Murray Had 1 Good Year

[windjc]

One day Murray may be a HOFer. Maybe 2015 was his breakout year for a historical career. Perhaps he will have his # retired by the Philadelphia Eagles after leading them to their first of multiple SuperBowls where he will be win multiple SuperBowl MVPs. Seriously. Crazier things have happened in sports.

However, as of today, May 14, 2015, Demarco Murray has had 1 really good professional NFL year.

365 days ago, Murray was considered an average back - perhaps slightly above average - but a back that also had durability issues.

In 2014 Murray lead the league in yards. Although some important stats such as YPC and broken tackle average dropped significantly in the last 1/4 of the season.

Now we currently have:

Joseph Randle - a back that had more YPC than Demarco in 2014, albeit with far fewer carries. Can he maintain a better pace than Murray with 20-25 carries a game. No one knows. But Randle was much improved from 2013 to 2014. That was crystal clear in watching film.

Darren McFadden - a back who also had 1 good year (2011) before injury cut it short. Similar power runner as Murray. Similar fumble issues. Faster back with more breakaway speed. But like Murray 365 days ago, much concern about his durability. Can McFadden duplicate 2011? No reason to believe he magically will, but if his body is in as good of shape as Murray, no real logical argument to why he can't either.

Ryan Williams - signed multi year deal after being on PS and turning down interests from other teams. Not your typical PS back. Great pedigree. Low/no mileage. It's probably his last shot at rebooting his career. Physically no reason to believe he can't. But that's hardly a reason to believe he will either.

Dunbar - not an every down back so not in this discussion other than to say Dunbar could potentially shoulder more of the load than he did last year - which would not be difficult given that he only saw the field 5 or so plays a game.

Free Agent Possibilities:

Chris Johnson - former All-Pro that ran pretty good last year for the Jets.
Knowshon Moreno - another accomplished back that could be an option.

Overall: as far as "on-the-field" ability and injury risk/reward scenarios, I think the loss of Murray has a better chance than not of being made up for in some way - 1 back or multiple back performances.

Was there some Murray off-the-field intangibles - i.e. leadership or motivator that made Dallas better and cannot be replaced? Hard to know. It's always possible.

But in totality, I am not as worried as most. Why? Simply because, as of right now, Murray is still an NFL back that had ONE GOOD YEAR.

 

[SHAMSzy]

and this becomes an Adrian Peterson thread in

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[windjc]

and this becomes an Adrian Peterson thread in

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2.....
1.....

Notice that I didn't even put Peterson in the discussion.

Nice gif though.

 

[roy31]

I have been saying this all along. He wasn't good until we put the best offensive line in football in front of him. I think he is an average back with bow average speed who won't do much in philly . A lot of his runs last year he looked like he was jogging . I would have liked one of the top 2 backs in the draft but the draft didn't fall that way . I think we'll be fine with our current backs. I trust the scouts and the coaching staff , I wouldn't havd said this 3 yrs ago but I think they have figured it out.

 

[Galian Beast]

I think you're underrating him. I think he has been a very good running back since he got here. Underutilized and not terribly durable, but a very good running back.

I do think he has benefited a lot from being in Dallas as opposed to a team that has no passing game, like Philly will be next year. He also benefited from having a very good offensive line. I don't think he is as good as LeSean McCoy, and I think his career move to Philly will always be looked at as a mistake for him.

 

[windjc]

I think you're underrating him. I think he has been a very good running back since he got here. Underutilized and not terribly durable, but a very good running back.

I do think he has benefited a lot from being in Dallas as opposed to a team that has no passing game, like Philly will be next year. He also benefited from having a very good offensive line. I don't think he is as good as LeSean McCoy, and I think his career move to Philly will always be looked at as a mistake for him.

I'm not underrating him. But just like Parcels said, "you are what your record says you are." Right now Murray's record says he had 1 good year.

 

[AmericanCowboy]

Just because he isn't on our team anymore doesn't mean we have to tear him down.

