Maroney gets diapers at his locker [merged]

[National Sports Advisors]

Lets look at 1st round backs since 2000, and what their 2nd year RUSHING production was (I projected the 06 class based on 11 game production):

06 -
Reggie Bush- 752 6
DeAngelo Williams- 561 1
Laurence Maroney- 677 4
Joseph Addai- 1271 13

05
Ronnie Brown- 1008 5
Cedric Benson- 647 6 (splitting carries)
Cadillac Williams- 798 1

04
Stephen Jackson- 1046 8
Chris Perry- 279 0
Kevin Jones- 664 5

03
Willis McGahee- 1247 5
Larry Johnson- 581 9 (splitting carries- next year solo 1750 10)

02
William Green- 559 1 (half the season injured)
TJ Duckett- 779 11

01
LT- 1683 14
Deuce McAllister- 1388 13
Michael Bennett- 1296 5

00
Jamal Lewis- 1327 6
Thomas Jones- 380 5
Ron Dayne- 690 7
Sean Alexander- 1318 4

A few things stand out to me. One is, Maroney is not going to be an all-pro back. The guys who wound up being standouts were standouts by year 2. Thomas Jones had a few good seasons with Chicago late, but for the most part a 1st round RB who starts in year 2 and gains less than 1000 yards is, like NSA says, ultimately probably going to be just another guy. By that logic, Addai is the clear winner from the 06 draft, and will probably be good for a number of years.

Maroney is not a bust, but he's not a bang either. Yes, backs get better over a number of years, but by year 2 the guys who get it already got it. Those are the franchise guys. What's interesting to me is, guys who get less than 800 yards in year 2 don't become all-pros (granted, this is only 1st round picks we're talking here).

For what it's worth, I don't buy the "game plan" argument that you guys are putting out there. When Morris was healthy, the Pats ran often. By the time he got hurt, it seemed clear that he was the number one back in spirit if not in form, and he factored in heavily in game plans against teams with good pass rush abilities. When was the last time Maroney got the ball on 3rd down? I don't see the confidence in him that you all do. If you've got a back that can play, you play him. They're not re-inventing the wheel in Foxboro, they're playing to their strenghts. Clearly Maroney is not one of them.

I wouldn't be shocked to see the Pats pick McFadden or another running back, even though it will be costly. I think they can find LB help in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, and with Faulk getting older they're going to need a clear #1, especially if Stallworth goes and CJ doesn't live up to his potential either.

My gut says that Maroney is out of here by the time his rookie contract is up. If he can't be a 1,000 yard back with this years team, he's not going to be a 1,000 yard back period.

I agree. I view Laurence Maroney as the Daniel Graham of running backs. Graham was a solid TE, but it was obvious to anyone with a pulse by year #2 that that guy was never going to be an elite TE. He was solid, nothing more and nothing less. The same applies with Maroney, although I still have doubts whether this guy will even be around here by year #5 of his rookie contract. Running backs are not rocket scientists. This asburd notion that he does not get more playing time because he is injured(he's not on the INJURY REPORT, people) and/or he needs to "learn the offense" is comical. The guy is what he is. He is a running back that is not a threat to get anything more than 10-15 yards on any given run, a back that is no use in the passing game, and a back who has not shown he can grind out the tough yards. He is the Daniel Graham of running backs. He is what he is people.

 

[DaBruinz]

You guys are missing the point. Of course BB decided to utilize the pass instead of the running game with Maroney. Nobody is debating that. What people like myself are saying is that BB would not be doing this if he had a running back that was a DIFFERENCE MAKER. Maroney is a JAG, therefore it makes sense to use short passes as a substitute for the running game. However, you can bet your life that if LT, Stephen Jackson, or Joseph Addai were on this team than BB would have had them in the game in that 1st half. Those players are TOO GOOD to keep on the sideline. Maroney is simply NOT, thus the reason why BB does not feel the need to implement him into the gameplan.

The point is that they decided it NOT because Maroney is average but because it was the best way to exploit the defense they were facing.

BTW, before you start mentioning Stephen Jackson, you might have actually have wanted to have watched him play in his first two years. You clearly haven't.

 

[National Sports Advisors]

The point is that they decided it NOT because Maroney is average but because it was the best way to exploit the defense they were facing.

BTW, before you start mentioning Stephen Jackson, you might have actually have wanted to have watched him play in his first two years. You clearly haven't.

