DeMarco's last fumble

[Bleu Star]

Lmbo...

That was classic ownage.

BHendri5? You there bro?

Fun thread.

 

[BigD16]

First let me start off by saying that I love this team and I'm proud to be a cowboys fan after the surprising year they had this season.

But, let's not pretend like there aren't still things that are reminiscent of the "same ole" cowboys. Seriously, it's like they never go over situational football in practice or something. Why would you attempt a relatively far field in a crap field and risk giving the oppositions momentum? Why wouldn't Murray be more safe with the ball knowing that we didn't need some heroic play? Just protect the ball. And for the love of God why wouldn't you just run the dang football on 3rd and 1 with a top o line and top RB?

Yeah the refs screwed us, but we also screwed ourselves BIG TIME.

 

[KJJ]

that was the biggest reason for the loss.

I disagree the Packers ended up with a FG after Murray's fumble and the Cowboys still held a 14-13 lead. The Cowboys drove 80 yards on their next possession to take a 21-13 lead so Murray's fumble didn't have an adverse affect on the momentum. What ultimately cost the Cowboys the game was the inability of their defense to make tackles in key situations and their inability to pressure Rodgers on some key 3rd downs. With the Cowboys up 21-13 the game was in the hands of their defense but they couldn't stop the Packers. Green Bay drove 90 yards in which Rodgers converted a 3rd and 15 from the Cowboys 46 for a TD closing the gap to 21-20 at the end of the 3rd quarter. JJ Wilcox was in position to make a play on Adams but got fooled and Adams was gone. The Packers clearly had the momentum heading into the 4th quarter after that big TD.

After a Cowboys punt the Packers drove 80 yards to take the lead the Cowboys defense was clearly on their heels. On the Packers last 2 drives the Cowboys defense applied no pressure on Rodgers and JJ Wilcox and Sterling Moore were being abused. What ultimately cost the Cowboys the game was missed tackles primarily on Adams and the Cowboys inability to pressure Rodgers on 3rd down. Even after Dez's catch was reversed the Cowboys defense had an opportunity to step up and make a stop giving the Cowboys offense one more chance but they couldn't do it. The Cowboys are going to have to improve their pass rush, coverage and tackling if they want to take the next step. Most of Davante Adams 117 receiving yards were after the catch due to missed tackles.

 

[JD_KaPow]

I disagree the Packers ended up with a FG after Murray's fumble and the Cowboys still held a 14-13 lead. The Cowboys drove 80 yards on their next possession to take a 21-13 lead so Murray's fumble didn't have an adverse affect on the momentum. What ultimately cost the Cowboys the game was the inability of their defense to make tackles in key situations and their inability to pressure Rodgers on some key 3rd downs. With the Cowboys up 21-13 the game was in the hands of their defense and they couldn't stop the Packers. Green Bay drove 90 yards in which Rodgers converted a 3rd and 15 from the Cowboys 46 for a TD closing the gap to 21-20 at the end of the 3rd quarter. JJ Wilcox was in position to make a play on Adams but got fooled and Adams was gone. The Packers clearly had the momentum heading into the 4th quarter after that big TD.

After a Cowboys punt the Packers drove 80 yards to take the lead the Cowboys defense was clearly on their heels. On the Packers last 2 drives the Cowboys defense applied no pressure on Rodgers and JJ Wilcox and Sterling Moore were being abused. What ultimately cost the Cowboys the game was missed tackles primarily on Adams and the Cowboys inability to pressure Rodgers on 3rd down. Even after Dez's catch was reversed the Cowboys defense had an opportunity to step up and make a stop giving the Cowboys offense one more chance but they couldn't do it. The Cowboys are going to have to improve their pass rush, coverage and tackling if they want to take the next step. Most of Davante Adams 117 receiving yards were after the catch due to missed tackles.

Yup, pretty much. By the way, there's a shorter term for "pass rush, coverage and tackling": it's called "defense".

 

[alicetooljam]

It's not hard to find the numbers.

Emmitt Smith, career: one fumble every 81 touches.
Emmitt Smith, first four seasons: one fumble every 63 touches.
DeMarco Murray, career: one fumble every 85 touches.
DeMarco Murray, 2014: one fumble every 75 touches.

Yes, Emmitt fumbled more than DeMarco does.

Yet "fumbler" never gets mentioned in a conversation about Emmitt. Maybe 20+ and 40+ runs should be compared as well since DeMarco has no breakaway speed either, not that anyone claimed Emmitt did, but he sure never got beat up for it like Murray has this offseason already.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Yet "fumbler" never gets mentioned in a conversation about Emmitt. Maybe 20+ and 40+ runs should be compared as well since DeMarco has no breakaway speed either, not that anyone claimed Emmitt did, but he sure never got beat up for it like Murray has this offseason already.

Emmitt also fumbled 4 times in his first 7 playoff games (including one in the Super Bowl).

 

[KJJ]

Emmitt also fumbled 4 times in his first 7 playoff games (including one in the Super Bowl).

He only "lost" 2 of those fumbles and the Cowboys won both games. His fumble in the SB was recovered by the Cowboys.

 

[Idgit]

In my opinion he has it away from his body when he initially goes through the line, he sees Peppers and brings the ball up tight to his chest and then Peppers is still able to poke the ball away.

