Bottom line of the article: (1) Maroney has a great attitude, (2) Dillon is not going to hinder Maroney's learning, (3) Maroney knows how to run, must learn to block, (4) both RBs are expected to "get healthy doses of playing time this year." and (5) Dillon looks good so far.
Here's the link:
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patr..._is_in_session/
Maroney learning from Dillon and Co.
By Jerome Solomon, Globe Staff | June 14, 2006
FOXBOROUGH -- Play after play, on this gorgeous day at minicamp, it is recent past than future at tailback for the Patriots. Corey Dillon, recent past; Laurence Maroney, future.
As for the present, there is probably going to be a healthy dose of both players this coming season, as Maroney, the rookie from Minnesota, vies for playing time with Dillon, holder of the Patriots' season record for rushing yards.
For now, Maroney is learning from the 10-year veteran, as well as from eight-year vet Kevin Faulk and seven-year man Patrick Pass.
``It's a good situation for a young guy," said running backs coach Ivan Fears. ``The one thing about this kid is he wants to learn. He's hungry to learn. He doesn't have a big head, and the other guys see that and want to help him get better."
Yesterday there was plenty of interaction among the tailbacks. Maroney walked off the field from the early practice with Dillon, though he did not heed Dillon's directive to ignore the media.
``He's a great person to work with," Maroney said after the 95-minute workout. ``He's helping me out, teaching me the small things. He keeps reminding me about what to look for on certain plays.
``It's taking me a while to learn the offense, and take everything in, but I'm working hard to get it down. Everything's been fast. It's taking a little while to get used to how they call things up here. But I'll get there."
Fears feels Maroney is coming along just fine, and this week's minicamp comes at a good time.
``He's put in the time on the playbook and on the chalkboard, but the best learning takes place on the field," said Fears. ``You have to get out here and see how it all fits, and see what you must react to."
As for speculation that Dillon might not be particularly accommodating, what with a player on the roster who could cut into his playing time and affect his future, Fears said that is not a problem.
``They know they're part of a team," Fears said. ``I don't think Corey walks around with a chip on his shoulder, or looking over his shoulder. He's a competitor and he knows what he needs to do to play. He's doing fine.
``He's been in this situation before -- helping a young guy learn a system. He's a great teammate."
While it is difficult to judge the running game in noncontact drills, teammates say Dillon looks good.
``Corey always looks good to me," quarterback Tom Brady said. ``He's a big, powerful man. I'd hate to be on the other side of the ball with him coming at me. I'm not worried about Corey.
``Corey's got a great attitude and he's working hard and that's what we expect; that's what we expect from all the veterans, to really lead the younger guys and come in here and set the example."
Dillon looked sharp last offseason and preseason but had one of his worst seasons as a pro with just 733 yards. A year earlier, he had his best season with a franchise-record 1,635 yards.
Maroney not only will serve to push Dillon to return to form after being bothered by injuries for most of the season, but he should give the Patriots a speedy threat -- when he is ready to play.
Head coach Bill Belichick and Fears acknowledge that, like any rookie running back, Maroney has plenty to learn about the passing game before he can be a regular in the offense.
``I think the biggest thing for any rookie running back is the passing game -- routes, coverages, protections," Belichick said. ``Most pro teams do a lot more than college teams do in that area."
The Patriots work on blitz pickup every day. Maroney has work to do in that area.
``He knows how to run the ball, that's for sure -- he comes from a big-time running program -- but there are a lot of things going on in the passing game that he has never seen," Fears said.
Seeing the defense come at him at minicamp doesn't compare with what Maroney will see at training camp, and it's several notches below what he'll face in preseason games. Plus, there is another level of intensity in regular-season games that will make minicamp work seem quite mild. But now is the time to learn so that he can react faster when, as some coaches say, ``the bullets are live."
Things that Dillon, Faulk, and Pass teach him should help. Dillon has been one of the top power runners in the league for years, Faulk is one of the best in the league in third-down situations, and Pass (out with an injury this week) runs excellent routes out of the backfield.
``Those guys have a lot that they can teach him -- they have been very successful in the league in a number of ways," Fears said. ``But he has to be who he is. What type of running back he'll be depends on him. He'll decide that."
Maroney, who returned kickoffs in college, said he is willing to get in wherever he can fit in at this point. Being the future at running back is in the future.
