Will Darren McFadden Return As The Starter?

[KJJ]

You'll get no argument from me about Ware's greatness as a Cowboy, so you can stop putting words in other people's mouths.

Once again, however, you're being disingenuous when you compare his 17.5 sacks in n Denver to the lack a f sacks Dallas has registered during that same time period. Ware is playing in a 3-4 in Denver, a defense in which he's naturally suited to play. As a 4-3 DE, Ware as nowhere near as effective. Put him back in Dallas' 4-3, and he doesn't sniff 17,5 sacks.

Listen guy I don't put words in other peoples mouths what I've relayed is what's been posted on this board and if you want to pretend you haven't seen any of it that's up to you. When Ware was released many said he lacked leadership, wasn't vocal enough and didn't make impactful plays in critical games. There isn't anything disingenuous about what I post my views are based mostly on facts. Ware's had 21 sacks during the regular season/playoffs since he left Dallas and the Cowboys top sacker the past 2 seasons without him has been DLaw who has 9 sacks during the regular season/playoffs. Blame the Cowboys for going to a scheme that didn't fit one of their top defensive players limiting him at what he does best rushing the passer.

Good teams put their players in a system to succeed not fail. The Cowboys don't have a system that seems to fit anyone which is why the team has a losing record since 2010 and has missed the playoffs 5 of the last 6 seasons. Hardy only produced 6 sacks in 12 games and did virtually nothing the final 8 games only producing 2 sacks. We only won 2 games all season with him which was the same number of games we won without him. Ware wouldn't produce much here just like Von Miller wouldn't with the lack of talent the defense has and the scheme.

I keep saying one great player doesn't make a great unit. The Cowboys are a dysfunctional team that's poorly coached which is why they've only won 3 playoff games since their last SB win 20 years ago. With Jerry seeming to be bent on letting Garrett drive the team into the ground before he makes a coaching change and Romo aging and not being able to stay healthy and a defense that continues to have the same issues year after year despite all the personnel and DC changes the future is looking pretty dim.

 

[KJJ]

Murray hit a wall toward the end of last year. His average YPC for the last six games (Inc.playoffs) was 4.0, as opposed to 4.9 for the first 12 games. AND, that last six-game average was skewed by two big games. The other four, however, he averagd less than 4.0, and in three of those games he averaged less than 3 YPC. That's every bit as relevant to the discussion as the YPC numbers you're throwing out there about McFadden.

You're obviously basing your guesses (and that's all they are, after all - same for mine) on the Murray and McFadden of 2014. Well, neither was the same back in 2015 as they were last year. McFadden, for the first time in his career, stayed healthy all season. Murray obviously is a step slower and less durable than he was last season. It's NOT just Chip Kelly's offense that held Murray back this year.

One other thing...McFadden didn't "lose out" to Randle for the starter's job. Randle was the implied starter as soon as Murray signed with Philly. McFadden was relegated to the backup role from the day he was signed as well, and thus was only going to 5-7 carries per game. His lack of production was understandable, but once the job was his, he ran like a different back.

And yes, McFadden's season was remarkable in light of all the challenges the offense faced. Well, guess what,...I'd be saying that about any back that put up 1100 yards in 11 games (as a starter), running in an offense with no passing game.

Murray got worn down in 2014 due to almost 400 carries. Not Emmitt or Adrian Peterson ever carried the ball more in one season than Murray did in 2014. Despite being worn down he still had over 140 yards vs the Packers in the playoffs averaging 4.9 a carry. I'm basing my guesses on what he did in Dallas his 4 seasons especially behind a transitioning OL his first 2 seasons. McFadden was running behind what should have been an even better OL than what Murray had in 2014 with 3 2015 pro bowlers and the addition of Collins. All this talk we heard all summer that any back could do what Murray did behind the Cowboys talented OL was put to rest this past season because he did what an "average" back would do behind a great OL.

McFadden missed a lot of time in camp due to a couple of hamstring issues that put him behind. He showed nothing during the summer that gave the Cowboys a reason to start him or I believe they would have and the Giants game proved it because he got the brunt of the load the rest of the season after his big game vs NY. Randle received 74 carries the first 5 games compared to only 37 carries for McFadden so it's obvious who the team favored. Had it not been for Randle's injury and release McFadden would have never gotten the opportunity he did because the Cowboys never saw him as a "starter." He took advantage of the opportunity and the Cowboys stayed with him despite the addition of CMike and Turbin.

 

[Nightman]

Murray got worn down in 2014 due to almost 400 carries. Not Emmitt or Adrian Peterson ever carried the ball more in one season than Murray did in 2014. Despite being worn down he still had over 140 yards vs the Packers in the playoffs averaging 4.9 a carry. I'm basing my guesses on what he did in Dallas his 4 seasons especially behind a transitioning OL his first 2 seasons. McFadden was running behind what should have been an even better OL than what Murray had in 2014 with 3 2015 pro bowlers and the addition of Collins. All this talk we heard all summer that any back could do what Murray did behind the Cowboys talented OL was put to rest this past season because he did what an "average" back would do behind a great OL.

