Will Darren McFadden Return As The Starter?

[NeonDeion21]

Probably. But here are some things Dallas has to consider. He's three years past his peak:

Anyways.. here's the article: http://www.footbology.com/what-should-the-cowboys-do-with-darren-mcfadden/

 

[LittleD]

Probably. But here are some things Dallas has to consider. He's three years past his peak:

Anyways.. here's the article: http://www.footbology.com/what-should-the-cowboys-do-with-darren-mcfadden/

He has been hurt much of his years in the league. He didn't look like he was over the hill last year. I suspect he will get first
crack at being the lead back and someone will have to beat him out. He's not likely to give up his job easily from what I've seen
and heard from him.

 

[Risen Star]

He has been hurt much of his years in the league. He didn't look like he was over the hill last year. I suspect he will get first
crack at being the lead back and someone will have to beat him out. He's not likely to give up his job easily from what I've seen
and heard from him.

If you add talent, he'll give up his job easily. If his competition remains Turbin and Dunbar, yeah...he won't go down without a fight.

 

[Redball Express]

If you add talent, he'll give up his job easily. If his competition remains Turbin and Dunbar, yeah...he won't go down without a fight.

If you look at the history of our team..

we never do anything pre-emptive.

We wait for the wheels to fall off then we do something.

It's the way we run the team.

Of course we are going to perpetuate the RB by committee thing.

And it will fail like it always has.

Next question.

 

[Billy Bullocks]

I know Murray was definitely a better back for this offense...but all the doom and gloom about the OLine not being dominant...

"Over the course of the final 11 games,1) McFadden averaged over 87 rushing yards and 20 receiving yards per game on less than 21 touches. Prorate those final 11 games over the course of a season, and you get 1,725 yards on 335 touches (5.15 yards per touch). That would’ve put him third in the entire NFL."

The weirdest part about McFadden to me was how often he'd get chased down once he broke into the open. He's definitely lost a step or two.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think he goes into camp the starter keeping the job really falls to him. Few if any felt he would produce as he did this past season and needless to say the doubts persist. Reality is it falls to McFadden to go out and prove himself. Everyone can have an opinion but the truth of it happens on the field

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Probably. But here are some things Dallas has to consider. He's three years past his peak:

Anyways.. here's the article: http://www.footbology.com/what-should-the-cowboys-do-with-darren-mcfadden/

I think he is the back up plan. lets see how FA and draft play out. if the right RB, is available for the right price....then the cowboys will move forward, otherwise we have several other positions of need that we have lesser players than McFadden

 

[BHendri5]

No

 

[John813]

Think we'll nab a RB in the draft or FA, but it won't be one of the big names.
Bargain bin FA or mid to late draft pick

 

[kevm3]

If he's the starter next year, it shows that the FO is completely out of touch with what made the team successful in 2014. He's a solid runner, but with our O-line, you do what it takes to have an outstanding run game.

 

[Doomsday101]

If he's the starter next year, it shows that the FO is completely out of touch with what made the team successful in 2014. He's a solid runner, but with our O-line, you do what it takes to have an outstanding run game.

I think given the fact the passing game was horrific and defense were not overly concerned with the Cowboys passing attack that McFadden did a better job than many credit him for. You think Weeden, Cassle and Moore were big concerns for opposing defense? With no real threat it was easy to key on the run game for defense.

 

[KJJ]

Those who were satisfied with McFadden and want him back as the starter next year must love watching average football and are looking forward to seeing the Cowboys struggle again next season. McFadden's 1089 yards and 3 TD's was way below what an elite runner would have produced behind arguably the best OL in football that had 3 pro bowlers in 2015. Hell, in 2013 Murray produced 1121 yards and 9 TD's behind an OL that had yet to add Martin. McFadden only had 5 more rushing yards than Julius Jones produced in 2006 behind a much lesser OL and Jones had one more TD than McFadden. Despite not having Romo most of the season an elite back would have produced 1500+ and double digit TD's behind our OL. The Cowboys were the worst team in the league on 3rd and one this past season and McFadden contributed to that and we found out he's no faster than Murray nowadays.

