Watching the Eagles/Saints game yesterday made me wonder about Maroney and the possibility that we're not utilizing his skills effectively. I know that Maroney and Bush are seen as far different but Maroney isn't far behind him IMO. I noticed that Bush didn't have much success running the ball but he had a lot of success when he caught short passes and then ran. I think Maroney would light people on fire if we did this with him. He is good enough as a running back but I think he would really shine if we used him like the Saints use Bush. Slamming him up the middle like Dillon isn't cutting it. I think that if we use Maroney like the Saints use Bush and if we keep slamming it up the middle with Dillon we'll have just about the best running game in the league. What do you guys think? http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/432895 EDIT: I know he only has 6 receptions but an almost 13 yard average per catch is pretty damn good and we've all seen how he can shed tackles after initial contact.
I think the Pats are using him just fine...He has produced solid numbers and you really shouldn't mess with success....Maroney has playmaker ability but I think Reggie Bush is way different and if you used Maroney like Bush,it'd be too much pressure on the youngster....Bush has no pressure because no matter what people are not gonna care if he messes up because,"He's REGGIE!"..
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pats_Fan420)</div><div class='quotemain'>Watching the Eagles/Saints game yesterday made me wonder about Maroney and the possibility that we're not utilizing his skills effectively. I know that Maroney and Bush are seen as far different but Maroney isn't far behind him IMO. I noticed that Bush didn't have much success running the ball but he had a lot of success when he caught short passes and then ran. I think Maroney would light people on fire if we did this with him. He is good enough as a running back but I think he would really shine if we used him like the Saints use Bush. Slamming him up the middle like Dillon isn't cutting it. I think that if we use Maroney like the Saints use Bush and if we keep slamming it up the middle with Dillon we'll have just about the best running game in the league. What do you guys think? http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/432895 EDIT: I know he only has 6 receptions but an almost 13 yard average per catch is pretty damn good and we've all seen how he can shed tackles after initial contact.</div> Look at what he did in college for starters. Maroney caught only 20 passes in two years in college. I went through my draft notes from last year and found that he was considered to have only average hands and was only average receiving out of the backfield. He also has no experience as a return man. His skill set is not as broad as Bush's.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TP-33)</div><div class='quotemain'>I think the Pats are using him just fine...He has produced solid numbers and you really shouldn't mess with success....Maroney has playmaker ability but I think Reggie Bush is way different and if you used Maroney like Bush,it'd be too much pressure on the youngster....Bush has no pressure because no matter what people are not gonna care if he messes up because,"He's REGGIE!"..</div> That hardly puts no pressure on Bush. If anything, it's more pressure. He is Reggie and if he did absolutely nothing this season then he would feel the pressure. We don't see that for him and he's portrayed as a media darling because he is performing well and making a difference on his team. Now, he might get more of a hall pass at first as compared to Maroney, but eventually if Reggie wasn't performing then everyone would turn on him and he'd be one of the bigger draft busts in recent memory.
They are completely different guys....be thankful you got the one you got....Reggie Bush is a "space craver"....he excels on matchups in the open field and in turning space into more space....he needs space to operate....hes not a guy that can dominate the game by lining up in the I and carrying the ball 25 times....I know the Texans realized this when they decided to pass....this isnt a knock on Bush, he is what he is....Maroney on the other hand, is a 25 carry a game, downhill feature back....I thought the worst comparision i saw was Bush to Tomlinson....that was insane....once again, totally different players....I compare Bush more to Brian Westbrook, a guy that can touch it 25 times a game, but half of those need to be catches or returns so he can operate....Bush and Duece McAlister are a perfect combo because McAlister can operate in confined space, and hes good at doing so....
