TheDailyBlitz.com: Who will step up for the Patriots with Taylor out?

The Patriots will be without their leading rushing (Fred Taylor) for a long time -- if not the entire season. That means, there is an opportunity for the other backs on the roster to step up and fill the void.

And Laurence Maroney, the team's second-leading rusher, is looking for himself and the group to do just that.

“We got Kev here, Sammy here, BenJarvus, so it’s going to be a team effort. I know I’m not going to be able to do it by myself,’’ Maroney said. “I know these guys are going to help out, but I feel like I’m going to have to carry most of the load.’’

Although Maroney is second on the team in rushing yards (78) and carries (27), he's only averaging 2.9 yards per carry and hasn't scored yet this season. And he had only six rushing yards on seven carries against the Ravens last week.

I expect to see Sammy Morris, who had 138 rushing yards against Denver last year, emerge from this group as the go-to guy at some point.

In his 23 games played for the Patriots, Morris has 254 carries for 1152 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also has 32 receptions for 295 yards.