More looks at Darren McFadden

[LittleBoyBlue]

And this criticism came from fans who have never played in the NFL, watch the game on TV where they can't see all of the players when the ball is snapped, and have a higher opinion of their own opinion than even former NFL players who say things that disagree with the fan's opinion.

Oh wait, and one RB that sat on the bench when he wasn't stealing underwear, or making comments about his teammates while being booked on shoplifting charges.

Criticism comes from many places in this world. In sports, it comes from predominately two locations. The press, and the fan.

One of those groups is close enough to speak with the principle and formed at least a minor educated opinion.

The other are filled with hubris.

I couldn't be more excited to see Darren play and contribute in big way!

 

[TwoDeep3]

Yeah, it's that or many people at various levels have all agreed with the fact that Murray left yards on the field... nice try though.

Please reply with a list of players and former players who have said this, and not ones who have been arrested for shoplifting at any time recently. I await your response.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Murray ran very hard. Made many tough runs. But it's hard to argue effectively that he did take go through the wrong hole and run to contact on several occasions. The one where Dez was going to lead the way for a td comes to mind. And others have been posted on here.

In some cases the press and or the fans are correct. They're an easy target to point to and say "they know nothing they're fans " but some fans and many on here pay very close attention to the games and the comments they make about the games.

In this site in particular the fans are correct in many cases. IMO.

Have you reviewed every running back in the league currently and examined every move to determine that all running backs sometimes choose the wrong hole? I mean discount Julius Jones and his half a yard loss and being knocked down by the butt of his own offensive lineman as an example.

 

[TwoDeep3]

I'd like to see

You mean former players like Emmitt Smith who says Murray runs to darkness?

I'd like to see that quote, please.

 

[TwoDeep3]

I think that is people telling themselves that. How do the Patriots close out games? How about the Broncos? Did the Saints have a end the game RB when they won the super bowl? What about Green Bay?

This offense needs to be productive and the defense needs to play at a high level. Both need to impose their will on teams. That's the end of the story.

So if you can accept this is the case that people have convinced themselves of a position. Why can you not accept that you may also have convinced yourself of a position which states we are fine, when there is no evidence either way?

 

[DogFace]

Have you reviewed every running back in the league currently and examined every move to determine that all running backs sometimes choose the wrong hole? I mean discount Julius Jones and his half a yard loss and being knocked down by the butt of his own offensive lineman as an example.

I'll get on that asap. In the meantime I've determined Murray made some odd choices in many runs. His awareness was poor on many occasions. The Peppers fumble being a key example.

Do other running backs do that. Maybe. I'm talking about what he did.

 

[perrykemp]

I so look forward to commenting on McFadden's actual performance as a Cowboys once the season starts rather than speculating it here on a daily basis.

I get this is a forum and the whole idea is to debate topics like this, however, the amount of energy being expended on this topic is breathtaking.

 

[Galian Beast]

Please reply with a list of players and former players who have said this, and not ones who have been arrested for shoplifting at any time recently. I await your response.

Emmitt Smith

 

[TwoDeep3]

Emmitt Smith

Wanna post a link.

 

[conner01]

Somewhere I read that Dallas is going to have to sign an "End the game RB." A RB that can pound the ball in the 4th quarter when Dallas is trying to preserve a lead and just running out the clock. Murray was excellent at that. I don't see either of our "Big 4" capable of being that type of grinding 4th quarter RB that can chew up the clock in the 4th quarter.

I live in Arkansas and watch ac throughout his college career
I think a good assessment
He has good vision and speed but he is far from a power runner
He will get more big plays but he is not the guy to get the tough yards
my biggest concern other than health of our rb's is who is gonna get those tough yards

 

[conner01]

You clearly didn't watch the same highlights I did. He makes a lot of people miss, or at least he did early in his career.

As for the numbers lying, you can't tell anything at all looking at the numbers. A 3 yard run where a guy has to juke 2 people in the backfield and plow through another because they are all in the backfield is completely different than a 3 yard run where the line pushes the D back 2 yards and the RB trips over his own feet.

Making people miss in the open field he can do
Running over people for that extra couple yards he can't do and I've seen every college game he played and several of his pro games
Doesn't make him a bad back just not a guy to get the tough yards
Like having a guy who can break the big run but wish we had a guy to get those tough yards to compliment him

 

[JDSmith]

Making people miss in the open field he can do
Running over people for that extra couple yards he can't do and I've seen every college game he played and several of his pro games
Doesn't make him a bad back just not a guy to get the tough yards
Like having a guy who can break the big run but wish we had a guy to get those tough yards to compliment him

Watching him for the Raiders he looks like he's picking up pretty tough yards. There is no running room. He might not be Marshawn Lynch, but he's got enough leg drive to push guys back. Especially if he gets a little room to work before contact. I never watched him in college, I'm just going back and watching his play for the Raiders this past season. I'd love to have someone who excels in short yardage, but McFadden doesn't look nearly as bad in that area as I was expecting. He's much more physical than I had thought.