I don't know what Stephen Jackson you watched in year #2, because I watched the guy that had 1046 yards, 8 rushing TDs, 43 receptions, 320 yards receiving, and 2 receiveing TD's. That's 1366 total yards from scrimmage and 10 TDs, my friend. That's the Stephen Jackson I watched.

 

[bakes781]

Can we get off this guy's back already? He's a good back. He just hasn't been given the carries to show it yet. The OL as great as it's been is more suited to pass protect than it is to run block.

 

[Grizzafted]

BTW, before you start mentioning Stephen Jackson, you might have actually have wanted to have watched him play in his first two years. You clearly haven't.

In Stephen Jackson's second year, he started 15 games, gained 1000 yards, and scored 8 touchdowns. In fact, he outperformed Maroney's 2007 year in his rookie season, when he had a 5.0 ypc average. Maroney is on pace to finish over 300 yards below his 2nd year stats. I'm not concerned with your eyeball analysis, this is what the stats say. I understand Maroney isn't getting as many carries, but I'm suggesting that there is a reason for that.

I'm happy with 11-0. I trust Belichick. But Maroney is the weak link on this team, and he better get his sh*t together this month, because he's going to be needed in the playoffs. If we can't effectively run the ball on 2nd and 3rd down in January, forget about the super bowl.

 

[DaBruinz]

Lets look at 1st round backs since 2000, and what their 2nd year RUSHING production was (I projected the 06 class based on 11 game production):

06 -
Reggie Bush- 752 6
DeAngelo Williams- 561 1
Laurence Maroney- 677 4
Joseph Addai- 1271 13

05
Ronnie Brown- 1008 5
Cedric Benson- 647 6 (splitting carries)
Cadillac Williams- 798 1

04
Stephen Jackson- 1046 8
Chris Perry- 279 0
Kevin Jones- 664 5

03
Willis McGahee- 1247 5
Larry Johnson- 581 9 (splitting carries- next year solo 1750 10)

02
William Green- 559 1 (half the season injured)
TJ Duckett- 779 11

01
LT- 1683 14
Deuce McAllister- 1388 13
Michael Bennett- 1296 5

00
Jamal Lewis- 1327 6
Thomas Jones- 380 5
Ron Dayne- 690 7
Sean Alexander- 1318 4

A few things stand out to me. One is, Maroney is not going to be an all-pro back. The guys who wound up being standouts were standouts by year 2. Thomas Jones had a few good seasons with Chicago late, but for the most part a 1st round RB who starts in year 2 and gains less than 1000 yards is, like NSA says, ultimately probably going to be just another guy. By that logic, Addai is the clear winner from the 06 draft, and will probably be good for a number of years.

Maroney is not a bust, but he's not a bang either. Yes, backs get better over a number of years, but by year 2 the guys who get it already got it. Those are the franchise guys. What's interesting to me is, guys who get less than 800 yards in year 2 don't become all-pros (granted, this is only 1st round picks we're talking here).

For what it's worth, I don't buy the "game plan" argument that you guys are putting out there. When Morris was healthy, the Pats ran often. By the time he got hurt, it seemed clear that he was the number one back in spirit if not in form, and he factored in heavily in game plans against teams with good pass rush abilities. When was the last time Maroney got the ball on 3rd down? I don't see the confidence in him that you all do. If you've got a back that can play, you play him. They're not re-inventing the wheel in Foxboro, they're playing to their strenghts. Clearly Maroney is not one of them.

I wouldn't be shocked to see the Pats pick McFadden or another running back, even though it will be costly. I think they can find LB help in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, and with Faulk getting older they're going to need a clear #1, especially if Stallworth goes and CJ doesn't live up to his potential either.

This post was the smartest thing you'd said until you stated the following:

My gut says that Maroney is out of here by the time his rookie contract is up. If he can't be a 1,000 yard back with this years team, he's not going to be a 1,000 yard back period.

This is just blantantly FALSE. Had Maroney NOT gotten injured, he would have put up over 1000 yards.

To say that if he can't put up a 1000 yards this year that he'll never do it is just a stupid assumption. That is like saying that Tiki Barber would never be a 1000 yard back because he didn't put up 1000 yards in any of his 1st 5 years..

Every player is different and every team is different. This year's team is predicated on the PASS first and Run 2nd. And the team is spreading the carries out, particularly when the game is well in hand. That isn't Maroney's fault. That is a TEAM decision because they don't want to run the score up. As they attempted NOT to with Buffalo by running Evans and Eckel.

