The DeMarco Murray effect

[poost]

Just a little background. I work as a graveyard pharmacist, and I like to listen to sports radio to help pass the time. During the downtime I browse my favorite forum and also bloggin the boys. On yahoo sports radio, the topic was on the Cowboys and a lot of callers were calling in talking about how Garrett wants to throw all the time. How he wants to pass on every down. I did a little research and would like to present it to everyone.

Rush Pass Run/Pass Ratio​

NYJ 26 36 42/58
SF 22 43 34/66
Was 26 36 42/58
Det 27 47 37/63
NE 24 41 37/63
STL 34 24 59/41
PHI 10 35 22/78
SEA 29 31 48/52
BUF 35 26 58/42

So I was looking at the numbers and the games that Murray did not start we were very pass heavy, a 38/62 ratio of run to pass. As soon as Murray got the start the ratio goes to 48/52 run pass. If you exclude the Philly game we are 55/45 run pass.

Now it's no coincedence that the offensive line is playing better and Fiametta also came back when Murray started. My argument is that Garrett would rather run the ball than pass the ball when the situation dictates it. However, in the beginning of the season we were not a very good running team. Now that the team has found a run game, we will continue to see a very balanced attack. Execution is a more important factor than the plays called.

Thoughts?

 

[Staggerlee]

Good post and thanks for actually looking up those numbers. I really hope we can continue to run the ball well because it makes this team so much better.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Several thoughts come to mind:

The young ones are getting comfortable: The Dallas coaches knew that they needed time for the young players to get more comfortable in their roles. Having no training camp really hurt this group early. They are starting to settle and Garrett is showing more confidence in them as a result.

Holland replacing Nagy: Nagy/Costa was too much inefficiency to cover up. The interior was just abused in some early games this season. That also affected Doug Free, because he had to worry about Nagy getting the job done inside as well as covering the edge. Holland has really helped because he is serviceable where Nagy was simply not at this early stage in his career. Just by that one change, Free can just go and do his job and you now have competent players on either side of Costa to help him along.

Fiametta is a perfect compliment to the run game: He was a true find for this team. It cannot be said enough how big a help he has been to the running game. Dallas has been missing this type of player for a very long time.

Murray (obviously): He has that vision that simply cannot be taught. I always figured he would be a Curtis Martin type of player, but he seems to have a little more aggression that Martin (his catching ability may not be quite as good). Great pick by Dallas.

A lot of things changed that caused this unit to start coming together, but it is really coming together at the right time.

 

[Race Bannon]

Several thoughts come to mind:

The young ones are getting comfortable: The Dallas coaches knew that they needed time for the young players to get more comfortable in their roles. Having no training camp really hurt this group early. They are starting to settle and Garrett is showing more confidence in them as a result.

Holland replacing Nagy: Nagy/Costa was too much inefficiency to cover up. The interior was just abused in some early games this season. That also affected Doug Free, because he had to worry about Nagy getting the job done inside as well as covering the edge. Holland has really helped because he is serviceable where Nagy was simply not at this early stage in his career. Just by that one change, Free can just go and do his job and you now have competent players on either side of Costa to help him along.

Fiametta is a perfect compliment to the run game: He was a true find for this team. It cannot be said enough how big a help he has been to the running game. Dallas has been missing this type of player for a very long time.

Murray (obviously): He has that vision that simply cannot be taught. I always figured he would be a Curtis Martin type of player, but he seems to have a little more aggression that Martin (his catching ability may not be quite as good). Great pick by Dallas.

A lot of things changed that caused this unit to start coming together, but it is really coming together at the right time.

Nice summation, I tell you guys one thing, nothing helps allay my Cowboy's gameday anxiety like being able to finally run the football...it is so satisfying to watch the blocking and running finally come together...and not just run effectively...gash the defense in huge chunks...the playbook has very few boundaries at this point...Keep it up Cowboys.

