SMY: Patriots want Maroney to rein in running style

[pats1]

http://www.projo.com/patriots/content/sp_fbn_pats16_11-16-07_667T0EB_v15.246a423.html

[SIZE=+2]Patriots want Maroney to rein in running style

[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]01:00 AM EST on Friday, November 16, 2007

[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]BY SHALISE MANZA YOUNG

Journal Sports Writer

[/SIZE]FOXBORO — Laurence Maroney is fast. Runs fast, talks fast, quick with a smile or a joke.

But for Maroney to maximize his yardage, he might have to take things a bit slower.

“I feel like I’m a big-play guy and sometimes that hurts me,” Maroney said yesterday. “Maybe I see too much, and I feel like I have the speed so I can bounce around to the outside, and sometimes that hurts me.”

Maroney acknowledged that the coaching staff would rather he gain most of his yards in 4- to 5-yard chunks, but he’d rather get more.

The second-year running back has had a frustrating season personally, as he’s struggled through rehab from off-season shoulder surgery and a groin injury that had him on the sidelines for three games last month.

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[PaulNEPats]

But but but he averages 4.7 YPC!!!

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

What made the Broncos so good in a zone blocking scheme was that the running backs were coached to take the first good hole and run through it. A single cut and no dancing. That creates positive yardage on most plays.

It has certainly been commented that Maroney takes his time picking his hole. I am not going to re-hash this heated debate by taking a side on the subject.

This is all part of the grooming of a skill player in BB's system.

 

[Pedrorocks458]

But but but he averages 4.7 YPC!!!

What does this mean? Whether they want him to run, skip, hop, go backwards he has still averaged 4.7 YPC. That the Patriots want him to change his running style to an extent is fine, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been a successful back.

 

[jays52]

It's stuff like this that has me convinced that in the long run, he will be a top five back in the league. We all are aware of his speed, agility and relative power. I also think that he has stellar vision when he allows a hole to open. His primary hindrance is his lack of patience. Frequently, he hits the line before the blocking develops and attempts to take the ball outside. He also gets the same incorrect read and will dance a bit, trying to make a cut. These are things that are easily coached and learned through experience.

I think that things like counters could help to temporarily offset this weakness. Given the speed of our guards and center, I am suprised by the lack of pulling along the line. Furthermore, we frequently play teams with uphill rush ends that crash the d gap without hesitation. Leaving themselves wide open for the counter. Without spending too much time on my pulpit of pontification, it is very clear to me that Maroney will develop quite nicely over time.

 

[PaulNEPats]

The thing that worries me is that this offense we're watching is the best we're probably going to see in a long time. What's going to happen when some of these weapons head to other pastures? Thankfully Maroney is still very young so we'll see. I'd like to see some big games from him starting this week.

 

[sebman2112]

Maroney (as he said) has been running more like the coaches want him to, and he previously said he's been working on getting his pad level lower. So, it's good to hear he's working on improving, and if you watched him against the Redskins there were some good signs of that.



What Glen Mason talked about concerning Maroney's break away speed was something I noticed right away. If you watched his 93 yard TD run, he ran right by two DB's who where about 15-20 yards downfield, and put distance on them. It was among the most impressive displays of speed and vision I have ever seen in a college player.

 

[RussFrancis]

The thing that worries me is that this offense we're watching is the best we're probably going to see in a long time. What's going to happen when some of these weapons head to other pastures? Thankfully Maroney is still very young so we'll see. I'd like to see some big games from him starting this week.

This team will have every good, non-money grubbing player looking to play for winner wanting to come run with Brady and co. for the next 5 years. I wouldnt worry alot about them losing weapons. Theyll just add more. Maroney's only going to get better. A good offseason of work is taking his game to the next level in '08. He's gonna be a stud in this O next year.

 

[RayClay]

I understand the emphasis. Holes close up quicker in the NFL. He's doing fine this year, partly because he's starting to get it. You have to trust your linemen and hit the hole no matter what, often a wide open shot appears then.

You can't wait for a hole in the nfl because it usually closes as fast as it opens.

I see a lot of progress recently in this area.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

Something important to note is that NE doesn't need Maroney to score. They have Tom Brady for that. They need Maroney to get 5 yards at a time and make things easier on Brady.

A poor offense would be fine losing yards on some runs but getting big gains on others. The losses don't hurt as much when your offense likely won't score anyway. The big plays would lead to scores the offense won't otherwise get.

That style meshes horribly with this NE offense. They're going to get the yards anyway and don't need big running plays. Runs for a loss may prevent a 1st down which would be otherwise gained.

So maybe NE made a mistake trying to fit a square peg into a round whole. Of course, if Maroney can adjust he'll be less flashy but very successful.

 

[RayClay]

Something important to note is that NE doesn't need Maroney to score. They have Tom Brady for that. They need Maroney to get 5 yards at a time and make things easier on Brady.

A poor offense would be fine losing yards on some runs but getting big gains on others. The losses don't hurt as much when your offense likely won't score anyway. The big plays would lead to scores the offense won't otherwise get.

That style meshes horribly with this NE offense. They're going to get the yards anyway and don't need big running plays. Runs for a loss may prevent a 1st down which would be otherwise gained.

So maybe NE made a mistake trying to fit a square peg into a round whole. Of course, if Maroney can adjust he'll be less flashy but very successful.

Excellent point. That's why I usually prefer bigger backs. Maroney is plenty strong though, he just needs to adjust and he'll have the best of both worlds.

Curtis Martin did it and became a top back (sorry, but Parcells did use him differently than Carroll to good effect).

Maroney is stronger than Martin, I'll bet.

 

[Deus Irae]

But but but he averages 4.7 YPC!!!

Ok, the team wants him to look for the 4-5 yard gain instead of the home run, because they are looking to fit him into their style rather than building a style around him. Exactly how does this mean he's been 'mediocre' or a disappointment?

 

[Flying Fungi]

Ok, the team wants him to look for the 4-5 yard gain instead of the home run, because they are looking to fit him into their style rather than building a style around him. Exactly how does this mean he's been 'mediocre' or a disappointment?

i cannot count the number of posts i have made this week defending Maroney's stats as being a product of the team's offensive philosophy...its awesome to be validated from on high...

 

[MDPATSFAN]

“A lot of folks want to talk about how somebody runs, but ask them if they ever ran the ball before,” he said “Everybody thinks it’s as easy as just getting the ball and go run. There’s more to it than that. I didn’t try to hide my running style (from the Patriots). They knew my running style before they drafted me. They drafted me because of my running style and what I’ve been able to do on the collegiate level so I feel like I shouldn’t have to change because one person feels like I dance too much…That (isn’t) what got me here. I’m going to continue doing what got me here.”

Interesting....