Many FANS said McFadden would give us longer runs than Murray because most couldn't take their eyes off his highlight reels from 7+ years ago but the longest run McFadden had from scrimmage this past season was 50 yards due to being chased down while Murray had a 54 yard TD run for Philly. I don't know about some of you but my standard for a starting RB is a lot higher than Darren McFadden. I grew up watching Tony Dorsett dazzling us with sprints to the endzone and Emmitt Smith slithering threw tackles and bouncing off defenders for longer runs and more TD's than McFadden has ever been capable of or ever will be.

The one thing the Cowboys have going is a great OL and I want to see them take advantage of it by putting an elite runner behind it because the back matters! If the Cowboys aren't able to get back to running the ball at least similar to what they did in 2014 especially in short yardage situations Romo will be back attempting 40 plus passes like he did in the opener having to carry the offense which will increase his chances of being injured again and another injury plagued season may force him to retire. I'm fine with McFadden as part of a rotation but he's not near consistent enough to be a starter he averaged under 4.0 a carry in 8 games in 2015.

 

[Doomsday101]

Those who were satisfied with McFadden and want him back as the starter next year must love watching average football and are looking forward to seeing the Cowboys struggle again next season. McFadden's 1089 yards and 3 TD's was way below what an elite runner would have produced behind arguably the best OL in football that had 3 pro bowlers in 2015. Hell, in 2013 Murray produced 1121 yards and 9 TD's behind an OL that had yet to add Martin. McFadden only had 5 more rushing yards than Julius Jones produced in 2006 behind a much lesser OL and Jones had one more TD than McFadden. Despite not having Romo most of the season an elite back would have produced 1500+ and double digit TD's behind our OL. The Cowboys were the worst team in the league on 3rd and one this past season and McFadden contributed to that and we found out he's no faster than Murray nowadays.

Many FANS said McFadden would give us longer runs than Murray because most couldn't take their eyes off his highlight reels from 7 years ago but the longest run McFadden had from scrimmage this past season was 50 yards due to being chased down while Murray had a 54 yard TD run for Philly. I don't know about some of you but my standard for a starting RB is a lot higher than Darren McFadden. I grew up watching Tony Dorsett dazzling us with sprints to the endzone and Emmitt Smith slithering threw tackles and bouncing off defenders for longer runs and more TD's than McFadden has ever been capable of or ever will be.

The one thing the Cowboys have going is a great OL and I want to see them take advantage of it by putting an elite runner behind it because the back matters! If the Cowboys aren't able to get back to running the ball at least similar to what they did in 2014 especially in short yardage situations Romo will be back attempting 40 plus passes like he did in the opener having to carry the offense which will increase his chances of being injured again and another injury plagued season may force him to retire. I'm fine with McFadden as part of a rotation but he's not near consistent enough to be a starter he averaged under 4.0 a carry in 8 games in 2015.

As I point out above without Romo and a real passing game I don't think McFadden played poorly at all.

 

[KJJ]

As I point out above without Romo and a real passing game I don't think McFadden played poorly at all.

I'm not saying he played poorly I'm saying he was average when you consider he was running behind arguably the best OL in football. Adrain Peterson put up almost 2100 yards in 2012 with a bad QB situation. Ponder had under 3000 yards passing and only 18 TD's. I know Peterson is special but even Murray had more production in 2013 than McFadden.

If you have a great OL and an elite runner they're going to produce regardless who you have at QB. The Rams have a bad QB situation and despite missing 3 games Todd Gurley put up 1106 yards and 10 TD's. Despite Tony Banks and Trent Dilfer at QB in 2000 Jamal Lewis put up 1364 yards and 6 TD's. There's many examples of RBs producing on offenses that didn't have a real passing game.

