Laurence Maroney and Richard Seymour - healthy again...

[patsox23]

Since the vast majority of you seem to think talking cameragate is somehow worthwhile or "fun" or something - to the point of pretty much EVERY thread being on that topic, you miserable SOBs - I thought I'd throw out, ya know, FOOTBALL TALK. So....

One of the biggest factors heading into any season is the health of a team's biggest playmakers. Last year, two of the Patriots most important, most impactful players came into the season with injuries that lingered for much, if not all, of the slate of games.

AFAIK, Laurence Maroney and Richard Seymour are healthier now than they've been in at least a year. We saw what Maroney could do when healthy and given the bulk of the load, and it brought great balance to an already powerful offense. Richard Seymour had a(nother) sub-par season, still a very solid DL, but far lower an impact than an all-pro DL should have. I expect a bounce-back season from him now that he's healthy.

If these two players can make their way back to their full potential, the ripple effect on both sides of the ball will be obvious, tangible and important. Thoughts?

 

[JoePats]

Enormous impact, especially Seymour. He seemed to play better as the season went on, as you would expect, and most important he doesn't turn 29 until October, so he is in the peak of his career. I don't think his skills are eroding, but his body might be. So if he stays healthy, I think we're talking about a top 5 or 10 player at his position, which upgrades the DL, and complements an improved linebacking corps.

 

[signbabybrady]

I don't rememeber the source but I do remember reading on here fairly recently that Seymour was talking part in full participation in the Pats offseason program which he hasn't always done. They were saying that he had played last year when a lot of guys would not have and that he is finally healthy and that he is smiling alot more than anyone rememebers and that seems happier than ever. Speculation being that he is excited about being healthy again and working real hard to make sure is back to form.

 

[BelichickFan]

Our front seven should be so much better than what we ended last year with. Seymour will hopefully be more like his normal self. Thomas should be more comfortable in the defense and stay at one spot (OLB) all year. Mayo should bring more speed and athleticism at ILB than we've seen in a long time. Hobson could be anything from good depth to a viable starter at ILB and we have some interesting young guys at OLB in Woods and Crable, who knows if either will be ready to contribute. But just the changes with Seymour, Mayo and Thomas should improve things tremendously.

 

[bradmahn]

You're exactly right.

It's hard to quantify just how much it affected his game considering he got off to a really good start against the Jets and Chargers, but Maroney participating in this year's offseason activities will be a great benefit to him. Hopefully we'll see the return of that bruising stiff arm to his repertoire given that he'll be able to focus on upper body strength now that his shoulder is healthy. Chad Jackson is another player who is going through a full offseason healthy for the first time of his career. We could see tremendous things from the top two picks of the 2006 draft this year.

If Seymour is good-to-go for the season that gives the Patriots three Pro Bowl calibre linemen on a three man line. You can double team Seymour and Wilfork, but you're then leaving Warren against a single man (or you can send the TE against him as well, but then you're leaving both OLBs to the back(s)). It's a good thing for a defense and will undoubtedly prove a lot of help to the ILBs as well.

AD, Seymour, Big Vince, Warren, Vrabel... not too many comparable groups of on-the-line players in the league.

 

[patsox23]

Our front seven should be so much better than what we ended last year with. Seymour will hopefully be more like his normal self. Thomas should be more comfortable in the defense and stay at one spot (OLB) all year. Mayo should bring more speed and athleticism at ILB than we've seen in a long time. Hobson could be anything from good depth to a viable starter at ILB and we have some interesting young guys at OLB in Woods and Crable, who knows if either will be ready to contribute. But just the changes with Seymour, Mayo and Thomas should improve things tremendously.

I'm with most of your post except the Hobson part. I think he could be anywhere from total JAG SCRUB (think: Beisel/Brown with a bit more knowledge of the system) to good depth/spot starter.

 

[Tunescribe]

I've decided to withhold speculation until I hear what Arlen Specter has to say. Maroney, in particular, might not be worth doo-doo if we can't tape defensive signals. :bricks:

 

[BelichickFan]

I'm with most of your post except the Hobson part. I think he could be anywhere from total JAG SCRUB (think: Beisel/Brown with a bit more knowledge of the system) to good depth/spot starter.

The chance of him pulling a Full Monty are small, IMO, as Belichick has seen him playing in a defense similar to ours for two years.

However - as long as Seymour is his old self, Thomas kicks butt in his second year and Mayo does what we expect from a #10 rookie (flashes of brilliance with a few whoopsies mixed in) and we have no more than average injuries, all the stuff related to Hobson, Woods, Crable , etc, is basically moot. However we need one to come through as we'll almost certainly have one LB miss some time.

 

[bradmahn]

I'm with most of your post except the Hobson part. I think he could be anywhere from total JAG SCRUB (think: Beisel/Brown with a bit more knowledge of the system) to good depth/spot starter.

Is there a reason you don't think he could be a good starter?

 

[BrianPat]

I think with all the defensive work, Seymour and Morris back up to full strength, this team could be better then last year. I think Gaffney, Jackson and Maroney will also step up another rung. I am looking forward to the reviews of the games, that's the only time when you really learn the game is when aspects of the game are pointed out and discussed.

