Murray's YPC in college

[vlad]

Before the draft, and I have no idea why, I was thinking about RBs that I had seen play, and this guy came to mind and I remember thinking, well not good things about him. So I was pretty disappointed when we drafted him. Having said that I've only seem him play a handful of times, so I'm no expert. Hopefully he'll prove me wrong.

For those that have watched him play a lot, can you explain why his YPC in college were where they were the past few years? 4.1 and 4.3 in the Big 12 seems not only pedestrian, but poor. In fact, I just checked, and for the past 2 years its the lowest average of the top 20 rushers that are RBs in the Big 12.

Thanks

 

[ajk23az]

Your welcome.

 

[jobberone]

Can't explain it although I'm sure his injuries didn't help. He's obviously a talented back. I wish there were a way to really predict success for a RB in the NFL. Let's just hope his speed will be an asset.

 

[Stautner]

Before the draft, and I have no idea why, I was thinking about RBs that I had seen play, and this guy came to mind and I remember thinking, well not good things about him. So I was pretty disappointed when we drafted him. Having said that I've only seem him play a handful of times, so I'm no expert. Hopefully he'll prove me wrong.

For those that have watched him play a lot, can you explain why his YPC in college were where they were the past few years? 4.1 and 4.3 in the Big 12 seems not only pedestrian, but poor. In fact, I just checked, and for the past 2 years its the lowest average of the top 20 rushers that are RBs in the Big 12.

Thanks

Thanks for looking this up - I don't know why I didn't think to. While a lot of people here were singing his praises, like you, I didn't remember being that impressed watching him in college. Like you I didn't watch him that much, but I do watch some Big 12 football and have at least seen him from time to time. What i remember seeing is mostly a lot of pretty pedestrian runs with an ocassional nice run mixed in, and of course, a lot of times nice runs at a big time football schools are often as much a product of having a bigger, stronger, more athletic O-line than opponents can match up with as they are about the actual RB. But again, like you, I can't claim to have watched him play enough to say I have the ideal picture of the situation the way a guy who has watched every OU game the last few years would.

 

[Dodger]

Someone forgot to add that he averaged 6.0 yards per carry in 2007 and 5.6 in 2008.

 

[vlad]

Your welcome.

Think I'm missing your reply...

 

[vlad]

Someone forgot to add that he averaged 6.0 yards per carry in 2007 and 5.6 in 2008.

Actually I didn't, and I have no problem recognizing those, but they are from 2007 and 2008, so I left them off.

But maybe that's even better to include them...why the decline? That's fairly significant.

Again, I want nothing more than to see him succeed, just wanted to see what people that really watched him thought ont his subject.

 

[jblaze2004]

do anyone know what was McFadden's YPC in college for all of his season....I wonder how they compare because Murray just reminds me so much of mcfadden but murray is a better reciever.

 

[Dodger]

But maybe that's even better to include them...why the decline? That's fairly significant.

It's a good question, I'll admit. I think I read somewhere, though, that he had hamstring problems in 2009, but I'm not completely sure of that. Perhaps someone can verify this. Also, I think he played through injury in 2010, but again, I'd have to research that.

The way I see it, though, is that he DID produce decent numbers at some point. That, and if you look at his receiving numbers, that's where I look and say wow. Besides, I have to think that Garrett sees something in Murray that he likes, otherwise he wouldn't have taken him where he did.

Can anyone confirm the 09 and 10 injury info?

 

[Woods]

Actually I didn't, and I have no problem recognizing those, but they are from 2007 and 2008, so I left them off.

But maybe that's even better to include them...why the decline? That's fairly significant.

Again, I want nothing more than to see him succeed, just wanted to see what people that really watched him thought ont his subject.

On the Ticket during the Draft, that question was posed.

A caller who appeared very familiar with the team's program said that the OL basically stunk. He said look at all the problems/injuries that Bradford had behind that line (think that was the player he referred to). That no players from that line were quality NFL draft picks. He had a few more points regarding the OL, but I can't remember.

