Does McFadden carry the ball away from his body?

[Boyzmamacita]

I admit I haven't followed McFadden's career, but last week The Break showed some footage of McFadden running with the ball. The runs were very nice and elusive, but I noticed in the particular highlights they showed that he seemed to have a tendency to hold the ball out a la DeMarco Murray. I've never heard this criticism of him, just that he runs upright and isn't a great short yardage back. Has anyone noticed his tendencies when carrying the ball? If there's a good thing about losing Murray, it's not having to worry about his occasional carelessness with the football. McFadden probably won't be the starter, but I hope he doesn't have the same issue.

 

[Jenky]

I admit I haven't followed McFadden's career, but last week The Break showed some footage of McFadden running with the ball. The runs were very nice and elusive, but I noticed in the particular highlights they showed that he seemed to have a tendency to hold the ball out a la DeMarco Murray. I've never heard this criticism of him, just that he runs upright and isn't a great short yardage back. Has anyone noticed his tendencies when carrying the ball? If there's a good thing about losing Murray, it's not having to worry about his occasional carelessness with the football. McFadden probably won't be the starter, but I hope he doesn't have the same issue.

He doesn't secure all points of the ball. A lot of playmaking RBs don't, but the great ones know when to do it.

 

[TonyS]

Amen! I hope he doesn't do the same thing as Murray. I was really sick of screaming at the TV this season as Demarco held the ball away from his body. I thought that at any moment a pursuing defender would swat it away. It was ironic that on his fumble against GB, he was actually holding it high and tight, if my memory serves me.

 

[jrumann59]

McFadden has lost 12 fumbles in 7 years and has 17 fumbles in 7 years, the majority of his fumbles were in his first 3 years in the league. Murray has 12 fumbles with 8 lost majority of which were last year.

Looks like McFadden got ball security taught to him. Murray averages one fumble, not lost just a fumble, every 92.08 touches. McFadden averages one fumble every 73.47 touches. His first 3 years he was 12 fumbles 7 lost and his injury history does not help his per touch. But his last 4 years he was 5 and 5 total. Murrays fubles totals from last year seem low, I know he lost 5 but I think there were 2-3 that were fumbles out of bounds.

 

[xwalker]

I admit I haven't followed McFadden's career, but last week The Break showed some footage of McFadden running with the ball. The runs were very nice and elusive, but I noticed in the particular highlights they showed that he seemed to have a tendency to hold the ball out a la DeMarco Murray. I've never heard this criticism of him, just that he runs upright and isn't a great short yardage back. Has anyone noticed his tendencies when carrying the ball? If there's a good thing about losing Murray, it's not having to worry about his occasional carelessness with the football. McFadden probably won't be the starter, but I hope he doesn't have the same issue.

Only 4 fumbles in the past 3 years total.

 

[Jenky]

Amen! I hope he doesn't do the same thing as Murray. I was really sick of screaming at the TV this season as Demarco held the ball away from his body. I thought that at any moment a pursuing defender would swat it away. It was ironic that on his fumble against GB, he was actually holding it high and tight, if my memory serves me.

He didn't hold it to his chest.

 

[Titleist]

There were times last season when I wish Murray would pull a Tiki Barber

 

[jrumann59]

There were times last season when I wish Murray would pull a Tiki Barber

But if would have done that Joe the Fan would have been able to out run him.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

But if would have done that Joe the Fan would have been able to out run him.

Julius Jones did that when he was "turned into a robot." He held the ball with both hands and it prevented him from doing anything else.

 

[JBS]

There were times last season when I wish Murray would pull a Tiki Barber

He did pull a tiki Barber

many times last season

 

[CF74]

Murray saw daylight and started to swing his arms to pick up speed, it's a shame that Peppers has freakishly long arms and dove at just the right time to get a piece of it..

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I admit I haven't followed McFadden's career, but last week The Break showed some footage of McFadden running with the ball. The runs were very nice and elusive, but I noticed in the particular highlights they showed that he seemed to have a tendency to hold the ball out a la DeMarco Murray. I've never heard this criticism of him, just that he runs upright and isn't a great short yardage back. Has anyone noticed his tendencies when carrying the ball? If there's a good thing about losing Murray, it's not having to worry about his occasional carelessness with the football. McFadden probably won't be the starter, but I hope he doesn't have the same issue.

We should ask fuzzylumpkins

Dude has some good info and analysis. Unbiased!
http://cowboyszone.com/threads/fuzzy-thoughts-on-mcfadden.317703/

 

[jrumann59]

Murray saw daylight and started to swing his arms to pick up speed, it's a shame that Peppers has freakishly long arms and dove at just the right time to get a piece of it..

Unfortunately when he cut or tried to dance he carried the ball out like a loaf of bread also.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

We should ask fuzzylumpkins

Dude has some good info and analysis. Unbiased!
http://cowboyszone.com/threads/fuzzy-thoughts-on-mcfadden.317703/

I'm biased. I just try to be up front about them and fight to not let them cloud objectivity. They are still there.

He will do the loaf of bread at times on the outside but he is definite 'robot' between the tackles. He leans over the ball and covers up. I only saw the ball come out twice and one was from the ball hitting the turf. DMurray was more audacious with the loaf of bread thing. His ball security is well represented by his fumble totals.

http://www.nfl.com/player/darrenmcfadden/284/careerstats

In the past 4 years, McFad has lost 4 fumbles in 598 carries.

 

[reddyuta]

There were times last season when I wish Murray would pull a Tiki Barber

if murray did that he will fall on face,he needs to swing his arm to maintain balance.