A running back in Mike Martz system has every right to feel cheated. The problem with this situation is that the running back's anger is mis-placed. It should be directed at his own coach, instead.
Marshall Faulk was never more productive than when he played in Mike Martz's offense.
When Martz was only the OC, sure. That team was amazing. After he became the HC it was almost like he forgot how to call run plays. I understand that running the ball wasn't going to be the focus of that team under most circumstances, but the running game wasn't even a threat under most of his tenure.
*Disclosure; I have never lived on the east coast. I started following NE in 95-96, when they were 6-10. I had two Marshall Faulk jerseys, one for each team he played for.*
I think Faulk is a top 5 RB, his numbers in 99-01 are astounding. And the surrounding years are HoF worthy too most likely. He lives in the past, and as you said Powerslave, Martz shares a big part of fault. Man was delusional thinking he can overcome turnovers. That being said, it is a team game. The team that Marshall hates ran into the same problem that his team did, twice. If Marshall was given the ball 40 times to run, I'm sure NE would have continued pummeling him.
-Dork time, and I just did the numbers. 17 for 76, 4 for 4. 10 carries of 3 yards or less, one for 12 and 15 (longest). His ratio of rush attempt to reception was higher in the SB than during the season (3.13 to one). He had 24.5 per game touches in the season, 21 in the SB.
I doubt 3-4 more touches would have been the game.