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RB Laurence Maroney, New England Patriots

HT: 5-11, WT: 205, Born: 2-5-1985, College: Minnesota, Drafted: Round 1, Pick 21

2008 Projections

2007 Game Summaries

Week 1 - Maroney was a workhorse getting the first three carries of the game, followed by 17 more through the four quarters on his way to 72 total rushing yards for the day. He ran hard and hit his holes quickly moving the chains against an under whelmed Jets defense.

Week 2 - Maroney did not catch a pass but gained 77 yards on 15 carries. He was often replaced on third down by either Sammy Morris or Kevin Faulk and was also missing at the goal line.

Week 3 - Maroney was the featured running back for the Patriots and he rushed for over 100 yards against the Bills. It was the third time Maroney has hit the century mark in his career. He failed to get into the end zone despite an ample supply of scoring chances for the Patriots.

The Patriots continued to feature a cadre of running backs. In goal line situations, RB Heath Evans and RB Sammy Morris were usually featured in the backfield. On 3rd downs, RB Kevin Faulk stepped in.

Maroney was also not a primary (or secondary) receiving target for QB Tom Brady coming out of the backfield but he did average almost five and a half yards per carry.

Week 4 - Maroney was a last minute scratch from the game with a groin injury after trying to test it out in warm-ups before the game.

Week 5 - Maroney missed his second game because of a groin injury.

Week 6 - Maroney missed his third consecutive game with a groin injury.

Week 7 - Maroney returned to action for the first time in three weeks. He only touched the ball six times in the first half and spent the rest of the game on the sideline. Since the game was out of hand, it may have just been a precautionary measure to keep him out of the game as he did not seem to be in pain on the sideline.

Week 8 - Maroney had his best game of the year. He showed good patience, burst, and vision on the bulk of his runs, and averaged a very solid 5.4 yards per carry. He caught both his targets, and led the team with 112 yards from scrimmage.

Week 9 - Maroney carried the load on the ground for the Patriots, rushing 15 times for 59 yards. Running lanes were tough to come by, with Maroney rushing for just 3.9 yards per carry and a long run of just nine yards for the game. He was targeted one time in the passing game, but failed to record a reception.

Week 11 - Maroney only handled the ball six times. He did not appear in the game in the second half, as RB Heath Evans and RB Kyle Eckel took all of the remaining handoffs.

The touchdown in the first quarter was Maroney's first of the year.

Week 12 - Maroney didn't enter the game until the third quarter and was only able to average 3.1 yards on ten carries. His fourth quarter touchdown from four yards out, was his second rushing touchdown in the last two weeks. Targeted once in the passing game, he dropped a screen pass on a first down play late in the third quarter.

Week 13 - Maroney had two long catches in the third quarter that may have changed the game, but he was ineffective running the ball against the front seven of Baltimore, and Faulk came in during crunch-time as a result.

Week 14 - It's become clear that the Patriots are a passing-focused offense. Maroney was a complete non-factor in the victory over the Steelers, only touching the ball twice in the second half - late in the fourth quarter - as the undefeated Patriots attempted to run down the clock.

Maroney did have one nice run for a ten yard gain early in the game. He moved the entire pile with him for the final nine yards and a first down. As usual, he was not a part of the passing game.

Week 15 - Maroney was called on to be the workhorse in the blustery conditions and answered the bell as he ran 26 times for 104 yards and a touchdown. He ran hard all game long and controlled the clock. He was a main staple for the Pats in winning the time of possession battle as he rolled to his second 100 yard rushing game of the season. Maroney also accounted for the only offensive touchdown for New England as he converted a two yard run for his third score of the season.

Week 16 - Maroney has suddenly become a contributor for the Patriots. He had two rushes of over fifty yards including a 59 yard scamper in which he was untouched. He had a clear path to the end zone as soon as he hit the line of scrimmage. However, despite the large lead he did not receive the same amount of touches that a typical featured back would carry.

On Maroney's 51 yard run he was running behind WR Randy Moss who was attempting to clear the way for him.

Five of Maroney's carries came on New England's final possession of the game as they were running the clock out.

Week 17 - Laurence Maroney carried the ball 19 times for 46 yards, but had two second half touchdowns, the second of which gave the Patriots the win. Maroney found very little room to run, with the exception of a 13 yard gain in the second quarter. Tom Brady and the passing game was able to get it into the redzone a couple of times in the second half though, and Maroney punched it in from six and five yards respectively. He was the primary ball carrier, but did not garner any targets in the passing game as Kevin Faulk replaced him on all passing downs.

Week 19 - Maroney played very well. He ran with very good power, dragging defenders with him on multiple occasions as he gained several yards after contact. Maroney also showed very good speed, as he was able to get outside on some runs as well as a couple of screen passes, and run by defenders. He gave a very determined effort and posted very good numbers.

Week 20 - Maroney continued his stellar postseason play with a dynamic 122 yard performance, with a touchdown to boot. He lucked out on the score, as Kevin Faulk was taken down at the one yard line after a short pass from Tom Brady on the previous play. Maroney fell into the end zone off the right side for the score, and he was just getting started. By the third quarter, he was rumbling all over the field as well as shifting gears at the line and cutting inside handoffs back outside for big gains. The Chargers had a tough time even getting near him, let alone bring him down. Maroney picked up chunks of yardage in the third and fourth quarters, and was particularly adept in open space. His 37 yards on the final possession for the Patriots really helped run out the clock and seal the victory for New England.

Week 21 - Maroney was unable to effectively run the football against the stiff Giants' defense. He did get into the end zone after pass interference was called on a pass to Ben Watson in the end zone, but he could never get much going. The Giants filled the holes consistently and he was unable to break through them, only managing 36 yards on 14 rushing attempts. He caught two of the three balls thrown his way for 12 yards.