Fuzzy Thoughts on McFadden

[LittleBoyBlue]

I haven't seen the film, you have. You answered the questions I had. Thanks.

Bravo!

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I guess they wanted him to break more of those tackles behind the los.

Maurice Jones Drew got 2.2 ypc last season.

Latavius Murray got limited carries the first 12 games of last season. He managed 3.7 ypc as the starter over the last 4 games as opposed to the 3.5 DMC managed overall.

I am not going to tell you that DMC is any good after what I saw but what I will say is that the offensive lines he ran behind is one of the worst I have seen perhaps ever. The cardinal sin for an OL is allowing penetration and it was routine.

Their LT Penn would beat out Hillis but he is not better than Parnell or our starters. Their LG Jackson was their best player would take Bernadeau's spot but would not start for us. Bernadeau has the functional strength that Wisniewski lacks so he would not make our roster. Bergstrom and Howard are much the same. Bernadeau's balance issues pale in comparison to leadfoot and the wimp plus Mack plays smart. Barnes would have been the 4th tackle over professional practice player Hillis but he likely would have been IR and pupped much like Weems when he got hurt out the gate. Watson doesn't have the balance, flexibility, or mind to play in the NFL.

Barnes and Penn were not that bad but that was more on account of their pass protection. I don't watch a whole lot of other NFL teams but I rank Watson a hair above 2005 Rob Pettite and 2010 Alex Barron. I put him below 2012 Doug Free and 2004 Solomon Page.

Overall for the worst line I have witnessed I pit Penn Jackson Wisniewski Howard Watson against Adams Allen Johnson Proctor Pettite. I do think Solomon Page and Pettite ended up starting and playing a game together in 2005. While that may have been the worst single gameday line I think I would take Flo and the corpse of Larry Allen overall.
The stuff we trotted out in 2010-11 that had Livings, Costa, Killer, and bad Doug Free was not very good but Smith was good early so I end up with them a tier above last year's Raiders and Parcells debacle. I'll take another 2nd round TE before another Johnson and Jacobs back to back 2nd round though.

In regards to Murray though, he faced the 49ers, Bills, Bronco's and Chiefs. I don't know where they rank in regards to stopping the run but those are some of the best front 7's personnel wise that you will see. Even the year prior Rashad Jennings looked to fair far better than McFadden. I'm not saying their line isn't a problem. IMO, he simply might not be the best back for that line. He'll have no excuses here. I'm not optimistic about McFadden. but I do want to see how he does fare in preseason.

 

[xwalker]

In regards to Murray though, he faced the 49ers, Bills, Bronco's and Chiefs. I don't know where they rank in regards to stopping the run but those are some of the best front 7's personnel wise that you will see. Even the year prior Rashad Jennings looked to fair far better than McFadden. I'm not saying their line isn't a problem. IMO, he simply might not be the best back for that line. He'll have no excuses here. I'm not optimistic about McFadden. but I do want to see how he does fare in preseason.

It's a good idea to try and compare other RBs that ran behind the same line, but the sample sizes are too small statistically speaking to be relevant.

 

[Joe Realist]

We should have gone after their " Murray "

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

In regards to Murray though, he faced the 49ers, Bills, Bronco's and Chiefs. I don't know where they rank in regards to stopping the run but those are some of the best front 7's personnel wise that you will see. Even the year prior Rashad Jennings looked to fair far better than McFadden. I'm not saying their line isn't a problem. IMO, he simply might not be the best back for that line. He'll have no excuses here. I'm not optimistic about McFadden. but I do want to see how he does fare in preseason.

That division is brutal. they played Chiefs Broncos and Chargers twice. Pats and a pretty solid Browns defense too. their schedule was rough all year.

i cannot disagree with your disposition overall. the longest limb I will go out on is that I think he will be better here than in Oakland.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

It's a good idea to try and compare other RBs that ran behind the same line, but the sample sizes are too small statistically speaking to be relevant.

I agree. Its the only reason I haven't completely written off that maybe McFadden can play in this league.

 

[xwalker]

I agree. Its the only reason I haven't completely written off that maybe McFadden can play in this league.

I've reviewed McFadden on the All-22. I don't see any physical reason that he can't succeed with the Cowboys. He is still faster than Murray and is really good in pass protection.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

That division is brutal. they played Chiefs Broncos and Chargers twice. Pats and a pretty solid Browns defense too. their schedule was rough all year.

i cannot disagree with your disposition overall. the longest limb I will go out on is that I think he will be better here than in Oakland.

Yeah I think we're in agreement on that. I'm not overly excited but i'm intrigued. Should I take it into account that they were willing to give Trent Richardson more money than McFadden lol? Because I Just don't think Trent can play in this league. Far too slow to the hole.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I've reviewed McFadden on the All-22. I don't see any physical reason that he can't succeed with the Cowboys. He is still faster than Murray and is really good in pass protection.

As a athlete what do you see? I know coming into this league hew as a elite athlete. Fast forward 6 or 7 years later.......is he still an elite athlete?

