Impact of losing top RB

[JoeKing]

I can't wait to see DMC, Randle, Williams, and Dunbar run all over the defenses of the NFL and shut you people up that are doubting them right now.

The utter reverence with which I hear some of you speaking about one DeMarco Murray is shocking. Why bother to even show up to play the Eagles as long as that man is on their roster. Is it even okay for me to call him a man? You folks seem to be elevating him to god status. The legend of Murray with you folks is ridiculously dramatic. How did he not get 2,000 rushing yards last year? LOL

 

[jnday]

I can't wait to see DMC, Randle, Williams, and Dunbar run all over the defenses of the NFL and shut you people up that are doubting them right now.

The utter reverence with which I hear some of you speaking about one DeMarco Murray is shocking. Why bother to even show up to play the Eagles as long as that man is on their roster. Is it even okay for me to call him a man? You folks seem to be elevating him to god status. The legend of Murray with you folks is ridiculously dramatic. How did he not get 2,000 rushing yards last year? LOL

Nobody is saying that Murray is a great RB, but he is sure better than the scraps that is on the roster now. Wake up dude, there is not a proven RB on the roster at this time. I have a feeling that if they signed Barry Sanders at this point that you would jump on board just because Dsllas signed him without even considering reality.

 

[Idgit]

Nobody is saying that Murray is a great RB, but he is sure better than the scraps that is on the roster now. Wake up dude, there is not a proven RB on the roster at this time. I have a feeling that if they signed Barry Sanders at this point that you would jump on board just because Dsllas signed him without even considering reality.

I don't understand how people don't get that Murray was a better player last year than any of the guys who backed him up. It seems self-evident that he was since, you know, the team gave him all the snaps. McFadden is the only possible exception to that argument and that doesn't hold water because, come on, look at that production differential.

We lost a really good RB and we didn't really replace him. The only real question is how much does that actually matter.

 

[JoeKing]

Nobody is saying that Murray is a great RB, but he is sure better than the scraps that is on the roster now. Wake up dude, there is not a proven RB on the roster at this time. I have a feeling that if they signed Barry Sanders at this point that you would jump on board just because Dsllas signed him without even considering reality.

You couldn't be more wrong about the RBs on the roster. You'll eat your words come football season and I'll be there to rub it in your face. Can't wait!

 

[JoeKing]

I don't understand how people don't get that Murray was a better player last year than any of the guys who backed him up. It seems self-evident that he was since, you know, the team gave him all the snaps. McFadden is the only possible exception to that argument and that doesn't hold water because, come on, look at that production differential.

We lost a really good RB and we didn't really replace him. The only real question is how much does that actually matter.

I don't think anyone is saying Murray wasn't the better RB last year. I can only speak for myself and my point isn't about last year. I'm talking about right now 2015. That last sentence you wrote is a gold mine of a question. How much does it really matter? With that O-line providing daylight to the endzone, our RBs will have an easy time.

 

[Idgit]

I don't think anyone is saying Murray wasn't the better RB last year. I can only speak for myself and my point isn't about last year. I'm talking about right now 2015. That last sentence you wrote is a gold mine of a question. How much does it really matter? With that O-line providing daylight to the endzone, our RBs will have an easy time.

There ought to be significant question about Murray's ability to continue after the load he carried last year. That alone was a good reason to not extend him as far as I'm concerned.

But there ought to be very little doubt that we appear to have gotten significantly weaker at RB. We lost the OPotY and replaced him with a no-risk flyer of a FA and Murray's backups from last season. And we lost our OL coach. That's regression on the surface, no matter how you look at it.

Now, it might be that the OL really does make the difference. Or that the team was right that the replacements can actually play. That happens all the time, too (we had these very same discussions about Miles Austin replacing TO. People were more freaked out about that insanity, if anything). Or, it might be that we're not as good running the ball but are still a really good team, anyway. We'll find out, soon enough.

 

[jday]

You couldn't be more wrong about the RBs on the roster. You'll eat your words come football season and I'll be there to rub it in your face. Can't wait!

Take it easy! If you know something about the running backs currently on the roster that the world doesn't know, fill us in. Otherwise, your drunk on the proverbial koolaid and high on hope...which is okay, but don't attack other zoners simply because we are taking a logical and realistic point of view and want some tangible proof that the current stable of backs can replace Demarco's production. I'm not saying he was a Super Star, but he was clearly head and shoulders better than anyone on the roster last year. The only thing that has changed for us since then is the date.

 

[jnday]

I don't understand how people don't get that Murray was a better player last year than any of the guys who backed him up. It seems self-evident that he was since, you know, the team gave him all the snaps. McFadden is the only possible exception to that argument and that doesn't hold water because, come on, look at that production differential.

