategy. Kevin Faulk is one of the BEST 3rd down backs in the LEAGUE. You would pull his skillset to give Maroney more snaps on the chance that he might be better than what we already have??

I cannot comprehend the ontology of your views.

 

[Flying Fungi]

I would think the answer would be a definitive no.

My answer is a firm 'yes'.

If we can win Super Bowls with Antowain Smith, we absolutely can do so with Maroney.

 

[boggleboggle]

Joseph Addai
Age: 24
Born: 5/3/1983

Laurence Maroney
Age: 22
Born: 2/5/1985

Maroney is almost TWO YEARS YOUNGER than Addai. To compare them straight up is ridiculous. Compare Maroney now to what Addai was doing two years ago.

The Patriots are being very smart. They are keeping Maroney fresh for the playoffs and for his future career. I would not be at all surprised to see Maroney catch up and even surpass Addai when the former matures and the latter wears down from carrying the load every week.

 

[Lockdown06]

My point exactly! K Faulk is our 3rd down back, and Maroney SUCKS in the red zone, so why shouldn't we consider a back that can do it all and just be spelled by Faulk once in awhile (McFadden)? We have a RB we can use on 1st or 2nd down, but if it comes to short yardage or 3rd down, we must take him out. That is reality.

even IF we drafted mcfadden next year, if Kevin Faulk is still playing at the level he is playing now, there is no way in hell we would not continue to use him exactly the way we do now

 

[patsox23]

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.

This is all EXACTLY correct.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Maroney is almost TWO YEARS YOUNGER than Addai. To compare them straight up is ridiculous. Compare Maroney now to what Addai was doing two years ago.

The Patriots are being very smart. They are keeping Maroney fresh for the playoffs and for his future career. I would not be at all surprised to see Maroney catch up and even surpass Addai when the former matures and the latter wears down from carrying the load every week.

In fact, Chad Jackson and Laurence Maroney are still the youngest players on the Pats' roster, by a good margin (Gutierrez is eight months older than Maroney, Kareem Brown and Gostkowski a year older).

 

[patsox23]

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?

It is just WAY too early to make this ridiculous pronouncement. And "I am not a Maroney hater, I just wish people would take him for what he is - an avg to below avg NFL back." - not only is that false and totally baseless, but it is a completely disingenuous, passive-aggressive thing to post.

 

[Rob0729]

The only thing I hate about Maroney's game is his hesitance to hit the hole sometimes. I think that is the only thing that is holding him back from being a top notch RB. It may or may not be correctable. Some RBs can correct this and other's just have inbred into their instincts. But a fast defense like the Colts are going to eat him alive every time he start to dance or stutter step behind the line of scrimmage.

 

[Vern]

Most of this is fans comging back to earth after massively over-hyping a draftee. I think last year was the "Ben Watson is never going to be good" thing and now it's Maroney's turn.

Fans are bipolar. Everyone in the first round is either a pro-bowler or a bust. Meanwhile, the Patriots corner the market on guys who are just consistenly "above average" - like Watson, Branch, Maroney, Green, Warren, Colvin, Vrable, Bruschi, Light, Samuel and on and on the list goes. None of them will sniff the HOF and rarely even make a pro bowl (well, maybe Warren) but big deal, that's how you win.

It's funny, because whenever Cap issues come up, suddenly everyone wants to talk about our strong "middle class" and "depth" approach to team building. But then once that argument is over, we're all back to griping about how player X is not becoming the Star player he could be, or not getting recognition as the truly great Star we all think he is. At some point you have to just embrace the upper middle class guys for what they are and be glad of it.

 

[patsox23]

The only thing I hate about Maroney's game is his hesitance to hit the hole sometimes. I think that is the only thing that is holding him back from being a top notch RB. It may or may not be correctable. Some RBs can correct this and other's just have inbred into their instincts. But a fast defense like the Colts are going to eat him alive every time he start to dance or stutter step behind the line of scrimmage.

MYTH. MYTH. MYTH.

Maroney's "dancing behind the line" showed a bit last year, but not NEARLY as consistently as some of you people imagine. This year, he was apprehensive behind the line for a few carries in the opener (his first real action of the season), and a couple of times in the first half of the SD game. Otherwise, he has been GASHING the holes.

Just infuriatingly based on NOTHING and lazy "analysis."

 

[patsox23]

Gosh, with all this "dancing behind the line" and "not hitting the hole" I don't know how on Earth the guy has a 4.7 per carry average! Weird!

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

For everyone who is comparing him to Addai, did you happen to see Kenton Keith fill in for Addai in that offense?

 

[borg]

Time to look at Maroney's performance this year.
89 rushes for 417 yards and 4.7 ypc...longest carry is 19 yards
2 receptions for 37 yards and 18.5 ypc...longest catch is 25 yards
0 TDs

54...carries on 1st down
32...carries on 2nd down
3....carries on 3rd down
0....carries on 4th down

Inside the 10

Verses Jets
1st and 6 on the 6...1 yard
2nd and 5 on the 5...0 yards
Verses SD
2nd and 7 on the 9...4 yards
3rd and 3 on the 5...2 yards
Verses Buffalo
1st and 6 on the 6...-1 yards
2nd and 4 on the 10...7 yards
1st and 8 on the 8...7 yards
Verses Washington
2nd and 1 on the 6...2 yards...1st down
2nd and 4 on the 4...1 yard
1st and 5 on the 5...3 yards
Verses Indy
2nd and 4 on the 4...0 yards

3rd Down Carries

Verses SD
3rd and 3 on the SD 5...2 yards
Verses Buffalo
3rd and 5 on the NE 33...2 yards
Verses Indy
3rd and 1 on Indy 14...-2 yards

Summary of combined Inside the 10 and 3rd down situations
13 carries...28 yards...2.2 ypc...1 1st down...0 TDs

 

[patsox23]

How do those stats, in a vacuum, make much of a point, though? Are you saying that anytime a player doesn't get a lot of yards, it's ALL ON HIM? Give me a break.