Mcfadden RB analysis vs Murray

[JonJon]

Comments in red-ish

I agree. McFadden doesn't shy away from contact at all, which is probably the reason why he is always hurt. Coming out of college, he was considered the more physical back between himself and Felix Jones. He was recognized as a runner that could lower his head and push through defenders coming out of college.

 

[DFWJC]

Regardless of how this turns out, McFadden is supposedly an outstanding teammate. A hard worker, who will show up early and stay late.
Whether he starts or not, I think he can be an asset.

 

[xwalker]

McFadden is a better at blitz pickup and its not close. He's one of the absolute best in the league at it and Murray was no better than average. I'm not sure why Murray is so frequently overrated in this area.

Agree.

 

[xwalker]

I appreciate the OP's time and effort into this. Truly.

But my analysts is a lot simpler...

DeMarco > McFadden
Randle => McFadden
McFadden > Dunbar
Williams = ???
Gurley/Gordon > Randle/McFadden
Randle/McFadden => all other rookie RBs
Peterson > all of the above

I don't get the feeling that this came from studying McFadden's NFL game footage.

 

[xwalker]

Appreciate the analysis. Which games did you view for McFadden? I feel behind without All-22. I'll be honest I'm not excited at all about him, but this helped a smidge.

I don't know about the OP, but I've studied multiple of McFadden's games with the Raiders using the All-22. I focused on 2014 but I also reviewed some games in past seasons.

I didn't see any physical decline.

He is still very fast.

He is a terrific pass blocker and IMO, better than Murray in this area.

He is a very good receiver.

McFadden is not the best RB to have with a bad OL. He needs a couple of steps to get going because he is a biy of a long strider. This is somewhat true for Murray as well. With a bad OL it's better to have a dancing type RB. Murray and McFadden are 1 cut and get up-field type RBs. The Zone blocking scheme allows the RB to be on the move before making his cut, so in theory it should be good for McFadden.

In regards to vision, it's honestly difficult to evaluate because he was hit behind the line so often. In general I didn't see any problem with his vision. Murray's vision was average at best.

In regards to power, McFadden ran with power and didn't shy away from contact in his earlier years. In 2014 I did sense that he was more likely to avoid contact than he had been in the past.

The primary problem with McFadden is the injury history.

The 2nd question is his 1 year in the Zone Blocking scheme. That didn't go well so it is a concern. It's odd, because his style (1 cut and get up-field) seems perfect for the ZBS. Generally the 1st year of a Zone scheme is a problem. It is normally the 2nd year before the OL really adapts to it. Murray's lowest average was in 2012 which was the 1st year of the ZBS in Dallas. Also, not only does Dallas have a much more talented OL to implement the ZBS, but it's probably a more evolved scheme than what they were using in Oakland. The Cowboys use both the ZBS and normal Power-Man blocking in their running game equally well.

Summary: McFadden is still a really good player, but must stay healthy and must prove that he can be effective in a Zone scheme; although the Cowboys have the ability to run Power Man run blocking equally as well as Zone.

 

[BoysWin]

For a guy that was dominant in college and blew up the combine, he has obviously not met expectations in the NFL. He ran a 4.33 at the combine. Has stature 6'1 210. Analysis:

Scores are for Mcfadden:

Vision: 5/10 -average. On par with Murray. Push to pick one, I'd go with Murray. Really, both are below average to average.

Wiggle/elusiveness: 4/10 -Mcfadden is a one cut. Fast through the line but won't make people miss much. Hopes to blow by them. Murray was not extraordinary here either but Mcfadden is worse. Advantage Murray.

Speed: 9/10 Neither is as fast as they used to be. Murray ran 4.41 and Mcfadden a mind-blowing 4.33. Injuries and age are probably to blame. For 4.33, Mcfadden does get angled/chased down quite often but he gets the Adv. here.

Burst: 7/10: Both are up right runners but I think Mcfadden has more burst or short area quickness through the line.

Pass catching: 10/10 Both do this well. Mcfadden has natural + hands and gets the slight Adv.

Power: 7/10 Though Mcfadden is a nice NFL sized back, Murray is a power proven work horse. Adv. Murray.

Fumble/Reliability: 8/10 in the last two seasons Mcfadden has lost 2 fumbles and Murray a canoe load. Adv. Mcfadden.

Blitz pick up: 8/10 Mcfadden is good, Murray exceptional.

4/4 - tie. Murray is a proven commodity and got paid. Mcfadden is not but cost 5.85 over 2 years. Could be a surprise with this line and playing with a top 5 QB. I agree with not paying Murray and that GB fumble was a killer. That's what fumblers do.