We lost a really good RB and we didn't really replace him. The only real question is how much does that actually matter.

Why did you post something like this that I have to agree with? It is much more fun arguing with you.

 

[Idgit]

Why did you post something like this that I have to agree with? It is much more fun arguing with you.

I'm generally a positive guy. But when you let a OPY walk, it's a safe bet you got worse. When your defense is among the worst in the league and you don't do much to make it better (that's been in years prior), it's a safe bet your not going to be good enough on defense again. We're not going to be great at everything, so there's no point pretending we will be. We just have to be good enough and the important things.....and that's probably where you and I can find some nice disagreement to argue about, I'm sure.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Impact of losing top R

We didn't lose a top back.
We lost an injury prone back who had a great year.

FWIW: Last season, we averaged more yards per rush when Murray was not on the field than when he was on the field. We also averaged more yards per pass when Murray was not on the field than when he was on the field.

Very interesting. So we gain more with RB not named Murray. Got it!

 

[jnday]

You couldn't be more wrong about the RBs on the roster. You'll eat your words come football season and I'll be there to rub it in your face. Can't wait!

That can work two ways. The starting RB may not even be on the roster at this time. I would even look at your opinion with an open mind if you could show anything that backs up your claims that any of these RBs have produced much at the pro level. You can't back up your claims because none of these RBs have had s decent career. You are basing your argument on hope and thinking the oline can make chicken salad out of chicken manure.

 

[jnday]

I'm generally a positive guy. But when you let a OPY walk, it's a safe bet you got worse. When your defense is among the worst in the league and you don't do much to make it better (that's been in years prior), it's a safe bet your not going to be good enough on defense again. We're not going to be great at everything, so there's no point pretending we will be. We just have to be good enough and the important things.....and that's probably where you and I can find some nice disagreement to argue about, I'm sure.

I just like arguing with you anyway. I enjoy it no matter the topic .

 

[DogFace]

He had 3 good years and one spectacular season.

His workload and the stats about the drop off of many players after a year like that makes me satisfied we made the right decision.

It's not fair to hold one play so much against a player but I am. That fumble against Green Bay was decidedly Un-clutch. Hard to agree someone worth 7-8mil could be that careless in that moment.

Yes you're right. 3 good years 1 spectacular.

 

[Beast_from_East]

I don't understand how people don't get that Murray was a better player last year than any of the guys who backed him up. It seems self-evident that he was since, you know, the team gave him all the snaps. McFadden is the only possible exception to that argument and that doesn't hold water because, come on, look at that production differential.

We lost a really good RB and we didn't really replace him. The only real question is how much does that actually matter.

Exactly..........some here are actually trying to argue that Randle and Williams are just as good as Murray and can get the job done. Logic dictates then, why did Murray get all the carries if other backs on the roster were just as good? And its not like Dallas was thinking "lets use him up and then let him walk and save the others". Dallas did offer Murray $6 million a year, so why would they do that if they think they can get just as good production from Randle, Williams, and McFadden (who was such an in-demand free agent he signed for $0 guaranteed money...............not one team in the league would give him a penny guaranteed)

The facts are what the facts are........Randle for his career has 507 yards, Williams for his career has 167 yards, and McFadden's best season out of 7 years in the league was 1150. How the hell can anybody look at this group of RBs and claim that they will replace a RB that was the NFL Offensive Player Of The Year with almost 2300 yards from scrimmage is just beyond any logical reasoning.

 

[Idgit]

Exactly..........some here are actually trying to argue that Randle and Williams are just as good as Murray and can get the job done. Logic dictates then, why did Murray get all the carries if other backs on the roster were just as good? And its not like Dallas was thinking "lets use him up and then let him walk and save the others". Dallas did offer Murray $6 million a year, so why would they do that if they think they can get just as good production from Randle, Williams, and McFadden (who was such an in-demand free agent he signed for $0 guaranteed money...............not one team in the league would give him a penny guaranteed)

The facts are what the facts are........Randle for his career has 507 yards, Williams for his career has 167 yards, and McFadden's best season out of 7 years in the league was 1150. How the hell can anybody look at this group of RBs and claim that they will replace a RB that was the NFL Offensive Player Of The Year with almost 2300 yards from scrimmage is just beyond any logical reasoning.

We went with our backup plan, pretty clearly. And we're keeping our eyes open for chances to improve from there.

I'm not complaining, because I like where we spent our money and our top two draft picks, but it is what it is. RB is the thin spot on this roster right now, offensively. We've got some guys with potential, but they each have big question marks. Every team has its thin spots. Ours is RB this season.

