If Maroney goes down, are the Pats done?

[dhamz]

We deal way too much with absolutes sometimes. Done is way too absolute. The flip side is that we often see "we won without player X, we will win without player Y" which is also too absolute.

If the team has to go through January without Maroney it hurts the chances of coming out with the trophy. How much it hurts would have to play out but depth at RB is a reasonable concern right now with Maroney not cleared for contact.

 

[Patjew]

As was previously stated, we won with Antwoine Smith, so anything is possible this year. Heck....maybe Vrabel can fill in for a bit.

Why the hate for Smith? He was very good in 2001. Let's not forget how important he was as Brady got acclimated.

 

[PatsFaninCAN]

Sorry, but I really feel that you under-estimate the ability of Sammy Morris. To say that he is "average at best" is a stretch of immense proportions.

Saying Sammy Morris is an "average at best" starting RB is probably the best compliment he has gotten in a while.
Morris is a good option, but if you feel he is a good #1, you need to stop drinking so much Kool-Aid.

 

[rabthepat]

Can't believe that Dillon would be on Pioli's speed dial.

Opposing defensive players used to joke about Dillon last year.

Not about his speed, which anyone could see was lacking, but rather that when he got into space he ran towards the sideline to avoid contact.

I repeat: Defenders laughed watching tape of Dillon desperately trying to avoid contact by running OUT OF BOUNDS.

He may have been playing hurt, but it doesn't surprise me at all that he hasn't been picked up.

So true...I saw Denver's Lynch talk about Corey and he loved it when Corey got the ball. He said they played up towards the line because Corey could not run past them.

 

[MetalBleachers]

Why the hate for Smith? He was very good in 2001. Let's not forget how important he was as Brady got acclimated.

You're point's well taken: memories run short around here. Antowain was solid and steady if not spectacular. It just seems that expectations of the offense have gotten higher than ever, and that includes the running game.

 

[rabthepat]

Why the hate for Smith? He was very good in 2001. Let's not forget how important he was as Brady got acclimated.

So true...Smith did a good job for us. He was virtually fumble proof. In bad weather he grinded it out for us.

 

[PatsSteve1]

No we are not done, the Patriots won 2 Superbowls with Antowain Smith.

After watching last night's game now today, Morris kinda remnds me of Smith. No Morris isn't a great RB, but with what the passing O should be, with Faulk, could be good enough.

 

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

After watching last night's game now today, Morris kinda remnds me of Smith. No Morris isn't a great RB, but with what the passing O should be, with Faulk, could be good enough.

Frankly-I'm impressed with the way the Pats adapt themselves when injuries happen. Take the '05 Pitt game when Matt Light and Rodney went down-their O and D didn't miss a beat(if it weren't for a few stupid penalties, it would have been a blowout W).

Alot of QBs generally go south when their blind-sided T goes down, but Tom Jackson talked about how Brady adjusted his game during this time.

 

[jbb9s]

.

And the first one was with Brown and Patten as our recievers.

People shouldn't really use this kind of reasoning.......if that AFCCG was played 10 time, Pittsburgh wins 7 and if the Super Bowl was played 10 time, St Louis wins 9. I'd certainly like to have much higher odds this time around.

 

[RayClay]

So true...I saw Denver's Lynch talk about Corey and he loved it when Corey got the ball. He said they played up towards the line because Corey could not run past them.

Is everybody nuts here? Any football fans?

Watch the fourth quarter of some games last year. Defensive players are ecstatic when Corey runs past them. It means he's not running at them, through them and stepping on their faces on the way by.

Plus the rhodes scholar whose post you are referencing said Dillon intentionally ran outside to avoid contact I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you didn't read the post you quoted.

 

[PatsSteve1]

People shouldn't really use this kind of reasoning.......if that AFCCG was played 10 time, Pittsburgh wins 7 and if the Super Bowl was played 10 time, St Louis wins 9. I'd certainly like to have much higher odds this time around.

If that reasoning made sense then there'd be no reason to try and get better.

 

[cstjohn17]

Barry 'F--ing' Sanders and Reggie Miller, wow!

No we are not done, the Patriots won 2 Superbowls with Antowain Smith.

I have thought about this more, and have just had a nice supper with too much wine...

The Patriots can be strong team without Maroney, they will have an good passing game and a less than stellar but adequate running game. What concerns me is the that the offense may never come close to reaching its potential. Watching the first pre-season game, after the first offensive series I said to myself "Holy crap, this is the same offense as last year without Maroney or Dillion".

Of course it won't stay that way all season but there is a reasonable chance that we won't have our top three playmakers available at the same time (Maroney, Moss and Stallworth). Moss and Stallworth have had lingering hammy injuries and Maroney has a gimp shoulder. If these guys can't suit up our offense is actually worse than last year which I did not think was possible.

 

[mgteich]

The running game is NOT adequate without Maroney. Could we win? Sure! Brady will implement the run-and-shoot. Seriously, Morris and Faulk will fill in, but much more responsibility will move to Brady's arm. I don't think that we will have long drives with several running plays. We won't be able to grind out the clock. I am an advocate of picking up Maroney-insurance, as I have been since before the draft.