Murray Fumble problems

[LatinMind]

Think LM is right: he looks loose at times with the way he carries the ball. Luckily, it can be fixed, and without impacting a player's performance. In fact, my recollection is that Tiki Barber (don't know why he comes to mind as the obvious example) didn't really reach his peak until after Coughlin solved his fumbling problem.

Tiki Barber is the exact person i had in mind when i saw this picture.

 

[Corso]

Think LM is right: he looks loose at times with the way he carries the ball. Luckily, it can be fixed, and without impacting a player's performance. In fact, my recollection is that Tiki Barber (don't know why he comes to mind as the obvious example) didn't really reach his peak until after Coughlin solved his fumbling problem.

Great observation.

I forget right now who the running backs coach is on the team- I still think of Skip Peete, but I'm sure this has been discussed ad nauseum in the meeting rooms and on the practice field.
He has run the last two games holding that ball in a way that makes my heart go pitter-patter every time I see it, BUT:

Murray runs with power and pride- you know he doesn't want to be a contributor to his team's loss.
I'm willing to wager he cleans this up.

It is a contract year, after all...

 

[big dog cowboy]

High and tight.

 

[The Natural]

Here's the real issue, he's trying something new like carrying the rock in his uncomfortable hand because the coaches wanted him to do so. He's more comfortable with the rock in his right hand but was trying to be a good trooper by learning something new.

http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=dallas-cowboys&id=4733876

Interesting, growing up we were always coached to run with the ball on your outside hand (meaning right hand when right side is closest to sideline and vice versa)..didnt know that wasn't the norm

 

[50cent]

Interesting, growing up we were always coached to run with the ball on your outside hand (meaning right hand when right side is closest to sideline and vice versa)..didnt know that wasn't the norm

I think it is, I was coached the same way. However once you get to a certain level, I guess you have to play toward your strengths.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Where's John Garrett when you need him...

 

[TellerMorrow34]

That's three straight games with a fumble going back to the final game last year.

Yes it's a concern.

 

[Denim Chicken]

He's had 5 fumbles in 37 career regular season games up until the last two weeks. This hasn't been an issue with him to this point. That can change at anytime though. My biggest concern is that he starts thinking too much about not fumbling and it becomes a sort of self prophecy deal. I'll suspend my worries until it looks like a real pattern though.

Good post. IIRC he didn't have any fumbles in college.

 

[conner01]

he has been loose with the ball some. if you watch dez he dioes too sometimes. something the staff needs to point out and address

 

[basstapp]

The 49ers fumble was a great defensive play. His knee was a half an inch from hitting the ground. The one against the titans was a freak accident when streets elbow came crashing. If he was fumbling like Bobby Rainey last night then I think it may be time to freak out. At this point I'll take the yardage.

 

[Future]

He's had 5 fumbles in 37 career regular season games up until the last two weeks. This hasn't been an issue with him to this point. That can change at anytime though. My biggest concern is that he starts thinking too much about not fumbling and it becomes a sort of self prophecy deal. I'll suspend my worries until it looks like a real pattern though.

Five lost or five total? I think he's fumbled more than 5 times. Not to mention the number of times where the ball has come loose while he's on the ground or just after the knee hits. While they aren't turnovers, that's still less protective of the football than I think a RB should be.

Even still, that number is high considering the number of games where he's gotten fewer than 15 touches. It's not like he's getting 20 carries a game in those 37.

He has always been fumble prone, but this year his mistakes have been more visible than in the past

 

[Future]

The 49ers fumble was a great defensive play. His knee was a half an inch from hitting the ground. The one against the titans was a freak accident when streets elbow came crashing. If he was fumbling like Bobby Rainey last night then I think it may be time to freak out. At this point I'll take the yardage.

I don't think a fumble is ever a great defensive play.

As well as a player might do to strip the ball, you can't get it out if the RB isn't being lackluster in protecting it, in one way or another.

 

[Denim Chicken]

He has always been fumble prone, but this year his mistakes have been more visible than in the past

593 career attempts vs 7 career fumbles = average 1 fumble every 84 attempts. Considering his average attemper per year are 148, that's less then 2 fumbles per year.

And 0 fumbles in college with 789 attempts.

 

[Primetime42]

He's always carried the ball loose like that and it bothered me the minute I first saw it his rookie year, despite him never fumbling.

Let's hope this whole right/left hand thing is the cause, because he seems stubborn about it.

 

[Future]

593 career attempts vs 7 career fumbles = average 1 fumble every 84 attempts. Considering his average attemper per year are 148, that's less then 2 fumbles per year.

If Dallas is going to consistently give him 20+ touches a game, that's 4 fumbles a year.

I'm not sure where these numbers are coming from, but PFR has him at 9 total fumbles on 710 touches. That's an average of 1 fumble per 79 touches. For comparison:

Adrian Peterson - 72.9
Marshawn Lynch - 86.3
Matt Forte - 120.9
*Eddie Lacy - 349 (lol)
*Le'Veon Bell - 332
Jamaal Charles - 68.9
Chris Johnson - 113.6
Reggie Bush - 51.2
*Zac Stacy - 153.5
Frank Gore - 74.9
Shady McCoy - 147.2

I guess, all things considered, his rate puts him in about the middle of the pack. I still think his rate is too high, though I guess that's how I would feel about most runners in the league.

 

[Denim Chicken]

If Dallas is going to consistently give him 20+ touches a game, that's 4 fumbles a year.

Which is not bad, considering league averages.

 

[Screw The Hall]

Five lost or five total? I think he's fumbled more than 5 times. Not to mention the number of times where the ball has come loose while he's on the ground or just after the knee hits. While they aren't turnovers, that's still less protective of the football than I think a RB should be.

Even still, that number is high considering the number of games where he's gotten fewer than 15 touches. It's not like he's getting 20 carries a game in those 37.

He has always been fumble prone, but this year his mistakes have been more visible than in the past

It's 7 fumbles not 5 before this 2 game stretch, my mistake. The stats I was looking at divided his fumbles between rushing (5) and receiving (2). Of course that takes into account 114 more touches as a receiver prior to his 4 catches this year.

Still, I don't see that as an alarming pace unless he keeps up his start to this year. He's never had more than 3 in a year which he's had twice. I'll reserve judgement until a little bigger sample size exists. He hasn't had some awful Tiki Barber stretch or anything like that. He's fumbled twice in two games. Nothing I'm going to get too excited about ... yet.