Another thought on why McFadden may have been signed

[slomoxn]

Im hoping if he sticks at least one of the RB committee can close a game like Murray.

 

[texbumthelife]

If we don't use Dunbar as a receiver, I highly doubt we'll use McFadden. As others have said, his value, and likely his chances to make the team rest on his ability to block. If he shows up well blocking, he will actually have a good chance to get a good share of time in the backfield.

 

[AzorAhai]

Gurley, the track star, ran only 4.45, and Gordan a 4.52.....just saying McFadden has the size, speed, hands, and open field ability to excell in the passing game. I would expect Williams, Randal, or a rookie to carry the load as ball carrier.

Where did you see Gurleys 40 time? Everything I've seen is projected and he was projected at 4.45. He wasn't able to run it at the combine and won't be able to at his pro day either. Not saying you're wrong, but I don't see any official 40s for him.

 

[Chuck 54]

Where did you see Gurleys 40 time? Everything I've seen is projected and he was projected at 4.45. He wasn't able to run it at the combine and won't be able to at his pro day either. Not saying you're wrong, but I don't see any official 40s for him.

On ESPN combine results, they listed his 40 time and 17 reps on bench....other events blank, so I assumed he ran. No mention of it being a projection if it was.

 

[Chuck 54]

If we don't use Dunbar as a receiver, I highly doubt we'll use McFadden. As others have said, his value, and likely his chances to make the team rest on his ability to block. If he shows up well blocking, he will actually have a good chance to get a good share of time in the backfield.

The difference is we no longer have Murray who can do it all, so I assume we will have a 3rd down specialist unless someone improves greatly or our rookie is our best option. At some point, I think the threat of Murray running, along with his pass protection, was preferred.

 

[Redball Express]

It's an extremely cheap contract so it's worth the shot of him excelling in a different system

And behind this OL.

I think this is big pickup and its a given we draft another RB in the first 3 RDs to develop.

Now we can concentrate on DL, CB and LBer with our top picks taking BPA.

Which is what we need to do to improve.

I don't think any of us think we were Dez's catch away from the SB.

More hard work ahead.

 

[endersdragon]

This is is a low risk, high reward signing. If he does suck this year (either during the season or during training camp), we cut him, no real money lost. If he can show off a bit of why he was drafted behind our elite o-line, we look smart and we get him for relatively cheap. Add to that a guy anywhere in the first 4 rounds of this draft (seriously, there are soooooo many good backs here) and we have a recipe for an elite running game again. Beyond that, just because we signed him doesn't mean we won't go after anyone else in free agency.

 

[AzorAhai]

On ESPN combine results, they listed his 40 time and 17 reps on bench....other events blank, so I assumed he ran. No mention of it being a projection if it was.

Probably a projection then since he's still revovering from the ACL. I don't think these guys run the 40 other than preparing for the combine and prodays. That said from what I've read he would be somewhere between 4.4-4.5 so sounds about right.

 

[LOBO7]

He is veteran that can protect Romo on 3rd down. He will be the dump off guy that can cause great damage coming out of the backfield. I hope he sees this as his last chance.

 

[NextGenBoys]

He is hands down the most comparable to Murray as far as running style. He is physical enough to lower the shoulder, gets north and south, and has the speed to break it.

Both had durability concerns. I think Murray figured his out and did an incredible job stretching and staying extremely hydrated, two of the biggest factors. Hopefully DMC does the same in Dallas.

 

[DFWJC]

McFadden isn't even worthy as a backup, EXTREMELY poor signing in my opinion.

200 k risk...or basically zero downside.
They're just thinking outside the box a little.
No harm in that

 

[Fletch]

Randy Moss didn't look good in Oakland either.... just saying

Some will never agree or like what the Cowboys do.... just saying.

 

[NinePointOh]

Yes, but the worry with McFadden is he didn't look good as other journeyman type RBs on the Raiders over a fairly long duration:

• In 2014 Latavius Murray (5.2 ypc) averaged nearly 2 yards more per carry than McFadden (3.4 ypc)
• In 2013 Rashard Jennings rushed for twice as many yards and 1.2 yards more per carry (4.5 vs 3.3)
• In 2012 Marcel Reese (4.6 ypc) and Mike Goodson (6.3 ypc) collectively average 2 yards more per carry than McFadden (3.3 ypc)

With the exception of Jennings, none of those guys had very many carries -- which means not only were they running without the effects of fatigue, but their YPC will be unreliable, erratic, and highly dependent on a very small number of big plays. Murray and Goodson, for instance, each added more than a full yard to their averages with a single play.Once Latavius Murray actually started getting double digit carries, his YPC dropped to 3.3, 4.9, 3.7, and 3.7 in the last four games.

