Offensive participation
A look at the snaps played by offensive skill-position players in the Patriots' 30-21 win over the 49ers:
(snaps include a defensive holding penalty, a defensive offsides penalty, and an offensive pass interference penalty on Randy Moss; snaps do not include the two game-ending kneel downs)
ANALYSIS: The 81 snaps were a season high and reflected the major time of possession advantage the Patriots had -- 39:52 to 20:08. ... The Patriots' high count for snaps last year was 80, against the Cowboys. ... Given the high snap count, it gives one an appreciation for the conditioning of WR Randy Moss and TE Benjamin Watson, who came off the field just three and four plays, respectively. ... The plays in which Moss came off the field were short-yardage situations -- a third-and-1 in the second quarter, and second-and-goal and third-and-goal from the 49ers' 1-yard line in the third quarter. ... While some might still view Wes Welker as a slot receiver, he continues to be a part of two-wide sets in certain game-plans, which was the case against the 49ers. ... WR Sam Aiken was the fourth receiver, playing in three snaps when the team went to its 4-WR package. ... RB Laurence Maroney went a 20-play stretch without seeing the field in the first half, before returning. He had just eight snaps in the second half, as the team went more with Sammy Morris (18 of his 29 snaps in the second half) and Kevin Faulk (12 of his 28 snaps in the second half).
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If he continues dancing at the line of scrimmage he shouldn't be in there
The reason Maroney didn't "aprticipate" much in the second half is that he actually hurt the team more than help in the first half.
The way he is running that is 17 snaps too many for Maroney.
Mike -
Moss was huge and the deep balls (even the INT) will force safeties to back up a bit more than they have in the past few games. That is VERY important because it was almost as if the Patriots were playing in a goal-to-go type scenario anywhere on the field. If the QB can't go 15-20 yards down field, the defense can suffocate the offensive and shorten the field as if it were near the end zone.
Also, with Maroney, can't the coaches just tell him to run straight no matter what. I feel like the holes are there for him to turn those 2-3 yard runs into 5-7 yard runs. once he gets into the secondary, he can dance all he wants. Your thoughts?
Mike-
Maroney is running as if he's injured. He's looks tentative, indecisive and afraid. Is his shoulder bothering him more than we think it is?
Right on, Mike77!!! If Jordan's injury is not serious, Maroney should sit and watch = maybe even make him inactive, so a valuable guy like Crable can dress. Morris and Jordan are better running backs, plain and simple. When Maroney wimped out and ran out of bounds making the Pats have to go for it on 4th & 1 the next play, that did it for me. Enoughs, enough!
I hate to pile on ,but add me to the "had-it-up-to-here-with-Maroney" club.If he is hurt than there is no way Ivan Fears, the RB coach would have laid into him,not once but twice on the sidelines.And did anyone else see the look Moss gave him when he made the left hand turn before the yard marker ?
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