 

[Grizzafted]

Oh, and I"m also sick of hearing that a "pass blocking" offensive line is responsible for Maroney's limited role. These guys know how to run block. We watched it with Morris. Scarneccia was the OL coach during Dillon's 1600 yard year. It's not their fault.

DaBruinz - I'm not going to give people a "well if he didn't get injured, etc" pass. The whole point is that a 1000 yard back is durable enough to go 14-16 games and not get injured. This is Maroney's second year where he's missed a significant number of games. Durability is part of the equation here. And, besides, how hurt has he really been? We're talking two weeks here where the guy hasn't shown up to play. That's not an injury problem, it's either a lack of confidence in his ability or a belief on the coach's part that he's irrelevant in consecutive game plans. Either way, it's not a good sign.

 

[Oswlek]

Lets look at 1st round backs since 2000, and what their 2nd year RUSHING production was (I projected the 06 class based on 11 game production):

06 -
Reggie Bush- 752 6
DeAngelo Williams- 561 1
Laurence Maroney- 677 4
Joseph Addai- 1271 13

05
Ronnie Brown- 1008 5
Cedric Benson- 647 6 (splitting carries)
Cadillac Williams- 798 1

04
Stephen Jackson- 1046 8
Chris Perry- 279 0
Kevin Jones- 664 5

03
Willis McGahee- 1247 5
Larry Johnson- 581 9 (splitting carries- next year solo 1750 10)

02
William Green- 559 1 (half the season injured)
TJ Duckett- 779 11

01
LT- 1683 14
Deuce McAllister- 1388 13
Michael Bennett- 1296 5

00
Jamal Lewis- 1327 6
Thomas Jones- 380 5
Ron Dayne- 690 7
Sean Alexander- 1318 4

A few things stand out to me. One is, Maroney is not going to be an all-pro back. The guys who wound up being standouts were standouts by year 2. Thomas Jones had a few good seasons with Chicago late, but for the most part a 1st round RB who starts in year 2 and gains less than 1000 yards is, like NSA says, ultimately probably going to be just another guy. By that logic, Addai is the clear winner from the 06 draft, and will probably be good for a number of years.

Maroney is not a bust, but he's not a bang either. Yes, backs get better over a number of years, but by year 2 the guys who get it already got it. Those are the franchise guys. What's interesting to me is, guys who get less than 800 yards in year 2 don't become all-pros (granted, this is only 1st round picks we're talking here).

For what it's worth, I don't buy the "game plan" argument that you guys are putting out there. When Morris was healthy, the Pats ran often. By the time he got hurt, it seemed clear that he was the number one back in spirit if not in form, and he factored in heavily in game plans against teams with good pass rush abilities. When was the last time Maroney got the ball on 3rd down? I don't see the confidence in him that you all do. If you've got a back that can play, you play him. They're not re-inventing the wheel in Foxboro, they're playing to their strenghts. Clearly Maroney is not one of them.

I wouldn't be shocked to see the Pats pick McFadden or another running back, even though it will be costly. I think they can find LB help in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, and with Faulk getting older they're going to need a clear #1, especially if Stallworth goes and CJ doesn't live up to his potential either.

My gut says that Maroney is out of here by the time his rookie contract is up. If he can't be a 1,000 yard back with this years team, he's not going to be a 1,000 yard back period.

A well reasoned, thoughtful post. Good job.

That said, I do dispute some of your conclusions.

1) The "game plan argument" has already been confirmed by the head coach himself. I don't think there really is any way to dispute it at this point.

2) Third down is definitely one area that Maroney needs to improve on. NE giving him the ball down 4 in the 4th quarter seems to indicate that they have some faith in him.

3) This line is terribly disingenuous. Maroney is not a strength compared to the passing game. When you have a historic passing offense the running game will be used to keep teams honest or will be used if it appears that the other team is winning the battle. So far no one has stopped NE's passing attack other than Indy, and Laurence was excellent in that game.

4) I see Maroney much the same way I do Jon Lester. Because of his illness, Lester was not able to fully use his offseason and he came back much the same guy that he was the year before. Now that he is healthy, this is a big offseason for Jon. If Laurence gets hurt again and can't build his stength and understanding of the offense, he will be an average back. But if he stays healthy the rest of the year and gets a full offseason with the trainers and coaches, I assure you that he will be at least a top 10 back next year no matter what totals he has this season.

