News: Cowboys’ Darren McFadden: You saw glimpse of what I can do in space vs. Vikings

[CCBoy]

Cowboys’ Darren McFadden: You saw glimpse of what I can do in space vs. Vikings
http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/23c5110466ed7c234a985a645c542863?s=52&d=http%3A%2F%2Fres.***BANNED-URL***%2Fresources%2Fimages%2FSD-logo-50.jpg%3Fs%3D52&r=G

Jon Machota
http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***...was-a-glimpse-of-what-i-can-do-in-space.html/


...Cowboys owner Jerry Jones called the performance “vintage McFadden.”

McFadden acknowledged that his showing against the Vikings was the biggest step he’s made since joining the Cowboys in March.

“That’s a glimpse of what I can do out there if I get a little room to run,” McFadden said. “I feel like everybody got a chance to see that. It’s something that I just want to keep building on.”...

 

[Idgit]

I like the attitude, anyway.

 

[Doomsday101]

I like the attitude, anyway.

I agree. To me that confidence means a lot. He has skills and if he can stay healthy he has a chance to play big in Dallas.

 

[BAT]

There is no doubt that McFadden at 100% is the most explosive RB, especially in space. Randle is not as fast or as explosive, but he is more elusive/agile. The problem is against the elite defenses that don't give you much space. That is when Cowboys need to grind the dirty yards and just out punch and out physical defenses like Seattle, Arizona, St. Louis and San Francisco.

There is no back on the team that intimidates the elite defenses, physically. Someone who can break the other team's will, who will just ram the rock down their throat. It's that mindset that this OL thrives on. Never mind Murray, he is long gone. Cowboys need a RB with a killer instinct who just thrives on contact. Thomas Rawls would be nice, but I think a monster like Joey Iosefa (6'0 250) would be better. Pair him up with even more monstrous lead blocker like Will Tukuafu (6'3 270) at FB (can also play blocking TE and DL) and Cowboys would have a short yardage/goal line STAMPEDE package. No one wants to get caught in a stampede.

 

[EMMITTnROY]

I feel like this is a really big "no duh" statement. A RB saying he looks good when he has huge holes is like a track star saying he can beat anyone in a foot race if he has a head start.

 

[gimmesix]

“That’s a glimpse of what I can do out there if I get a little room to run,” McFadden said. “I feel like everybody got a chance to see that. It’s something that I just want to keep building on.”...

We also got a chance to see how you looked the previous week when primary lanes were clogged, when you needed to make someone miss, when good vision and power were needed to turn a loss or no gain into a few yards.

One week was a glimpse of some things that leave concerns while the other was exciting. Keep building, McFadden, and maybe you'll win us skeptics over.

 

[CCBoy]

I feel like this is a really big "no duh" statement. A RB saying he looks good when he has huge holes is like a track star saying he can beat anyone in a foot race if he has a head start.

Or, with the first 1,000 yard on the offensive line, and all above that is on the runner...he does look intrigueing, if honest.

 

[CCBoy]

We also got a chance to see how you looked the previous week when primary lanes were clogged, when you needed to make someone miss, when good vision and power were needed to turn a loss or no gain into a few yards.

One week was a glimpse of some things that leave concerns while the other was exciting. Keep building, McFadden, and maybe you'll win us skeptics over.

As if anyone could pound huge yardage in an Exhibition Game with a clogged line.

 

[BAZ]

I feel like this is a really big "no duh" statement. A RB saying he looks good when he has huge holes is like a track star saying he can beat anyone in a foot race if he has a head start.

They do that now? Damn Bolt has changed the sport.

 

[Clarkson]

hopefully he's motivated, knowing he has a lot to prove and he's in the perfect place to do it.

 

[gimmesix]

As if anyone could pound huge yardage in an Exhibition Game with a clogged line.

There is a need with any good running back to have the vision to find the secondary hole when the primary is clogged or to bounce the play when the backside cut opens and pick up a few yards (huge yardage isn't expected in those situations).

We act like it is all on the offensive line to make the play, when so much is on the back to see what's there and get it. That's what made Murray very good the last two years. He did not always get what was available when he reached the open field, but around the line of scrimmage he was very good at turning a loss into no gain or a minimal gain and turning no gain into 4 to 5 yards.

What made Emmitt great wasn't the line's ability to open holes, but Emmitt's ability to find an opening to get through.

These backs have to show that ability because what they get with an unclogged line isn't going to be all that much when they are stopped in the backfield or the line of scrimmage by eight-man fronts, causing us to pass more and more on second and third downs, then eventually on first downs to avoid those situations.