I don't really follow college football, so I can't agree or disagree. I'm just posting what a seemingly informed caller said regarding Murray's stats the last two years of college.

Norm was at a loss for words. :laugh2:

 

[dbair1967]

YPC in college has nothing to do with YPC in the pros

 

[craig71]

I don't know all that much about the program but here are a few things I found that some may find interesting. I don't think the oline acounts for all of Murray's decline, but I do think that it is part of it. I also included some youtube clips from the 2007 and 2010 seasons. In those clips Murray doesn't look the same to me, but I could be wrong. Minor nagging injuries could be an explanation, as I don't think we draft him with a chronic injury history.

With OU's massive problems here last year, I figured that an OL preview needed to be it's own article. OU has lost their two best OL players in Trent Williams and Brian Simmons, but returns a host of players who started or played in several games last year. Since there are not many flex players in the OL, I'm going to focus my preview by position.

http://www.windmilltilting.com/articles/football/ou-2010-preview-offensive-line.html

-- With four starters gone, all of whom were invited to the NFL Combine, there will be an overhaul across Oklahoma's offensive line in 2009.

http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082409aaa.html


2007 Murray
[youtube]4zIVl4CaSEo[/youtube]


2010 Murray
[youtube]8vZrH6-YNgw[/youtube]




Craig

 

[dmq]

I posted this the other day. It might mean that maybe Murray was playing hurt or maybe his line did suck:

Murray seems like a risk this high because most people consider him an injury-prone runner. A dislocated kneecap, a torn hamstring and a sprained ankle were among his ailments. Murray doesn’t make this concession, but I believe the first injury led to the next and the next led to the last.

The silver lining is that Murray was forced to perform with greater maturity while he played through an ankle injury that occurred while his hamstring probably wasn’t 100 percent. Although his yard-per-carry average wasn’t as high as it was his freshman year, Murray demonstrated considerable toughness, versatility and maturity.

Murray is now a much smarter runner between the tackles, and he was the only runner at the Senior Bowl practices that I saw consistently press the hole and also show the speed to get to the perimeter. As two longtime N.F.L. running backs and current RB coaches I stood next to during a practice session said, Murray has the chance to become a thoroughbred of a runner.

Murray still has the explosiveness to develop into a special runner and, like Mark Ingram at Alabama, he is the player Oklahoma felt most confident using when it needed a play. His third-down skills are good enough that with minor refinements to technique, he has the talent to earn a contributing role early and work his way into a lead role.

 

[vlad]

It's a good question, I'll admit. I think I read somewhere, though, that he had hamstring problems in 2009, but I'm not completely sure of that. Perhaps someone can verify this. Also, I think he played through injury in 2010, but again, I'd have to research that.

The way I see it, though, is that he DID produce decent numbers at some point. That, and if you look at his receiving numbers, that's where I look and say wow. Besides, I have to think that Garrett sees something in Murray that he likes, otherwise he wouldn't have taken him where he did.

Can anyone confirm the 09 and 10 injury info?

Maybe it is injury. I guess for me, just based on the eye-test I didn't like his running style. Reminds me of Herschel Walker but without being freakshow athlete Herschel Walker. Plus I think I would just really hoping to land another offensive lineman.

I do wonder about Garrett's role in this. I believe he was the one a few years back that was the most vocal support of getting Felix to "compliment" Barber.

I still think Felix has a shot to be a very good runner, but our o-line just is sad. I also think Choice would be decent too...guess I'm all about the guys on the line...

 

[vlad]

On the Ticket during the Draft, that question was posed.

A caller who appeared very familiar with the team's program said that the OL basically stunk. He said look at all the problems/injuries that Bradford had behind that line (think that was the player he referred to). That no players from that line were quality NFL draft picks. He had a few more points regarding the OL, but I can't remember.

