Maroney had a Broken Bone in Shoulder...

[condon84]

If you look at the way Maroney ran at the end of the 07 season, the way he ran hard to the hole, took some contact and was effective compared to the way he ran last year where he was avoiding contact and was tentative, you knew something was wrong. I'm sure it killed him that he couldn't come out with it right away because of the Pats injury philosophy, but I'm glad that he can let it out now. I still think this guy can be a legit #1 RB if he can stay healthy.

 

[Maroney TD]

Not sure what you are referring to...what critics showed up here prior to your post?

Probably referring to the numerous threads that trash Maroney on the board. Not in this thread but in pretty much every other thread about Maroney.

 

[BradyFTW!]

He had a bad shoulder in the past, so the only thing that really worries me is if this is going to be a recurring thing, or if it's the same injury that never fully healed, or what? Either way, we need him healthy this year, and I think he's going to put up some great #s for us.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Well, lets hope his injury problems are behind him and begins to contribute. Having Fred Taylor as a mentor can only help his development.

Begins?...

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

How could this have been common knowledge, if he just revealed what the problem was? Honestly, I want to know your sources...

There were plenty of posters here and elsewhere who used the frame advance and slow motion functions on their DVR/VCR to point out how much Maroney was favoring his shoulder (and how poorly the O-line was blocking for him at that point in the season). The same game he was so abused for running out of bounds to protect his shoulder, he made a big hit on a LB after an interception using his "left" shoulder, the contrast in shoulder health was evident. The problem may not have been known as a broken bone (I was guessing a separated shoulder), but a significant injury was clearly visible when you analyzed the broadcast recordings.

I expect a return to 2007 form for Maroney, we'll see if former RB's coach Bill O'Brien has plans to use him more in the passing game to take the defense's run first focus off him. Unlike Josh, OC presumptive BO'B has OC experience from college and has been a position coach for RB, QB, TE, and ILB, so it will be interesting to see how he manages the balance on offense and how he uses Maroney.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Begins?...

Well said. I've tried to understand the Maroney bashing out here and do get it to some small degree, but only in the narrow context of his not (yet) proving to be an every game, every down RB who produces 1,500 yard seasons. After the hype that surrounded his arrival as a first rounder, I guess there are folks who are so disappointed at how things turned out that they have turned against him.

But his stats (before what we now know to have been a broken bone in the area of his shoulder) show that he has been very productive as part of a backfield tandem and that he gives a solid performance in most games and occasionally plays brilliantly. That's a money back in the NFL these days; not a superstar, but a darn good part of your roster.

Those who know a lot more about this than I do have said all along that Maroney has the raw talent to be a premier NFL RB; maybe he will blossom this season.

But, even if he "just" continues to contribute as he did before his injury, that's fine with me and I'm sure that there are other teams who would be glad to have him.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

There were plenty of posters here and elsewhere who used the frame advance and slow motion functions on their DVR/VCR to point out how much Maroney was favoring his shoulder (and how poorly the O-line was blocking for him at that point in the season)...The problem may not have been known as a broken bone ...

I think the poster's narrow point was that we didn't know the problem was a broken bone until today. There was no hiding the fact that he had a "shoulder problem."

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Not sure what you are referring to...what critics showed up here prior to your post?

There have been many threads bashing Maroney out here, just as there were many (embarrassingly bad) threads bashing Matt after he stepped in last year.

 

[Mogamedogz]

I wonder if it was/is the same subluxed shoulder that has been a problem for him since his days at Minnesota.

 

[Ghost of Ben Dreith]

Just a couple of comments....

I would love to see Maroney live up to his potential but I am not going to be holding my breath. There has always been excuses made for this guy....the shoulder is a solid one though and no problems with the results from that. However, I know what I have seen from him throughout his time here except for a very short period of time when he did live up to his potential. I am not impressed. There are some here who will always give him the benefit of the doubt and drool over his 1 or 2 big games each year. I am not of that group. Give me Sammy Morris over Maroney every single Sunday when the Pats need a decisive, North/South runner.

We changed our OL blocking scheme to make things easier for this guy....still waiting for the results of that exercise to help Maroney show his skills.

As for Fred Taylor leading him to the promised land, I wouldn't count on that but would hope so. Taylor has always been hurt a lot in his career, but Fred always ran hard when healthy.

As for Maroney.....regardless of anything I read on this board.....I will let my own eyes tell me how "great" he is running the ball. IMHO his calling is following JT onto "Dancing with the Stars" until Maroney shows me otherwise...not anybody in here telling me otherwise.