 

[Spectre]

I just watched a bunch of his college highlights, and something really struck me. This guy and probably Felix Jones, aren't really what you're looking for in lead backs. They're just home run hitters. The Arkansas line would create space, and they would take it. Note, that isn't necessarily a knock on them. One of the biggest criticisms of Murray was leaving yards on the field. I don't think that will be a problem with McFadden when he is healthy.

What I do think will be a problem with McFadden is fighting for yards when they aren't there. He doesn't have anywhere close to the physical capabilities of Murray. My biggest worry with McFadden is that in lieu of home runs he isn't a consistent enough running back.

What I do think about McFadden is that he is a nice part time running back who has vision and hopefully still has the speed and moves to be a major contributor here with an offensive line that should give him all the seams he needs, and hopefully they can do so consistently. I think we're going to struggle a lot more against teams like Seattle who aren't as susceptible to zone runs.

I wasn't really excited seeing him play, because I really do like a running back with Murray's style, but maybe that won't be necessary going forward. I think coming in here, with him not being the key offensive player is going to allow him to be very successful, and not having to carry the lion share of snaps should also allow him to be successful.

Ultimately I think it'll be Randle and McFadden as a two headed monster, with Dunbar being used on 3rd downs due to his speed. I just have no confidence that Ryan Williams can stay healthy. He never has. I think they have a lot of faith in this offensive line, and they've been retaining players who they think have the ability to user their vision to take what the offensive creates for them. I think Randle can be more of an every down back type of player.

If you look at the Patriots they have 4 running backs average close to if not over 4 yards per carry, and collectively what they did was run for about 1700 yards. I actually think we have much better running backs than they had last year. I think the key that people need to stop thinking is that the Cowboys are going to have to somehow rely on one guy to be the show runner here. That isn't the case.

At any rate, I think our offense is going to be very different next year, and whether it will be better than last year depends on a lot of things.

- Can these running backs stay healthy
- Can these running backs or in general our offense maintain it's ability to move the chains and convert 3rd downs (incorporating Beasley more into this offense takes a lot of pressure off of the running backs).
- Can the passing game give the running backs enough breathing room to showcase their abilities.

I think we'll have to rely more on Beasley, and I think we'll have to rely more on Escobar going forward. And certainly Terrance Williams. For this offense to work, the passing game has to become such a weapon that teams can't afford to stack a safety near the line.

Not knocking your post here, but this info on McFadden is widely known already. He and Felix Jones were both as you described. Jerry's just infatuated with the Arkansas pedigree and DMC came cheap. I think Ryan Williams is in for a larger role than most expect.

 

[jnday]

Not knocking your post here, but this info on McFadden is widely known already. He and Felix Jones were both as you described. Jerry's just infatuated with the Arkansas pedigree and DMC came cheap. I think Ryan Williams is in for a larger role than most expect.

Williams is already having problems with his knee swelling during OTAs. That is not a good sign.

 

[trickblue]

He's not some big hole explosive guy... he is also a punishing runner... hope it works out...

 

[trickblue]

Please reply with a list of players and former players who have said this, and not ones who have been arrested for shoplifting at any time recently. I await your response.

Not being contrary, but he DID leave yards on the field...

It's not a pro/con, just observation...

He also powered through some runs... so it probably evens out...

 

[Galian Beast]

So if you can accept this is the case that people have convinced themselves of a position. Why can you not accept that you may also have convinced yourself of a position which states we are fine, when there is no evidence either way?

Because all evidence suggests we don't need a lead back. I'm not convinced that we are fine. I'm not ready to flip out yet though.

 

[Zekeats]

You have way too much time on your hands

 

[Ring6]

I think it was Terrell Davis that said Murray "runs to darkness"

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/0ap2000000237274/Week-1-preview-Giants-vs-Cowboys

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***...s-very-consistent-at-being-inconsistent.html/

 

[Galian Beast]

Not knocking your post here, but this info on McFadden is widely known already. He and Felix Jones were both as you described. Jerry's just infatuated with the Arkansas pedigree and DMC came cheap. I think Ryan Williams is in for a larger role than most expect.

A lot of people don't even agree with me here...