Laurence Maroney is a bust. Even with a 4.3 YPC average, Maroney has not impressed at all this season other than his game against the Titans and their terrible rush offense. Sir Laurence carried the ball 16 times for 123 yards against Tennessee at Foxboro in a blizzard. Maroney looks pretty decent on paper for an NFL running back, but watching the games live makes me sick to my stomach. The following week, against another awful run defense in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Maroney rushed for 43 yards on 13 carries, a 3.3 YPC average.
Still Afraid To Hit The Hole
Laurence has shown the ability to run through and create holes, he just hasn’t shown the ability to do it consistently week in and week out. Maroney spends more time dancing in the backfield, east and west than he does running north and south for big gains. At one point this season, Maroney had 26% of his runs for losses. Maroney’s longest run this season was his 45 yard touchdown against the Titans in the snow. Inflated or not, that’s still not even tops in the league with 12 other backs ahead of him and Chris Johnson with a season long 91 yard run.
Snow White And The Seven Linemen
Laurence Maroney is king of playing in the snow when the defensive line loses a step or two. Maroney may also play well in the rain or on grass, but solely playing on field turf in ideal conditions, Maroney isn’t going to accomplish anything for the Patriots running game.
I felt that Fred Taylor would be the answer and we could trade Maroney for a draft pick, but then I changed my mind after Taylor was injured and would be out for an extended period of time. I’m starting to go back again and say whether or not Taylor and Sammy Morris are healthy, Maroney needs to hit the hole or hit the road.
Thanks to firebrandal for the picture of Laurence Maroney.
Agreed. Now if we could somehow just get Maroney to hit the hole and run he’d be fantastic.
That’s really his only huge downside as far as I can see. Once he actually runs downfield he’s great, but getting him to move forward, not backward, upward not forward, and NOT always twirling, twirling, twirling towards the sidelines is the key. I’m sure Bellichick hounds him about it, just like I was hounded for taking baby steps, but it’s tough to break bad habits.
It is tough to break bad habits, but to me, fear is not a habit, it’s an emotion. He’s afraid to hit the hole, not habitually dancing to get to the outside.
I think fear is stronger than habit, but he should be forced to run up the middle everyday at practice.