Take the kid gloves off BB: Use Maroney

[richpats]

I'll agree that running the ball against Baltimore will be a challenge, but I refuse to believe Philly's strength is the same. The only thing saving us from our 1st loss was #12 in blue. Had they forced Philly to respect the run the outcome would have been similar to what we've been seeing all season.

The only guys that have had good days against Philly's run D this year are Thomas Jones and Clinton Portis - a different breed than Mr. Maroney. And Philly's pass D isn't that good but the pressure limited Brady's ability to pick them apart (even though he did a pretty good job regardless).

If we tried to run early on we likely don't score on every possession and we likely find ourselves playing catch-up in the 2nd half. But some people like doing things the hard way.

 

[Patradomous]

Some of you guys need to get a clue.The Pats are 8th in the league in rushing.They are #1 in rushing for first downs.And they are right up there in attempts.Calm down.

 

[bakes781]

There is a distinct difference between questioning something and making an uninformed judgement and based on that demanding that a HOF HC do it the way the fan wants. Fans often operate in hindsight where every failed play was the wrong one and every alternative they present would have worked swimmingly. This team is 11-0. It's fine to have a few nagging concerns, but the level and tone of the criticism here is ridiculous. I know some of you feel this is venting space, and you have to have something to talk about. There is a viable alternative though. You can enjoy the ride and to some extent STFU.

I think that's all this is. A few nagging concerns. Going an enitre half with an empty backfield is asking for trouble IMO. They got away with it because they have a HOF QB.

The only guys that have had good days against Philly's run D this year are Thomas Jones and Clinton Portis - a different breed than Mr. Maroney. And Philly's pass D isn't that good but the pressure limited Brady's ability to pick them apart (even though he did a pretty good job regardless).

If we tried to run early on we likely don't score on every possession and we likely find ourselves playing catch-up in the 2nd half. But some people like doing things the hard way.

OR they might have given their defense time to catch a breath & not get torched so muich by a journeyman QB. The only reason we even had a lead in the 1st half was because of Samuel's pick.

 

[richpats]

Some of our fans look at running the ball (or not) like critics look at running up the score - like we absolutely are required to run, just like we are absolutely required to call off the dogs up 38-0.

I'm not necessarily inspired by our running game but I do see some good from Belichick's use of the running game so far:

1) Why give an injury-prone back more carries than necessary? It's a LONG season and the hits pile up after a few months.
2) Why run when passing is more effective? Even when they know it's coming, it's still more effective.
3) Anybody feel a "rope-a-dope" coming? We've used Maroney so sparsely that teams will lower their guard, if they haven't already. I can see us leaning on him in the playoffs for one game, assuming the matchup is favorable.

 

[emoney_33]

Running Maroney is pointless when every time he does it's for 1 or 2 yards.

It's turns 1st and 10 into 2nd and 8 every time. And 2nd and 8 becomes an obvoius passing down.

If Maroney could actually plough through some bodies and get 4 or 5 yards, it might be interesting, but that doesn't happen often.

Using Maroney is putting the kid gloves ON.

Damn well if he runs for 1 or 2 yards EVERY time don't you think his YPC would be, i dunno somewhere between friggin 1 and 2? He hasn't had any LONG runs to skew his average, but his average is what like 4.5?

There have been times where he has gained -2 to 2 yards, and MOST of those times, the o-line missed a block and there's a guy or 2 in Maroney's face right when he gets the damn ball.

 

[richpats]

OR they might have given their defense time to catch a breath & not get torched so muich by a journeyman QB. The only reason we even had a lead in the 1st half was because of Samuel's pick.

Well, is running the ball, not getting the first down and punting allowing the D more rest?

 

[emoney_33]

I think that's all this is. A few nagging concerns. Going an enitre half with an empty backfield is asking for trouble IMO. They got away with it because they have a HOF QB.

In your opinion it is asking for trouble. In BB's opinion it wasn't, otherwise they wouldn't have done it. There would have been no problem with it if there weren't drops by Moss, Stallworth, Welker, Maroney and Faulk. There was no problem with it against Minnesota last year, but there was only no problem with it because it worked. Decisions cannot be made in hindsight, and analysis of decisions cannot take into account anything that was NOT known when the decision was made.

OR they might have given their defense time to catch a breath & not get torched so muich by a journeyman QB. The only reason we even had a lead in the 1st half was because of Samuel's pick.

The defense definitely didn't perform up to standards, but you also have to give Feeley credit. He made some very good decisions and good throws. Gay had an off-night and was a step behind on many passes over the middle. I'm sure BB is just as pissed off about the D performance as we are, and hopefully they are working on fixing whatever went wrong.

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

It has already been pointed out that Philly's run D was rated WORSE than their pass D ... for those who are still trying to sell that story.

Still, I understand the point of not running at Balt's strength.

I think the original poster does have a valid concern. This empty backfield stuff is not to my liking, especially in short yardage situations. How can that possibly improve your chance at making a 3rd and short when you just told the other team that they can forget about you trying to run the ball?

Even if we don't run Maroney (or faulk, evans, etc) a lot more, I would like to see more formations where there is at least a RB in there so that the possibility of a run remains in the minds of the defense. Some play actions and the ocassional run is better than the constant spread formation at least in short yardage situations.

 

[Deus Irae]

So Philly is the 2nd best team in the NFL is that your "theory"?

Do you realize that this question has nothing to do with your disproved theory?

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

damn. i hate to do this, but i have to agree with mo . i dont post very often, im mainly a reader. however, lately all im reading is how maroney sucks, b.b.'s drafts suck, etc, etc......please people....RELAX!! b.b. will play an 8 wr formation, if he thinks that gives him the best way to win. so we didnt run the ball. so what. b.b. didnt think that would give us the best chance to win. guess what? we probably wont run much against the ravens either. with their cb's banged up, we're passin all day. all i know is, if b.b. says the sky is purple,,,,im gonna believe him.....IM BILL WE TRUST!!!!

