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Kirby Wilson has coached running backs in the NFL for nine seasons, so he has seen a good sampling of players at the position. The styles vary. Short and fast. Big and plodding. Yet when Wilson was studying Patriots rookie Laurence Maroney before the 2006 NFL draft, he put him in a unique category. “He’s like gunpowder and fire mixing,” said Wilson, most recently on the Cardinals’ staff. “A huge explosion.” The Pats, who face the Jets in the AFC playoffs Sunday, have a strong backfield, but they’ve never had a home-run hitter like the 220-pound Maroney, who ran for 745 yards and six TDs. “He’s one of the best in the league,” teammate Kevin Faulk said. “When he gets the ball, you never know what’s going to happen.”