Running Out the Clock

[Ring 6]

I guess I'm just old-fashioned. I would like to take 4 and 1/2 minutes of the clock by using the running game (no clocks stops for incompletions). I understand that Dillon had been used less and less in that role. It does not follow that Maroney is the one to fill Dillon's 2004 role, along with increasing his 2006 role. And yes, we can win the SB without a player in that role. I just don't see why we aould voluntarily go into camp and the season with one fewer running back than the last two seasons, and without a short-yardage clock-killing back.

Yes, I know that we Hairston and Hill. But, I think we all know that they likely belong on the Practice Squad.

And yes, I do believe that the passing game is an important key to an effective running game, especially in the red zone. If we had an effective running game OR an effective passing game, the last 5 minutes of the colts game would ahe been much sweeter.

How are we one RB short? Dillon is gone, Morris is here.
2 years ago we had Dillon-Faulk-Pass
Last year we had Dillon-Maroney-Faulk
This year we have Maroney-Morris-Faulk

I'm just not getting this idea that running the ball in the 4th quarter means you need someone different than your complete RB who starts for you.

 

[Rob0729]

You don't need to have a smashmouth runner to have a RB who can kill the clock. Guys like LaDamian Tomlinson, Tiki Barber, Stephen Alexander, and other non-smashmouth backs have been able to run out the clock just as effectively as Corey Dillon at least at times. Even with 8 or 9 in the box, you don't neccessarily need a guy who can take on defenders head on and smash his way up the middle to get four to five yards.

It is too early to know if Maroney can be a clock killing RB though.

 

[rhubma]

How are we one RB short? Dillon is gone, Morris is here.
2 years ago we had Dillon-Faulk-Pass
Last year we had Dillon-Maroney-Faulk
This year we have Maroney-Morris-Faulk

I'm just not getting this idea that running the ball in the 4th quarter means you need someone different than your complete RB who starts for you.

My view has always been that Morris was replacing Pass (a fill-in back who does a bit of everything - catches well, plays on most/all of the special teams, and can be an emergency lead back for a short time).

The "clock-killin" part that Corey brought to the table was more several years ago. Last year he was THE short yardage power back. That is what I think that the Pats will miss (and ARE MISSING) the most at this point - Corey's 'scoring inside the 3' and another '1st down and less than 1' option (other that Brady's successful, but scary, QB sneaks). The team still needs to replace the important ingredient of a 'chains mover'.

If we can find this power back (which is what I thought the Navy back Eckels (sp?) was going to be) and combine him with a fresh 4th quarter Maroney... I think the "clock-killin" part will be ok. As others have mentioned in this and other threads, (a rested) Maroney is a threat to take it the distance against a tired 4th quarter defense at any time. A 60 yard score kills the clock too...