I have come to grips with Demarco

[Bleu Star]

My loyalty towards players on this team initially outweighs my thought process and what's best for the team. I get attached. What can I say?

Man.. You described me perfectly. Here are a couple that were very hard to let go. Easier for most but harder for me.. lol.

TO
Tashard

Don't laugh Dave.

 

[Eskimo]

I think Randle would be better than most guys we could bring in. We'd save enough money to be able to address the defense too.

The Cowboys obviously like Randle. That was the year that the draft board got leaked and we saw they had a 3rd round grade on him and snapped him up in the 5th when he was still available. Back in the Murray draft we had him with a 1st round grade but with injury concerns.

I think Randle actually looks like a more talented pure runner than Murray. He has less power but better vision, better agility and more burst. The only thing I worry about with him is in a small sample size he was put the ball on the ground. One clearly occurred when he didn't understand the need to get on the ground when you are around a bunch of defenders and the other one I can't quite remember why he fumbled. He looked okay in pass protection and we don't have much of a body of evidence as a receiver but I remember him looking pretty natural out there.

However, I don't think Randle and Dunbar are enough. Williams is intriguing but his team gave up on him already and he looked quite bad in pass protection. We will not put a RB out there who cannot pass protect. He got a year to work on it with the coaches on the practice squad so hopefully he has made some progress there.

Now this is a strong and deep RB class. If there is a difference maker there for us in the late 2nd or 3rd round I wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger given how much we want to run the ball.

 

[mahoneybill]

Actually, if I got out of my chair now, I could catch Demarco on the route to the Green Bay end zone, which frankly is one of my other concerns about him, besides the fumbling, and that is a complete inability to break a long TD run. Emmitt was no speedster but he would break long TD runs. Murray was looking positively glacial at the end of the season. Hard running, sure, but there is no breakaway speed that turns a 16 yard run into a long TD run.

If pay to see you do that ...

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Man.. You described me perfectly. Here are a couple that were very hard to let go. Easier for most but harder for me.. lol.

TO
Tashard

Don't laugh Dave.

Who me? Never. Ahhhh the good ole days.

 

[Eskimo]

I like using Murray with those 5-20 yard runs that wear defenses down. Then bring in a Randle that can take it to the house. I feel we should have used our backups more then we did this season plus it keeps Murray fresh

There is a strong part of me that believes if we had used Randle and Dunbar more Murray would have been much fresher and they would have been more trusted contributors by playoff time. I think it actually could have been the difference in the playoff game. Murray just a tick fresher gets by Peppers and probably takes it down inside the 10-yard line. It was that close.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Me too. I've advocated for keeping DeMarco all week. The more I read, the more I learn, and the more I realize how important it is to allocate our resources intelligently. It's sad in a way, cause I really like the guy. I know wherever he goes he's going to be an asset to his team. Both on and off the field. It's a shame to lose him though. My loyalty towards players on this team initially outweighs my thought process and what's best for the team. I get attached. What can I say? Anyway, I want what's best for both Murray and the team and if that means parting ways, so be it. As I see it now, under the restrictions we have to abide by, Murray will get his much deserved payday and we'll keep on keepin' on with a more cap friendly addition. I'll be the first to admit when I'm wrong. Thank you all for the education.

I don't think JG and Stephen are giving him up with out a fight. They both seem to love the guy on and off the field.
My fingers are crossed.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

There is a strong part of me that believes if we had used Randle and Dunbar more Murray would have been much fresher and they would have been more trusted contributors by playoff time. I think it actually could have been the difference in the playoff game. Murray just a tick fresher gets by Peppers and probably takes it down inside the 10-yard line. It was that close.

I agree with this.

From my amateur perspective Murray didn't look like the same guy over the last month of play.

Now do I look forward to the Cowboys to paying Murray $9 million dollars for the upcoming season so the Cowboys can "run him into the ground" (again) because they feel that they need to maximize their investment by doing such a thing?

No.

I'd rather have one guy gaining 1,200 yards and another gaining 600, with a 3rd gaining 300.

There's a reason why rushing leaders have faired poorly at being part of Super Bowl Champions.

 

[jday]

No secret... DeMarco is one of my boys that I occasionally hoot and holler about. I love his all around ability to bolster our run attack. He always falls forward, catches as well as runs, and the most underrated piece to his game is his ability to quickly locate and stone the blitz. On many occasions, he is the extra Olineman that keeps Romo upright. I love all of that. Outside of the lines, he is the consummate teammate and a leader both on the sidelines as well as in the locker room. I get all of that and it means a lot to me.