 

[pats1yes]

I agree with the analysis of a more balanced attack. We need to run and pass screens more to open up the long ball.

I think we ran over everyone by just passing the long ball and the Eagles showed us that always is not going to work. I am sure that did not get past BB and you saw more running and screens in the 4th quarter. It is called adjusting.

And yes it is hindsight and no one on this board needs to tell BB anything. I am sure he saw for himself.

What does concern me is what is it about Maroney that BB does not like. Not physical enough is my guess. In my opinion BB is sending him a message but has not lost faith in him. Next years draft or free agency move will give us that answer. But if he is our guy for the future he needs to get into the game more.

Will be interesting to see what happens in the Ravens game.

 

[emoney_33]

I agree with the analysis of a more balanced attack. We need to run and pass screens more to open up the long ball.

I think we ran over everyone by just passing the long ball and the Eagles showed us that always is not going to work. I am sure that did not get past BB and you saw more running and screens in the 4th quarter. It is called adjusting.

And yes it is hindsight and no one on this board needs to tell BB anything. I am sure he saw for himself.

What does concern me is what is it about Maroney that BB does not like. Not physical enough is my guess. In my opinion BB is sending him a message but has not lost faith in him. Next years draft or free agency move will give us that answer. But if he is our guy for the future he needs to get into the game more.

Will be interesting to see what happens in the Ravens game.

When thinking about why Maroney wasn't used much and hasn't been lately, think about this, If Maroney goes down, we got nothing at RB. That may be a big reason why Maroney isn't being used when we don't NEED him. (We needed him for that TD run, so we used him).

 

[pats1yes]

When thinking about why Maroney wasn't used much and hasn't been lately, think about this, If Maroney goes down, we got nothing at RB. That may be a big reason why Maroney isn't being used when we don't NEED him. (We needed him for that TD run, so we used him).

I think this is a good point and have thought about it. But I think there is a little more to it. But what you say may be accurate. Who knows?

 

[emoney_33]

I think this is a good point and have thought about it. But I think there is a little more to it. But what you say may be accurate. Who knows?

BB knows, but he still wont tell us a damn thing!

 

[bakes781]

There was no problem with it against Minnesota last year, but there was only no problem with it because it worked. Decisions cannot be made in hindsight, and analysis of decisions cannot take into account anything that was NOT known when the decision was made.

Against Minnesota that was the obvious thing to do! I'm not saying we have to be balanced every game, but when the matchup calls for it yes. Against Baltimore passing the ball more does make sense. I know personel also dictates what you do, but I think Maroney if given the chance CAN get it done.

 

[DaBruinz]

Maroney needs to get more INVOLVED in the Offense.
I don't carry if he averages 3.1 ypc again, I think he should run the ball at least 15-20 times against the Ravens. Making the Ravens respect the run will open up the passing game.

Sure it would be helpful if he averaged more than 3.1 ypc, but the point is to make the running game a facet of the offense. We've seen that a one-dimensional offense is teed off against too easily by good defensive teams and in the end just makes life harder for Brady and friends.

I don't think it's any good to baby Maroney. Throw him into the teeth of the lion. He is the only viable RB the Patriots have right now whether we have the greatest confidence in him or not. Don't baby him, he's a professional football player. The running game needs to come back in NE, and right now that means USE Maroney.

Damn.. you just love changing your story.. 1st you were complaining that Maroney was hurt or in the dog house. Now you are saying that BB needs to get Maroney in the game plan more?

Answer this since you have totally ignored it.

Does it make ANY SENSE AT ALL to run Maroney into the jaws of 3 of the stoutest run defenses in the league? Or does it make MORE sense to abuse those defenses weaknesses by attacking them with the Pass.

 

[DaBruinz]

Running Maroney is pointless when every time he does it's for 1 or 2 yards.

It's turns 1st and 10 into 2nd and 8 every time. And 2nd and 8 becomes an obvoius passing down.

If Maroney could actually plough through some bodies and get 4 or 5 yards, it might be interesting, but that doesn't happen often.

Using Maroney is putting the kid gloves ON.

This is just nonsense as well.The guy averages 4.4 YPC, but you act like he doesn't do a damn thing.

 

[DaBruinz]

I'll agree that running the ball against Baltimore will be a challenge, but I refuse to believe Philly's strength is the same. The only thing saving us from our 1st loss was #12 in blue. Had they forced Philly to respect the run the outcome would have been similar to what we've been seeing all season.

Why do you refuse to believe that Philly's strength is the same? Because you want to ignore facts. Philly has the 7th ranked run defense in the LEAGUE.

Sorry, but the Pats would have been better off using the screens more often earlier in the game than running the ball. Also, since you didn't actually watch the game, Philly has a great run blitz. It was why they were in the backfield as Maroney was getting the ball.

 

[DaBruinz]

So Philly is the 2nd best team in the NFL is that your "theory"?

Why is it that you just make up assinine assumptions about what people said? Philly IS the 7th ranked defense against the run. They are 23rd against the Pass.

Also, please read BILL BELICHICK'S answer on the subject. You might learn something.

 

[SVN]

Why is it that you just make up assinine assumptions about what people said? Philly IS the 7th ranked defense against the run. They are 23rd against the Pass.

Also, please read BILL BELICHICK'S answer on the subject. You might learn something.

as BB said, we had trouble protecting against the pass, so running the ball we wouldve got stuffed.
Also remember, we DID try screens, both receivers and maroney dropped the balls on each occasion.