Why we shouldn't devalue what got us there

[Zekeats]

While I do agree that we should not have resigned DeMarco to the size of the contract the Eagles did I do not think that his replacement should be overlooked. For us to go into the season with a running back in McFadden who basically slid down to 3rd on the depth chart at one point last season is crazy. I also wouldn't want to count on Randle who has done some idiotic things and who can't be counted on. After those two is nothing more than a 3rd down gimmick tailback in Dunbar and Ryan Williams, a guy who has missed 5 times the games he has been available for.
We all witnessed our great run last year that included a tough road win at Seattle. Anyone who watched the way Murray ran in that game should know that the passion of our team ran through him. The running back position should not be devalued just because we have one of the best lines in the league. It should be our biggest need to find the best back to take advantage of our biggest strength.
This will be the most important draft of the Stephen Jones era, even bigger than the passing on Johnny Football last year. This is the draft that will either propel us further into the playoffs or push us further away from the 12-4 season we had last year. We didn't win and lose games last year based on our corner back position but we did based on our running game.

 

[Alexander]

Said it for weeks. We have to get it right.

Get the right back. Miss or ignore, we go right back to .500 purgatory.

 

[DTown214]

Agreed. I fear that we're going into this draft not valuing a RB in the early rounds. Yes there are some solid RBs in the later rounds like Duke Johnson and TJ Yeldon, but we need an absolute gane-changer for us to take a step forward or even get back to where we were. We could always use a corner or another backer, but we've upgraded our defense with Hardy and getting Lee back... now we need a running back. People may not realize this, but having a great RB helps the defense tremendously, as we saw last year.

 

[CATCH17]

Said it for weeks. We have to get it right.

Get the right back. Miss or ignore, we go right back to .500 purgatory.

While I think it's important I don't think it changes things this drastically unless we stop running the ball.


The Pats had 5 different RBs last year.. I'm sure we'll mustar up something that will make plays.


I feel pretty good about Ryan Williams and MCFadden being able to produce with as many touches as Demarco.

 

[CATCH17]

Agreed. I fear that we're going into this draft not valuing a RB in the early rounds. Yes there are some solid RBs in the later rounds like Duke Johnson and TJ Yeldon, but we need an absolute gane-changer for us to take a step forward or even get back to where we were. We could always use a corner or another baker, but we've upgraded our defense with Hardy and getting Lee back... now we need a running back. People may not realize this, but having a great RB helps the defense tremendously, as we saw last year.

It's all about the OL.

Demarco was not that special.

Yes he could impose his will on teams but the guy didn't run to daylight.

I think Ryan Williams will be almost as good at getting tough yards but have more vision once he gets to the 2nd level.

 

[Alexander]

While I think it's important I don't think it changes things this drastically unless we stop running the ball.


The Pats had 5 different RBs last year.. I'm sure we'll mustar up something that will make plays.


I feel pretty good about Ryan Williams and MCFadden being able to produce with as many touches as Demarco.

We are not the Patriots. And dare I say it, Romo is not Brady. Our offense has never shown the ability to adapt to our opponent and beat them any way we want, running or passing. Moreover, Garrett is not Belichick in terms of handling a defense or the entire team. Not even in the same stratosphere.

Take the delusion that we are, get ready for more 8-8.

 

[Alexander]

It's all about the OL.

Demarco was not that special.

Yes he could impose his will on teams but the guy didn't run to daylight.

I think Ryan Williams will be almost as good at getting tough yards but have more vision once he gets to the 2nd level.

Ryan Williams could not even be trusted by our own staff to make the active roster.

So we were doing what? Saving him up?

 

[Zekeats]

While I think it's important I don't think it changes things this drastically unless we stop running the ball.


The Pats had 5 different RBs last year.. I'm sure we'll mustar up something that will make plays.


I feel pretty good about Ryan Williams and MCFadden being able to produce with as many touches as Demarco.

Pats aren't just a running team. Pats game plan better than anyone depending on there match up

 

[superonyx]

Ryan Williams could not even be trusted by our own staff to make the active roster.

So we were doing what? Saving him up?

It's funny how Ryan Williams couldn't even make the team and now suddenly people have confidence in his ability to replace Murray...Ryan Williams and Darren McFadden are what make me nervous about counting on a back in the draft to produce. A first and second round bust.

Ryan Williams couldn't make the cardinals (who still have no backs) and then proceeded to get cut by us in favor of Randle and Dunbar.