Over the past week, I have come to terms with the understanding that we probably won't be seeing him back in a Cowboys jersey. It depresses me all to hell but a lot of things just don't line up in our favor. Most notably, the prospect of a RB of his caliber in his prime hitting the FA market. Someone will pay him more than what we care to offer. I'm ok with that now. I'll always be a Demarco fan but, more importantly, I'm a huge fan of what this team is building as a foundation for the next 3 to 5 years. Our HC, OC, and DC are all stellar leaders that (together) will propel this team to even greater heights than we experienced this year. No doubt in my mind.

So, with or without Demarco, I'm at peace with the future of our balanced offensive attack. Our next game leveling RB may or may not be on the current roster. However, my trust is in these coaches that he will be by kickoff next year.

Side note, Demarco's fumbles do have to figure into the conversation or consideration when offering a contract. As one of his biggest fans, I completely agree with anyone that points to the fumbles as an area of concern. No one.. and I do mean no one.. was going to catch him as he would have sprinted to the end zone from mid field just before the half against Green Bay. He was about to kick it into 5th gear and had nothing but green pasture in front of him. Even if a safety peeled off and tried to take an angle, it would have never happened. Anyway, it is what it is. If he is meant to remain, he will make some concessions and the deal will happen. If he is all about "getting his" (which I won't blame him for as a RB in a league that isn't kinds to rb longevity), I wish him well.

Todd Gurley or Duke Johnson would be nice.

 

[Bleu Star]

Todd Gurley or Duke Johnson would be nice.

Gurley would be very nice. But we need defense in the draft.

 

[Frozen700]

Murray will not break 1000 yds next year

He probably would, but he would look pedestrian doing it.

I want him out of here. So sick of fumbalina, and his need to look for bodies to run into, instead of side stepping it, or angling it and getting more yards.

No need to pay him like he's some type of dynamic force. He's not as Explosive as an AP, or Jamal Charles, or even Bell.

 

[jday]

Gurley would be very nice. But we need defense in the draft.

A great run game is a pretty good defense.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

A great run game is a pretty good defense.

As proven this year.

 

[Bleu Star]

A great run game is a pretty good defense.

Great point man. Excellent point. We still need to be able to generate more pressure next year. Strong frequent pressure on the QB masks a lot of deficiencies behind the Dline.

 

[Beast_from_East]

As Bill Parcells once said, "no running back is worth the fumbles"...........................I agree with Tuna, you just cant have a RB that leads the league in fumbles, you just cant.

Murray had an outstanding year, but he significantly contributed to 3 key losses..........49ers, Skins, Packers.

 

[DallasEast]

Man.. You described me perfectly. Here are a couple that were very hard to let go. Easier for most but harder for me.. lol.

TO
Tashard

Don't laugh Dave.

You just HAD to mention him, didn't you?

 

[Alexander]

Todd Gurley or Duke Johnson would be nice.

Or Gordon or Ajayi. One player I like that could be a great value pick is Buck Allen from USC, who looks like a natural for a ZBS.

 

[Bleu Star]

I don't think JG and Stephen are giving him up with out a fight. They both seem to love the guy on and off the field.
My fingers are crossed.

Mine too actually. I'm sure there are some interesting discussions going on behind closed doors. How much does Demarco want to be part of next year's Super Bowl capable team in big D? The truth will reveled itself in due time.

 

[jday]

Great point man. Excellent point. We still need to be able to generate more pressure next year. Strong frequent pressure on the QB masks a lot of deficiencies behind the Dline.

Its kinda like the chicken and the egg debate; and the argument is a bit premature considering the unknown losses to free agency. But if Demarco is not retained we cannot assume the combination of dunbar, williams and randle will replace his production...and without that run game this cowboys team doesn't make the playoffs. Why should next season be any different?

So while I agree as it stands right now with their roster, cb and de should absolutely be addressed, the impact a top tier talent rb could have behind that line should not be ignored.

The great news is there are some very good rbs available in both free agency and the draft meaning there won't likely be a premium price in cap or draft pick. The cowboys may be able to snag a talent at the bottom of the 2nd...which i would prefer to what the free agency offers.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Its kinda like the chicken and the egg debate; and the argument is a bit premature considering the unknown losses to free agency. But if Demarco is not retained we cannot assume the combination of dunbar, williams and randle will replace his production...and without that run game this cowboys team doesn't make the playoffs. Why should next season be any different?

So while I agree as it stands right now with their roster, cb and de should absolutely be addressed, the impact a top tier talent rb could have behind that line should not be ignored.

The great news is there are some very good rbs available in both free agency and the draft meaning there won't likely be a premium price in cap or draft pick. The cowboys may be able to snag a talent at the bottom of the 2nd...which i would prefer to what the free agency offers.

Since they barley played. I would say the coaches feel the same way.

 

[TrailBlazer]

Forget the players. It's the star that matters. I don't get attached to a player. I'm a fan of the cowboys. If a player wants to be here, he will negotiate a deal rather than taking the highest bid.