FOXBORO – Running back Laurence Maroney appeared comfortable against Baltimore when he caught the ball coming out of the backfield and was able to work in space, more than he did when he was carrying the ball from behind the line of scrimmage.
His two catches against the Ravens went for big plays in Monday night’s 27-24 win, as he amassed 79 receiving yards. He admitted yesterday it was easier for him to manuever and do his thing out in the open.
“I feel like, you have a lot of room, especially if you can go one-on-one with a person,” Maroney said, in front of a media mob at his locker yesterday. “You have a lot more options to try and make a person miss, than if you try and sit here and be behind a line of scrimmage where you have a lot of people in your face, so in the pass game, when you’re out there one-on-one, it does makes you feel confident.”
Maroney was sometimes playful, other times defensive when questions about his running style were presented, or suggestions were made on how to improve.
“That would be like me trying to critique you all about how to ask questions or conduct interviews,” Maroney said. “You really aren’t going to listen to it, because I’ve never did it before. That’s why I don’t pay attention to what some people say about running north-south. Because you never know what I see out there or what’s happening. If (defenders) are running free in the hole, what do you want me to do?
“I’m trying to make plays, trying to make it happen, so it might look like I’m dancing, but I’m really trying to make something happen. So I’m not going to get into that, go back and forth, that I’m running north-south, that I’m running laterally. I’m just out there to make plays and that’s what I try to do.”
When asked to evaluate his performance thus far, Maroney said he felt he was doing all right.
“Like any other person, I need to get better. And I can get better,” he said. “I’m never going to get to the point where I feel like I’m the best. I’m always trying to figure out ways to get better.”
Randy reasoning
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was asked to explain Randy Moss’ decline in production the last few games, if it was simply a matter of defenses taking him out.
“I think there are a number of factors, whether that be play design to get them the ball against certain coverages . . . certainly teams have tried to do things to force us to go other places with the football and that’s always a part of it,” he said. “We’re going to be willing to do that if they try to take somebody away.
“Then, we’ve got to be able to go somewhere else with the ball and then there’s been some poor throws, a drop here and there, so I think there are a number of reasons for it and I think we’re looking to try to improve in all of those areas to try to make sure that all of our players are productive.”
Baker in doubt
Safety Rashad Baker missed practice and is listed as questionable. He is typically used in dime packages, where six defensive backs are on the field.
Eugene Wilson, who has been a healthy scratch the past few weeks, would be a likely replacement for Baker. Also listed as questionable is guard Stephen Neal, who has been battling a shoulder injury much of the season.
Defensive end Ty Warren, meanwhile, was removed from the report. He was listed with a thigh injury Thursday.
Of note on the Pittsburgh side, safety Troy Polamalu, who has missed the past two games, is listed as doubtful with a knee injury.