``I'm going to play wherever they put me and do whatever is asked of me," Maroney said. ``Basically I'm just here to work hard."
Here's the link:
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patr..._is_in_session/
Maroney learning from Dillon and Co.
By Jerome Solomon, Globe Staff | June 14, 2006
FOXBOROUGH -- Play after play, on this gorgeous day at minicamp, it is recent past than future at tailback for the Patriots. Corey Dillon, recent past; Laurence Maroney, future.
As for the present, there is probably going to be a healthy dose of both players this coming season, as Maroney, the rookie from Minnesota, vies for playing time with Dillon, holder of the Patriots' season record for rushing yards.
For now, Maroney is learning from the 10-year veteran, as well as from eight-year vet Kevin Faulk and seven-year man Patrick Pass.
``It's a good situation for a young guy," said running backs coach Ivan Fears. ``The one thing about this kid is he wants to learn. He's hungry to learn. He doesn't have a big head, and the other guys see that and want to help him get better."
Yesterday there was plenty of interaction among the tailbacks. Maroney walked off the field from the early practice with Dillon, though he did not heed Dillon's directive to ignore the media.
``He's a great person to work with," Maroney said after the 95-minute workout. ``He's helping me out, teaching me the small things. He keeps reminding me about what to look for on certain plays.
``It's taking me a while to learn the offense, and take everything in, but I'm working hard to get it down. Everything's been fast. It's taking a little while to get used to how they call things up here. But I'll get there."
Fears feels Maroney is coming along just fine, and this week's minicamp comes at a good time.
``He's put in the time on the playbook and on the chalkboard, but the best learning takes place on the field," said Fears. ``You have to get out here and see how it all fits, and see what you must react to."
As for speculation that Dillon might not be particularly accommodating, what with a player on the roster who could cut into his playing time and affect his future, Fears said that is not a problem.
``They know they're part of a team," Fears said. ``I don't think Corey walks around with a chip on his shoulder, or looking over his shoulder. He's a competitor and he knows what he needs to do to play. He's doing fine.
``He's been in this situation before -- helping a young guy learn a system. He's a great teammate."
While it is difficult to judge the running game in noncontact drills, teammates say Dillon looks good.
``Corey always looks good to me," quarterback Tom Brady said. ``He's a big, powerful man. I'd hate to be on the other side of the ball with him coming at me. I'm not worried about Corey.
``Corey's got a great attitude and he's working hard and that's what we expect; that's what we expect from all the veterans, to really lead the younger guys and come in here and set the example."
Dillon looked sharp last offseason and preseason but had one of his worst seasons as a pro with just 733 yards. A year earlier, he had his best season with a franchise-record 1,635 yards.
Maroney not only will serve to push Dillon to return to form after being bothered by injuries for most of the season, but he should give the Patriots a speedy threat -- when he is ready to play.
Head coach Bill Belichick and Fears acknowledge that, like any rookie running back, Maroney has plenty to learn about the passing game before he can be a regular in the offense.
``I think the biggest thing for any rookie running back is the passing game -- routes, coverages, protections," Belichick said. ``Most pro teams do a lot more than college teams do in that area."
The Patriots work on blitz pickup every day. Maroney has work to do in that area.
``He knows how to run the ball, that's for sure -- he comes from a big-time running program -- but there are a lot of things going on in the passing game that he has never seen," Fears said.
Seeing the defense come at him at minicamp doesn't compare with what Maroney will see at training camp, and it's several notches below what he'll face in preseason games. Plus, there is another level of intensity in regular-season games that will make minicamp work seem quite mild. But now is the time to learn so that he can react faster when, as some coaches say, ``the bullets are live."
Things that Dillon, Faulk, and Pass teach him should help. Dillon has been one of the top power runners in the league for years, Faulk is one of the best in the league in third-down situations, and Pass (out with an injury this week) runs excellent routes out of the backfield.
``Those guys have a lot that they can teach him -- they have been very successful in the league in a number of ways," Fears said. ``But he has to be who he is. What type of running back he'll be depends on him. He'll decide that."
Maroney, who returned kickoffs in college, said he is willing to get in wherever he can fit in at this point. Being the future at running back is in the future.
``I'm going to play wherever they put me and do whatever is asked of me," Maroney said. ``Basically I'm just here to work hard."
He continues to convince that he merely got a bad rap in Cincy. He's been a great teammate since the day he got here.
Good point. Especially if they just said I was fat.
