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I just re-watched the first two kickoff returns of the Ravens game. Maroney did a hell of a job to get the yardage he did. Scott O'Brien wasn't using the same two-man wedge formation he did in the Buffalo game or pre-season, he had two TEs and the token OL forming a loose equilateral triangle with the TE base leading. Connolly looked awful and this formation was not working out as well. Combine the wedge breakdowns with Edelman's less than impressive lead blocking and I really missed Slater and Wendell.
For the third KO return NE went back to the two-man wedge, unfortunately Maroney followed his lead blocker Edelman and not his wedge. Edelman doesn't see the field like a RB. Connolly and Baker looked good, but Maroney wasn't following them.
For the final KO return, again NE went with the two-man wedge and this time Maroney followed them, he got 6 more yards than he did following Edelman and might have gotten more if Edelman and Matthews hadn't missed their blocks.
I know folks prefer to blame Maroney for all failings that occur when he's on the field, but Slater as his lead blocker would change his KR average significantly - Edelman still blocks like a Quarterback (ole'!).
As long as Connolly is in O'Brien's wedge, Scotty needs to stick to the basic two-man look - Big Dan as the pivot point of that triangular wedge formation is not a winner.
For the third KO return NE went back to the two-man wedge, unfortunately Maroney followed his lead blocker Edelman and not his wedge. Edelman doesn't see the field like a RB. Connolly and Baker looked good, but Maroney wasn't following them.
For the final KO return, again NE went with the two-man wedge and this time Maroney followed them, he got 6 more yards than he did following Edelman and might have gotten more if Edelman and Matthews hadn't missed their blocks.
I know folks prefer to blame Maroney for all failings that occur when he's on the field, but Slater as his lead blocker would change his KR average significantly - Edelman still blocks like a Quarterback (ole'!).
As long as Connolly is in O'Brien's wedge, Scotty needs to stick to the basic two-man look - Big Dan as the pivot point of that triangular wedge formation is not a winner.