Looking closer at McFadden

[theogt]

There are plenty of running backs who have had bad lines and QB play and have succeeded over the years. There's a reason why he was a bargain basement pickup. He just isn't very good at this point and he will have to earn a spot on this team. Hopefully, with a limited amount of snaps, he can produce.

That's exactly what I was thinking, until I went and watched the games. I looked at his carries from a standpoint of asking what he could have done differently or what a better back would have gotten out of a play. And, to be honest, he was much more productive than he should have been. There were very few times (almost none) where I said he should have hit this or that hole faster. Instead, there were a lot of times where it was just him getting multiple defenders staring him directly in the face as he received the handoff.

In any event, my point wasn't that he'll be super productive here. Maybe he will and maybe he won't. My point was merely that he looks better than Randle to me. I didn't previously think that McFadden would be the bell cow out of this group but now I'm thinking he has the best shot at it.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

There's something about Williams, many might not put stock into what he did last pre-season but he ran with great vision and quickness behind lineman that aren't even on the team anymore. I hope he gets a real shot to make the 53. Randle did take advantage of his opportunities last season but of course there's the risk factor with him, maybe it's a maturity thing who knows. Dunbar is a role player with a skill set that is always nice to have. I think it'll be: McFadden-Williams-Dunbar.

Im totally in the Williams fan club (the only back we have that I like) I just don't think they're going to give him a huge chance

 

[tyke1doe]

You guys put a little too much into players performance vs looking at the situation. Players who preform bad on bad team are capable of doing good on other teams ie RoMac. It also works the other way around James jones was a stud in greenbay.... Look at him now. Systems and environments can bring a lot of of a player and I'm hoping we can revive DMF here in Dallas.

Alvin Harper, Larry Brown, Russell Maryland all say, "Amen!"

 

[tyke1doe]

Guys don't let this turn into an AD AP thing. McFadden's abbreviated nickname is DMC not DMF. hence the nickname RUN DMC...

Is it something to get uptight over?

 

[tyke1doe]

Truthfully I don't see Ryan Williams making the final roster. Everyone is discrediting the kid days udfa. Kid can do something. If we don't make a trade or sign another vet. I think we go McFadden Randle days and maybe Dunbar.

The Cowboys have invested too much into Williams to treat him as a roster bottom feeder. I doubt he gets cut. If anything, he'll simply remain on the PS or get signed by another team, especially since teams wanted him last year.

 

[DFWJC]

There are plenty of running backs who have had bad lines and QB play and have succeeded over the years. There's a reason why he was a bargain basement pickup. He just isn't very good at this point and he will have to earn a spot on this team. Hopefully, with a limited amount of snaps, he can produce.

Which running backs are those, Cyber? Just curious.
It's usually one or the other but not both.

 

[DFWJC]

I'm pretty sure Williams still averaged less than 4 YPC last year in this preseason I have heard so many people reference as hope for him becoming the lead back. Didn't he have 1 run that gave him the majority of his yards and still managed less than 4 YPC? Not 100% sure.

4.56 ypc fwiw

I think he led the RBs in receptions too.

Preseason though

 

[myslamsareolder]

Is it something to get uptight over?

Yes

 

[Aven8]

My biggest concern is not about the talent of any of these backs, it's the health aspect. McFadden and Williams have shown they cannot stay healthy.

 

[ufcrules1]

McFad was a stud in College, sucked in the pros -- Don't know squat about Williams -- Randle is a head case with burst at spurs of the game when the real threat leaves the field. That's all we know right now.

Excellent spot on post. DMF was not the only RB on a team with a bad line, plenty of RB's were and out produced him. That is without even discussing how injury prone he is. I hope he comes here and somehow tears it up but deep down inside I know the odds are slim with his past history (lack of production/Injuries). I'm a realist.. you have to PROVE to me that you can produce.

 

[ufcrules1]

Guys don't let this turn into an AD AP thing. McFadden's abbreviated nickname is DMC not DMF. hence the nickname RUN DMC...

But he hasn't had a good run like DMC did so he is just DMF now. In college he was DMC in the pros he is just DMF.

 

[tyke1doe]

My biggest concern is not about the talent of any of these backs, it's the health aspect. McFadden and Williams have shown they cannot stay healthy.

Kind of like Sean Lee.
We sure our banking on a lot of oft-injured players.