 

[Oswlek]

Oh, and I"m also sick of hearing that a "pass blocking" offensive line is responsible for Maroney's limited role. These guys know how to run block. We watched it with Morris. Scarneccia was the OL coach during Dillon's 1600 yard year. It's not their fault.

When Maroney is in there, he faces an inordinant amount of run blitzes due to offensive predictibility. This is a fact, not a conclusion or an assumption. Just the bare facts. It isn't that the OL doesn't know what they are doing, it is that they regularly have to block an extra guy or two.

This is also why you see NE's play action work so ridiculously well.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I can't say those numbers are definitive. But they certainly demonstrate a TREND that good runningbacks will produce fairly early in their careers. I'd like Maroney to produce this year, but it doesn't look like he will hit even 800 yards at this rate.

Let's at least see Maroney get INVOLVED in the offense, and that would do a lot to quell the doubts. If he can even put up 70-80 yards on the Ravens, it would help demonstrate that he's not a forgotten cog. If his production stays around the same against the Ravens as it has for the past 2 weeks however, that nibbling worry is going to grow into justified doubt.

Lets look at 1st round backs since 2000, and what their 2nd year RUSHING production was (I projected the 06 class based on 11 game production):

06 -
Reggie Bush- 752 6
DeAngelo Williams- 561 1
Laurence Maroney- 677 4
Joseph Addai- 1271 13

05
Ronnie Brown- 1008 5
Cedric Benson- 647 6 (splitting carries)
Cadillac Williams- 798 1

04
Stephen Jackson- 1046 8
Chris Perry- 279 0
Kevin Jones- 664 5

03
Willis McGahee- 1247 5
Larry Johnson- 581 9 (splitting carries- next year solo 1750 10)

02
William Green- 559 1 (half the season injured)
TJ Duckett- 779 11

01
LT- 1683 14
Deuce McAllister- 1388 13
Michael Bennett- 1296 5

00
Jamal Lewis- 1327 6
Thomas Jones- 380 5
Ron Dayne- 690 7
Sean Alexander- 1318 4

A few things stand out to me. One is, Maroney is not going to be an all-pro back. The guys who wound up being standouts were standouts by year 2. Thomas Jones had a few good seasons with Chicago late, but for the most part a 1st round RB who starts in year 2 and gains less than 1000 yards is, like NSA says, ultimately probably going to be just another guy. By that logic, Addai is the clear winner from the 06 draft, and will probably be good for a number of years.

Maroney is not a bust, but he's not a bang either. Yes, backs get better over a number of years, but by year 2 the guys who get it already got it. Those are the franchise guys. What's interesting to me is, guys who get less than 800 yards in year 2 don't become all-pros (granted, this is only 1st round picks we're talking here).

For what it's worth, I don't buy the "game plan" argument that you guys are putting out there. When Morris was healthy, the Pats ran often. By the time he got hurt, it seemed clear that he was the number one back in spirit if not in form, and he factored in heavily in game plans against teams with good pass rush abilities. When was the last time Maroney got the ball on 3rd down? I don't see the confidence in him that you all do. If you've got a back that can play, you play him. They're not re-inventing the wheel in Foxboro, they're playing to their strenghts. Clearly Maroney is not one of them.

I wouldn't be shocked to see the Pats pick McFadden or another running back, even though it will be costly. I think they can find LB help in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, and with Faulk getting older they're going to need a clear #1, especially if Stallworth goes and CJ doesn't live up to his potential either.

My gut says that Maroney is out of here by the time his rookie contract is up. If he can't be a 1,000 yard back with this years team, he's not going to be a 1,000 yard back period.

 

[DaBruinz]

In Stephen Jackson's second year, he started 15 games, gained 1000 yards, and scored 8 touchdowns. In fact, he outperformed Maroney's 2007 year in his rookie season, when he had a 5.0 ypc average. Maroney is on pace to finish over 300 yards below his 2nd year stats. I'm not concerned with your eyeball analysis, this is what the stats say. I understand Maroney isn't getting as many carries, but I'm suggesting that there is a reason for that.

So, lets see. Maroney is on pace to play almost 4 games LESS than Jackson did in his 2nd year and you are faulting Maroney for that? Because Maroney got injured?

Had Maroney not missed those 3 games, he'd be right there with Jackson. That is what the stats say.