 

[Gaede]

Nice summation, I tell you guys one thing, nothing helps allay my Cowboy's gameday anxiety like being able to finally run the football...it is so satisfying to watch the blocking and running finally come together...and not just run effectively...gash the defense in huge chunks...the playbook has very few boundaries at this point...Keep it up Cowboys.

That's funny, running the ball definitely eases my anxiety as well.

I love the running game, nothing makes me happier than seeing it work.

 

[Race Bannon]

That's funny, running the ball definitely eases my anxiety as well.

I love the running game, nothing makes me happier than seeing it work.

It is strangely satifsying on every level...we're limiting our potential for turnovers, pounding the defense into submission and controlling the clock among other curative mental effects.

 

[dallasdave]

Several thoughts come to mind:

The young ones are getting comfortable: The Dallas coaches knew that they needed time for the young players to get more comfortable in their roles. Having no training camp really hurt this group early. They are starting to settle and Garrett is showing more confidence in them as a result.

Holland replacing Nagy: Nagy/Costa was too much inefficiency to cover up. The interior was just abused in some early games this season. That also affected Doug Free, because he had to worry about Nagy getting the job done inside as well as covering the edge. Holland has really helped because he is serviceable where Nagy was simply not at this early stage in his career. Just by that one change, Free can just go and do his job and you now have competent players on either side of Costa to help him along.

Fiametta is a perfect compliment to the run game: He was a true find for this team. It cannot be said enough how big a help he has been to the running game. Dallas has been missing this type of player for a very long time.

Murray (obviously): He has that vision that simply cannot be taught. I always figured he would be a Curtis Martin type of player, but he seems to have a little more aggression that Martin (his catching ability may not be quite as good). Great pick by Dallas.

A lot of things changed that caused this unit to start coming together, but it is really coming together at the right time.

Good Points

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Great post, thanks for sharing.

Murray is providing the Cowboys with crucial balance needed to make a serious run in the playoffs in my opinion.

 

[forever22]

Murray and Fiametta, I think, are the keys to them doing better. It keeps the defense at bay, making the job for the line easier and over time, able to gain confidence and learn. A heavy pass play offense just kept them thinking, oh .... here they come. Now the defense can't just throw the kitchen sink at the offense with no fear. In turn, they give Romo's passing game a little more time because of this. Robinson coming in to fill Miles spot was huge as well but without those two, he wouldn't get the chance to make plays, it would just be smear Romo, by the defense.

I won't allow myself to get too pumped up but if they can just avoid a lot of injuries, this team can go far.

 

[sonnyboy]

It is strangely satifsying on every level...we're limiting our potential for turnovers, pounding the defense into submission and controlling the clock among other curative mental effects.

And most importantly, reduce the chances that our franchise QB is injured!

Been watching football over 30 years and have never seen a QB injured handing the ball off to a RB.

Mentioned this in another thread, but it's been a long time since I've wanted us to run the ball as often as I do now. And I think that's the key to achieving the right balance. You need a guy like Emmitt who's hands you want to see the ball in often.

I believe Murray is becoming that guy.

 

[dallasdave]

Murray and Fiametta, I think, are the keys to them doing better. It keeps the defense at bay, making the job for the line easier and over time, able to gain confidence and learn. A heavy pass play offense just kept them thinking, oh .... here they come. Now the defense can't just throw the kitchen sink at the offense with no fear. In turn, they give Romo's passing game a little more time because of this. Robinson coming in to fill Miles spot was huge as well but without those two, he wouldn't get the chance to make plays, it would just be smear Romo, by the defense.

I won't allow myself to get too pumped up but if they can just avoid a lot of injuries, this team can go far.

Hey, even with bags on their heads-those cheerleaders are hot.

 

[poost]

Hey, people replied. Sorry for such a late post, but like I said I work the graveyard shift.

Another thing that people don't talk about much is Mike Woicik (sp?) the strength and conditioning coach. He could be getting these players stronger as the season goes on.

I agree on all the points the Joe Rod made as well. Hopefully the run game takes some pressure off of Romo causing him not to try to make big plays every down. As long as the line remains consistent, I think the play calling will be balanced as more consistent as well.

