Is Demarco Murray Marcus Allen?

[TheMarathonContinues]

I'm pro Murray, but he did leave some yards on the field, if you see some of the decisions he made in the cut back lanes, or when he would get caught from behind.... but its been that way with him for awhile, nothing new... the fact that he got almost 1900 yards is a testament to his balance, and strength, his abilities to break arm tackles, and of course our solid offensive line and scheme.....

People talk about Murrary weaknesses, but they never seem to talk about his strengths, of which he has many......

I guess that's the thing. You hear more about his weaknesses than you do his strengths as if he has none. The guy is a top 5 back in this league and I've felt that way prior to this season. It was just a matter of staying healthy.

 

[myslamsareolder]

Murray is not slow by any means. Perhaps he looks slow because of his running style but I don't know where this misconception comes from him being slow.

People say he is slow because he cannot sustain long runs. He is fast for the first 20 yards anything after that he gets a little jello-legged and is caught (which is why he often seeks contact). Personally I couldn't care less. He gets first downs, he still does break some long runs, and most importantly he gets touchdowns. If he had sustained speed he would be better than Peterson. He doesn't, but he is still better than most backs with said speed.

 

[odog422]

I guess that's the thing. You hear more about his weaknesses than you do his strengths as if he has none. The guy is a top 5 back in this league and I've felt that way prior to this season. It was just a matter of staying healthy.

Agreed. The other piece that I've only seen a few acknowledge is that PRIOR to this year, Murray's CAREER average was 5 yards a carry. That always goes through my head when the "well, behind this line..." comments come. Taking nothing from our current OL, but the guy has done nothing but produce since he got here when given the opportunity.

 

[rags747]

Allen wasn't much faster and Allen would even tell you that.

He was an incredible tailback though and IMO, the greatest all-around back ever. He could run with speed, run for power, run for short yardage (better than anybody ever), he could catch like a wide receiver, blitz pickup and even be a lead blocker. He could even throw the ball well (was a HS quarterback).

Scary to think what the Raiders could have done with him and Bo Jackson in the backfield if Al Davis kept his ego in check, if they had a QB and a sharp offensive mind running the offense.

I don't think Marcus Allen quite fits although Murray had the same trait as one of Allen's most valuable traits...he falls forward. Marcus was more patient and would cut around and dodge defenders. Of course, the running scheme was different. Murray's style is more explosive running into the running crease and making great moves to get into that crease. He's terrific at making himself small and even jumping into the crease if he has to. And I'm certain that defenses don't look forward to having to tackle Murray when he's already got 7-yards of running downhill on them.

To me, I think the best comparison is to Terrell Davis.





YR

Agreed, Allen was a very very smooth runner, hands like a receiver, speed less that u would think. The age of the Great USC tailbacks. Really got on the wrong side of Al Davis...

 

[TheDallasDon]

dam man..lol

Has anyone in this family even seen a chicken

 

[dfense]

was too young to really see Allen, but I'm watching a football life now and see many similarities.

You mean like he got involved in stealing another guys wife?

 

[RoboQB]

The OP should look up Marcus Allen's Super Bowl run.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Agreed. The other piece that I've only seen a few acknowledge is that PRIOR to this year, Murray's CAREER average was 5 yards a carry. That always goes through my head when the "well, behind this line..." comments come. Taking nothing from our current OL, but the guy has done nothing but produce since he got here when given the opportunity.

Right.....the guy was a BEAST prior to this year and probably would've been recognized more if not for the injuries. He's racked up over 200 yards more than once.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

People say he is slow because he cannot sustain long runs. He is fast for the first 20 yards anything after that he gets a little jello-legged and is caught (which is why he often seeks contact). Personally I couldn't care less. He gets first downs, he still does break some long runs, and most importantly he gets touchdowns. If he had sustained speed he would be better than Peterson. He doesn't, but he is still better than most backs with said speed.

 

[irishline]

Was he really that much faster? Career long of 61

His career long reception was 92 yards. He also had a 74 touchdown run in Super Bowl XVIII against the Commanders in 1983. He was fast.

That said Murray is fast enough.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AlleMa00.htm

 

[KJJ]

Marcus seemed faster from what Ive been watching

He didn't look any faster than Murray in my opinion.

 

[KJJ]

Actually, Murray DOES remind me of Allen, but more like Allen in his Kansas City years when he was past his physical prime.

Are you serious? LOL Allen never rushed for more than 890 yards in his 5 years in KC and his longest run during that period was only 39 yards. Plus he averaged under 4 yards a carry with the Chiefs.

 

[tyke1doe]

was too young to really see Allen, but I'm watching a football life now and see many similarities.

Not ... even ... close.

 

[jchap2k]

not exactly a groundbreaking assessment

Maybe not but this thread is about similarities between the two. That is the main one I see. Sorry its not more ground breaking

 

[Mansta54]

I shouldn't say "No one" because there is a small minority that does. But or nearly 6 months all I have heard on this site is either "Anyone could run behind this offensive line" or "Let Murray walk and sign this running back" or the best one yet "Any other running back with speed would've had more yards because there would be no yards left on the field" lol. What about the yards that Demarco gets that no one else can get?