 

[CyberB0b]

I just watched the All 22 on 3 of his games: SD, New England, and Seattle. These are my notes:

• Does well in zone plays, where has has a lane to cut back.
• Does well in space. I think he has developed pretty good vision, so this plays to that strength.
• Doesn't do very well in compressed formations. It seems like the Raiders used a lot of goal line/jumbo type formations throughout the game, and it didn't bode very well for him.
• Technique isn't the greatest in pass protection, but he gets the job done.
• Doesn't seem to have that jaw dropping speed you thought he had coming out of Arkansas, but plenty fast for an NFL running back. There were times where he had huge running lanes, but never broke away from anyone.
• He linemen were inconsistent. At times, they looked great. Other times, not so much. He did well making something out of nothing, but usually when he had some space to work with.

After watching the games, I think the biggest problem was the play calling on the offense. It was very predictable. The times they brought out the jumbo personnel really just telegraphed the play and made it difficult for him to run. I think he does best out of 3 WR formations that force the defense to spread out. Hopefully, Linehan will find a way to make it work for him. I came away feeling a lot better about him after watching the games.

As a athlete what do you see? I know coming into this league hew as a elite athlete. Fast forward 6 or 7 years later.......is he still an elite athlete?

I don't think he is an elite athlete at this point, but he is plenty fast.

 

[xwalker]

As a athlete what do you see? I know coming into this league hew as a elite athlete. Fast forward 6 or 7 years later.......is he still an elite athlete?

He looks like a faster version of Murray. He does not have the best short area agility but neither did Murray. That's not a big requirement in the Cowboys Zone Scheme.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I just watched the All 22 on 3 of his games: SD, New England, and Seattle. These are my notes:

• Does well in zone plays, where has has a lane to cut back.
• Does well in space. I think he has developed pretty good vision, so this plays to that strength.
• Doesn't do very well in compressed formations. It seems like the Raiders used a lot of goal line/jumbo type formations throughout the game, and it didn't bode very well for him.
• Technique isn't the greatest in pass protection, but he gets the job done.
• Doesn't seem to have that jaw dropping speed you thought he had coming out of Arkansas, but plenty fast for an NFL running back. There were times where he had huge running lanes, but never broke away from anyone.
• He linemen were inconsistent. At times, they looked great. Other times, not so much. He did well making something out of nothing, but usually when he had some space to work with.

After watching the games, I think the biggest problem was the play calling on the offense. It was very predictable. The times they brought out the jumbo personnel really just telegraphed the play and made it difficult for him to run. I think he does best out of 3 WR formations that force the defense to spread out. Hopefully, Linehan will find a way to make it work for him. I came away feeling a lot better about him after watching the games.



I don't think he is an elite athlete at this point, but he is plenty fast.

What were the chances these were all gonna be ... "Does well..."


Your "doesnt's" are..... Well.... They are you!

Lol

 

[CyberB0b]

What were the chances these were all gonna be ... "Does well..."


Your "doesnt's" are..... Well.... They are you!

Lol

Translation?

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Translation?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

He looks like a faster version of Murray. He does not have the best short area agility but neither did Murray. That's not a big requirement in the Cowboys Zone Scheme.

Murray played with natural lean. When he went through the hole he'd duck his head and try to torpedo. He was very much under control doing it. DMC is higher cut so when he tries to do that it screws up his gait and balance. He is not near as good as Murray between the tackles.

He can lean over and try to deliver a hit with his shoulder. He does that all the time and he does have a good stiff arm. Out on the edge dealing with defenders he does look very similar to Murray and he has much better speed. i can definitely see what you are talking about.

 

[Crown Royal]

Murray played with natural lean. When he went through the hole he'd duck his head and try to torpedo. He was very much under control doing it. DMC is higher cut so when he tries to do that it screws up his gait and balance. He is not near as good as Murray between the tackles.

He can lean over and try to deliver a hit with his shoulder. He does that all the time and he does have a good stiff arm. Out on the edge dealing with defenders he does look very similar to Murray and he has much better speed. i can definitely see what you are talking about.

What I think we'll miss the most about murray is that if there wasn't an apparent hole or something to the outside, Murray put his shoulder down, yelled "Perhaps today IS a good day to die - RAMMING SPEED" and got 3 yards anyway. I feel like McFadden will break if he does that.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Murray played with natural lean. When he went through the hole he'd duck his head and try to torpedo. He was very much under control doing it. DMC is higher cut so when he tries to do that it screws up his gait and balance. He is not near as good as Murray between the tackles.

He can lean over and try to deliver a hit with his shoulder. He does that all the time and he does have a good stiff arm. Out on the edge dealing with defenders he does look very similar to Murray and he has much better speed. i can definitely see what you are talking about.

"Gait" lol

Expanded details... I love it.

Who is this guy? I need to read these detailed reports more often.

Red Tips his cap

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

What I think we'll miss the most about murray is that if there wasn't an apparent hole or something to the outside, Murray put his shoulder down, yelled "Perhaps today IS a good day to die - RAMMING SPEED" and got 3 yards anyway. I feel like McFadden will break if he does that.

He did that a lot. He would get down if he was running between the tackles and dealing with multiple defenders. When he was slashing off the edge or trying to shake a defender he will do the pop and run like he did in Arkansas. He is a very physical runner. He's got an effective stiff arm.

His injuries have been to his feet and ankles. I haven't watched him from that time period so i don't know the first thing what that is all about.