 

[Jenky]

It's funny how Ryan Williams couldn't even make the team and now suddenly people have confidence in his ability to replace Murray...Ryan Williams and Darren McFadden are what make me nervous about counting on a back in the draft to produce. A first and second round bust.

Ryan Williams couldn't make the cardinals (who still have no backs) and then proceeded to get cut by us in favor of Randle and Dunbar.

1 freakin' play in preseason.

 

[Alexander]

It's funny how Ryan Williams couldn't even make the team and now suddenly people have confidence in his ability to replace Murray...Ryan Williams and Darren McFadden are what make me nervous about counting on a back in the draft to produce. A first and second round bust.

Ryan Williams couldn't make the cardinals (who still have no backs) and then proceeded to get cut by us in favor of Randle and Dunbar.

Look, I like Williams. I wish he would have got an opportunity last year. He showed some passion in preseason and I think he really wants to salvage his career.

But that is where my faith stops.

 

[Idgit]

We're not going to devalue what got us to 12-4. We're also not going to waste resources on an early RB pick. We're going to select defense and trust our draft board and our roster when it comes to filling what's probably the easiest starting offensive position to fill on any team. And we'll still run it a lot and have a fair bit of success on the ground. This time while playing better overall defense. It'll be a good thing.

 

[Hardline]

If you thing this offensive line is so great that anyone will just pick up where Murray left off are sadly fooling yourselves.

Nate Newton made the statement that they were just a bunch of fat guys until Emmitt showed up.

The running game is the only reason this team went 13-4 last year.

This is why I would absolutely trade up for Gurley.
Not only would he destroy defenses, he would also be your best defensive player.
Gurley would have more of a positive influence on the defense than any defensive player in this draft.

 

[Alexander]

Nate Newton made the statement that they were just a bunch of fat guys until Emmitt showed up.

I won't go as far as say we need to trade up in a deep RB draft, but that is a real point.

 

[CATCH17]

We are not the Patriots. And dare I say it, Romo is not Brady. Our offense has never shown the ability to adapt to our opponent and beat them any way we want, running or passing. Moreover, Garrett is not Belichick in terms of handling a defense or the entire team. Not even in the same stratosphere.

Take the delusion that we are, get ready for more 8-8.

I know we aren't the Patriots but the Patriots run the football and run it effectively with whoever they can get off the crap heap.

 

[CATCH17]

Ryan Williams could not even be trusted by our own staff to make the active roster.

So we were doing what? Saving him up?

He was insurance last year..

No need to start him and cut guys that contributed on special teams.

 

[Alexander]

We're not going to devalue what got us to 12-4.

Murray was a big part of it. If we do not replace him with an equivalent or better, that is the definition of devaluing what got us 12-4.

Jones took a gamble in not paying Murray. The next logical step in the process is not to just shrug his shoulders and hope for the best after taking that risk.

The running game cured a lot of evils last season. It shielded the defense and an ailing Romo from even more punishment.

We're also not going to waste resources on an early RB pick. We're going to select defense and trust our draft board and our roster when it comes to filling what's probably the easiest starting offensive position to fill on any team. And we'll still run it a lot and have a fair bit of success on the ground. This time while playing better overall defense. It'll be a good thing.

All in all, we have to get the step we took back (reasonable as it was) by letting Murray go.

It does not have to be a first round pick. Or even necessarily a second.

I am not going to trust the draft board built off of picking late in every single round and having little to no ammo to move up or down with some tunnel vision to "just select defense".

 

[Alexander]

I know we aren't the Patriots but the Patriots run the football and run it effectively with whoever they can get off the crap heap.

They have so many things we do not have and will not have, so it is not even worth comparing.

 

[CATCH17]

We're not going to devalue what got us to 12-4. We're also not going to waste resources on an early RB pick. We're going to select defense and trust our draft board and our roster when it comes to filling what's probably the easiest starting offensive position to fill on any team. And we'll still run it a lot and have a fair bit of success on the ground. This time while playing better overall defense. It'll be a good thing.

Every RB on our roster won't be able to find daylight I guess even though Murrays vision wasn't much better then Stevie Wonders.

 

[TrailBlazer]

Said it for weeks. We have to get it right.

Get the right back. Miss or ignore, we go right back to .500 purgatory.

So murray is worth 5 wins a year over his replacement?