Do we, once again have the best running back in the league?

jimnabby said:

Murray doesn't bring much in the passing game, so I don't know about "most complete". But he's certainly a great pass protector and a fine runner.

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He does when he gets opportunities. Doesn't get them.

I think Murray has always been in that top 5-ish range, and we're just now seeing more of his ability because the line is better and the zone blocking is working out. Actually, I shouldn't say the OL, because the WRs and TEs and other backs are blocking, too. All around, we're executing the running plays better, not getting holding calls, etc.

I will say, though, you don't get on my top RB list averaging .75 fumbles/game. Keep it up, hold onto the ball, keep scoring rushing touchdowns from outside the 10, and then we're talking.

I do love how DM pass protects, though. That's one great reason to keep him on the field, even during his fumbling spell. He's really underrated on passing downs still, somehow.

All that said, I still don't pay him a deal that averages more than $4.5M/year. We can find another good back, or run it by committee if we have to. We need that money for making this defense a dominating unit at some point in the not-ridiculous future.

gdogg24 said:

It's been a pretty easy answer these last few years who the best back in football is but now that he's gone from the field could it be that it's our guy now? I know we've been praising the O-line and rightfully so, but I don't think just anybody could take the handoffs and make this thing work so well. I'm not of the thought that we can just plug Randle or Dunbar back there and have things work the same without missing a beat. I was looking at the 90s Cowboy documentary of the 93 Super Bowl run, the year Emmitt held out, and after losing those first two games pretty handily they paid Emmitt and got him back on the field right away. The O-Line we had then was still that dominant group, we still had Daryl Johnston lead blocking but without that man in the backfield it wasn't the same team. I usually hate making comparisons like that but the point is I don't think we can under sell the play of DeMarco Murray. The numbers say he's the best running back in the league and what he's done to start this season, in a historical context is phenomenal.

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It looks like we might have the best back this season as the position looks a little weaker overall to me than in past years. Not saying that's the only reason why Murray is looking like the best. He'd more than likely be leading the league at this point no matter who else was out there.

Right now he is the best but the Running Back position is very different from the days of Smith

Stop and think Murray is avg 130 yards a game right now. closes person is Bell avg 94 yards a game. Even Smith in the 90;s avg 106 a game. No doubt the numbers will likely not remain at 130 but this is as good of a start by any RB in any era

Can look at it the other way too:

McCoy having a heck of a year, that 2.7 ypc looking pretty good through 4 games.

Murray would do better then that behind the Beagles line.

Idgit said:

I think Murray has always been in that top 5-ish range, and we're just now seeing more of his ability because the line is better and the zone blocking is working out. Actually, I shouldn't say the OL, because the WRs and TEs and other backs are blocking, too. All around, we're executing the running plays better, not getting holding calls, etc.

I will say, though, you don't get on my top RB list averaging .75 fumbles/game. Keep it up, hold onto the ball, keep scoring rushing touchdowns from outside the 10, and then we're talking.

I do love how DM pass protects, though. That's one great reason to keep him on the field, even during his fumbling spell. He's really underrated on passing downs still, somehow.

All that said, I still don't pay him a deal that averages more than $4.5M/year. We can find another good back, or run it by committee if we have to. We need that money for making this defense a dominating unit at some point in the not-ridiculous future.

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I understand what you're saying Idgit but just like the O.P. said you cannot underrate what he RB himself means to the offensive line. Just as he said, in 93 Emmitt held out the 2 gamesand we lost them both. Suddenly those open holes weren't so open, and yet when Emmitt came back it was back to business as usual. Murray is very freaking good, and I wouldnt call it a stretch to say he is the best back in the league. Hell even AP is a bit looser with the football than you would want him to be.

Lonestar94 said:

Murray is still a poor man's Peterson imo. .

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What's funny is this is exactly what a scout wrote as a pre-draft analysis. To me Peterson is still the best. I put Murray in the next group with McCoy and Forte. Obviously Murray is having the best season to date.

It's more than the offensive line when you see him plow through people, breaking tackle after tackle, line has nothing to do with that, that's pure beastness. But the offensive lines helps him to get through that first wave of guys, and he's doing the rest. But also that's over looked are the receivers and tight ends blocking. This team is a very good blocking team from lineman to receiver. Having said all of that, you can be better than a guy who's more talented. Results speak for themselves.

As a long-time fan of the running game, when I saw that DM was leading the league in rushing I was thrilled.

And then I thought to myself, "I don't need my RB to be #1 for me to be happy. I would be thrilled even if he was top 5."

Same with this thread, I don't need him to be the #1 back in the NFL for me to be happy that DM is our RB.

I just love our newly found commitment to the running game.
I hope DM and the OLine can stay healthy and this can continue.

Jstopper said:

I understand what you're saying Idgit but just like the O.P. said you cannot underrate what he RB himself means to the offensive line. Just as he said, in 93 Emmitt held out the 2 gamesand we lost them both. Suddenly those open holes weren't so open, and yet when Emmitt came back it was back to business as usual. Murray is very freaking good, and I wouldnt call it a stretch to say he is the best back in the league. Hell even AP is a bit looser with the football than you would want him to be.

