LaDainian Tomlinson: Emmitt Smith is right!

[Blackspider214]

The RB will get the yards, the questions are will they get the tough yards, how are they at pass catching, and most importantly, can they pick up the blitz. It will be fun to watch for the next month or so in preseason games and camp.

This is what I have been saying. Being a RB is more than just seeing how many yards they gained. Murray did so much for this offense and all by himself in terms of the running game. So many drives he kept going by getting the tough yards and keeping the below average defense off the field. He also could pass protect very well. Do we have any RB who can do any of that? I have my doubts.

 

[MRV52]

No one complained about Murray's total yards last year, now were criticizing him for leaving yards on the field. Like I have said before all running backs leave yards on the field. The only criticism I have of Murray is that at times, his vision is not good.

 

[Picksix]

No one complained about Murray's total yards last year, now were criticizing him for leaving yards on the field. Like I have said before all running backs leave yards on the field. The only criticism I have of Murray is that at times, his vision is not good.

There were plenty of people that noted he left yards on the field before last year.

 

[coult44]

It won't.

It's one area, though, where I think Randle might be a bit better for us than Murray was. Randle does a nice job of setting up his blocks downfield and of staying behind his linemen. He's also fairly nifty changing direction in the open field. He's just a bit slow and fumbles a bit much for my liking.
Where we're going to take a big step back is in pass blocking (McFadden's actually good at this, but for the other backs) and in short yardage and goal line.

I like Randle. He's just got to drop the dumb hat off somewhere and leave it.

 

[Staubacher]

This is what I have been saying. Being a RB is more than just seeing how many yards they gained. Murray did so much for this offense and all by himself in terms of the running game. So many drives he kept going by getting the tough yards and keeping the below average defense off the field. He also could pass protect very well. Do we have any RB who can do any of that? I have my doubts.

All by himself? Got five guys who'd like to speak with you...

 

[Staubacher]

No one complained about Murray's total yards last year, now were criticizing him for leaving yards on the field. Like I have said before all running backs leave yards on the field. The only criticism I have of Murray is that at times, his vision is not good.

Every criticism I have of Murray now I had then. So did most people. Management probably did too and why in part they didn't mortgage the future to keep him.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

The RB will get the yards, the questions are will they get the tough yards, how are they at pass catching, and most importantly, can they pick up the blitz. It will be fun to watch for the next month or so in preseason games and camp.

McFadden can pickup the blitz. I see it going Randle as the starter, McFadden as the 3rd down back mixed in with some Dunbar.

 

[DandyDon52]

I hate that they are saying things like this.

I want a fat and happy Murray next season. Not someone who thinks he has something to prove.

good point, and with these 2 going public with their comments, he is going to be highly motivated, and want to prove several things.

 

[Bullflop]

Regardless of whether Emmitt is right or not about Murray having "left some meat on the bone," I'd feel much better about things if this team had a "banger" type of RB to augment what we already have in house. Getting someone capable of plowing for that all-important TD when we're 2 yards away from a first down or the goal line might not only be nice but realistically, quite necessary at times as well.

 

[Hardline]

53 players and about 15-20 coaches were why there were 12-4. But if we're going off just 1 player Tony Romo is the reason why we went 12-4. The AZ game rests my case

Of course its a team game. But without Murray grinding out those chain moving time consuming drives the Cowboys are not 12-4.

I rest my case.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Hard to argue: if Murray kept all of his strengths and eliminated all of his weaknesses, he'd be a better RB. Stunning insight.

 

[Longboysfan]

Murray got enough yards for me last year. I was satisfied.

Tomlinson puts it better than Emmitt did, though. It's not so much that he could or should have had 2,500 yards, but it's definitely the case that he'd often look for contact when he had just one man to beat. If he weren't reportedly in excellent condition, I'd say that he would do it when he got gassed at the end of a long run. Maybe he didn't trust his speed. Or maybe he thought he'd end up tackled anyway and just wanted to put a hit on somebody. But the tape doesn't lie. He'd often go looking for that contact when he could have continued to run to daylight.

And maybe he took out some of the play in the LB's, CB's and Safety positions from opponents.
In coverage against the pass and looking to stop the run later in the game.

 

[Doc50]

Ridin' With Randle til either the gas runs out, or a gasket blows.
Whichever comes first.

Let's do this. I feel... ready.

..........or he gets caught stealing gas.

(sorry, just had to go there; his knucklehead factor is pretty high)

 

[foofighters]

Goodness...can we be over Murray now?

 

[Cowboys22]

Murray left yards on the field due to his lack of vision and maddening propensity to always cut to the right even when the defense was there and there was daylight to the left. There is no doubt about that. I rewinded and rewatched dozens and dozens of his runs in stunned disbelief that he cut right into a LB when to the left was open field, many times all the way to the endzone. Having said that, there is also no doubt that Murray picked up countless yards that 95% of other RBs would not. These were the tough yards after being hit by multiple defenders that moved the chains. The question is, did those tough yards even out with the yards he left on the field and which is better in the longrun? A couple of long runs a game or the methodical chain moving runs that keep the drive alive? This year may tell us all we need to know.

 

[gimmesix]

Goodness...can we be over Murray now?

Might as well get used to it. Until/Unless what we have proves to be better than what we lost, whether Dallas made the right choice will continue to be scrutinized.

If the defense is vastly improved, it might not matter if the running game takes a step back. But if Murray has an outstanding season in comparison, there will still be what ifs unless Dallas wins the Super Bowl, and maybe even then.

 

[xwalker]

Of course its a team game. But without Murray grinding out those chain moving time consuming drives the Cowboys are not 12-4.

I rest my case.

They were probably not 12-4 without:

Church - Heath would have been starting.
Wilcox - Heath would have been starting.
T. Williams - They didn't have another outside receiver that was ready.
Mincey - Their best DE.
Crawford - Their best DT.
Parnell - If Tony Hills had replaced Free, Romo's health would have been in danger.
Tyron, Leary, Fred and Martin - No explanation needed.
Hitchens - Incredible performance by this rookie covered up multiple injuries at LB.
Rolando McClain - Last minute addition helped cover up multiple injuries at LB.
.
.
.


The Cowboys had a to have complete team effort to get to 12-4. Any lesser performance at any position and they likely lose a close game or multiple close games.

They definitely would have won some games without Murray. I'm not sure they would win any without Romo.

 

[Primetime42]

We don't have to disparage Murray to think we'll be OK at RB this year.

Do I wish he was still around? Sure. Not at the money Philly gave him.

Hope he does well... just not vs us. But that's really not my concern at this point. My concern is that Randle/McFadden/Williams/Dunbar/Whoever carry the load.

 

[erod]

In the end, the reason to let Murray go is that he's probably headed for a steep decline this year or next. Don't pay him for what he did, pay him for what he will do.

I've been hard on Murray, but that doesn't mean I didn't recognize his contribution and his toughness. It's getting to be a bit unfair to him, all this chatter.

But it was the right move, no doubt.

 

[Idgit]

We don't have to disparage Murray to think we'll be OK at RB this year.

Do I wish he was still around? Sure. Not at the money Philly gave him.

Hope he does well... just not vs us. But that's really not my concern at this point. My concern is that Randle/McFadden/Williams/Dunbar/Whoever carry the load.

I agree. Except for the 'hope he does well, just not against us' part. I hope he has a dismal season in PHI and his contract is a loadstone.