Laurence Maroney

2006 with Watson and Daniel Graham.

The other changes happened early in the season as Moss and RB Laurence Maroney were traded. Brady favored Moss too much and it was affecting his decision-making. Maroney meanwhile never lived up to the expectations of a first round draft pick.

Continue reading "Patriots On the Run in 2011 and Beyond"

er three straight years of post season action with the Pats. 

Another current example is RB Laurence Maroney. He didn’t run like fans wanted him to, but he averaged 4.2 yards per carry in blue, silver, and red. Now he’s running his way out of the league in Denver averaging 2.1 yards per carry. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 8"

Will they do a better job this week? 

Fresh Start: Former Pat RB Laurence Maroney will play for Denver this week. He never satisfied New Englanders yet averaged 4.2 yards per carry. We’re curious how he plays for the Broncos. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 3"

e than just espionage now. 

New England got a fourth round pick from Denver in exchange for Laurence Maroney and a sixth round pick last week. With Faulk done for the season and if Fred Taylor continues to nurse a bad toe, the need for a workhorse will be obvious when the 2010 Draft rolls around. 

Continue reading "Back of the Future"

Now every week is filled with nervousness following the trade of RB Laurence Maroney. 

As a player, I won’t miss Maroney. He never became the hard-nosed runner that could carry the load and grind out yards when asked to. He’s infamous in these parts for his Maroney Dance, stuttering his feet in the backfield instead of quickly hitting the hole like a running back is supposed to. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 2"

o;39” made famous by Cunningham to never be worn again comes from Tuesday’s trade of RB Laurence Maroney. The former 2006 first round pick was sent to Denver, packed with a sixth round pick, in exchange for a fourth round pick. 

Continue reading "Maroney a Patriot No More"

there would be fewer empty seats. 

A few things I’m looking for: 

My Turn: RB Laurence Maroney should finally get a start and the bulk of the carries. Time to earn the starting role. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Preseason Three"

be so much more enjoyable to watch. 

Backfield Breakdown: This could be the last chance for Laurence Maroney. The Pats didn’t draft a running back to challenge the disappointing Maroney, but this is the final year of his rookie contract. For a player given quick hooks when his back-ups out-play him during the game, the Patriots continue to show confidence in Maroney by not finding a challenger to his starting spot. 

Continue reading "Starting 11"

s the second round. 

New England is reportedly interested in Unga, which is understandable. Laurence Maroney is in the final year of his contract and is yet to play to his potential. But more of a concern is the durability of Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor. 

Continue reading "In the Running for Unga?"

sition will be rated for their need, with 1 being not a need and 5 being ugent: Runningback

Laurence Maroney, Sammy Moris, Fred Taylor, Kevin Faulk, BenJarvus Green-Ellis

Need: 3 

Continue reading "Draft Profile: Runningback"

I’m also concerned about the aging backfield, with Laurence Maroney the only RB younger than 30. Taylor and Sammy Morris (four last year, 17 since signing with the Pats in 2007) both missed games. Because the coaching staff won’t utilize BenJarvus Green-Ellis, he isn’t part of the conversation. 

Continue reading "Hours Away"

fire, you can get burned. 

A few things I’m looking for: 

My Turn(over): RBs Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, and Fred Taylor will get carries, but it’s the drops (seven fumbles combined, six lost) that concern me. Ball security is paramount. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Wild Card"

Is it better to rest players for the playoffs or play the final game to stay sharp? This has been heavily debated since Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell withdrew his starters during the third quarter of last week’s game. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 17"

Maybe RB Laurence Maroney is a slow learner. After all it took him about three and a half years to figure out how to run the football in the NFL. 

Maroney has been a different player after the bye week, for better and worse. He’s running decisively and physically, but Laurence is fumbling the ball more. Since the bye week, Maroney put the ball on the ground four times. 

Continue reading "Loose Laurence"

As well as RB Laurence Maroney has improved after the bye week, there’s a serious problem. He fumbled for the fourth time this year, the second fumble inside the five yard line. After the fumble, Maroney didn’t get another carry. Those carries went to Sammy Morris, who almost became the third running back to run for 100 yards this year with 95 on Sunday. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 16"

like the 2007 juggernaut. 

Over the past several weeks, I’ve seen a very different RB Laurence Maroney. The Hammertime prodigy is gone, replaced with a no-nonsense downhill runner. The change in style appears to have been rewarded with more carries. And with more touches, the production has increased as well. 

Continue reading "The Cassel Treatment"

Fortunately the coach(es) learned from the mistake and handed the ball to RB Laurence Maroney on fourth and one to get the game-sealing first down. 

