If Healthy, Maroney Can Run the Table as Patriots’ Premier Back
Laurence Maroney might as well have a big bull's-eye on the front of his jersey and the words “Pressure Cooker” on the back. After missing all but three games with a shoulder injury last season, Maroney needs to convince Bill Belichick and the rest of New England that he’s not a first-round bust.
The Patriots took Maroney with the 21st overall pick in 2006. He was the second running back to come off the board, behind only Reggie Bush and ahead of DeAngelo Williams (No. 27, Carolina Panthers), Joseph Addai (No. 30, Indianapolis Colts), LenDale White (No. 45, Tennessee Titans) and Maurice Jones-Drew (No. 60, Jacksonville Jaguars).
All of the players listed who were selected after Maroney have produced more than him.
Williams ranked third in the NFL in rushing with 1,515 yards a year ago, and led all running backs with 18 touchdowns. In three seasons, Williams has rushed for 2,733 yards, averaged 5.1 yards per carry and scored 23 touchdowns on the ground.
Joseph Addai has 2,697 career yards and 24 touchdowns.
LenDale White has 2,127 yards and 22 scores.
Maurice Jones-Drew has 2,533 and 34.
Maroney has 1,673 and 12. Those numbers would be a lot higher if he had played a full season in 2008, but 28 carries and 93 yards don’t move the needle much.
Stuff happens. Bouncing back from adversity is what separates the players we remember from those we forget.
It doesn’t matter that Maroney showed flashes of brilliance in his first two pro campaigns, rushing for 745 yards and six touchdowns in his rookie year and 835 yards and six touchdowns in 2007.
It doesn’t matter that he was progressing and heading in the right direction.
It doesn’t matter that he probably would be residing in the same neighborhood as the aforementioned backs had his season not been cut short by a broken bone in his shoulder.
All that matters is today. The NFL is a performance-based environment. The only thing that matters is production. That’s all anybody wants to see from Maroney.
The Patriots haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Corey Dillon ran for 1,675 yards in 2004, the year they won the Super Bowl. Of course, hitting the 1,000-yard mark is not a prerequisite for winning everything — the Patriots took home the Lombardi Trophy in 2005, and Dillon rushed for 733 yards — but having a strong ground game is essential to keeping defenses honest against the Patriots this season. An effective ground attack will make life easier on Brady, and having a true No. 1 featured back will open up the offense.
With Maroney, Fred Taylor, Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris and BenJarvus Green-Ellis all fighting for playing time, the Patriots need somebody to step up and lead their running-back committee.
Maroney is as good a candidate as anyone.
The Patriots know he has skills. They know he’s tough. They wouldn’t have taken him in the first round and passed on so many other talented backs if they thought Maroney was a scrub. But there comes a time when potential has to be met, when there has to be a return on an investment.
That time has come for Maroney. Before his window of opportunity closes in New England, he hopes to run with it.