The few times I saw Maroney play in College. He was the Between the tackles runner and Marion Barber III was the change of pace back for The U Minn Gophers (perhaps VF can back me up on this). Interestingly, Barber is now being used to spell Julius Jones in Dallas. Before the 05 draft, Ronnie Brown was compared to LT which I can see but has yet to come to be. The announcers on the Eagles/Saints game yesterday were saying that BW was doing the same things before Reggie was. I wasn't overly impressed w/ R Bush but then I have seen similar attributes/skills before by another RB... I mean Michael Vick.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder)</div><div class='quotemain'>The few times I saw Maroney play in College. He was the Between the tackles runner and Marion Barber III was the change of pace back for The U Minn Gophers (perhaps VF can back me up on this). Interestingly, Barber is now being used to spell Julius Jones in Dallas. Before the 05 draft, Ronnie Brown was compared to LT which I can see but has yet to come to be. The announcers on the Eagles/Saints game yesterday were saying that BW was doing the same things before Reggie was. I wasn't overly impressed w/ R Bush but then I have seen similar attributes/skills before by another RB... I mean Michael Vick.</div> Actually Maroney was the change of pace back...not Barber. Barber was the between the tackles guy when he was at Minnesota with Maroney. Maroney is a home run threat every time he touches the ball. He's got legitimate 4.4 speed. Barber had more carries than Maroney both years they shared the load. I wouldn't call Maroney a true between the tackles back. He's more of a slasher like Clinton Portis. Maroney played in a zone blocking scheme at Minnesota and had great success obviously. New England should consider switching to that scheme when Maroney becomes their true featured back. I don't like the comparisons of Westbrook to Bush. Westbrook does not have the speed Bush does. He's just as quick maybe, but he doesn't have the speed. Westbrook also can't return punts and kicks like Bush can. I'm sorry, but Bush will develop into one of the best offensive weapons in the game. He's already showing spurts of being one.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TheBeef)</div><div class='quotemain'>If you cant see the similarities between Bush and Westbrook, I cant help you....</div> No...I see how people would compare the two because they're more like the traditional 3rd down back rather than your traditional running backs. I understand they're more of a threat in the passing game than in the running game, but that's where the similarities end. Bush is a better athlete and has a wider skills set than Westbrook.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cubuffsman78)</div><div class='quotemain'>Bush is a better athlete and has a wider skills set than Westbrook.</div> I would go the other way on this statement....Bush is faster, but Westbrook is just as good and athlete and has a wider skill set....the differece? Westbrook has proven he can be successful running the football from scrimage, Bush has not as of yet....his success has been extremely limited, and when hes had that little success, its been broken plays in which hes reveresed the field and outrun people....thus, excelling in space and no where else....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TheBeef)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cubuffsman78)</div><div class='quotemain'>Bush is a better athlete and has a wider skills set than Westbrook.</div> I would go the other way on this statement....Bush is faster, but Westbrook is just as good and athlete and has a wider skill set....the differece? Westbrook has proven he can be successful running the football from scrimage, Bush has not as of yet....his success has been extremely limited, and when hes had that little success, its been broken plays in which hes reveresed the field and outrun people....thus, excelling in space and no where else....</div> Let's also remember that Bush is a rookie and Westbrook is an injury prone 5 year veteran. Most RBs don't come into the NFL and light it up their first year and honestly...I don't think anyone expected Bush to have a huge impact running the ball his rookie year. There's no way Westbrook is as good of an athlete as Bush. Westbrook is good in the west coast style offense that Philly runs. I don't think he would find as much success in other types of offenses. Bush is going to be a special player who makes opportunities for himself based on his skills and athleticism regardless of what type of offensive system he is involved in.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cubuffsman78)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TheBeef)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cubuffsman78)</div><div class='quotemain'>Bush is a better athlete and has a wider skills set than Westbrook.</div> I would go the other way on this statement....Bush is faster, but Westbrook is just as good and athlete and has a wider skill set....the differece? Westbrook has proven he can be successful running the football from scrimage, Bush has not as of yet....his success has been extremely limited, and when hes had that little success, its been broken plays in which hes reveresed the field and outrun people....thus, excelling in space and no where else....</div> Let's also remember that Bush is a rookie and Westbrook is an injury prone 5 year veteran. Most RBs don't come into the NFL and light it up their first year and honestly...I don't think anyone expected Bush to have a huge impact running the ball his rookie year.</div> Actually the backs that tend to be sucessful running the ball do come right in and suceed at it. They just usually dont get carries because they cant pass block well enough. I would say saints would be smart to switch bush to WR
