First impressions are important. Addai made a good first impression on Colt fans and the league, was instrumental in their SB win. When a player does that, people tend not too look to closely at his flaws, or at his second act. Addai was awful after the Patriot game last season. Awful.
Colt fans believe that was an aberration, and put more stock in his early success. IMo that is a mistake. Addai is a runner who plays with great heart and toughness, but has always, even in college, been prone to the big hit. He takes some of the most vicious poundings you will see due to some deficiency in his vision, and an innate warrior mentality.
Because of those problems, he can never be relied on as a lead rb, but must be used sparingly in the 15 carry per game range maximum, if he is to have a long and productive career. Otherwise, he will break down very quickly, like next season.
IMO that is part of the rationale in bringing Rhodes back, an acknowledgment by the Colt brass that Addai must be protected and is not really a bell-cow back.
How that compares to Maroney, we shall see. IMO Addai broke in the older, more mature and NFL ready player, performed early like a house of fire and has since slipped. I believe Maroney came in 2 years younger, less ready for the NFl passing game, and is ascending. IMO he surpassed Addai as a rb toward the end of '07, and that trend will continue next season until his superiority is uncontested.