6. WR Wes Welker is the fourth receiver to catch 100 or more passes in three consecutive seasons, joining Jerry Rice, Marvin Harrison, and Herman Moore. Welker reached 100 receptions in just eleven games played, tying Harrision.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 14"

Go for Two: RB Laurence Maroney fumbled the ball on the first offensive play of the second half. It was the third straight week Maroney fumbled. At least he made up for it by forcing a fumble o

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 12"

No turnovers offensively. RB Laurence Maroney’s fumble streak must end. 

60 Minutes: The highest-scoring second quarter team has to keep putting up points in the second half to hold off any possible Saints comeback. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 12"

staff for Williams. 

Go for Two: A daily double: OLB Tully Banta-Cain had two sacks and RB Laurence Maroney had his first two touchdown game of the season. Maroney scored a TD for his

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 11"

Try again in December for that Patriots feather. 

1. Who was this running for RB Laurence Maroney and can we keep him? If the DNA matches, then this was the best game played by Maroney this season. He was aggressive, decisive, and physical. Hopefully he stays this way for the rest of the season. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week Nine"

Brady stood and delivered a perfect strike for a completion.  

And maybe RB Laurence Maroney quits tap dancing for slam dancing. 

Yeah, I know. That’s really stretching it. The point is, the mental break refreshes the mind and gives the body time to heal. The players deserve the chance to recover. 

Continue reading "Good Bye"

Hopefully RB Laurence Maroney doesn’t think he’s off the hook after rushing for 123 yards (7.7 average) and a score. If anything, the expectations have gone up. It’s nice to see you blow up in one game as the undisputed primary ball carrier. But can you do this week after week after week? 

Continue reading "Staying On the Run"

I’m talking about Sammy Morris and Laurence Maroney going against the third-ranked run defense. Maroney can’t fear being hit if the ground game is to be productive. 

Red Rover, Red Rover: RB Johnson is averaging six yards per carry! Keep the ball out of his hands or spy Johnson all game long. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 6"

ense played cautiously pretty much the rest of the way. 

RB Sammy Morris got the start over Laurence Maroney. Can we officially say Maroney has been demoted? Just five carries in the game. Overall it’s startling that the same offensive line that was sixth overall in rushing offense last year can’t sustain a consistent ground game with what appears on paper to be an improved backfield. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 5"

Accept no substitute! Support the real New England Patriots! 

The media really likes the Denver Broncos, or in some circles, Patriots West. Praised is heaped upon Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels like he’s the second coming of Bill Belichick, down to the gray hoodie. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 5"

But that depends on the performance of the players ahead of him on the depth chart, particularly Laurence Maroney. 

Patriots leading rusher Fred Taylor will be on the shelf for an unknown period of time as he recovers from ankle surgery. This opens up the opportunity for Maroney to get the ball and run with it. 

Continue reading "Opportunity to Run"

When his tag team partner, Laurence Maroney, went down with an injury, Taylor shouldered the load and it didn’t slow him down, as he averaged five yards per carry. 

I do believe in the idea of going with the hot hand. It was the same exact decision that led to the Patriots 2001 Championship (no offense Drew Bledsoe, but you wouldn’t had done what Tom Brady did that year, or in the other two championship seasons). I just didn’t think it would be so unbalanced. 

Continue reading "Full Time Fred"

Free agent discard Fred Taylor grinded out 105 yards while Laurence Maroney was held out of the game with a thigh injury. Whether the boo-boo was real or a ploy to light a fire under Maroney, he should take it as a sign that carries are earned, not given. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 3"

ood to see S Brandon Merriweather and CB Leigh Bodden willing to hit. 

Tap Shoes to Cleats: Laurence Maroney didn’t have many carries, but he didn’t play around. Almost every step was forward with no stuttering. Looks like Fred Taylor is rubbing off on Maroney in a good way. 

Continue reading "Pick 6: Week 1"

Will he be ready Monday and can he be counted on every week? 

Show of Hands: RB Laurence Maroney as a receiver looked very promising in the preseason. Let’s see what Maroney and RB Fred Taylor do catching passes out of the backfield. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 1"

And Fred Taylor will help a healthy (for now) Laurence Maroney carry the load at running back. 

But a shoddy defense held the Patriots back last year. 27 touchdown passes allowed, second most in the league. The 30th-ranked red zone defense in the league. And a pedestrian 31 sacks. The unit had to be fixed. 

Continue reading "Out of Reach"

>Open, but not Ready – Of Brady’s 12 completions, six went to Randy Moss, three were to Laurence Maroney, and the remaining three to Joey Galloway. Greg Lewis and Fred Taylor were targeted twice with no results. The new guys still aren’t in-sync with the rest of the offense. 

Continue reading "Pick Six"

And the backfield has a standard to reach with Laurence Maroney back and Fred Taylor a new addition to the team. 

