Sturm on McFadden

[Galian Beast]

http://sportsday.***BANNED-URL***/d...al-2015-cowboys-running-game-data-man-vs-zone

We've talked about this briefly before, but I think it is clear the Cowboys were trying to not repeat the same mistake they made in 2015 with McFadden, and yes ultimately as well as he did, I do think signing him was a mistake. Not because he isn't a decent player, but simply because he doesn't do extremely well in a zone blocking scheme. If we ran a man blocking scheme, I would probably say that McFadden probably could have been our starter and that drafting Zeke would have been the mistake.

But that isn't the reality that we live in and as most of you know I was on the Zeke bandwagon from the beginning when people were telling us all to stop talking about Zeke because we were never going to draft him. I digress, this isn't a post about bragging.

The point that is that the Cowboys are now, directly targeting running backs who have scheme fit. Alfred Morris comes from a ZBS and had an extremely high success level when Shanahan was their coach. Zeke also comes from a ZBS in Ohio State. Both players are tested within our scheme. This is why I somewhat question the drafting of Darius Jackson who scouting reports suggest has extremely limited vision. Someone mentioned Rod Smith potentially becoming a fullback, which would give him the best chance to stick with the team, but at 6'3, I find that isn't likely either.

I think when a lot of people suggested that the Cowboys didn't need a running back they didn't properly consider that McFadden didn't fit here. The argument was that he had over 1000 yards without Romo and Dez, and without starting from week 1. While there is a lot of truth to that, I feel like that argument doesn't tell the whole story and doesn't speak to the inconsistency of our running game last year.

Rather than try to make the most success out of putting a square peg in a circle hole, we made the right choice of getting circle pegs to fit the circle hole. This is going to pay dividends for our offense and give us a level of success surpassing that of 2014*. We just need to stay healthy. Speaking health, I think that is probably why they went with Morris over Foster who I think is a much better back but also older and more injury prone.

I wouldn't be surprised if McFadden doesn't make the team. Not because he isn't a really good running back, he is, but because he just doesn't fit here. Will anyone trade for him? I seriously doubt it, but I think he could go to a team that focuses on man running, has a good offensive line, and put in another really productive year for them and maybe it's worth it to keep him on the roster to prevent that from happening say for the Eagles or Giants.

 

[DogFace]

Yes. I agree. Also, he gets that whole whatever million guaranteed if he's on the roster after some date. Maybe the start of the season. I wouldn't be surprised if he's cut. He is quality depth though.

 

[EMMITTnROY]

McFadden is a solid guy to have on your team as a backup, but that's the problem this year. He's likely to be our 3rd string RB. Zeke is obviously our #1 and hopefully our bell cow. I think Morris is our #2 without a doubt. So paying $3 million for a third string RB just seems like a terrible waste of cap space. I like McFadden and wish we could keep him as insurance, but not at $3 million. Use that money and go get a decent DE or CB or WR.

 

[JDSmith]

Last offseason Sturm wrote about McFadden and pointed out that the Raiders averaged like 5.6 ypc or something ridiculous every time someone other than McFadden carried the ball, and only 3.6 ypc when he did. Last year without McFadden on the roster the Raiders averaged 3.9 ypc. Maybe the Raiders would trade for McFadden to not give him the ball, thereby boosting their running game back to the lofty heights in enjoyed before they released him.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I wouldn't be surprised if McFadden doesn't make the team.

I said that on draft day. Especially if Darius Jackson is making the final 53.

 

[Bleu Star]

http://sportsday.***BANNED-URL***/d...al-2015-cowboys-running-game-data-man-vs-zone

We've talked about this briefly before, but I think it is clear the Cowboys were trying to not repeat the same mistake they made in 2015 with McFadden, and yes ultimately as well as he did, I do think signing him was a mistake. Not because he isn't a decent player, but simply because he doesn't do extremely well in a zone blocking scheme. If we ran a man blocking scheme, I would probably say that McFadden probably could have been our starter and that drafting Zeke would have been the mistake.

But that isn't the reality that we live in and as most of you know I was on the Zeke bandwagon from the beginning when people were telling us all to stop talking about Zeke because we were never going to draft him. I digress, this isn't a post about bragging.

The point that is that the Cowboys are now, directly targeting running backs who have scheme fit. Alfred Morris comes from a ZBS and had an extremely high success level when Shanahan was their coach. Zeke also comes from a ZBS in Ohio State. Both players are tested within our scheme. This is why I somewhat question the drafting of Darius Jackson who scouting reports suggest has extremely limited vision. Someone mentioned Rod Smith potentially becoming a fullback, which would give him the best chance to stick with the team, but at 6'3, I find that isn't likely either.