Good luck with the injury LM....I sincerely hope its all better and you play great this year since the Pats did invest a first rounder and a lot of cash in you. I also am anxious to see what excuses are going to be made for you if it doesn't work out this year. As sure as night follows day.........

 

[RayClay]

To be fair, a lot of the reporting at the time suggested there were other issues that were occuring alongside the injury that would lead one to question Maroney's toughness and mental approach as well as durability. I was one of the bashers. In light of the injury, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt this season, but he's gotta play at least 14 games and be available for post season play. Anything less solidifies criticisms about his durability.

To be fair?

Ha ha ha. You're looking for a way to make a broken bone his fault.

How wonderful of you to give him the benefit of the doubt. When someone breaks your bone, I guess you have doubt too.

To be fair i am just using you as an example of the convoluted logic of those that don't have the courage to say...

I was wrong!

Repeat it I was wrong!

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Just a couple of comments....

I would love to see Maroney live up to his potential but I am not going to be holding my breath. There has always been excuses made for this guy....the shoulder is a solid one though and no problems with the results from that. However, I know what I have seen from him throughout his time here except for a very short period of time when he did live up to his potential. I am not impressed. There are some here who will always give him the benefit of the doubt and drool over his 1 or 2 big games each year. I am not of that group. Give me Sammy Morris over Maroney every single Sunday when the Pats need a decisive, North/South runner.

We changed our OL blocking scheme to make things easier for this guy....still waiting for the results of that exercise to help Maroney show his skills.

As for Fred Taylor leading him to the promised land, I wouldn't count on that but would hope so. Taylor has always been hurt a lot in his career, but Fred always ran hard when healthy.

As for Maroney.....regardless of anything I read on this board.....I will let my own eyes tell me how "great" he is running the ball. IMHO his calling is following JT onto "Dancing with the Stars" until Maroney shows me otherwise...not anybody in here telling me otherwise.

Good luck with the injury LM....I sincerely hope its all better and you play great this year since the Pats did invest a first rounder and a lot of cash in you. I also am anxious to see what excuses are going to be made for you if it doesn't work out this year. As sure as night follows day.........

Totally disagree with this assessment of Maroney. He showed at the end of '07 that he was for real, and can play with power. All backs get hurt. It will even out for him and I think he's going to have an excellent season this year.

 

[tuckeverlasting]

I think the poster's narrow point was that we didn't know the problem was a broken bone until today. There was no hiding the fact that he had a "shoulder problem."

i thought anyone who's played football knew, when he ran out of bounds instead of lowereing his shoulder, there was a problem. it was obvious.

 

[eom]

He had a bad shoulder in the past, so the only thing that really worries me is if this is going to be a recurring thing, or if it's the same injury that never fully healed, or what? Either way, we need him healthy this year, and I think he's going to put up some great #s for us.

he claims the broken bone was a different part of that same shoulder.

so, I guess we'll see.

thx for posting this, btw, op --- I was really wondering about that injury, recently.

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

I hope he is healthy for this season. If Maroney stays healthy all year then hell has frozen over!!!

 

[apple strudel]

Well we all knew he had something wrong with this shoulder, this just confirms it. But why is he talking about it publicly? It's pretty un-Patriot like to worry about what the public at large thinks.

 

[DaBruinz]

Not sure what you are referring to...what critics showed up here prior to your post?

There have been NUMEROUS threads ridiculing Maroney and calling him a bust over the past 2 years.

 

[Deus Irae]

Sadly, none of this really matters in the end. Morris has been out for almost as many games as Maroney since they've both been on the club. No running back on the team was doing anything last year until the O-line got it together. Maroney's numbers have been better than Morris' numbers while both have been Patriots. We just had an ex-player analyze the play of the O-line last season and point out the failures they were having.

Despite all this, the first time Koppen & Company miss a block and Maroney gets hung up in the backfield or has to look for another hole to run to, people here will be back to the same nonsense they usually spout.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

As someone who was critical of him running out of bounds on the aforementioned play, I'm 'glad' to know he was playing with what I'd regard as a severe injury. I'm really glad that the Pats came to their senses and pulled him from the '09 lineup to heal.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Totally disagree with this assessment of Maroney. He showed at the end of '07 that he was for real, and can play with power. All backs get hurt. It will even out for him and I think he's going to have an excellent season this year.

I can't believe how easily people forget Maroney was brilliant down the stretch in '07. And his struggles early in the season obviously didn't hurt the offense. He's going to have another fine year if the shoulder problems are over.