But this week is different. In what is called the dress rehearsal, all teams gameplan as if it is a regular season game. The starting rotation will play three full quarters before being pulled from the game. After getting glimpses of the starters, we get the best and longest look at the Patriots, giving us the best idea of what to expect in the regular season. 

Continue reading "Dress Rehearsal"

While many aren’t high on RB Laurence Maroney, there’s a lot to like about the backfield. 

Fred Taylor, though he has a lot of mileage, has a productive history and is durable. Sammy Morris is a punishing runner that comes up big when on the field. BenJarvus Green-Ellis was an unexpected surprise last year as a rookie free agent. He gained the trust of the coaches and fans to be counted if his number is called. And Kevin Faulk is a top notch third down back, a playmaker as a runner or as a receiver. 

Continue reading "Half Full Backfield?"

Taking away the yards gained or lost by either quarterback, Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk combined for 23 yards on seven carries, slightly better than three yards a pop. 

There probably was a focus to get the passing game in sync with QB Tom Brady playing his first game since September as well as taking the first step towards restoring his confidence in his reconstructed knee. Throwing the ball plays to the Patriots’ strength, but they have to run the ball to keep defenses honest. 

Continue reading "On the Run"

e Laurence” or “Mending Maroney,” but the New England locals aren’t high on Laurence Maroney because he missed 18 of 48 games. They are bothered that a running back that doesn’t show toughness while running the ball spends so much time off the field. 

Continue reading "Follow Fred's Footsteps, Laurence"

In a move that takes RB Laurence Maroney back to his rookie year, he will return kickoffs during the preseason. It was something he was good at, as he gained 28 yards per return. If Maroney doesn’t do it during the regular season, the search for a full-time returner continues. 

Continue reading "Specialists Wanted"

In a move that takes RB Laurence Maroney back to his rookie year, he will return kickoffs during the preseason. It was something he was good at, as he gained 28 yards per return. If Maroney doesn’t do it during the regular season, the search for a full-time returner continues. 

Continue reading "Specialists Wanted"

, Terrence Nunn, and quarterback-turned receiver Julian Edelman. 

The running backs feature Laurence Maroney, Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis. 

Continue reading "Signing Vick ?"

A healthy Laurence Maroney can slash through zone blocking for chunks at a time. And new arrival Fred Taylor is a considerable upgrade over LaMont Jordan. 

This could be a make-it-or-break-it year for Maroney. Fans, including me, were hoping he’d get replaced because Laurence was hurt often. Last season’s shoulder injury, which cost Maroney 13 games, was seen as the last straw. Fortunately the coaching staff has more patience. 

Continue reading "Camp Countdown"

chance to carry the rock. 

Free agent Fred Taylor will certainly make things interesting for Laurence Maroney, but Maroney has the one thing the other three top RBs on the roster dont: young legs. Sammy Morris has been reliable when not hurt in his two years with the Pats.

Continue reading "Top 5 New England Patriots Training Camp Battles"

If Laurence Maroney and Sammy Morris stay healthy, they are joined by Fred Taylor and have depth provided by BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Add third down back Kevin Faulk and the Pats have a rotation that enables them to run all day long if needed. 

Continue reading "Brady Back, but Patriots Still Not Complete"

ing, I’m lovin’ McDonald’s play. 

On offense, there are two options if RB Laurence Maroney isn’t a part of the team in ’09. Glenn Coffee from Alabama could ground out the tough yards, or Herb Donaldson of Eastern Michigan could bring a different flavor to the backfield. 

Continue reading "Cooking up a Patriots Mock Draft"

This isn't good for the likes of RBs LaMont Jordan or Laurence Maroney and TE David Thomas.

Continue reading "The Unexpected, As Usual"

Throw in RB Laurence Maroney to sweeten the pot if needed. That would instantly bolster the backfield. Nor do I think L.J. would go out of line with Boston's subpar nightlife nearby and a veteran team to keep him Johnson on the straight and narrow.

Continue reading "The Bi-annual Free Agency Splash"

Then there's the issue of whether to stick with RB Laurence Maroney or find a durable replacement. How many of these players will come from the draft? I'm a fan of LB/DE George Selvie and RB Ian Johnson, but evaluations and rankings will determine if they fit New England's schemes.

Continue reading "The Drive in '09"

rsquo;t be worked into the rotation at the position. 

To start the season, the Patriots had Laurence Maroney as the starter, Morris the primary back-up, Faulk retaining his third down role, and LaMont Jordan in a utility role to rest his ball carrying mates. 

Continue reading "Where Have You Been, BenJarvus?"

show: Meet the Patri-ouchs!

So let's see here, That makes Tom Brady, Laurence Maroney, Rodney Harrison, Shawn Crable, and now Thomas on injured reserve. Among those five there might be more Pro Bowl selections missing the season than active players with the honor, and Crable hasn't even reached the playing field, let alone Hawaii.