 

[Doomsday101]

I'm not saying he played poorly I'm saying he was average when you consider he was running behind arguably the best OL in football. Adrain Peterson put up almost 2100 yards in 2012 with a bad QB situation. Ponder had under 3000 yards passing and only 18 TD's. I know Peterson is special but even Murray had more production in 2013 than McFadden.

If you have a great OL and an elite runner they're going to produce regardless who you have at QB. The Rams have a bad QB situation and despite missing 3 games Todd Gurley put up 1106 yards and 10 TD's. Despite Tony Banks and Trent Dilfer at QB in 2000 Jamal Lewis put up 1364 yards and 6 TD's. There's many examples of RBs producing on offenses that didn't have a real passing game.

I'm not trying to put McFadden in the same group as Peterson all I'm saying is I felt he played well considering he had no QB putting pressure on the defense. It is tough when defense knows you can't pass worth a darn and they can lineup looking to stop the run. His 1st 5 games of the season he was barely used avg 7 carries a game. Once he was given a bigger load he produced. I'm not trying to make him a HOF player and as far as I'm concerned while I think he enters camp as the starter if falls to him to keep the job.

It also should be noted he was the 4th leading rusher in the NFL last year

 

[jterrell]

Yes, he is. This has been asked and answered of those who get to make those calls.
DMC is your starter.

They aren't drafting any RB R1 and even if they sign someone they love he won't start day 1.
Dallas gave Randle the job game 1 knowing he had major issues.
This team isn't moving off what DMC did last year unless he fails or gets injured.

DMC came in on a cheap deal, won the job and proved more than capable.

 

[KJJ]

I'm not trying to put McFadden in the same group as Peterson all I'm saying is I felt he played well considering he had no QB putting pressure on the defense. It is tough when defense knows you can't pass worth a darn and they can lineup looking to stop the run. His 1st 5 games of the season he was barely used avg 7 carries a game. Once he was given a bigger load he produced. I'm not trying to make him a HOF player and as far as I'm concerned while I think he enters camp as the starter if falls to him to keep the job.

Not saying you are trying to put McFadden in the same group as Peterson no one is but I saw his performance as average behind this OL. In 239 attempts he only had 3 rushing TD's that's unacceptable. When he had Romo in the opener he only averaged 2.7 a carry. In week 2 Romo played into the 3rd quarter and McFadden only averaged 3.1 a carry on 10 carries. Romo started the Carolina game and McFadden only avenged 1.1 a carry on 10 carries. He started the season with the same role Randle excelled in, in 2014 and wasn't producing. Had it not been for Randle's injury and release McFadden would have never gotten the opportunities he did. He only looked good in one game Romo played in.

 

[MRV52]

They said all of this last year, too old, washed up, no fast enough, injury prone and what does he do? Plays entire year and rushes for 1000 yards. All haters were eating crow and still are.

 

[Aikmaniac]

As I point out above without Romo and a real passing game I don't think McFadden played poorly at all.

Exactly. Eight men were in the box on a routine basis. There was no threat of a passing game, much less a vertical one.

 

[jterrell]

I'm not saying he played poorly I'm saying he was average when you consider he was running behind arguably the best OL in football. Adrain Peterson put up almost 2100 yards in 2012 with a bad QB situation. Ponder had under 3000 yards passing and only 18 TD's. I know Peterson is special but even Murray had more production in 2013 than McFadden.

If you have a great OL and an elite runner they're going to produce regardless who you have at QB. The Rams have a bad QB situation and despite missing 3 games Todd Gurley put up 1106 yards and 10 TD's. Despite Tony Banks and Trent Dilfer at QB in 2000 Jamal Lewis put up 1364 yards and 6 TD's. There's many examples of RBs producing on offenses that didn't have a real passing game.

No, there aren't lots of examples.
Adrian Peterson is an exception. He makes 14 million per year.

DeMarco Murray outproduced what DMC did last year 2 times in his entire career. He makes 8mil a year now....

Jamal Lewis was getting 300 carries a season.

DMC produced the 4th highest total in the league in his first year in the offense without even being named starter to begin the season.

His production is only debatable to completely hard-headed or foolish people.