 

[CCBoy]

There is a need with any good running back to have the vision to find the secondary hole when the primary is clogged or to bounce the play when the backside cut opens and pick up a few yards (huge yardage isn't expected in those situations).

We act like it is all on the offensive line to make the play, when so much is on the back to see what's there and get it. That's what made Murray very good the last two years. He did not always get what was available when he reached the open field, but around the line of scrimmage he was very good at turning a loss into no gain or a minimal gain and turning no gain into 4 to 5 yards.

What made Emmitt great wasn't the line's ability to open holes, but Emmitt's ability to find an opening to get through.

These backs have to show that ability because what they get with an unclogged line isn't going to be all that much when they are stopped in the backfield or the line of scrimmage by eight-man fronts, causing us to pass more and more on second and third downs, then eventually on first downs to avoid those situations.

If that were generally true, then all teams would always run first.

More than a creative or good read is needed if there just isn't yardage there.

 

[cowboys2233]

What made Emmitt great wasn't the line's ability to open holes, but Emmitt's ability to find an opening to get through.

I think what made Emmitt great was his ability to take FULL advantage of his offensive line. And that's not a knock on his ability, the opposite in fact. I think he was the most efficient runner that ever played and was able to read blocks, make the quick cut and get north, even more so than Barry Sanders was able to. Barry Sanders was a very elusive runner, but he wasn't as hell bent on getting up the field as Emmitt was.

As Jimmy Johnson once said, Emmitt Smith was the greatest north-south runner he had ever seen. Yes, he had a great offensive line but he was the perfect compliment to it.

 

[Roadtrip635]

The question wasn't so much if you could it, but how long you could do it. Good start, but can you finish?
I, for one, hope he can.

 

[KJJ]

A lot of backs can make plays in space for McFadden and Randle to succeed they're going to have to show they can make some plays in tight spots.

 

[mitchell2254]

Just don't fumble. That Murray fumble in wide open space against the Packers will forever haunt me.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I think what made Emmitt great was his ability to take FULL advantage of his offensive line. And that's not a knock on his ability, the opposite in fact. I think he was the most efficient runner that ever played and was able to read blocks, make the quick cut and get north, even more so than Barry Sanders was able to. Barry Sanders was a very elusive runner, but he wasn't as hell bent on getting up the field as Emmitt was.

As Jimmy Johnson once said, Emmitt Smith was the greatest north-south runner he had ever seen. Yes, he had a great offensive line but he was the perfect compliment to it.

He looked like he was on roller skates/ice skates

 

[KJJ]

I think what made Emmitt great was his ability to take FULL advantage of his offensive line. And that's not a knock on his ability, the opposite in fact. I think he was the most efficient runner that ever played and was able to read blocks, make the quick cut and get north, even more so than Barry Sanders was able to. Barry Sanders was a very elusive runner, but he wasn't as hell bent on getting up the field as Emmitt was.

As Jimmy Johnson once said, Emmitt Smith was the greatest north-south runner he had ever seen. Yes, he had a great offensive line but he was the perfect compliment to it.

What made Emmitt great was his burst through the line of scrimmage, his vision and his ability to slither through tacklers while maintaining his balance. His first 5 yards were as fast as Herschel Walker's and Tony Dorsett's. All three looked like they were shot out of a cannon.

 

[Bullflop]

Just don't fumble. That Murray fumble in wide open space against the Packers will forever haunt me.

Not to worry about that now -- he can fumble for Philly these days (if he's so inclined.)

 

[gimmesix]

I think what made Emmitt great was his ability to take FULL advantage of his offensive line. And that's not a knock on his ability, the opposite in fact. I think he was the most efficient runner that ever played and was able to read blocks, make the quick cut and get north, even more so than Barry Sanders was able to. Barry Sanders was a very elusive runner, but he wasn't as hell bent on getting up the field as Emmitt was.

As Jimmy Johnson once said, Emmitt Smith was the greatest north-south runner he had ever seen. Yes, he had a great offensive line but he was the perfect compliment to it.

That's probably a better way of making my point. A good back can take advantage of a gaping hole, and I expect McFadden to do that. A back you can ride reads his blocks and knows where to go to escape when a defensive linemen crashes the gap.

For all the criticism Murray has received (some justified), he knew when to cut away from the expected hole and bounce to the outside and he knew when to power through a tight gap to get everything he could. That's what I need to see from these backs.

You can run 60 yards through a hole big enough for a truck? Fine. What do you do when a defensive lineman drops into your lap? Can you take the hit and keep going? Can you see it coming and cut away from it?

No back can make something out of nothing every time, but the ones you can build a running game around can enough to keep the defense on its toes.