Sturm's McFadden breakdown

[Stash]

No, there are problems will his analysis.

RB seasons of less than 100 carries should be removed from the ypc analysis.

For example, Randle had a 6.7 ypc compared to DeMarco Murray at 4.7 ypc.

In Oakland during the timeframe Sturm used, only Jennings had over 100 carries in a season and that was for 1 season.

I reviewed all of McFadden's games in 2014. There were plenty of good runs but Sturm didn't use those in his Gifs. I could make the same number of "Bad" Gifs of DeMarco Murray from 2014.

Throw out the Gifs entirely. His numbers suck, no two ways about it.

 

[Stash]

I think he was probably competition for Dunbar. Dunbar wasn't getting much done and there was no confidence in him. they are probably taking a chance in improving the 3rd string RB. I agree, Randle is probably the starter, with Williams getting about 10 carries a game, but cowboys aren't happy and will continue to turn every stone.

At this point, I just hope Randle can resist being an idiot. If he can, I think he can be the lead guy.

 

[JDSmith]

So everyone who wasn't McFadden averaged 5.5 yards per carry. The best team in the league was 4.93. So clearly the Raiders should have simply cut McFadden years ago and they would have been the best running team in the league for the last 3 years.


It will be interesting to see if the Raiders now become the most efficient running team in the league, which they should according to Sturm's research. Unless it's just incredibly flawed.

 

[jnday]

Im still in the camp that if he is healthy and gets used he will kill it and ill stick to that until I see him actually be bad on this team.

You will never see him kill it for any team , including the Cowboys. First, he is going to constantly have problems staying on the field due to his fragile health. Second, he is not a good or even average RB in the NFL. Sturm is one of the better, if not the best, writer that keeps reality in mind when he writes about the Cowboys. He is right on the money with most of his opinions and he is right about DMac. I am amazed that Garrett would waste the roster spot with DMac, so I figure this is a Jerry move. There will be plenty of options that will be an upgrade over DMac when teams start trimming rosters.

 

[jnday]

At this point, I just hope Randle can resist being an idiot. If he can, I think he can be the lead guy.

Maybe the team will chip in and buy him some underwear to keep him out of trouble.

 

[Idgit]

I'm not a particular fan of the McFadden signing, and it was because of his performance in the zone blocking scheme in OAK. I've always thought he was here on a value contract primarily to pass protect on 3rd downs, and that he or Dunbar are probably looking at one job between them.

I will run a little interference for DMC in OAK, though. It's possible for a different style of back to outperform him behind a line that gives up way too much penetration and for him in turn to outperform that same back in a situation where he's getting adequate blocking and can make one cut and go. I think he backs up Randle and is subbed in packages and that's about it in Dallas, but I see what the Cowboys were thinking when they handicapped the RB corps with him. I just wish we had one more young player--somebody of a higher caliber than Seastrunk--who was young enough and healthy enough to have a decent shot of staying on the field this coming season. I like Williams skills and love his attitude for that role, but the injury history makes it tough to take him seriously as a legit backup plan if Randle goes down. Because I don't think McFadden is that guy, even in a pinch.

 

[Bullet22]

I'm not a particular fan of the McFadden signing, and it was because of his performance in the zone blocking scheme in OAK. I've always thought he was here on a value contract primarily to pass protect on 3rd downs, and that he or Dunbar are probably looking at one job between them.

I will run a little interference for DMC in OAK, though. It's possible for a different style of back to outperform him behind a line that gives up way too much penetration and for him in turn to outperform that same back in a situation where he's getting adequate blocking and can make one cut and go. I think he backs up Randle and is subbed in packages and that's about it in Dallas, but I see what the Cowboys were thinking when they handicapped the RB corps with him. I just wish we had one more young player--somebody of a higher caliber than Seastrunk--who was young enough and healthy enough to have a decent shot of staying on the field this coming season. I like Williams skills and love his attitude for that role, but the injury history makes it tough to take him seriously as a legit backup plan if Randle goes down. Because I don't think McFadden is that guy, even in a pinch.

The reason Oakland's so call zone blocking gave up too much penetration, is because they couldn't block....no rb could have run behind that...plus no qb, te, wr to help......DMC will be the starter in Dallas, barring injury...

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

At this point, I just hope Randle can resist being an idiot. If he can, I think he can be the lead guy.

agree. I think that's the concern with the brass that want to continue to turn every stone. they like randle but don't trust him with his knuckleheadedness

 

[xwalker]

Throw out the Gifs entirely. His numbers suck, no two ways about it.

There is no way to know if it was tbe OLine or McFadden. Sturm's numbers do not prove anything. By his logic, Joseph Randle is a superstar with a 6.7 ypc. Also, using the small sample size flawed logic, Oakland's running game with the other RBs was way better than the best team in the NFL based on ypc.