Thanks for switching the topic back onto football, even though the spy crap is easier to deal with now that Walsh has been exposed and the Herald is it's knee's in front of the Patriots and their fans, it also helps that the Jets have been implicated by Walsh as taping signals from the sidelines.

 

[satz]

seymour usually trains with his personal trainer in SC during the offseason .This year he is hear and working out. He was one of the best DL for 5 yrs before his 2 yrs of injury related thing.Being a DL he was playing with no conditioning and voluntary camps due to injury.I think he will be a beast and also people forget that morris , moss and wes will be better in year 2.

 

[Kontradiction]

Enormous impact, especially Seymour. He seemed to play better as the season went on, as you would expect, and most important he doesn't turn 29 until October, so he is in the peak of his career. I don't think his skills are eroding, but his body might be. So if he stays healthy, I think we're talking about a top 5 or 10 player at his position, which upgrades the DL, and complements an improved linebacking corps.

No he didn't. Sey was practically a ghost in the playoffs.

However, if he comes back healthy this year, I will look forward to a return of the dominance he used to display. A healthy Seymour makes our defense so much better. Maroney... I still have no idea why some people bash him. What he did for us in the playoffs was amazing. It could be argued that, without him, we wouldn't have been in the Super Bowl.

 

[signbabybrady]

No he didn't. Sey was practically a ghost in the playoffs.

However, if he comes back healthy this year, I will look forward to a return of the dominance he used to display. A healthy Seymour makes our defense so much better. Maroney... I still have no idea why some people bash him. What he did for us in the playoffs was amazing. It could be argued that, without him, we wouldn't have been in the Super Bowl.

no arguments here.

I didn't question his ability before the playoffs but you are right if you still do than you were not watching the same playoff games I was.

 

[patsox23]

Is there a reason you don't think he could be a good starter?

Because he never really has been. I guess you could say he had one solid year, but overall...nope, not in my book. I hope I'm wrong, but I think it certainly says something that he came into FA at a useful position and nobody seemed to want him. We signed him LATE to a one-year deal. Very few teams were even sniffing around Hobson.

 

[Kontradiction]

Because he never really has been. I guess you could say he had one solid year, but overall...nope, not in my book. I hope I'm wrong, but I think it certainly says something that he came into FA at a useful position and nobody seemed to want him. We signed him LATE to a one-year deal. Very few teams were even sniffing around Hobson.

Wes Welker was never really a good starter until he came to Miami. Just sayin...

 

[patsox23]

If Victor Hobson has as great an impact as Welker did, I will swallow my computer while you post diatribes about me and my family. I will HAPPILY do so.

Welker was widely considered to be a PERFECT FIT for this system. Victor Hobson is a JAG that no one else wanted, not even the jets, who run the same D as we do. I really want the guy to make an impact but let's be realistic, expectations-wise.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Time for injury excuses for Seymour to STOP,He sohuld return to normal play UNLESS he gets injured again...

If he is invisible this year you can expect to see him in another uniform in 2009 and right now that would not really matter - I think we need to see at least 60% of the old dominating DE again this year or its Bye-bye nice knowing you.

 

[Metaphors]

Victor Hobson is a JAG that no one else wanted, not even the jets, who run the same D as we do. I really want the guy to make an impact but let's be realistic, expectations-wise.

Agree on having realistic expectations on Hobson, but it seems like his role will be to allow Mayo to grow into playing time and to keep Bruschi effective by limiting his minutes. He is a JAG but he could be a fairly important guy (a FIG?) just the same.

As for the thread topic, I think Maroney will be able to finally focus on consistency and not just rehab/learning. Not sure that will translate into huge numbers since I don't believe he will be asked to produce huge numbers. I do believe he will be more effective which should translate into making the offense more difficult to defend when the games really matter.

Seymour is interesting since we have no way of knowing how he will use this period of health. He showed flashes last year he seemed uneven to me. If he dedicates himself this off-season (no reason to believe he isn't) he really should be at his peak of experience and physical ability. Given what we have seen him do in the past, the sky is the limit. That should only help Warren and Wilfork (who seems to be dedicated to taking his game to the next level).

 

[JoeShmoe]

I think is Seymours make or break season .. if he plays as he was 2-3 years ago and starts getting more pressure on the QB he'll be like a new player for us. If we see him play like he did last year then could be his last year considering what he earns

 

[PatsDeb]

While PatSox and PatJew continue their lovefest, I guess I'll add my two cents:

I think LoMo will have a good year, especially if Morris is back and in good shape (while I was at some event in the desert they showed Morris on TV right in the middle of his teammates, having a good time, so I'm guessing he's good to go.)

I think Seymour (unfortunately) has had his once dominating game robbed by injuries and complications thereof. I think he'll be the same as last year. The fact that he stayed around this year to work with the team tells me he is desperately trying to regain his form, but bad knees on a huge guy like that are an unforgiving thing. Hope I'm wrong.

I am cautiously optomistic about Hobson (hoping he's tne next Vrabel - a good player misused by his former team), and I think the Pats will invite Seau back. He had a pretty good year last year and who could be better to teach Hobson and Mayo a few tricks of the trade.

I think Chad Jackson is a bust and this is the year we'll cut ties (Hope I'm wrong again).

Can't wait for the season to start!!