I think he was always an above average back he just had injury issues. He is a good/great player and will do well in Philadelphia. That being said, I am glad that we did not sogn him to that type of contract.

But to say he was average is a huge understatement.

Also, Chris Johnson was bad last year- Living in NJ i watch almost every Jet and Giant game and he was not good.

 

[windjc]

Just because he isn't on our team anymore doesn't mean we have to tear him down.

I think he was always an above average back he just had injury issues. He is a good/great player and will do well in Philadelphia. That being said, I am glad that we did not sogn him to that type of contract.

But to say he was average is a huge understatement.

Also, Chris Johnson was bad last year- Living in NJ i watch almost every Jet and Giant game and he was not good.

Not tearing him down. I said slightly above average with injury concerns is what he was considered 1 year ago today.

 

[Texas_Pete]

Health was always the issue with DM29. His YPC has always been good. He just couldn't stay healthy until last year. That, along with a studly OL lead to a career year from him.

I do like the RBBC for this this year. Why? Here's a few reasons:

1) No doubt in my mind McFadden, Williams, and Randle (?) can supercede 1,845 yards collectively
2) #1 is especially true with the addition of Collins, who I expect to start
3) By not drafting a RB, we filled holes elsewhere on the defensive side of the ball. Offense wasn't our problem - especially the running game.

I expect to draft a RB next year (hopefully Elliott from tOSU Buckeyes), but for now, I'm content with what we have. Especially behind the Great Wall of Dallas 2.0.

 

[CF74]

Murray has always made the most of his opportunities and for the record he's an above average running back.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Didnt most Cowboy fans think he was a stud before 2014?

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

and this becomes an Adrian Peterson thread in

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Alright guys, time to switch to Peterson now. This poster might have already passed out from holding his breath.

 

[Galian Beast]

I'm not underrating him. But just like Parcels said, "you are what your record says you are." Right now Murray's record says he had 1 good year.

2 time pro bowler, over 1000 yards twice in his career, averaged nearly 5 ypc over his career.

I'd say that he had two to three good years, which is pretty good for someone who has only been in the league 4 years and didn't come in as a starter.

 

[canters]

Yes, Murray had one very good year when the OL was at an near-elite level.

No, he will not have another year like last year. He will still be someone we must account for.

Yes, we will run the ball this year better than most "experts" think. DMc get his 800-1000, Randle gets 400-500.

No, we will not give a high pick for Peterson.

Yes, the sun will come up this fall if we do not get another RB.

 

[TwoDeep3]

What made the offense in 2014 more than anything was the balance. What made it consistent was the predictability brought by the offensive line.

But, as much as yards before contact that seem to be the only leg to stand on for some, Murray moved the pile forward nearly always. For years we've watched one yard and a cloud of dust from every running back since Barber. Run into a pile of bodies and fall down.

Murray found a hole and get through, found a huge hole and got through, but didn't cave at the first contact.

There are some suggesting this team goes back to 8-8. That seems drastic, but with the RBBC Irvin is right. Teams will not sit on the pass and take that away and then the offense will have to attempt to catch lightning in a jar again this season.

What astounds me is all the people who were on board with a solid run game until this team got one and then allowed it to walk.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Still waiting for OPs 'one good post'. Forget that Garrett did not commit to the run on previous years?

 

[John813]

Can't wait for the, "Dez was an overrated receiver, problem child..." if we can't come to terms with him.

 

[Zekeats]

Still waiting for OPs 'one good post'. Forget that Garrett did not commit to the run on previous years?

THIS ^

 

[tideh20heel]

Murray has always made the most of his opportunities and for the record he's an above average running back.

He's an above average back but to say he always made the most of his opportunities is flat out wrong. He left hundreds of yards on the field last year. He also left a huge opportunity sitting on the turf at Lambeau last January. We will be fine.

 

[Jenky]

He had two good years and if you watched him since the very beginning of his career, you'd know that he was pretty good. The o-line was crap back then and Murray was still able to get 3-4 yards with defenders in the backfield as soon as the ball was snapped.