I do bet that Murray's had a few chances to second-guess himself though. If he'd taken the $6M, we'd be sitting fairly pretty from an on-paper standpoint. Still too much money for a RB after that season for my taste, but it would definitely round out the roster nicely for 2015.

 

[Doomsday101]

They say RB is a dime a dozen and that is pretty much what we got RB worth a dime.

 

[Beast_from_East]

We went with our backup plan, pretty clearly. And we're keeping our eyes open for chances to improve from there.

I'm not complaining, because I like where we spent our money and our top two draft picks, but it is what it is. RB is the thin spot on this roster right now, offensively. We've got some guys with potential, but they each have big question marks. Every team has its thin spots. Ours is RB this season.

I do bet that Murray's had a few chances to second-guess himself though. If he'd taken the $6M, we'd be sitting fairly pretty from an on-paper standpoint. Still too much money for a RB after that season for my taste, but it would definitely round out the roster nicely for 2015.

Great post Idgit.

 

[erod]

Top three rushers from last season

DeMarco Murray - now in Philadelphia
Laveon Bell - suspended
Lesean McCoy - now in Buffalo

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

We went with our backup plan, pretty clearly. And we're keeping our eyes open for chances to improve from there.

I'm not complaining, because I like where we spent our money and our top two draft picks, but it is what it is. RB is the thin spot on this roster right now, offensively. We've got some guys with potential, but they each have big question marks. Every team has its thin spots. Ours is RB this season.

I do bet that Murray's had a few chances to second-guess himself though. If he'd taken the $6M, we'd be sitting fairly pretty from an on-paper standpoint. Still too much money for a RB after that season for my taste, but it would definitely round out the roster nicely for 2015.

RB has an uncertain starter but the depth is not bad. We used to trot out Choice and Tanner as our backups. I will take Randle and Williams over either of them. Hambrick era, Jones era, and broken down Barber era were as bad or worse than what we have now IMO.

I don't think you need to have a top 3 RB to be successful. Not with this OL and not with this passing attack. If our top 2 picks hit then watch out.

 

[gmoney112]

We went with our backup plan, pretty clearly. And we're keeping our eyes open for chances to improve from there.

I'm not complaining, because I like where we spent our money and our top two draft picks, but it is what it is. RB is the thin spot on this roster right now, offensively. We've got some guys with potential, but they each have big question marks. Every team has its thin spots. Ours is RB this season.

I do bet that Murray's had a few chances to second-guess himself though. If he'd taken the $6M, we'd be sitting fairly pretty from an on-paper standpoint. Still too much money for a RB after that season for my taste, but it would definitely round out the roster nicely for 2015.

Murray took the $ because he knew it was his one big contract. I can't really fault him for that.

The RB position is obviously a weak link, albeit unproven. I think the misconception, or just stubbornness, that people are associating with those on the other side of the fence that actually have confidence we can pick up the slack from Murray's departure, is not the fact that these other RB's are expected to actually *be* DeMarco, but that his production is not irreplaceable.

For one, I don't think anyone expects him to replicate last season. If he goes to Philly and rushes for 1800 yards, then I'll be the first to admit we made a huge mistake.

I've actually defended Murray quite a few times on this forum, from some of the same people now that think opposing teams are just going to put 5 games in the box now, who used to call him a bust because he was "injury prone". I liked Murray. Obviously, he's dead to me now, but the facts are what they are, Murray averaged 4.7ypc which wasn't some crazy, unprecedented number.

The only crazy part about Murray's season was the # of carries he got, and maintaining that avg. He had 80 more carries than the #2 in attempts.

I'd bet there aren't many teams in the last 5 years that have given one RB the rock 400 times in a season.

The point is, as much as I liked Murray, he averaged 4.7 yards a clip. We don't *need* a RB to carry the rock 400 times, in fact we're probably an outlier in that regard last season as far as recent history, we just need to replace a 4.7ypc average.

I'm a stats guy, and if this were baseball, a WAR would be appropriate here. Most fans that want to believe the sky is falling are not only living in the past, but fail to recognize the actual important figure in Murray's year, efficiency. He deserves his accolades for last season, absolutely, but a 4.7 ypc isn't some otherworldly number that's going to cement his status in the HoF. It's more impressive to me that he actually stayed relatively healthy during that span.

Given all of that, and the improvement of our offensive line from development, chemistry, and recently added talent, I don't believe a 4.2-4.7 ypc average, even for the RB's we currently have on the roster, is out of the realm of possibility. I would imagine 4.0ypc is the floor, and I'd be completely shocked if it was actually less than that.

I guess that's why i'm just sorta meh about the whole thing.