 

[The Quest for Six]

I think this sums up well what many of us have believed:

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***/2015/06/sturm-a-breakdown-of-rb-darren-mcfadden.html/

He's not the answer.

"Remember, they are not trying to replace Murray with one guy. That would be next to impossible with the candidates they have. But, as a group, this might have a chance to be pieced together. And after studying his season, I think I see what the Cowboys saw."

When did the Cowboys ever say he was the answer as a starting back.....I think Bobs last paragraph clearly states what the Cowboys organization believes...running back by committee...

 

[jnday]

There is no way to know if it was tbe OLine or McFadden. Sturm's numbers do not prove anything. By his logic, Joseph Randle is a superstar with a 6.7 ypc. Also, using the small sample size flawed logic, Oakland's running game with the other RBs was way better than the best team in the NFL based on ypc.

All of the negatives about DMac can't just be dismissed. Yes, some of his terrible play is his own fault. Everything can't be excused just because he played for the Raiders. In the very near future, fans are gonna wake up and realize that if he still had any ability, a team like the a Raiders wouldn't have let him walk. There is a reason that he signed a cheap deal. All of the NFL teams realize that his worth is not very high.

 

[SultanOfSix]

He's not the answer.

Eh, I say we wait to see what he does in training camp and preseason before we start to "worry" about the regular season.

 

[xwalker]

All of the negatives about DMac can't just be dismissed. Yes, some of his terrible play is his own fault. Everything can't be excused just because he played for the Raiders. In the very near future, fans are gonna wake up and realize that if he still had any ability, a team like the a Raiders wouldn't have let him walk. There is a reason that he signed a cheap deal. All of the NFL teams realize that his worth is not very high.

The Raiders are going with youth.

McFadden likely didn't want to re-sign there. He would likely have retired over returning to Oakland. That is the impression I got from his interviews since signing with the Cowboys.

There is no proof either way in terms of how much was his fault and how much was the faultvof the Raider's OL and lack of passing threat.

The Sturm article didn't do anything to help figure out that issue.

 

[Idgit]

The reason Oakland's so call zone blocking gave up too much penetration, is because they couldn't block....no rb could have run behind that...plus no qb, te, wr to help......DMC will be the starter in Dallas, barring injury...

We'll see. He doesn't look like he's as good a player as Randle was last season, to me. And he didn't get that starter contract. I think he's a backup pass protector who offers quick strike potential. Barring injury, which is a fairly heavy bar for DMC.

 

[xwalker]

We'll see. He doesn't look like he's as good a player as Randle was last season, to me. And he didn't get that starter contract. I think he's a backup pass protector who offers quick strike potential. Barring injury, which is a fairly heavy bar for DMC.

If McFadden was the problem in the zone scheme, then he probably wouldn't be so excited about coming to the Cowboys.

Also the Cowboys OL coach was the OL coach that year in Oakland. He must have been a big proponent of acquiring McFadden.

 

[Stash]

There is no way to know if it was tbe OLine or McFadden. Sturm's numbers do not prove anything. By his logic, Joseph Randle is a superstar with a 6.7 ypc. Also, using the small sample size flawed logic, Oakland's running game with the other RBs was way better than the best team in the NFL based on ypc.

They prove what I already know just fine.

And yeah, other than McFadden, Oakland's run game looked pretty good.

 

[Idgit]

If McFadden was the problem in the zone scheme, then he probably wouldn't be so excited about coming to the Cowboys.

Also the Cowboys OL coach was the OL coach that year in Oakland. He must have been a big proponent of acquiring McFadden.

He must have been. The Cowboys undoubtedly have their reasons for wanting him on the roster, or they wouldn't have signed him. When I look at what he can do, though, I think 'pass protection' and 'big play potential in certain specific situations.' Then I look at his contract, and I look at what they've had to say about Randle going back to last season and the plan makes a little bit of sense.

I do think there are probably some very specific zone plays they think they can run well with DMC. He can still light it up if they get a seal block and get him to the perimeter fast enough, and defenses have to honor our intermediate passing game. As a lead back, though, I don't see it.

 

[JohnsKey19]

Sturm's conclusion is what I've felt all along. McFadden as a 3rd down RB only is comparable to if not better than Murray. They want Randle as the "workhorse", DMC as the nickel RB and the 3rd RB is to be determined. I don't doubt that they like Dunbar but he's competing against the many RBs who will be available later in August.

 

[Stash]

"Remember, they are not trying to replace Murray with one guy. That would be next to impossible with the candidates they have. But, as a group, this might have a chance to be pieced together. And after studying his season, I think I see what the Cowboys saw."

When did the Cowboys ever say he was the answer as a starting back.....I think Bobs last paragraph clearly states what the Cowboys organization believes...running back by committee...

Either way, not a fan of running back by committee, especially when this team's greatest success comes with one main guy.

 

[Stash]

Eh, I say we wait to see what he does in training camp and preseason before we start to "worry" about the regular season.

I'm just glad to see he's doing something today.