Me and you both know there's a lack of respect for Demarco around here because of the hype this offensive line gets the success a quicker back in Randle had. People want the 80 yard touchdowns that just aren't realistic to happen as many times as fans would like.

Ahh I'll speak for myself if you don't mind, I think Murray is very well respected and the praise of the oline isn't "Hype" cause they are legit and will get better as they grow. Fans who think other backs can run behind our oline are absolutely correct and that's not taking away from Murray it's just obvious, it all starts up front with the big fellas.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

4 or 5 best ever? No way.

I think his numbers speak more about his longevity than his greatness. He went over 1000 yards 3 times in 16 seasons. He had a nose for the endzone, but after his first 4 years with the Raiders, and the one monster year he had, the rest of his career numbers were quite pedestrian. Not to say he isn't a great player, but I think most people could list off at least 10 RBs better than Allen.

You'd have to look at more than just the numbers to understand why that is.

Loads of his career was wasted in Oakland because Al Davis had them make him a full back (Thus limiting his ability to carry the load) and also put him on the bench behind Bo Jackson for another portion of his time there.

If they hadn't wasted so much of his career the guy would have easily put numbers up in the top 3 or 4 rushers of all time.

 

[KJJ]

His career long reception was 92 yards. He also had a 74 touchdown run in Super Bowl XVIII against the Commanders in 1983. He was fast.

That said Murray is fast enough.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AlleMa00.htm

Long runs don't necessarily mean a player is faster some can sustain a steady speed for longer distances than others. Some players can run a faster 40 than others but not a faster 100 yards because they start to tire out after a certain distance. You see it in track and field all the time where one sprinter will be leading the pack after the first 60 meters then one or two others bolt right past them the last 40 meters. From what I've read Allen was never timed under 4.6 in the 40 while Murray on the other hand has been timed at 4.41. Some players play faster than they time. Murray has trouble sustaining his speed on breakaway runs he begins to tire. A perfect example was during his franchise record 253 yard performance vs the Rams in 2011. After his 91 TD yard run he broke off another run and gave himself up by going down on his own because he was tired.

He did the same thing during another lengthy run I believe in 2013 where he tired out and gave himself up once he could feel defenders catching him. Emmitt didn't time fast he ran a 4.7 at the combine but during his Cowboys career he broke off some long runs because he could maintain the speed he had and could find a little extra when he saw the goal line approaching. During his years with the Cowboys he had TD runs of 48, 75, 68, 60, 62 and 63. Jerry Rice never timed fast but you never saw anyone run him down he had the same speed from start to finish. It's more of a stamina issue with Murray than a speed issue.

 

[KJJ]

4 or 5 best ever? No way.

I think his numbers speak more about his longevity than his greatness. He went over 1000 yards 3 times in 16 seasons. He had a nose for the endzone, but after his first 4 years with the Raiders, and the one monster year he had, the rest of his career numbers were quite pedestrian. Not to say he isn't a great player, but I think most people could list off at least 10 RBs better than Allen.

It takes greatness to have longevity especially at RB. Very rare to see an RB stick around for 16 years and Allen played during an era where the rules didn't protect players like they do now. Allen had 3 straight 1000 yard seasons from 83 to 85 but his carries were dramatically reduced when he and Al Davis started having issues and Bo Jackson showed up. Allen was coming off a 1759 yard rushing season which included 67 receptions for 555 yards. He scored 14 TD's that season and for some reason fell out of favor with Davis the following season.

Had it not been for the conflict between them and the arrival of Bo Jackson in 87 his numbers would have been much better but he might not have had the longevity he did. When he was traded to KC he scored a lot of TD's going up and over near the goal line which kept his rushing yards and average down. KC had a great role for him which he excelled at. He was a great all purpose back but I agree he's not even close to a top 5 all-time back.

 

[KJJ]

He also had a 74 touchdown run in Super Bowl XVIII against the Commanders in 1983.

Every time I see that run I always wonder where Darrell Green was on that play. Anytime a back would break off a run against Washington you would always see Green coming from nowhere to chase them down. We all remember him chasing down Tony Dorsett during a Monday Night game but he was nowhere to be seen on Allen's 74 yard TD run in he SB.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Ahh I'll speak for myself if you don't mind, I think Murray is very well respected and the praise of the oline isn't "Hype" cause they are legit and will get better as they grow. Fans who think other backs can run behind our oline are absolutely correct and that's not taking away from Murray it's just obvious, it all starts up front with the big fellas.

Ehh....I think our offensive line was solid. Maybe top 5 but it was touted as the best line in the league and I don't think they are nearly there yet.

And I can't just say "ANY" running back can run behind this line. Not 1800 yards worth of rushing yards. That would imply that Demarco is simply just a guy.