What to fix: Running Backs

by MaPatsFan on Jan 17, 2009 1:30 PM EST

via d.yimg.com, Running Backs Sammy Morris, Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk

At the start of the season, I was stoked. After 2007, the Patriots were accused of being an aerial team only, of having zippo on the ground. Look a little deeper and you'll uncover 4 of the last 6 2007 games were 100 yarders for Maroney, but that's beside the point. Belichick, after investing in our linebacker corps during the draft, made 2 excellent moves: undrafted free agent BenJarvus Green-Ellis and free agent LaMont Jordan. Add Heath Evans to the mix and we were carrying 5 backs on the 53 man roster. Depth up the wazoo, if you ask me. Nuts? Later in the season, we'd find out just how smart Belichick was.

Laurence Maroney missed the Week 3 matchup against Miami with a shoulder injury and would be IR'd on Oct 20th. Sammy Morris was declared inactive in Week 10 and would see little action until Week 15. LaMont Jordan, inactive for the Week 6 matchup with the Chargers, wouldn't return until Week 14. During the "Lean Weeks", practice squad back, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, and fan favorite, Kevin Faulk, were left to carry the load. Now, does anyone think we had too many running backs?

It's hard to fault him for being IR'd so early in the 2008 season, but I'm done with the Laurence Maroney experiment. He's a decent enough back, but is fragile. I also feel he tends to bounce off the line too much rather than slicing through holes like Morris. The issue with cutting Maroney would be youth at that position; Jordan, Morris, and Faulk are all in their early 30's. Wait, there's a solution: Law Firm. BenJarvus Green-Ellis proved himself to be a physical, talented, hard working kid; just the kind of guy Belichick likes and probably the reason he was kept on the practice squad. Jetison Maroney and elevate Green-Ellis.

Another interesting end-of-the-season move? Backup G/C, Russ Hochstein, saw action as a fullback and blocking back. He's even talked seriously about losing 30 pounds, putting him at a paultry 275, and making the change permanent (lookout Heath Evans). Can you imagine the USS Hochstein clearing away DL's for Morris, Jordan, Green-Ellis, and Faulk? Cool.

Jetison Maroney, promote Law Firm, and move Hochstein to fullback/blocking back. What would do?

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Comments

Love the Idea

One thing that could be interesting. If KC releases LJ, do you think Belichick takes a flyer on LJ. We know the Corey Dillon experiment worked, same with Randy Moss… Just throwing an idea out there.

by cmdpsu15 on Jan 17, 2009 1:47 PM EST reply actions

yah if LJ can play corner back

We have to many back as it is, corner back, line backer, and safety thats what we need.
Or offense is fine if you want LJ we might as well get TO as well. We need to get younger at rb not older.

by Red Sox #1 Fan on Jan 17, 2009 2:45 PM EST reply actions

Keep Maroney, Jordan and Morris. A resounding No! to LJ.

Keep coaching-up Maroney and give him another year (I believe he’s signed through 2010.) Maroney has been growing that enormous chip on his shoulder since he came here, and is dying for the new season to start so he can prove what he thinks he can do.

While I agree that so far the issues you have with him are valid, I still say give him a shot. His bouncing off the line thing was never so glaring as after watching LaMont Jordan bull his way through the defense, or seeing Sammy Morris regularly getting the extra yards with three guys hanging all over him.

Plus I definitely don’t think we’ve seen the last of the Hochstein experiment. You don’t usually see Belichick smile when talking about players or particular plays, but he couldn’t help it when discussing Hochstein. He loves that kind of thing.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Jan 17, 2009 4:15 PM EST reply actions

Give Maroney one more year

If he gets hurt again, trade him for a fifth- or sixth-round pick — someone will take him for that, and we’d at least get something for our first-round bust.

Keep Law Firm on the active roster all season to see how he holds up. If he doesn’t look like he can be a full-time starter, draft a guy in 2010.

As for Hochstein, if he really want to be a FB, he needs to show that he can get down to 275 without losing any of his strength. Otherwise, he’s just a weak fat guy.

by RSNexile on Jan 17, 2009 4:43 PM EST reply actions