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cubuffsman78)</div><div class='quotemain'>Most RBs don't come into the NFL and light it up their first year and honestly...</div> Actually most productive backs are productive when they get the ball, even when they are rookies....the list of 1000+ yard rookie rusher is a long one....RB is the easiest position for a player to come in and make an immediate impact because its largly instintual.... <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cubuffsman78)</div><div class='quotemain'>I don't think anyone expected Bush to have a huge impact running the ball his rookie year.</div> I expected more in the running game from the #2 overall pick and a "cant miss" prospect at that position....I think most people did.... <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cubuffsman78)</div><div class='quotemain'>Bush is going to be a special player who makes opportunities for himself based on his skills and athleticism regardless of what type of offensive system he is involved in.</div> He is going to be a special player, just not a featured back....hes going to do alot of things, but carrying 20 times isnt wont of them....he will return kicks for a year, maybe 2, then he will be the starting RB and carrying it 15 times and catch it 7 times a game, just like Brian Westbrook.... Further evidence of his struggles: 65 carries for 195 yards with almost 10% of his total coming on 1 play....hes averaging 3 yards a carry behind an O-line that setting Deuce loose at 4.9 a clip....and all that at the easiest skill position for a rookie to excel at....
[quote name='TheBeef'][quote name='cubuffsman78']Most RBs don't come into the NFL and light it up their first year and honestly...[/quote] Actually most productive backs are productive when they get the ball, even when they are rookies....the list of 1000+ yard rookie rusher is a long one....RB is the easiest position for a player to come in and make an immediate impact because its largly instintual.... [quote name='cubuffsman78']I don't think anyone expected Bush to have a huge impact running the ball his rookie year.[/quote] I expected more in the running game from the #2 overall pick and a "cant miss" prospect at that position....I think most people did.... [quote name='cubuffsman78']Bush is going to be a special player who makes opportunities for himself based on his skills and athleticism regardless of what type of offensive system he is involved in.[/quote] He is going to be a special player, just not a featured back....hes going to do alot of things, but carrying 20 times isnt wont of them....he will return kicks for a year, maybe 2, then he will be the starting RB and carrying it 15 times and catch it 7 times a game, just like Brian Westbrook.... Further evidence of his struggles: 65 carries for 195 yards with almost 10% of his total coming on 1 play....hes averaging 3 yards a carry behind an O-line that setting Deuce loose at 4.9 a clip....and all that at the easiest skill position for a rookie to excel at....[/quote] When I talk about lighting up the NFL, I don't mean guys who come and are good...I mean guys who come in like LT or Clinton Portis and just pile on the yardage. Carnell Williams came out on fire, but he didn't light it up all season. He really struggled in the middle of the season and couldn't get anything going for himself. Same with Ronnie Brown. I guess I should've used a different phrase other than lighting it up. I'm usually the guy telling people that RB is one of the easiest positions for rookies to have an immediate impact. I definitely understand that. Bush is having an immediate impact just not in the running game right now. If you want to say that Reggie doesn't have the instincts to make a difference in the running game right now then I'll agree with you. I don't think I was alone in expecting him to not make a huge difference in the running game this year. That's why it was such a good pick for the Saints who had McAllister to keep running the ball for the majority of the time this season. On the Brian Westbrook argument, I would take Bush over Westbrook anyday. Bush is a more dynamic player. Westbrook has been an overglorified 3rd down back for years, but he is good at what he does. Bush will turn out to be a better weapon than Westbrook. Their roles on their teams will be similar, but Bush is a much better athlete.
It is amazing how quickly we can get off topic on this board. To get REALLY off topic, Brian Urlacher is buying the local GM dealership where I live.