 

[CATCH17]

For me, he's just been sort of an afterthought. A guy that I didn't expect to have a real shot at the lead role. Kind of a joke, actually. You hear about the bad OLine play but that seemed to be more of an embarrassing excuse.

Well, I went and watched a few games from 2014 to see what was there. Let me just say, if you feel like you're taking our line for granted you can watch the Raiders and quickly realize how lucky we are. I didn't remember what it was like to see 3 guys in the backfield blowing up a run. And as bad as their line play was, the QB play was even worse, almost comical.

But when McFadden was able to get a crease, or heaven forbid, a hole, he knew what to do with it. Good vision and burst, with a decisive one cut and go style of play. He had surprisingly strong inside run ability as well.

I've been firmly in the Joseph Randle camp, thinking there's an outside shot at Ryan Williams surprising us too. But I have to say now that McFadden is the better player from what I can tell.

Just my $0.02.

Im a McFadden fan.. I don't really question his ability.

What I worry about is his dependability. That is where he could hurt us.

 

[Doc50]

Truthfully I don't see Ryan Williams making the final roster. Everyone is discrediting the kid days udfa. Kid can do something. If we don't make a trade or sign another vet. I think we go McFadden Randle days and maybe Dunbar.

I think the competition is so close that that it comes down to ST.

PR, KR, gunner, etc. are still big question marks, and someone will need to shine in order to fill those needs and make the 53.

 

[cowboyschmps3]

For me, he's just been sort of an afterthought. A guy that I didn't expect to have a real shot at the lead role. Kind of a joke, actually. You hear about the bad OLine play but that seemed to be more of an embarrassing excuse.

Well, I went and watched a few games from 2014 to see what was there. Let me just say, if you feel like you're taking our line for granted you can watch the Raiders and quickly realize how lucky we are. I didn't remember what it was like to see 3 guys in the backfield blowing up a run. And as bad as their line play was, the QB play was even worse, almost comical.

But when McFadden was able to get a crease, or heaven forbid, a hole, he knew what to do with it. Good vision and burst, with a decisive one cut and go style of play. He had surprisingly strong inside run ability as well.

I've been firmly in the Joseph Randle camp, thinking there's an outside shot at Ryan Williams surprising us too. But I have to say now that McFadden is the better player from what I can tell.

Just my $0.02.

I could see McFadden, Randle and Williams depth backfield

 

[xwalker]

I'm pretty sure Williams still averaged less than 4 YPC last year in this preseason I have heard so many people reference as hope for him becoming the lead back. Didn't he have 1 run that gave him the majority of his yards and still managed less than 4 YPC? Not 100% sure.

His average for the preseason was 4.5. His longest run was 27 yards.

I don't really think preseason stats have much meaning. You never know which OL are playing against which DL. It could be 3rd string OL vs 2nd string DL or vice versa.

I reviewed all of his carries at the time and he looked really good. Again, that proves nothing really, but he was good in the opportunities that he received.

 

[xwalker]

I think the competition is so close that that it comes down to ST.

PR, KR, gunner, etc. are still big question marks, and someone will need to shine in order to fill those needs and make the 53.

Yes, for the 3rd spot and maybe for the 2nd spot.

If Williams is the lead runner, then ST won't matter for him. If he is not one of the top 2 runners, then he will definitely need to be really good on ST. They would prefer the #2 runner to be good on ST but if it is a RB by committee, then they might have to live with a less than optimal ST player as the #2 RB.

 

[skinsscalper]

STs is where Randle separates himself from the rest of the pack. I could see Dunbar being the odd man out. McFadden is better than Dunbar at the things some folks drool over Dunbar about.

 

[CyberB0b]

Which running backs are those, Cyber? Just curious.
It's usually one or the other but not both.

Jamaal Charles in KC, Matt Forte in Chi, MJD in Jax for a number of years, Alfred Morris in Was, Arian Foster in Hou, Adrian Peterson in Min. These are just recent examples.

 

[superonyx]

STs is where Randle separates himself from the rest of the pack. I could see Dunbar being the odd man out. McFadden is better than Dunbar at the things some folks drool over Dunbar about.

I can see us carrying 4 backs this year if we don't make any moves. I think the question marks surrounding the health of every back except Randle will be enough to keep 4 around.
I wish we knew who the coaches favored to be the starting back. This is the guy who usually gets the job regardless of preseason production from the others. Of course they will always say it's an open competition but it rarely is. I would guess and say McFadden has the job to lose with Randle being the back they plan to give carries to to rest McFadden.