McFadden is the nearest RB to OJ Simpson in 1975-1976. Not the 1973 OJ Simpson. Just watch, behind this OL - McFadden should be good for 1,800 total yards from scrimmage

 

[Section446]

McFadden is the nearest RB to OJ Simpson in 1975-1976. Not the 1973 OJ Simpson. Just watch, behind this OL - McFadden should be good for 1,800 total yards from scrimmage

Oh, stop it. Now you're just doing bits.

 

[EMMITTnROY]

I don't get the feeling that this came from studying McFadden's NFL game footage.

Nope, it came from watching the NFL every season for the past 30 years.

 

[Texas_Pete]

Meet my new pet cat Darren McFadden. He will surprise behind our OL:



1) Running with power? Check
2) Soft hands out of the backfield? Check
3) Breakaway speed once out in the open field? Check
4) Unexpected Bonus: Wildcat formation. Good passer or runner? Check

Only thing this highlight vid doesn't show is his ability to pass protect (which his scouting report says he's good at). I honestly think he was a product of a sorry franchise that had a putrid OL and no weapons on offense to prevent constantly facing 8 in the box designed to stop him.

 

[xwalker]

Nope, it came from watching the NFL every season for the past 30 years.

You determined McFadden's ability by watching the NFL for 30 years but without specifically reviewing McFadden's games?

 

[Section446]

You determined McFadden's ability by watching the NFL for 30 years but without specifically reviewing McFadden's games?

Pretty much...

 

[jnday]

I agree. McFadden doesn't shy away from contact at all, which is probably the reason why he is always hurt. Coming out of college, he was considered the more physical back between himself and Felix Jones. He was recognized as a runner that could lower his head and push through defenders coming out of college.

I know from beings SEC fan that both McFadden and Jones were very good at running outside through big holes where they could use their speed. I never saw anything that indicated to me that they were physical RBs. McFadden was a little more physical, but he was not a physical RB compared to many other RBs.

 

[Fletch]

Well, this is not exactyan of topic, but one big advatage that Murray had was his ability to run well in a zone blocking scheme . McFadden didn't run well at all behind the very same ZBS that Dallas uses. That is a factor IMO.

Oakland line compared to Dallas line. Hmmm?

 

[pancakeman]

Meet my new pet cat Darren McFadden. He will surprise behind our OL:



1) Running with power? Check
2) Soft hands out of the backfield? Check
3) Breakaway speed once out in the open field? Check
4) Unexpected Bonus: Wildcat formation. Good passer or runner? Check

Only thing this highlight vid doesn't show is his ability to pass protect (which his scouting report says he's good at). I honestly think he was a product of a sorry franchise that had a putrid OL and no weapons on offense to prevent constantly facing 8 in the box designed to stop him.

I think he'll like our receivers' downfield blocking too.

 

[JonJon]

I know from beings SEC fan that both McFadden and Jones were very good at running outside through big holes where they could use their speed. I never saw anything that indicated to me that they were physical RBs. McFadden was a little more physical, but he was not a physical RB compared to many other RBs.

He is no Marshall Lynch, that's for sure, but he doesn't shy away from contact as some suggested. I believe that he can pick up the "dirty yards" if needed.

 

[AsthmaField]

He is no Marshall Lynch, that's for sure, but he doesn't shy away from contact as some suggested. I believe that he can pick up the "dirty yards" if needed.

Marshall Lynch, lol. Sounds like a knot a sheriff would use...

 

[tideh20heel]

Thanks.
Not sure Murray pass blocks better though. Definitely Not exceptional...IMO.
I think many would give DMC the nod in pass-catching too...though it might be close.
But yes, until proven otherwise, Murray gets a huge edge in the workhorse category.

He has one year as a "workhorse" on his resume. Let's not pretend we just lost Emmitt

 

[Section446]

He has one year as a "workhorse" on his resume. Let's not pretend we just lost Emmitt

And McFadden has been nothing short of a bust to this point in his career, let's not act like he's anything more than what he's been thus far.

 

[JonJon]

Marshall Lynch, lol. Sounds like a knot a sheriff would use...

I'm a victim of spell check, lol.

 

[btcutter]

Meet my new pet cat Darren McFadden. He will surprise behind our OL:



1) Running with power? Check
2) Soft hands out of the backfield? Check
3) Breakaway speed once out in the open field? Check
4) Unexpected Bonus: Wildcat formation. Good passer or runner? Check

Only thing this highlight vid doesn't show is his ability to pass protect (which his scouting report says he's good at). I honestly think he was a product of a sorry franchise that had a putrid OL and no weapons on offense to prevent constantly facing 8 in the box designed to stop him.

One thing for sure. McFadden has a better arm than Murray .

His speed through the hole is something to watch.....assuming he still has it.