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I've heard that comparison to Emmitt, and I just don't buy it. And I don't buy it because I see Randle come in and be nearly as effective as Murray is between the tackles....and I don't think Randle's a special back by any stretch.
I've always thought Murray was a very good player, and I still think that's true. But the run blocking is just really good across the board. I do think Murray's also getting better at being patient once he's past the trash at the LoS. You can see him slowing down and waiting for blocks before cuts, or accelerating into gaps in the open field and then slowing down again. And, like I said, his pass protection is really, really good. That's what I worry about losing more than anything if we have to let him walk next season.

But I still replace the guy with a second or third round pick and Ryan Williams and don't lose much sleep over it in the offseason if Murray doesn't take an actual fair-market deal. And I think at this point there's virtually zero chance Murray doesn't get more money elsewhere. I know I'm probably in the minority on this, too. But RB is just not a position we should be paying big money to. Neither is a 27 year old running back. I'd ride him as far as I can this year and plan for life after Demarco next. Which is a shame, too, because I really like the guy.

PJTHEDOORS said:

He does when he gets opportunities. Doesn't get them.

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The fact that he doesn't get opportunities is suggestive. And he hasn't done much with the few opportunities he's had. He always rates out poorly as a receiver in Football Outsiders metrics, for example.

I'm not criticizing him, and I'm very glad the Cowboys play to his strengths. But Marshall Faulk he ain't. (He's actually more like Emmitt, who was an adequate receiver but not much more than that).

casmith07 said:

Maybe Marshawn Lynch, as a complete back with pass blocking, but I don't know about all of those guys being as complete as DeMarco Murray.

It's like the Jimmy Graham or Gronk vs. Witten arguments. To me, you can have your Graham or Gronk - I'll take Witten who is very good at a bunch of things and great at nothing (hypothetically...Witten's a great route runner) over a guy who's great at one thing and wholly mediocre at others.

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The thing is though, hey it's a legit conversation to have and it's been a while since that's been the situation.

Jstopper said:

I understand what you're saying Idgit but just like the O.P. said you cannot underrate what he RB himself means to the offensive line. Just as he said, in 93 Emmitt held out the 2 gamesand we lost them both. Suddenly those open holes weren't so open, and yet when Emmitt came back it was back to business as usual. Murray is very freaking good, and I wouldnt call it a stretch to say he is the best back in the league. Hell even AP is a bit looser with the football than you would want him to be.

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See and I'm seeing a lot of fans saying that any number of backs can do what he's doing and I just don't think that's the case! The funny thing is with Emmitt I hear that same criticism still to this day it was more about the line than him. Thing is there's been talented backs and talented lines in this league season after season not everybody has come out and started a season like Murray that's why that 100 yard and a touchdown list has those names at the top.

Jstopper said:

I understand what you're saying Idgit but just like the O.P. said you cannot underrate what he RB himself means to the offensive line. Just as he said, in 93 Emmitt held out the 2 gamesand we lost them both. Suddenly those open holes weren't so open, and yet when Emmitt came back it was back to business as usual. Murray is very freaking good, and I wouldnt call it a stretch to say he is the best back in the league. Hell even AP is a bit looser with the football than you would want him to be.

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It's all about the unit. There's no way Troy Hambrick does what Murray has done even behind this line.

hornitosmonster said:

Right now he is the best but the Running Back position is very different from the days of Smith

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Not for Dallas it aint.

jimnabby said:

The fact that he doesn't get opportunities is suggestive. And he hasn't done much with the few opportunities he's had. He always rates out poorly as a receiver in Football Outsiders metrics, for example.

I'm not criticizing him, and I'm very glad the Cowboys play to his strengths. But Marshall Faulk he ain't. (He's actually more like Emmitt, who was an adequate receiver but not much more than that).

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Not really. None of our backs get many opportunities in the passing game. Cowboys just prefer to use DMarco more in the running game.

behind this line. Id take beast mode before him

gdogg24 said:

It's been a pretty easy answer these last few years who the best back in football is but now that he's gone from the field could it be that it's our guy now? I know we've been praising the O-line and rightfully so, but I don't think just anybody could take the handoffs and make this thing work so well. I'm not of the thought that we can just plug Randle or Dunbar back there and have things work the same without missing a beat. I was looking at the 90s Cowboy documentary of the 93 Super Bowl run, the year Emmitt held out, and after losing those first two games pretty handily they paid Emmitt and got him back on the field right away. The O-Line we had then was still that dominant group, we still had Daryl Johnston lead blocking but without that man in the backfield it wasn't the same team. I usually hate making comparisons like that but the point is I don't think we can under sell the play of DeMarco Murray. The numbers say he's the best running back in the league and what he's done to start this season, in a historical context is phenomenal.

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Totally agree. People forget that Murray had a pretty good rookie season as well. We didn't have an o-line like we have now back then. Murray gains extra yardage when his hit and has a knack to make things happen.

Until he gets more then 4 great games I'd slow it down on putting him in the league with Hall of Fame level players. Right now I'd lean toward him being a good player in a great stretch which is being helped out by another very good unit.