I think when a lot of people suggested that the Cowboys didn't need a running back they didn't properly consider that McFadden didn't fit here. The argument was that he had over 1000 yards without Romo and Dez, and without starting from week 1. While there is a lot of truth to that, I feel like that argument doesn't tell the whole story and doesn't speak to the inconsistency of our running game last year.

Rather than try to make the most success out of putting a square peg in a circle hole, we made the right choice of getting circle pegs to fit the circle hole. This is going to pay dividends for our offense and give us a level of success surpassing that of 2014*. We just need to stay healthy. Speaking health, I think that is probably why they went with Morris over Foster who I think is a much better back but also older and more injury prone.

I wouldn't be surprised if McFadden doesn't make the team. Not because he isn't a really good running back, he is, but because he just doesn't fit here. Will anyone trade for him? I seriously doubt it, but I think he could go to a team that focuses on man running, has a good offensive line, and put in another really productive year for them and maybe it's worth it to keep him on the roster to prevent that from happening say for the Eagles or Giants.

I already said he probably won't make the team and people came out of the woodworks trying to argue against the notion.

HE MIGHT NOT MAKE THE FREAKING TEAM.

Alfred Morris is a better fit and a durable #2 option. Darius Jackson looks to be the real deal as well.

Let McFadden battle it out with Morris in camp but ultimately I think McFadden is gonzo.

Nice post btw.

 

[Bleu Star]

Just say no to any mention of RBBC in Big D ever again. If any of the coaches even hint at the notion, fire that clown immediately.

1
2
Zeke is coming for you.

3
4
Better lock your door.

5
6
Gonna move some sticks.

7
8
It's too late!

 

[conner01]

I think you do dmac a favor cutting him early in camp. He's coming off. Solid year where he stated healthy and ran well. He's not getting many snaps here so maybe he can catch in where he can

 

[Gaede]

I think you do dmac a favor cutting him early in camp. He's coming off. Solid year where he stated healthy and ran well. He's not getting many snaps here so maybe he can catch in where he can

That's a good point. McFadden is a pro and knows how the roster is shaping up. Cutting him early does both him and team a favor

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I'll keep saying it, but I like McFadden, even if he's just a third down back/receiving option. I know Elliott does well in those areas, but if he goes down, Morris gives us nothing in that area and Jackson may not be ready to contribute on day 1, so I'd much rather deal Morris if he has a good preseason and can be dealt.

 

[Galian Beast]

Yes. I agree. Also, he gets that whole whatever million guaranteed if he's on the roster after some date. Maybe the start of the season. I wouldn't be surprised if he's cut. He is quality depth though.

Neither Morris nor McFadden are terribly expensive, but having both is certainly a luxury that might be hard to merit, especially with Zeke here, especially if we have another running back we'd like to develop like Smith or Jackson. Especially with Dunbar on the team, albeit on the PUP.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Neither Morris nor McFadden are terribly expensive, but having both is certainly a luxury that might be hard to merit, especially with Zeke here, especially if we have another running back we'd like to develop like Smith or Jackson. Especially with Dunbar on the team, albeit on the PUP.

yea, the roster spot is what makes it hard. the money is nothing, but carrying 4 RBs is a tough pill to swallow

 

[Galian Beast]

I think you do dmac a favor cutting him early in camp. He's coming off. Solid year where he stated healthy and ran well. He's not getting many snaps here so maybe he can catch in where he can

I'm not sure whether you're actually doing him a favor by cutting him. His salary can be paid by anyone at anytime. Right now teams want to roll with what they've got and if he is unemployed for a time, teams will get the feeling that he simply isn't valued.

I say you let him compete in training camp and if a team loses their starting RB, maybe you try trading him to them for a 5th or 6th round pick.

Most teams aren't going to value his production last year and will think that it was a product of our offensive line.

 

[Galian Beast]

yea, the roster spot is what makes it hard. the money is nothing, but carrying 4 RBs is a tough pill to swallow

Individually the RBs aren't expensive, but collectively we're spending up to 4.5 million dollars on running backs not named Ezekiel Elliott (and I don't think that includes any performance bonuses, although those would be unlikely to be collected). That's not really a small amount.

 

[conner01]

I'm not sure whether you're actually doing him a favor by cutting him. His salary can be paid by anyone at anytime. Right now teams want to roll with what they've got and if he is unemployed for a time, teams will get the feeling that he simply isn't valued.

I say you let him compete in training camp and if a team loses their starting RB, maybe you try trading him to them for a 5th or 6th round pick.

Most teams aren't going to value his production last year and will think that it was a product of our offensive line.