Maroney isn't getting as many carries right now as he did prior to his injury. I expect that to change as the season progresses. I expect Maroney to be back to the 17-20 carries per game.

Part of the reason is that the Rams of 2005 are not the Patriots of 2007. The Patriots don't have a LT even remotely close to Orlando Pace's abilities. Pace was 2 steps above Light at the very minimum.

Another part of the reason is that the Rams of 2005 weren't passing as much as the 2007 Patriots.

I'm happy with 11-0. I trust Belichick. But Maroney is the weak link on this team, and he better get his sh*t together this month, because he's going to be needed in the playoffs. If we can't effectively run the ball on 2nd and 3rd down in January, forget about the super bowl.

Maroney is the weak link? WOW. What games have YOU been watching? The running game hasn't been the weak link at all. The linebackers and pass coverage have been the weak link more so than Maroney.

Also, I say your full of it regarding whether the Pats can run the ball effectively on 2nd and 3rd downs. They've shown, already, that they can run it just fine on those downs when they chose to. They just have better weapons in the passing game. That doesn't mean that Maroney is bad. Just means he's below Tom Brady and the receivers. And, I don't see how that can be construed as a knock against Maroney when all we hear is that Brady is one of the best in the league and could be one of the best QBs ever.

 

[DaBruinz]

Re: Diapers

Please read the above post. This isn't a particularly observant point if you look at the past few years in the league.

And neither is ignoring the rest of the starting running backs currently in the league. Nor is ignoring RBs like Tiki Barber because he throws that whole scenarios for a loop.

 

[BrianPat]

This whole thread is pathetic ! Arguing over something you know little about, acting like you know for sure what's going on the that locker room, when in reality, you have no clue.

Name calling and posturing are traits of trolls, I'm sure you don't want people to think that's what you are. Try and get a grip and accept other's positions and in this situation, realize you could be wrong.

National Sport Whatever, claiming to be a Multimillionaire is the trait of a troll, are you claiming that's not the case, that only Multimillionaires's claim to be Multimillionaires's in forums ? Seriously ?

So if I interject in every thread your involved in and say " Don't beleive this guy, he claims to be a Multimillionaire " and you say in that thread you are, your not inviting people to question who you are ? Are you saying that ?

 

[Oswlek]

I can't say those numbers are definitive. But they certainly demonstrate a TREND that good runningbacks will produce fairly early in their careers. I'd like Maroney to produce this year, but it doesn't look like he will hit 1,000 yards or even 800 yards at this rate.

Let's at least see Maroney get INVOLVED in the offense, and that would do a lot to quell the doubts. If he can even put up 70-80 yards on the Ravens, it would help demonstrate that he's not a forgotten cog. If his production stays around the same against the Ravens as it has for the past 2 weeks however, that nibbling worry is going to grow into justified doubt.

:bricks: :bricks: :wha:

The Ravens are the best team in the league in ypc against and second best in total rushing yardage allowed despite a 4-7 record. They rank in the mid twenties for both passing ypa allowed and defensive passer rating. Why would NE run Maroney into a wall all game when their passing offense offers a huge mismatch?

Before you go on, a similar trend exists for Pitt.

BTW, I have explained this to you in the past, yet you still blab the same thing over and over and over......

 

[DaBruinz]

Sorry, you might have missed the part where I analyzed second year production for first round picks.

Your posts are nearly impossible to read. All you do is hurl insults and conjecture. There's a reason why you get so aggressive, you don't have much skill arguing.

*ROFLMAO*

Thanks for your opinion. I'll put it where it belongs in the round file with all the others.

I have plenty of skill at arguing. BTW, please point out where the posts I've made are conjecture. If anyone has been using conjecture, its been NSA and Danny. Not myself. But don't let other facts trip you up. Just be like Danny and NSA and twist them however you want, regardless of reality.

 

[DaBruinz]

I don't know what Stephen Jackson you watched in year #2, because I watched the guy that had 1046 yards, 8 rushing TDs, 43 receptions, 320 yards receiving, and 2 receiveing TD's. That's 1366 total yards from scrimmage and 10 TDs, my friend. That's the Stephen Jackson I watched.

The same Stephen Jackson that had only 4.1 YPC and 7.4 YPR? That one? The same one who has ORLANDO PACE as his lead blocker? The same one who had Tory Holt, Isaac Bruce and Kevin Curtis as his receivers?

Hmm.,. Gotcha.. Please show me which of the Pats lineman is the equivalent of ALL-PRO Orlando Pace.