 

[AdamJT13]

Just a little background. I work as a graveyard pharmacist, and I like to listen to sports radio to help pass the time. During the downtime I browse my favorite forum and also bloggin the boys. On yahoo sports radio, the topic was on the Cowboys and a lot of callers were calling in talking about how Garrett wants to throw all the time. How he wants to pass on every down. I did a little research and would like to present it to everyone.

Rush Pass Run/Pass Ratio​

NYJ 26 36 42/58
SF 22 43 34/66
Was 26 36 42/58
Det 27 47 37/63
NE 24 41 37/63
STL 34 24 59/41
PHI 10 35 22/78
SEA 29 31 48/52
BUF 35 26 58/42

So I was looking at the numbers and the games that Murray did not start we were very pass heavy, a 38/62 ratio of run to pass. As soon as Murray got the start the ratio goes to 48/52 run pass. If you exclude the Philly game we are 55/45 run pass.

If you look more closely at the numbers, nothing has really changed in the play calling over the past four games -- UNTIL the fourth quarter. In the first five games, we ran the ball 42 percent of the time in the first three quarters. In the past four games, we've run the ball 43 percent of the time in the first three quarters. In the fourth quarter, the game situation usually dictates whether you have to pass more or can run more, which is why we've gone from running 27 percent of the time in the fourth quarter to running 57 percent of the time in the fourth quarter -- 87 percent in our three blowout wins.

 

[GoldenFlash]

Murray has helped Romo out a lot. Romo finally has a running game again and its showing with his ability to pass the ball much easier.

 

[CCBoy]

Nice thread here. When I think of football, I think of the pose in the Heisman Trophy. Nothing gets fans quicker out of their seats than a pass play going the distance. But nothing shakes a fan's love more than the run.

 

[CCBoy]

If you look more closely at the numbers, nothing has really changed in the play calling over the past four games -- UNTIL the fourth quarter. In the first five games, we ran the ball 42 percent of the time in the first three quarters. In the past four games, we've run the ball 43 percent of the time in the first three quarters. In the fourth quarter, the game situation usually dictates whether you have to pass more or can run more, which is why we've gone from running 27 percent of the time in the fourth quarter to running 57 percent of the time in the fourth quarter -- 87 percent in our three blowout wins.

Now, to confound even AdamJT...all that matters has it's spin. And statistics, a single statistic is worthless by itself, even in the fourth quarter. But in applying physics, and even uncovering Einsteins short sighted views, one has to approach a level far exceeding a 3.5 sigma and approach grounds of 5 sigma. But here one has to observe and calcuate anti-matter existence, which in the universe has been decreasing in quatity. Equal weights, but of differing charge.

So goes an evaluation of Jason Garrett in the now, but proof of new existence patterns can then too be revealed, and a shallowness of even Einstein in existence of the universe explored.

 

[Ashwynn]

Several thoughts come to mind:



Murray (obviously): He has that vision that simply cannot be taught. I always figured he would be a Curtis Martin type of player, but he seems to have a little more aggression that Martin (his catching ability may not be quite as good). Great pick by Dallas.
.

Not to nitpick here and your not wrong, but I dont think its just vision thats outstanding, lots of backs can see the holes, but he has a balance, a coordination that goes beyond the norm. He can flex his body at full speed and swivel on a dime, spin like a top and shoot out like a bottle rocket, all at the appropriate time. His agility is out of this world. He reminds me of Barry Sanders when I watch him make DBs and Dlmen grab air. Kinda like a great point guard breaking down an opponent and making fall on his butt.

Felix has great vision, but cant do what Murray does. I dont even think Murray thinks about it, its just a natural reflex on his part.

I dont know if I explained it adequately, but his vision is great but his body reacts to that vision quicker then mosts backs. His agility and body control take him well beyond the realms of mere good backs, into the realm of great backs. Not saying thats where he is, but he has the Sanders "greatness" thing about him. More then just one mere attribute.But several combines with grace and control. Rare stuff.