when was his last streak of 50-60yds plus of running? How many games in a row was it?
In 2007 games 1-3 Maroney ran for 72, 77, and 103 yards on 54 caries (an average of 4.67 YPC and 84 YPG, which would project to 1367 yards over a full 16 game season). The he got hurt and missed 3 games with a groin injury - so he's "made of glass", just like Fred Taylor. He came back and was off in his first game (31 yards on just 6 caries, 5+ YPC average; groin injuries are notorious for being nagging and lingering injuries which take a long time to fully heal), then ran for 75 and 59 yards on 29 carries in his next 2 games (4.62 YPC average). He was used to a limited degree in the next 4 games because of injury (no more than 13 carries per game), before running for 104, 156 and 46 yards in his last 3 games on (average 5.2 YPC). The 46 was against the Giants, who have a tough run defense. In game 1 of 2008 he ran for 51 yards on 10 carries against KC, with an injured shoulder that would put him on IR for the rest of the season. He hasn't had more than 10 carries in a game since then.
Maroney has suffered torn rib cartilege, a groin injury, and a shoulder injury in 3 years. He's been banged up, partly because he runs hard. Fred Taylor is the poster child of the talented RB who has missed lots of time because of injuries. Maroney has never hesitated to put his body on the line for the team.
One thing that I find really annoying is when someone makes a post with actual data, and it gets totally ignored by people who want to continue to spout BS without regard to the facts. I posted this way back in post 79, and no one's bothered to mention it in 60 posts since then:
Maroney's first year (2006) he never got more than 19 carries a game. He ran for over 100 yards once (against Cincinnati for 125 yards on 15 carries), and finished with a very respectable 745 yards rushing on 175 carries for a 4.3 average, and 6 TDs, in 14 games. He had 22 receptions for 194 yards, including catches of 33, 34, 41 and 69 yards. Maroney split duties with Corey Dillon, who had 812 yards rushing in a full 16 games, with 98 yards in his best game, for a 4.1 YPG average.
Maroney's second year (2007) he missed 3 games but ran for 835 yards on 185 carries for a 4.5 average and 6 TDs, including a 59 yard TD run. That projects to 1027 yards and 8-9 TDs over a full season. He had only 4 completions but had 116 yards receiving, with receptions of 37 and 79 yards, the latter the longest offensive play of the year for the Pats. Only twice did he get over 20 rushing touches in a game, both against the Jets (20 and 26). He had 3 100 yard rushing games, including 2 out of the last 3 games (104 yards against the Jets, and a career best 156 yards on only 14 carries against Miami).
In 2008 Maroney rushed for only 28 attempts while injured before being placed on IR. He never got over 10 rushing attempts in a game, and he didn't have a reception.
So far in 2009 Maroney hasn't gotten more than 7 rush attempts a game, with 27 total carries. He's had 3 receptions.
Maroney has rushed for over 70 yards 10 times (4 times in 2006 and 6 times in 2007). The Pats are 10-0 in those games.
The statistics are fairly clear over the 2006-2007 seasons. Maroney makes big plays. Get him enough touches, and get the ball in his hands (preferably with some space) and good things will happen. And the Pats win games when he touches the ball.
Maroney was on IR most of last year. Of course he's rusty. He needs work to get back his form. He won't do it on 6-7 runs a game. But unless he's injured, there's no reason to believe that getting him the ball won't result in big plays.
The data is clear. Maroney in 2006-2007 was a big play producer and a quality back for us, even while fighting injuries. Then he went on IR, and he's been a non-factor since. If he's too injured to run then he should be put on IR. Otherwise, he should be given a chance to work himself back into his 2006-2006 form.
For the record, here's Law Firm's track record to date:
- 29 rushes for 275 yards, a 3.7 average
- 1 game (out of 4) with over 50 yards rushing. Maroney had 14 games of 50 or more yards rushing in his first 28 games.
- 1 run over 25 yards.
- 4 catches for 27 yards.
Boy, is that impressive.