I don't really follow college football, so I can't agree or disagree. I'm just posting what a seemingly informed caller said regarding Murray's stats the last two years of college.

Norm was at a loss for words. :laugh2:

hmmm very interesting. I never doubted I was original in this question...its just generally speaking YPC in college > YPC in the pros, no?

I can't imagine his o-line being any worse than what's at A&M or Baylor, etc...but maybe.

 

[Stautner]

do anyone know what was McFadden's YPC in college for all of his season....I wonder how they compare because Murray just reminds me so much of mcfadden but murray is a better reciever.

I think McFadden had a big average - I want to say 6 ypc or so.

On the Ticket during the Draft, that question was posed.

A caller who appeared very familiar with the team's program said that the OL basically stunk. He said look at all the problems/injuries that Bradford had behind that line (think that was the player he referred to). That no players from that line were quality NFL draft picks. He had a few more points regarding the OL, but I can't remember.

I don't really follow college football, so I can't agree or disagree. I'm just posting what a seemingly informed caller said regarding Murray's stats the last two years of college.

Norm was at a loss for words. :laugh2:

Of course that leads to a chicken/egg question - was Murray's average in 2007 & 2008 a product of a dominant O line or a reflection of his talent, and was the droppoff because of a horrible O-line or just a better reflection of what Murray can do with a more normal O-line? Wont know until he gets to the NFL ......

YPC in college has nothing to do with YPC in the pros

So why not just draft guys with 3.5 ypc averages in college?

What is more accurate to say is that there are a lot of factors that go into ypc and therefor the ypc average in college doesn't lock you into the same kind of average in the pros. The reality is the ypc average may be better in the NFL, or it may be worse.

 

[speedkilz88]

Maybe it is injury. I guess for me, just based on the eye-test I didn't like his running style. Reminds me of Herschel Walker but without being freakshow athlete Herschel Walker. Plus I think I would just really hoping to land another offensive lineman.

I do wonder about Garrett's role in this. I believe he was the one a few years back that was the most vocal support of getting Felix to "compliment" Barber.

I still think Felix has a shot to be a very good runner, but our o-line just is sad. I also think Choice would be decent too...guess I'm all about the guys on the line...

Herschel could rarely bounce outside(at least after he got older and bigger), this guy can.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Murray played with bruised ribs last year as well.

He is going to protect himself better or he is not going to last long.

That being said, he recognizes his issues and works on them diligently.

 

[jay cee]

I hope you guys are right about Murray. But as of now, I am ranking this pick right up there with that qb from Oregon that they moved to WR, and McGee from Tex A&M.

 

[Suave]

Before the draft, and I have no idea why, I was thinking about RBs that I had seen play, and this guy came to mind and I remember thinking, well not good things about him. So I was pretty disappointed when we drafted him. Having said that I've only seem him play a handful of times, so I'm no expert. Hopefully he'll prove me wrong.

For those that have watched him play a lot, can you explain why his YPC in college were where they were the past few years? 4.1 and 4.3 in the Big 12 seems not only pedestrian, but poor. In fact, I just checked, and for the past 2 years its the lowest average of the top 20 rushers that are RBs in the Big 12.

Thanks

Does it really matter? Ron Dayne had a collegiate rushing average of 5.7 ypc, but he had a career 3.8 ypc average for his NFL career. Rashaan Salaam averaged 6.3 ypc for his collegiate career, but his career high in ypc in the NFL was 3.6. Curtis Enis averaged 5.8 ypc in college, but he averaged 3.3 ypc in the NFL. The aforementioned RBs were highly touted players only to have nondescript NFL careers.


You're making a mountain out of a molehill. Can we at least be patient and allow his professional career to unfold, and judge him by what he does going forward? You don't have to like the pick; the bottom line is that Garrett and Jones liked him, which is all that matters. Time will tell if he was the right choice, but at least give him a chance to prove himself.