Murray's Fumble Issues - Fixable?

[DeaconMoss]

I started noticing this a lot when ESPN and NFLN have been showing numerous DM highlights. So I went to trusty google images and started looking at DM's hand placement versus other backs in the NFL with less fumbles.

Conclusion:
I think Murray has poor hand placement on the ball far too often. IMO this is something the staff should have recognized early on and worked to correct it. Some guys feel faster when you carry it like a loaf of bread, but that is no excuse. It should have been corrected in college, honestly. Is Murray's issues with fumbling as simple as being cognizant of hand placement when he secures the rock?

Here are some shots for comparison:

Getting ready to engage a tackler - Ball not secured. Fingers should be over the tip and ball tight to chest.

He has a strong tendency to cradle the ball over the seam with his thumb and not cradle it high and tight.

Another example:

Its not every carry, this one is much better hand placement, but pro RB's should have good hand placement every snap

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***/files/2013/09/NS_22MOORECOL16GM_33340232-620x613.jpg


Contrast: I am not saying he never gets it right, but is defintely something that can be worked on. If I can pick it up, I am sure NFL teams know he carries it too loose. For simple comparison, look at Bell (0 fumbles) and Lynch (1 fumble)

Look at the hand placement:

Beast Mode:

Not great here, but still has fingers over the nipple.

In conclusion, I partly blame the staff for not making him more mindful of his hand placement. I am not in the meetings and maybe they have tried to coach him on this. Maybe it is one of the reasons he does not have a deal yet? Going forward on Dallas or any other team. DM needs to work on this IMO.

 

[xwalker]

I started noticing this a lot when ESPN and NFLN have been showing numerous DM highlights. So I went to trusty google images and started looking at DM's hand placement versus other backs in the NFL with less fumbles.

Conclusion:
I think Murray has poor hand placement on the ball far too often. IMO this is something the staff should have recognized early on and worked to correct it. Some guys feel faster when you carry it like a loaf of bread, but that is no excuse. It should have been corrected in college, honestly. Is Murray's issues with fumbling as simple as being cognizant of hand placement when he secures the rock?

Here are some shots for comparison:

Getting ready to engage a tackler - Ball not secured. Fingers should be over the tip and ball tight to chest.

Fixable? Yes.

Will he fix it? I don't know. I think he had a defiant statement last season where he said he was not going to change what he's been doing.

 

[myslamsareolder]

I think his "problem" is overblown. He had a rough stretch, but it hasn't been consistent throughout his career. That being said, I agree he has poor hand placement. The ball should be cradled at the TIPS by the elbow/bicep and the hand/fingers.

 

[EPL0c0]

2 words: Tiki Barber. If Murray has a fumbling issue (which, IMO, he doesn't), yes it can be fixed. Barber was a fumbler until he changed how he held the ball.

 

[jazzcat22]

This is the main reason if he doesn't return, I won't be all that upset. But would a rookie be any better. We know what we have in Murray.
But his overall value out weighs those fumbles that can be corrected, if he is willing to work on it.

2 years ago I said he needed to be replaced, or could be replaced. But now I prefer they keep him after the end of the 2013 season, as well as last years production, obviously his fumbles are noticed more. Because the time of the game when they happen. deep into our own territory, to give up a FG if not a TD, or near the goal line when we are about to score. And the biggest, against GB when it may have put the game away, though plenty of time was left. But one play does not win or lose a game usually. Other players have their issues too.
Well there is not a good time to fumble ever, but I hope you understand what I meant.

But his receiving out of the backfield, his blocking, blitz pickups far out weigh some of those fumbles. How many TD's, 1st downs that led to TD's, FG's, not to mention keeping Romo healthy. How many was able to happen because of his abilities. Did he have more key blocks, blitz pick ups, compared to his fumbles. Probably so.

 

[DeaconMoss]

The best part about Murray is team chemistry, blocking, and receiving. He's an above avg RB who gets paid to run. Just for the simple fact, that there will be better runners available, this may end his "run" here.

 

[Teague31]

He swings his arms to generate speed. That puts the ball in a bad position away from his body

 

[JD_KaPow]

Let's keep a little perspective here.

From 2000-2003, Tiki Barber fumbled 35 times in 1241 touches: once every 35 times he had the ball. That's a fumbling problem.

