Pats RBs better than we think? Statistical Analysis from Football Outsiders

[Deus Irae]

the pats have not been able to depend on their running game for years. to the point that on a 3rd and 2, they are running out of the shotgun, and that's a joke.

once again, the offense will produce mind-numbing numbers in the first half of the season, only to get abused when the weather gets cold

In 2007, the Patriots were 11th in the NFL in YPA, and it was Maroney helping get the team to the Super Bowl, both late in the season and through the playoffs. Maroney, by the way, had the second best success rate as measured by Football Outsiders, while being #7 in DYAR and #6 in DVOA:

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | RUNNING BACKS 2007

In 2008, Brady went down AND Maroney went down and the Patriots were still 6th in the NFL in rushing yards, and 7th in the league in YPA.

Last season, they were 12th in rushing yards, despite the seemingly universal condemnation of the running game.