Goal Line RB options

[JaredOfNazareth]

Is LdT a goalline back? He is smaller than Maroney and has the same kind of injury history. And yes I am comparing the two with regard to their goalline ability. I think we will be fine. Would Tom Brady do that quick-count QB sneak if the Oline wasn't able to generate a great push?

Dillon was brought here to be an every down back but he was only that guy his first year. Then last year he was a close yardage specialist, and he was good at it.

Last season we saw drives stall out a lot and many slow methodical drives. As we know field goals are 17yard attempts plus the distance to the goalline. Well the majority of field goal attempts for NE were between 20-29 yards which puts the ball no worse than the 12 yard line. But there were zero attempts of less than 20 yards, so if the ball was inside the 3 yard line NE scored a TD. Period. But NE still had lots of trouble in the redzone up till that 3 yard point and NE had Corey Dillon but did not have the ability to spread out the defense like they can do this year and were able to do in years prior to 2006. Thats how the Colts can run the ball.

 

[JaredOfNazareth]

Robertweathers,
I made the post above before i read what you wrote. We have a similar opinion.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Is LdT a goalline back? He is smaller than Maroney and has the same kind of injury history. And yes I am comparing the two with regard to their goalline ability. I think we will be fine. Would Tom Brady do that quick-count QB sneak if the Oline wasn't able to generate a great push?

Dillon was brought here to be an every down back but he was only that guy his first year. Then last year he was a close yardage specialist, and he was good at it.

Last season we saw drives stall out a lot and many slow methodical drives. As we know field goals are 17yard attempts plus the distance to the goalline. Well the majority of field goal attempts for NE were between 20-29 yards which puts the ball no worse than the 12 yard line. But there were zero attempts of less than 20 yards, so if the ball was inside the 3 yard line NE scored a TD. Period. But NE still had lots of trouble in the redzone up till that 3 yard point and NE had Corey Dillon but did not have the ability to spread out the defense like they can do this year and were able to do in years prior to 2006. Thats how the Colts can run the ball.

You know this is coming... but are you REALLY comparing any of our RBs to LaDanian Tomlinson? (with all due respect to Maroney - he's not LT)

Hmmm - well Walter Payton did a pretty good job on the goal line too, therefore I'm confident Sammy Morris will be ok!

Actually we'll see what will happen - I don't think Maroney can't get the job done... I just question whether it makes sense to expose a guy who's coming off a shoulder injury to the intense goaline pounding when his skillset is finding holes in an open offense outside of the Red Zone.

Thus far in camp they've been treating Maroney with kid gloves - and one can't help but wonder, especially given the fact that the team just moved to free up a roster spot at RB today, wether they might bring in a special teams back for goal line situations.

 

[JoeSixPat]

100% agreement. If the line does its job and minimizes the push/penatration into the backfield, Chris Farley (RIP) could run through the holes.

So we should have just kept Antowain Smith rather than spending $5 million and a 2nd round draft choice on Dillon?

And how come Dillon got the rep of doing such a great job bowling people over and strong arming them... if the OL did their job and opened holes he wouldn't have needed to do that would he?

Sorry folks, but RBs take a big pounding at the goal line if you haven't noticed. Some added depth at this position would be a very good thing, and a goal line specialist would be especially welcome.

 

[Rob0729]

So we should have just kept Antowain Smith rather than spending $5 million and a 2nd round draft choice on Dillon?

And how come Dillon got the rep of doing such a great job bowling people over and strong arming them... if the OL did their job and opened holes he wouldn't have needed to do that would he?

Sorry folks, but RBs take a big pounding at the goal line if you haven't noticed. Some added depth at this position would be a very good thing, and a goal line specialist would be especially welcome.

I think you might be overstating a bit. Dillon value was far more than just as a goalline runner. Dillon was just as important in the open field constantly pounding on the defense forcing them to put extra men in the box to allow Brady to go over the top and just tiring out the defense trying to bring him down. If Dillon's biggest contribution was goalline stances, we did way overspend for him. Dillon was most effective running the ball 25-30 times a game and only a handful of them would be goalline runs if any.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I think you might be overstating a bit. Dillon value was far more than just as a goalline runner. Dillon was just as important in the open field constantly pounding on the defense forcing them to put extra men in the box to allow Brady to go over the top and just tiring out the defense trying to bring him down. If Dillon's biggest contribution was goalline stances, we did way overspend for him. Dillon was most effective running the ball 25-30 times a game and only a handful of them would be goalline runs if any.

Smith's production on the goal line and in the open field had dropped from 2001 - so Dillon was brought in here for both reasons.

Indeed many people forget how frustrating it was to watch this team always go with bargain basement RBs - not that success was impossible with them but it made it that much more difficult (kindof like the WR position last season).

But in answer to the overall question, yes, I would like to minimize Maroney's wear and tear at the goal line and I'd be surprised if the coaches don't have some concern about Maroney's health as well.

But I guess I got my answer - no one beside me thinks the team will be interested in bringing in a veteran back for special teams/goal line role and very few even expect that Evans might be wind up serving in a goal line role to ease the hits that Maroney will be taking.

 

[DaBruinz]

Garrett Mills was drafted to be the next Larry Centers. A terror as pass catching FB, who never blocked, and never ran the ball.

BB alsays thought Larry was an awesome weapon; tried to get him a couple of times. He signed him and Larry won a ring; but was virtually finished when we got him.

Larry Centers was a better blocking option than Patrick Pass. And Centers DID run the ball on occasion.