Continue reading "Patriots Mounting Injuries Aren't Funny"

Running back is first on the list with the starter, Laurence Maroney, his back-up, Sammy Morris, and the back-up's back-up, LaMont Jordan, ranked as first, and quarterback, because of the significance of the loss of Tom Brady, in a close third.

Continue reading "Another One Bit by Bug?"

RBs Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan are expected to miss today's game and Laurence Maroney is on injured reserve. Last year that wasn't a problem as the Patriots would go five wide and spread the field. But with QB Matt Cassel running a simple offense, he will need a productive ground game.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 8"

on't usually do this, that is make a post during the game, but I got to say this now: I'm done with Laurence Maroney.

Early in the Monday night telecast, the ESPN crew announced that RB Maroney was placed on injured reserve and won't play for the rest of the season. The timing couldn't be better as RB LaMont Jordan is inactive and former league MVP Shawn Alexander just signed with Washington. The cherry on top is after RB Sammy Morris shredded the Denver defense, he doesn't return for the second half, leaving the ball carrying to rookie free agent BenJarvis Green-Ellis.

Continue reading "Moving On Without Maroney"

Quick question: Would you like a durable running back?

OK, that was a rhetorical question. With alternating LaMont Jordan missing every other game and Laurence "issues" Maroney available for only three of five games this year, it would be nice to have someone the team can count on to help carry the load with Sammy Morris. While the Patriots did rush for more than 100 yards against San Diego, 29 of those yards came from QB Matt Cassel on seven carries.

Continue reading "A Young Stallion"

We see it pretty much every week. RB Laurence Maroney dancing behind the line instead of putting his head down. Or Maroney bounces a run outside instead of accelerating through the hole.

Well the whole country knows after ESPN's NFL Live highlighted two runs by Maroney where he didn't gain the available yards when the holes were right in front of him. In both instances, he didn't initiate contact.

Continue reading "A Yard is a Yard"

I hate saying this so early, but he's been a real find as a rookie free agent.

RB Laurence Maroney's shoulder better be really hurt because I'm very disappointed that he ran out of bounds ins

Continue reading "Quick review"

I'm glad to hear that RBs Laurence Maroney and LaMont Jordan are not on the injury report. That's the good news. The bad news is San Francisco RB Frank Gore is absent from the 49ers' injury report.

Continue reading "Ground to a halt"

For the early part of the week, running backs Laurence Maroney and LaMont Jordan didn't practice.

Maroney hurt his shoulder against the New York Jets in the second quarter. In relief of Maroney, Jordan stepped in and ran for 62 yards on just eleven carries. I guess that's over-using a back-up because now Jordan has a sore foot.

Continue reading "Backfield in Motion"

out on, not including the other trips into the red zone.

It was reported during the game that RB Laurence Maroney injured his shoulder. It was apparently confirmed when the camera found him sitting on the sideline. But after RB LaMont Jordan came off the bench and rushed eleven times for 62 yards in the second half, Maroney came in for a garbage time carry. An injured player held out of the game for most of the second half usually doesn't come back under any circumstances. I have my theory, but I won't publicly speculate.

Continue reading "Monday Morning"

y and Cheese, please!  - Yeah the O-line is missing Stephen Neal for now, but I want to see if Laurence Maroney picks up where he left off. Four of his last six games, including playoffs, Maroney gained over 100 yards. He was quick to the hole and got a lot of tough yards in the process. I don't care about his stutter-step as long as Maroney is breaking long runs.

Continue reading "Hours Until Kickoff: Week 1"

It isn't a surprise that the Patriots signed veteran running back LaMont Jordan. During the off-season they brought Kevin Jones to Foxborough for an interview and likely a physical as they wanted to gauge his recovery from off-season surgery. Ultimately New England passed on Jones and he signed with Chicago. A few weeks later, the Pats sign Jordan.

Continue reading "Another former Jet"

n Mankins
C Dan Koppen
RG Stephen Neal
RT Ryan O'Callaghan
QB Tom Brady
RB Laurence Maroney
FB Heath Evans
WR Randy Moss
WR Wes Welker
TE Ben Watson

Continue reading "Looking too far ahead"

to Randy Moss/Wes Welker vs. Manning to Harrison/Reggie Wayne), the same power running backs (Laurence Maroney vs. Joseph Addai), even the same pass catching tight ends (Ben Watson vs. Dallas Clark). The Patriots defense has become softer while the Colts defense has got tougher (Bob Sanders anyone?). The net result? Two teams almost indistinguishable from one another save for their supposed "rivalry".

Continue reading "Pats vs. Colts: Why it used to be ..."