I don't think Murray scores if he doesn't fumble. The still shot earlier in this thread doesn't tell the whole story. There are a couple of Packers defensive backs with the angles to tackle Murray or at least slow him down enough for more defenders to make the play. There is nothing wrong with a 20 to 30 yard gain on the play if he doesn't fumble. That still would have put Dallas in a good position.

I agree. He never scores on those. But he probably gets us in scoring position.

It was a very good play by Peppers. Holding onto the ball would be a good play of our own, though.

Whatever the analysis, the game was tipping at that point, and it tipped back with the turnover.

 

[KJJ]

Yet "fumbler" never gets mentioned in a conversation about Emmitt. Maybe 20+ and 40+ runs should be compared as well since DeMarco has no breakaway speed either, not that anyone claimed Emmitt did, but he sure never got beat up for it like Murray has this offseason already.

Emmitt's fumbles don't get mentioned because the Cowboys never lost a playoff game in which he "lost" a fumble. Murray is getting beat up by a few because he "lost" a fumble in a playoff game the Cowboys lost and some are trying to pin the loss on him.

 

[JD_KaPow]

He only "lost" 2 of those fumbles and the Cowboys won both games. His fumble in the SB was recovered by the Cowboys.

This is true, but the runner has very little control over what happens after he fumbles. It certainly changes the perceptions of people trying to find someone to pin blame on, though.

 

[KJJ]

This is true, but the runner has very little control over what happens after he fumbles. It certainly changes the perceptions of people trying to find someone to pin blame on, though.

The only fumbles that are remembered are the ones that were lost in games that were lost.

 

[alicetooljam]

Emmitt's fumbles don't get mentioned because the Cowboys never lost a playoff game in which he "lost" a fumble. Murray is getting beat up by a few because he "lost" a fumble in a playoff game the Cowboys lost and some are trying to pin the loss on him.

It aint just a few fans, by the time he lost his 2nd fumble this season the announcers quickly follow it with a "he's been known to do that"

 

[KJJ]

Why wouldn't Murray be more safe with the ball knowing that we didn't need some heroic play? Just protect the ball. And for the love of God why wouldn't you just run the dang football on 3rd and 1 with a top o line and top RB?

Yeah the refs screwed us, but we also screwed ourselves BIG TIME.

The Cowboys were clinging to a 4 point lead in the 3rd quarter of a playoff game and Murray was looking to make a play like any good back does when they get the ball you certainly can't fault him for that. You can't just sit on the ball looking for a yard or two trying to play it safe with a 4 point lead and Aaron Rodgers on the other side. When you're in a playoff game facing an explosive offense and have a suspect defense you have to be thinking big play every time you have the ball. Garrett made a comment that you don't lay up if you're playing in the Masters and when you're playing at Lambeau in January and are an underdog you don't hold back especially facing one of the elite QB's in the game.

 

[Derinyar]

I'd like to see a gif/ of the entire play. Thinking Peppers set up Martin like the play was going behind him after he knew Martin position prevented a tackle, and this reach for the ball was the best Peppers could do. Peppers made a move up field, martin reacted like DeMarc was going deeper in the backfield and that allowed Peppers, the old vet he is, to at least make the play he did......something Martin can store away for the next 10 years.

Peppers managed to slide off the block and get a hand on the ball and the end of a dive. Peppers made a great play to get free enough to make the dive and then got lucky enough to hit the ball and knock it loose. Great play. Not really anyone's fault in my mind, just a really exceptional play.

 

[KJJ]

It aint just a few fans, by the time he lost his 2nd fumble this season the announcers quickly follow it with a "he's been known to do that"

He had 7 fumbles in his first 3 seasons in which he missed a number of games with injuries and started off the 2014 season with 3 straight lost fumbles. Can't fault the announcers for pointing out the facts. He solidified himself as a fumbler this season with 6 lost fumbles during the regular season/postseason. His fumbling could be one of the reasons the Cowboys may allow him to walk.

 

[DallasDomination]

I don't want to hear those excuses about Peppers making a great play...How Murray didn't fumble every game still amazes me. Dude runs around just daring someone to strip the ball.

 

[Nightman]

Yet "fumbler" never gets mentioned in a conversation about Emmitt. Maybe 20+ and 40+ runs should be compared as well since DeMarco has no breakaway speed either, not that anyone claimed Emmitt did, but he sure never got beat up for it like Murray has this offseason already.

That is why he slipped in the draft. I remember hearing how he didn't have break away speed, but no one ever caught him on all those TD runs for Florida.

 

[Frozen700]

I regularly peruse here, participate plenty too and surprised I'm not seeing the angst on DeMarco's 3rd quarter fumble that I hold as being huge and unacceptable. He proved to be a workhorse this year but that one play, when we needed him most, he didn't deliver, period! With a potential new contact looming, that fail was a back breaker and shouldn't be glazed over......

Exactly the reason I don't mind letting him walk, vs a big contract.

 

[BIGDen]

I would say the TD to Adams was bigger than any of those plays. 3rd and 16 and a ton of YAC

Why do fans always wanna look back on the plays that could've been made, instead of the actual plays that beat us

Uh...because they're plays that should've been made...
You're gonna get beat sometimes, but giving crap away with a fumble, not picking up a fumble, and then getting robbed by a ref, that stuff is hard to forget.

 

[KJJ]

After the Cowboys had taken a 21-13 lead the Packers on their final 3 possessions had a 90 yard TD drive, an 80 yard TD drive and ate up the final 4:06 on a 9 play drive that would have ended in another score had the Packers needed it. That's where the Cowboys lost the game.