The Polarization of Demarco Murray

[Bleu Star]

So I am sitting here wondering why it is that an all around good guy has somehow become some polarizing figure for some of our fans. If I were to flash back to the TO era, the level of negative attention he received from the board was indeed justified. TO was what you would call the quintessential polarizing figure.

Fast forward to today. For the life of me, I cannot figure out what DeMarco has said or done to deserve the level of negative attention he has been receiving from this board. The guy has done an admirable of somehow avoiding serious injury behind a patchwork offensive line for the last two seasons. We are now starting to show signs of improvement and consistency on the offensive line and that's going to bode well for everyone.

In order for this team to continue to get better every week, they have to find the healthy balance on offense that doesn't regularly place Romo in situations that dictate abandoning the running game. Offensive linemen prefer to fire out vs pass pro. Today provided a few signs of hope. Let's hope they build on that. As others have said today, if you feed DeMarco the rock at least 15 times per game, good things will happen.

I would be very interested in understanding how a third round draft pick that has done everything asked of him since joining the team seems to have become some polarizing figure for a certain number of the fan base. It truly intrigues me.

 

[Staubacher]

I don't know how many people have been hating on Demarco. Usually the same people who are football stupid and buy everything the media feeds them. I think when Terrell Davis showed a couple bad Murray runs it took off.

Demarco should be honored. Romo is considered garbage by many here, Ware should retire, Witten is just an old slow BFF, etc etc.

 

[Bleu Star]

Yeah. It truly baffles me. No one is above a little criticism but when it reaches the level that the DeMarco criticism has reached, I begin to wonder about the origin of it all.

I don't know how many people have been hating on Demarco. Usually the same people who are football stupid and buy everything the media feeds them. I think when Terrell Davis showed a couple bad Murray runs it took off.

Demarco should be honored. Romo is considered garbage by many here, Ware should retire, Witten is just an old slow BFF, etc etc.

 

[Bleu Star]

Feel free to explain yourselves.

 

[Nav22]

You can call it "hating" if that's the term you prefer, but I don't think anyone really hates him. It's not anywhere close to the strong feelings people have for or against Romo.

I like the guy personally but I don't think he's a special RB. I think he's a solid/decent starting RB but not much more than that. Which is fine... most teams don't have a special RB, much less one they found in the 3rd round. If we have a shot at improving the position, Murray's not untouchable. That being said, I have no clue if we'd be better off replacing him with any of the RBs on our roster.

He still leaves too many yards on the field for my liking and isn't talented enough to take full advantage of gaping holes when they're there. He's been a bit of a fumbler recently. Obviously, he still had a really nice game overall but he's not a guy who will create much if the OL doesn't dominate like they did yesterday.

 

[waving monkey]

his a pretty damn good find in the third round but his teeth are not perfect

 

[Galian Beast]

- Injuries
- Running into blockers
- Disappears in a lot of games
- Drops some crucial easy passes
- Fumbles

 

[superonyx]

The real reason people have turned against Demarco.....

Fans in general don't understand or accept that the running game is less about the actual running back and more about the offensive line/scheme. It's easier for people to say one guy isn't getting it done because fans eyes are trained to follow the ball during the game. So they only see Murray. It's the same as the QB position. They only see Romo. I guess it's easier to blame the guy with the ball in his hands than to actually fully understand the parts that are not on sportscenter.

The league has already shown that they understand the RB position is less about the back and more about the offensive line. Running backs are now 2-3rd picks while the linemen are taken in the first round.

I love Emmitt. But even Emmit had Nate, Erik Williams, Step, Tuinei.
It's not sexy to focus on the line or the scheme but this is where the games are won or lost.

That said...I am a big Demarco fan. The man is good enough that I only pictured Trent Richardson in a cowboys uniform for about a minute.

 

[Bleu Star]

Great post superonx. You nailed the one thing that baffles me. The offensive line is the single area that will make or break the run and pass. They showed yesterday that they're capable of putting it all together. Now they need to string a few really solid games together to give themselves and everyone else the confidence that it can be done on a consistent basis.

I agree that DeMarco lacks patience but, again, I submit the fact that we got a steal in the 3rd round and he has proven to be worth his billing to date. Patience can't be taught but film study will help him understand how to utilize the smallest of creases to his benefit. It's a work in progress bit also the best we have had at the rb position in a very long time.

I am also interested in getting Randle some reps. As the talented team that remains the healthiest most often does well down the stretch.

 

[Tobal]

I think you can question or criticize a guy without hating him. Our Oline has been bad, but here's a secret for you we drafted a RB from Florida and we had a very bad Oline, several of those guys became pro bowlers. Im not saying 22 could have run behind this line last yr. I am saying a great RB can make a avg offensive line look great and vice versa.

Murray is our best RB, I've seen nothing to disprove that and nothing to suggest it's even close. I do wish DeMarco had more downfield vision or the ability to setup/use his blocks better.

 

[Zordon]

standards are very high because of..

he's not as durable as emmitt, he fumbles more and the vision is night and day.

 

[Bleu Star]

So we are going to hold every future rb to the standard set by Emmitt Smith? That'll be interesting.. The next Mike Tyson is somewhere out there too for those of us that enjoy boxing.

standards are very high because of..

he's not as durable as emmitt, he fumbles more and the vision is night and day.

So

 

[Zordon]

So we are going to hold every future rb to the standard set by Emmitt Smith? That'll be interesting.. The next Mike Tyson is somewhere out there too for those of us that enjoy boxing.



So

i'm just throwing out a theory.

another one from the media perspective is supposedly he's sort of a prick with the media.

 

[Awakened]

standards are very high because of..

he's not as durable as emmitt, he fumbles more and the vision is night and day.

Man, I miss watching him play. Where are the great running backs today? After Petersen, who's next? And who is out there that reminds you of Emmitt?

 

[morasp]

Man, I miss watching him play. Where are the great running backs today? After Petersen, who's next? And who is out there that reminds you of Emmitt?

I've enjoyed watching Bernard for the Bengals this year. Franklin was fun to watch yesterday until he pulled a Dunbar.

 

[jrumann59]

I think some of it is many here still harken back o the 90's where we had a great QB a great OL, great Receiver, Great TE, Great RB. But in this day an age of salary cap you cannot have all that now, you are lucky if you have 2 or 3, it would be miraculous if you have all 5. Right now dallas has a "Great" QB, a receiveing corp on the cusp of greatness, an average OL, a great TE, and an average to above average group of RB.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

I think you are taking anything said about Murray too personally. I drafted him on my fantasy team yet i can see his shortcomings. I know many of you “zoners” only like to see one side of the coin. There are two sides.

 

[CATCH17]

Man, I miss watching him play. Where are the great running backs today? After Petersen, who's next? And who is out there that reminds you of Emmitt?

Thats why you don't use first rounders on these guys.

 

[iceman117]

Feel free to explain yourselves.

I don't have a problem with him as a person, or teammate. My problem with him is consistency.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

I think some of it is many here still harken back o the 90's where we had a great QB a great OL, great Receiver, Great TE, Great RB. But in this day an age of salary cap you cannot have all that now, you are lucky if you have 2 or 3, it would be miraculous if you have all 5. Right now dallas has a "Great" QB, a receiveing corp on the cusp of greatness, an average OL, a great TE, and an average to above average group of RB.

I'd say Atlanta is probably the closest to it right now when healthy.

Matty Ice, Stephen Jackson, Julio/Roddy, and Gonzo.. although he looks like he's at the end of his rope.