 

[Hardline]

I have a gut feeling that we are going to be pleasantly surprised at McFadden's production.
I believe he will step up and fill Murray's shoes .
He is going to have some big time rushing games for us.

 

[perrykemp]

With the exception of Jennings, none of those guys had a large number of carries -- which means not only were they running without the effects of fatigue, but their YPC will be unreliable, erratic, and highly dependent on a very small number of big plays. Murray and Goodson, for instance, each added more than a full YPC to their averages with a single play in the years you've cited.Once Latavius Murray actually started getting double digit carries, his YPC dropped to 3.3, 4.9, 3.7, and 3.7 in the last four games.

This is true, but it does beg the question of why did those guys rip off long runs while McFadden generally didn't?

Go back to 2012 -- McFadden averaged a very low 3.3 ypc despite having a 64 yard run.

In 2013 and 2014 combined on 269 carries his longest run was 30 yards.

I don't disagree with anything you said directly, however, we aren't talking about just 1 year of the other guys on the roster running for more YPC than McFadden, it's the last 3 seasons.

 

[LatinMind]

I know McFadden has had a poor career in Oakland, but just reminded myself of his start.

At his size, he ran a legit, official 4.33 40 at the combine, and several coaches had him at the 4.27 unofficially.
He ranks 2nd all time among SEC RBs behind only Hershall Walker.
His ROOKIE contract back in 2008 was for 60,000,000 dollars with 26 million guaranteed.

He is also very good in the passing game as a receiver and as a blocker, so maybe he is a poor man's CJ Spiller, an upgrade at 3rd down back while we run a rookie back and let him develop in pass protection. I think he will get a chance to compete, but my guess is he's a vet who is very good in the passing game and will lower the risk to Romo with a rookie RB/Williams/Randal.

The odds are against him, but he came to the NFL with tons of ability and only .06 behind Chris Johnson's 40 time...pretty freakin amazing for 6'1" and 215 lbs.

He is a cowboy for one reason. He is making a little over the vet minimum. And he has talent. What the team calls a value signing.

 

[Spectre]

McFadden came out the year we had Cleveland's #1 and I was hoping they would suck bad enough for us to draft McFadden. Cleveland was actually decent and we ended up drafting Felix Jones much later in the 1st round. McFadden is a homerun back with great athleticism, the issue is his durability.

If healthy, he's going to show some of the explosive, to-the-house speed that DeMarco lacked. That's a big if though.

This. ^

Really the only danger to the signing is he's a Jerry-favorite... if he sucks but Jerry is getting senile and says 'We're keepin' MackFadden, an' that's that.' when/if the coaches determine him to be lame.

 

[vicjagger]

He's our Legarette Bluntion signing...

That one isn't ringing a bell.

 

[ConstantReboot]

I know McFadden has had a poor career in Oakland, but just reminded myself of his start.

At his size, he ran a legit, official 4.33 40 at the combine, and several coaches had him at the 4.27 unofficially.
He ranks 2nd all time among SEC RBs behind only Hershall Walker.
His ROOKIE contract back in 2008 was for 60,000,000 dollars with 26 million guaranteed.

He is also very good in the passing game as a receiver and as a blocker, so maybe he is a poor man's CJ Spiller, an upgrade at 3rd down back while we run a rookie back and let him develop in pass protection. I think he will get a chance to compete, but my guess is he's a vet who is very good in the passing game and will lower the risk to Romo with a rookie RB/Williams/Randal.

The odds are against him, but he came to the NFL with tons of ability and only .06 behind Chris Johnson's 40 time...pretty freakin amazing for 6'1" and 215 lbs.

That was then. This is now. McFadden is probably as slow as Murray. He is injury prone and would rather go with Randle/Dunbar as touting the ball than McFadden.

 

[jazzcat22]

I'm not saying 4.5 is bad. I'm simply saying you can't expect McFadden to do now what he trained for weeks (maybe even months) to do at the combine.

Is that faster than Murray at this point, I think it is.