I Love Ya BB, But.........

[shmessy]

......Why the hell do you have Maroney out there returning kickoffs??????

In his online chat today, Reiss mentions something I've been screaming about the past two weeks. Namely, that Willie Andrews should be back there taking kickoff returns with Kevin Faulk.

In the preseason, Andrews showed some serious skill in the return department and will not have as much wear and tear this year as Maroney.

Meanwhile, Maroney will probably see 15-20 carries per game this year (his first year in a 16-19 game season as opposed to 10-12) and looks like Patrick Pass on kickoffs (except for one good return to the Pats 40 on Sunday).

 

[Trot]

Hear hear! I have been wondering the same thing. Get him outta there...

 

[BelichickFan]

The only issue I have with it is that until his 39 yard return on Sunday, he hadn't been very successful with his returns. Other than that, he's a football player running football plays. No issue there. He can get hurt playing RB too.

 

[Alk]

Belichick puts the best players on the field at all times, whether they're an offensive/defensive regular or not. I don't see a whole lot of kick returners go down with an injury so I guess it's never really been that big of a concern to me.

 

[Murphys95]

Belichick puts the best players on the field at all times, whether they're an offensive/defensive regular or not. I don't see a whole lot of kick returners go down with an injury so I guess it's never really been that big of a concern to me.

I agree, play the best players you've got. I don't know of any stat that says a player is more likely to be injured at KR than at RB.

 

[shmessy]

I agree, play the best players you've got. I don't know of any stat that says a player is more likely to be injured at KR than at RB.

I never wrote that my main concern is injury.

Fatigue and overuse is a concern this year since Maroney has never played more than 10-12 games in a season.

Also, from the 4-6 run backs we've seen so far, he looks mighty tentative and not explosive on KR's. (I know, I know, we've all seen the "Patriot" Youtube video of him at Minnesota running one back for a TD, but so far in the pros, his KR's look like vintage Patrick Pass).

I would imagine Willie Andrews can get it out to at least the 25 on a consistent basis (and perhaps do even better) without having the extra wear and tear on Maroney which may take him out of the first few plays from scrimmage on the ensuing drive. If Andrews can do the job, I see no benefit in having Maroney taking on the extra duty. JMHO.

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

I agree completely... I do not want to see Maroney back there returning anything.

Use Willie Andrews or Kevin Faulk or even that WR Smith guy we picked up from the Bills... I heard he was a return specialist. Maroney is one of the last guys I want to see out there doing returns.

 

[Bella*chick]

I also agree he should not be back there. He just simply hasn't looked as impressive and surely we have some other guys who could contribute a little better. Plus, we need Maroney as fresh as possible.

 

[Oswlek]

I'm one of the bigger Andrews backers here, but he did *not* do well at KO returns in the preseason. He was decidedly average. His punt returns were much better, but I'm sure that the ball security issues he showed in the second PS is what is keeping him out of that role.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

I don't like him returning kicks because I don't like even a 1% increase in the chance of Maroney getting hurt.

Until the passing game catches up, which will take time as the new WRs familiarize themselves with the system and Brady, this team needs a top running game. I love Dillon, but I really love Dillon getting rest during a game and experiencing less wear and tear over the season. If Maroney goes down, even for a few weeks, I fear the load may effect Dillon even after Maroney comes back.

It's just not worth even a negligible risk.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I don't like Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison playing on Special Teams...I think I'll file a grievance with the NFLPA.

 

[zippo59]

I am so sick of fans b!itching about starters playing on special teams. Steve Smith, Reggie Bush, and DeAngelo Williams all return kicks. Field position can be the key to winning and losing a lot of games, so if you have the opportunity to make special teams better by putting your better players out there then they should absolutely do it. Ask the 2001 Pats how important special teams is. Guess what Pats pro bowler scored 2 special teams TD's in the AFCCG against Pittsburgh. Troy Brown. He returned a punt for a TD and blocked and recovered a FG the lateralled it for another TD. Without Brown we had absolutely nothing at receiver for BB realized that the good teams try to make something happen on ST's, they don't just try to be decent while preventing injury and focusing on offense and defense. I just don't understand the idea many fans somehow have that ST's is less important than offense and defense.

That being said I would not be oppossed to Maroney being taken out of the kick returning duty simply because he hasn't been very effective. Get someone else back there and see if they get better results.

 

[Kdo5]

If he does a good job, put him in there, if you cant play ST's because you're afraid to get injured then he might as well not play period. Football is about toughness. I do not think he has done the best returning kicks, thats the only reason why I wouldnt have him returning kicks.

 

[Alk]

I just don't understand I guess. So far, the kickoff returns have added an average of 2.5 plays per game to Maroney's total. Considering he is splitting carries with Dillon in the first place, I just don't see how this is even an issue at this point.

 

[Kdo5]

Maroney is tough despite if he may not look it with his size. I dont think he does a great job with kick returns, I'd like to see Faulk back there with someone who isnt too fragile. Not saying Maroney is fragile or anything.

 

[Bella*chick]

I, for one, don't have any problem at all with starters playing on special teams. I know how important BB thinks special teams are, and watching some of the other teams' pitiful special teams' performance and how it affects their W/L record, makes me thoroughly confident BB is once again 100% correct.

However, I just don't think Maroney looks particularly good back there yet. Maybe he'll get there, I dunno. I'm not going to lose too much sleep over it either way.

 

[Alk]

I think Maroney has already made strides in his return game. His first game against the Bills, he averaged 19.7 yards and last week against the Jets, he was up to 32.5 with a long of 39. If he continues like that, I won't have any complaints at all.

 

[BradyManny]

The Jets kicked away from Maroney on the last kickoff (the previous return was Maroney's 40 yarder).

I haven't seen anyone else bring this up, but I think we should let Chad Jackson return punts.

 

[Alk]

The Jets kicked away from Maroney on the last kickoff (the previous return was Maroney's 40 yarder).

I haven't seen anyone else bring this up, but I think we should let Chad Jackson return punts.

It would be worth a shot I guess but I would still want Troy Brown when the kick is going to be deep in our own territory.

 

[zippo59]

The Jets kicked away from Maroney on the last kickoff (the previous return was Maroney's 40 yarder).

I haven't seen anyone else bring this up, but I think we should let Chad Jackson return punts.

Reportedly Jackson looked the least comfortable returning kicks of anyone they had do it during Traning Camp. He might have improved and gotten more comfortable since then but it is still worth noting.