 

[Grizzafted]

A well reasoned, thoughtful post. Good job.

That said, I do dispute some of your conclusions.

1) The "game plan argument" has already been confirmed by the head coach himself. I don't think there really is any way to dispute it at this point.

The question is, are they game planning away from Maroney? That's more along the lines of what I'm trying to get at. Part of game planning is using your strengths. Yes, we have phenomenal wideouts and the best QB in the game. That said, it pays off to have a solid rushing game. When Peyton Manning had his career year, that didn't mean that they stopped using Edge. In fact, he had a great year as well.

3) This line is terribly disingenuous. Maroney is not a strength compared to the passing game. When you have a historic passing offense the running game will be used to keep teams honest or will be used if it appears that the other team is winning the battle. So far no one has stopped NE's passing attack other than Indy, and Laurence was excellent in that game.

Excellent? Huh? I saw a guy get 60 yards, no touchdowns, and a YPC of less than 4. He wasn't bad, but he was exactly what I've been trying to say: average.

Understand, I'm not saying BENCH MARONEY! I'm saying that he's not the long term answer. He's not going to be the guy that we hoped, I'm pretty sure of that at this point. I think he'll help us win a super bowl, but if we're looking to improve, it's worth taking a look at RBs in this year's draft.

I do hear you though, if he bulks up and gets his act together he could be a force, which is what I thought he'd be this year. I'm totally rooting for him, I love the kid. I'm just a little disappointed so far.

 

[Grizzafted]

*ROFLMAO*

Thanks for your opinion. I'll put it where it belongs in the round file with all the others.

I have plenty of skill at arguing. BTW, please point out where the posts I've made are conjecture. If anyone has been using conjecture, its been NSA and Danny. Not myself. But don't let other facts trip you up. Just be like Danny and NSA and twist them however you want, regardless of reality.

Whatever it's not important. I was upset at how I felt you were attacking NSA for his viewpoints. I was out of line. It's no big deal, moving on.

 

[Grizzafted]

Hmm.,. Gotcha.. Please show me which of the Pats lineman is the equivalent of ALL-PRO Orlando Pace.

Logan Mankins is the best guard in the NFL.

 

[DaBruinz]

Oh, and I"m also sick of hearing that a "pass blocking" offensive line is responsible for Maroney's limited role. These guys know how to run block. We watched it with Morris. Scarneccia was the OL coach during Dillon's 1600 yard year. It's not their fault.

DaBruinz - I'm not going to give people a "well if he didn't get injured, etc" pass. The whole point is that a 1000 yard back is durable enough to go 14-16 games and not get injured. This is Maroney's second year where he's missed a significant number of games. Durability is part of the equation here. And, besides, how hurt has he really been? We're talking two weeks here where the guy hasn't shown up to play. That's not an injury problem, it's either a lack of confidence in his ability or a belief on the coach's part that he's irrelevant in consecutive game plans. Either way, it's not a good sign.

WHO the hell are YOU to say that the guy didn't show up to play? You sure as hell aren't Bill Belichick.

The Bills game plan had the Pats throw the ball 28 times in the 1st half and run the ball 9. That speaks of a PASS first run second game plan. Maybe because the Bills run defense is better than their passing defense. By the end of the 1st half, the Pats had a 35-7 lead. It was Maroney's 1st game back from injury. So, instead of risk him and hear more BS about the Pats running up the score, the Pats run Evans and Eckel instead. Evans had 8 2nd half runs and Eckel had 10.

The Eagles game plan also had the Pats throwing first and running second. And that is supported by the fact that the Pats had 54 pass attempts to 13 run attempts. Maroney had 10 of the 13 attempts.

Now, you want to complain about the yardage, go back and look at Corey Dillon when he was only getting 7-10 carries back in Cincy. He didn't have good numbers either. Maroney put up good numbers earlier in the season when he was getting 17-20 runs during the 1st 3 games.

I can remember people moaning and complaining about Dillon's stats when he wasn't getting 17-25 carries a game and people used that as the reason. That he wasn't getting 17-25 carries a game.

Oh, and why is it that everyone expects a 22 year old RB to be an automatic superstar? If he was 24 or 25 and doing the same thing, I'd be worried.

OH, one last thing about Stephen Jackson. During the 2005 campaign, Jackson wasn't splitting carries. Something that the Pats started off doing because they were running it so much.