Maroney is a better pass catching threat out of the backfield at this point than Taylor is and is a better blocker than Morris is.
He is a better pass catcher than Taylor, but that isn't saying a ton, Maroney still didn't show 3rd down back caliber hands. I don't agree at all that he's a better blocker than Morris, though.
I think Woodhead is the guy we'll see used the most as the 3rd down back anyways. He has much better hands than any of our non-Faulk backs, as well as Maroney. The question is how well he'll pass protect. Considering he's known he doesn't have the talent to be a starting RB and this is his way to make the NFL, I'm hopeful he's worked very hard at it.
I didn't like the Maroney trade either, but second guessing it because Kevin Faulk, our most durable back, tears an ACL and is done for the year is pretty silly. When Taylor and/or Morris get hurt, which is probably coming fairly soon with their track records, that's when it's a lot more appropriate for getting on the deal of Maroney. Maroney has shown he can handle their role of being a solid runner in a RBBC approach. He hasn't shown he's currently got the skills to be a 3rd down back.
To DaBruinz (I suck at multi quoting, sorry), sure, maybe he improves in those areas and eventually becomes a 3rd down back, but then again, maybe Woodhead and Lawfirm do too (they are all the same age). I don't see how that makes him a better option as a 3rd down back, it's basically just hoping they all improve with the possible exception of Woodhead, who we haven't seen in pass protection enough to determine whether he's fit for the role.