Murray has fumbled 13 times in his career (regular season), over 1104 touches: once every 85 touches. It's simply not a major problem. Yeah, he's a little worse than you'd like, but we're talking about, at most, one fumble a year that some other back might not have. It's not nothing, but it's just one component of the whole package.

Also: Lynch did not fumble only once this season. Maybe he only lost one fumble (not sure), but he fumbled four times...once every 79 times he touched the ball.

 

[phildadon86]

Honestly its not even his fumbling as the issue. Its the fact that its at the worst possible times.

 

[Doc50]

I screamed at him all year to hold it properly, and add the second hand when approaching contact.
I bet many of you did the same.
How come he couldn't hear such loud shouting through the TV?

We need to do better on the interactive front. I mean, if a hundred million fans want you to give the ball to Marshawn, why wouldn't you listen?

 

[Rockport]

Yes, of course.

 

[DFWJC]

He had a great year and I hope he's with us in 2015.

But the single most devastating play of the season was that fumble vs Green Bay.
No single play ever wins or loses a game, but that one contributed more than the rest on that day.

He did seem to be better the second half of the year though...other than that back-breaking play in the playoffs.

On a per carry basis, his problem is not extreme. But it could use improving and I think he will do it.

 

[ufcrules1]

Fixable? Yes.

Will he fix it? I don't know. I think he had a defiant statement last season where he said he was not going to change what he's been doing.

I agree with this. It is for sure fixable if he is willing to fix it and if the coaching staff pushes him to fix it. His attitude of not changing a thing ultimately led to his biggest fumble of the year vs the Packers with out playoff lives on the line. Not cool.

 

[joseephuss]

Contrast: I am not saying he never gets it right, but is defintely something that can be worked on. If I can pick it up, I am sure NFL teams know he carries it too loose. For simple comparison, look at Bell (0 fumbles) and Lynch (1 fumble)
.

Marshawn Lynch had 3 fumbles this season or 1 fumble every 105.6 touches. For his career, Marshawn Lynch fumbles the ball once every 87.4 touches. For his career, DeMarco Murray fumbles the ball once every 92.1 touches. This season Murray fumbled the ball once every 89.8 touches.

 

[Future]

I think his "problem" is overblown. He had a rough stretch, but it hasn't been consistent throughout his career. That being said, I agree he has poor hand placement. The ball should be cradled at the TIPS by the elbow/bicep and the hand/fingers.

Yes it has, it just became more evident this year because A) the higher workload meant a higher volume of fumbles and B) we lost a bunch more of them than we had in the past.

He could fix it, but it would mean changing his running style, and I have doubts about whether or not he will.

 

[Doomsday101]

Fixable? Yes.

Will he fix it? I don't know. I think he had a defiant statement last season where he said he was not going to change what he's been doing.

His statement was not changing his running style of trying to get the extra yards. Ball security can be changed and it should be noted AP was fumbling a lot more than Murray at this stage of their careers including 9 fumbles in 2008 season.

 

[reddyuta]

nope.he swings his arms wide while he runs to keep balance,this is not fixable.

 

[MaineBoy]

I think his "problem" is overblown. He had a rough stretch, but it hasn't been consistent throughout his career. That being said, I agree he has poor hand placement. The ball should be cradled at the TIPS by the elbow/bicep and the hand/fingers.

Overblown ?? His fumble in the Green Bay playoff game could of cost us a trip to the Super Bowl ? We probably go on to beat Green Bay - given the momentum in the game...and we already beat Seattle in Seattle AND Seattle played poorly against the Packers and were very beatable. That's overblown ? really ?

 

[joseephuss]

Tony Dorsett would not have survived the internet if he was playing today. He fumbled the ball once every 37.0 touches during his career. He had 9 seasons when he fumbled the ball more than Murray did this season. He had 3 seasons with 10 or more fumbles.

 

[DeaconMoss]

nope.he swings his arms wide while he runs to keep balance,this is not fixable.

I kind of feel that way also. He carries it very loose. ESPN stats says Murray fumbled 3 times and Lynch with 1. Bell with none. I guess the other fumbles being mentioned happened as a receiver?

http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/rushing/sort/rushingYards