I'm sure he will be in camp. That helps him by getting him in shape. Don't know that you could get much for him but I'd take a 7th. Teams probably will factor in the oline but he is a solid RB and I'd like to see him catch on somewhere he has a shot at playing

 

[unionjack8]

its Morris that was the bad signing.

Regardless of him being from a ZBS his diminishing returns year on year speak volumes IMO.

 

[jazzcat22]

A RB is a RB, he should be able to run in any scheme. Wouldn't the coaches have known Zone vs. Man and all that before they even signed him last year [queue the coach hater, no they don't know squat crowd as well as the they were desperate crowd]...They knew this...so...now...from an engineering mind, try fitting a square peg into a round hole...we just reshape the square by smoothing out those rough edges...make it fit...so DMC does this, or he becomes a bad part and is rejected....

We shall see. I hope he stays, as I think he takes over Dunbar's role until Jackson is ready. By this time, Dunbar would be ready to return, and they know what Morris will be able to do also. His pay is a small price for some good insurance. Too many fans looking at saving a few bucks. Doesn't always work that way.

what would you do...you have an insurance policy, and your deductible is 1%, on say, $200,000, so you pay $2000, but you never use it. Your policy is $2000 per year. So you want to save some money. You can increase that to 2%, and pay $4000 if something happens. And you save $200 on your policy to do so.
So is $200 a year worth the potential of losing $2000 more if something were to happen.

 

[conner01]

A RB is a RB, he should be able to run in any scheme. Wouldn't the coaches have known Zone vs. Man and all that before they even signed him last year [queue the coach hater, no they don't know squat crowd as well as the they were desperate crowd]...They knew this...so...now...from an engineering mind, try fitting a square peg into a round hole...we just reshape the square by smoothing out those rough edges...make it fit...so DMC does this, or he becomes a bad part and is rejected....

We shall see. I hope he stays, as I think he takes over Dunbar's role until Jackson is ready. By this time, Dunbar would be ready to return, and they know what Morris will be able to do also. His pay is a small price for some good insurance. Too many fans looking at saving a few bucks. Doesn't always work that way.

what would you do...you have an insurance policy, and your deductible is 1%, on say, $200,000, so you pay $2000, but you never use it. Your policy is $2000 per year. So you want to save some money. You can increase that to 2%, and pay $4000 if something happens. And you save $200 on your policy to do so.
So is $200 a year worth the potential of losing $2000 more if something were to happen.

He is good insurance. But different blocking schemes do matter and that's why we went to more man blocking last year. The question is do you carry a player for insurance who may not even be active some weeks or at least not get many carries. I suspect it will come down to Jackson being able to help on special teams, pickup the system and be effective. If he does then dmac may not even be active most weeks

 

[Galian Beast]

its Morris that was the bad signing.

Regardless of him being from a ZBS his diminishing returns year on year speak volumes IMO.

resdkins haven't produced quality offensive players since they got RG3 and Morris.. The QB play has been worse every year since RG3 was drafted and that has an impact on the running game.

 

[Galian Beast]

A RB is a RB, he should be able to run in any scheme. Wouldn't the coaches have known Zone vs. Man and all that before they even signed him last year [queue the coach hater, no they don't know squat crowd as well as the they were desperate crowd]...They knew this...so...now...from an engineering mind, try fitting a square peg into a round hole...we just reshape the square by smoothing out those rough edges...make it fit...so DMC does this, or he becomes a bad part and is rejected....

We shall see. I hope he stays, as I think he takes over Dunbar's role until Jackson is ready. By this time, Dunbar would be ready to return, and they know what Morris will be able to do also. His pay is a small price for some good insurance. Too many fans looking at saving a few bucks. Doesn't always work that way.

what would you do...you have an insurance policy, and your deductible is 1%, on say, $200,000, so you pay $2000, but you never use it. Your policy is $2000 per year. So you want to save some money. You can increase that to 2%, and pay $4000 if something happens. And you save $200 on your policy to do so.
So is $200 a year worth the potential of losing $2000 more if something were to happen.

If you look back at 2014, the Cowboys barely had Murray off the field. McFadden won't see a ton of playing time if he can't improve his zone reads. I do think the team was desperate and didn't realize how bad he was in zone read plays. I think it was somewhat of a failure of the pro scouting team, but also I think they felt like they were going to be able to get a running back last year in the draft and it didn't work out. I think we would have taken Gurley or Gordon if they fell to us. I think Jerry might have also been involved with the choice to get McFadden.

To say RBs should fit any scheme simply isn't accurate.

It would be like saying QBs fit any scheme or CBs e.t.c.

Some players fit specific schemes and that's that.