McFadden missed a lot of time in camp due to a couple of hamstring issues that put him behind. He showed nothing during the summer that gave the Cowboys a reason to start him or I believe they would have and the Giants game proved it because he got the brunt of the load the rest of the season after his big game vs NY. Randle received 74 carries the first 5 games compared to only 37 carries for McFadden so it's obvious who the team favored. Had it not been for Randle's injury and release McFadden would have never gotten the opportunity he did because the Cowboys never saw him as a "starter." He took advantage of the opportunity and the Cowboys stayed with him despite the addition of CMike and Turbin.

Plus he got almost all the carries after Randle left. That more than made up for the carries he didn't get the first 4 weeks when he showed absolutely nothing to warrant more work.

CMike and Turbin got no carries in meaningless games and that showed me that the people in charge had an agenda. They wanted to prove their 4th round pick in Randle and then JJones' pet could replace Murray. They desperately fed McFadden to pad his totals when we should have been scouting his potential replacements. CMike went back to SEA and got over 100 yards in one game but JG couldn't break off 3 carries for him in a row. Some eye for talent.

 

[Bullflop]

I semi-agree with you on a couple of points. I personally see McFadden as starter material, though not necessarily "bell cow" material. I think he'd be very effective with 15-20 touches per game, but I'd be afraid how well his body would hold up with more than that. With that in mind, I think we'll see a RB taken in the first four rounds as well. If Dallas somehow manages to take Zeke, then he becomes the bell cow from the get-go. If Dallas drafts any other back, I think we see the committee approach again.

For the most part I agree with your ideas, with the stipulation that McFadden would be much better off with no more than 15 carries rather than 20. I wouldn't really consider it tragic if we had to employ a RB-by-committee approach but surely do hope we'll draft a running mate for Darren who is both highly capable as a workhorse and durable to boot -- it might extend Romo's career.

 

[kevm3]

Garrett doesn't like runningback by committee, so whoever is the lead back will get a ton of carries. Does anyone want to bet on McFadden holding up through another season where he will get a ton of carries?

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

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

Simply put. He earned it.

 

[KJJ]

We can speculate all we want on the RB situation for next season but one thing is for sure after being the worst team in the league on 3rd and one the Cowboys will be in the market for a 3rd down back they can count on to move the chains.

 

[KJJ]

Simply put. He earned it.

He didn't earn it he got the job by default with the loss of Dunbar and Randle. We entered the season with 3 backs and he was the sole surviver. I don't want to make it sound like McFadden did a terrible job he did play well in some games and ran hard but the consistency wasn't there. It seemed like after a big game he emptied his tank and had nothing left the following week. After an impressive game vs the Giants in week 7 he did very little the following week in a big game against Seattle only averaging 3.2 a carry on 20 carries. With the Cowboys leading 12-10 with around 8 minutes left on a 3rd and 2 McFadden got taken down for a one yard loss resulting in a punt and Seattle proceeded to eat up most of the clock and kicked a FG to beat us. After a 117 yard performance vs Philly in week 9 McFadden was DREADFUL vs Tampa the following week rushing for only 32 yards on 17 carries averaging 1.9 a carry.

The Seattle and Tampa losses really put a dagger in our season neither team was playing very well and both were winnable games but the lack of a running game greatly contributed to those losses. McFadden wouldn't have averaged 4.0 a carry if it wasn't for the final 3 games where we were just playing out the schedule against 3 other teams that had nothing to play for. The Jets and Bills were done and Washington had the division wrapped up. In the games that mattered when the season was still in the balance McFadden wasn't consistent. Anyone who thinks our running game was sufficient this past season and wants to continue with McFadden as our bell cow must have really enjoyed our 4-12 season.

The lack of consistency in our running game played a part in it. Randle wasn't consistent either after a big first half vs Atlanta he had negative rushing yards in the second half which greatly contributed to that loss. In the OT loss to NO Randle averaged 2.4 a carry and McFadden averaged 3.1. We had little running game in the opener but escaped with a win off the arm of Romo. We must run the ball more consistently next season or we'll struggle to go 500 and Romo won't last the season.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

He didn't earn it he got the job by default with the loss of Dunbar and Randle. We entered the season with 3 backs and he was the sole surviver. I don't want to make it sound like McFadden did a terrible job he did play well in some games and ran hard but the consistency wasn't there. It seemed like after a big game he emptied his tank and had nothing left the following week. After an impressive game vs the Giants in week 7 he did very little the following week in a big game against Seattle only averaging 3.2 a carry on 20 carries. With the Cowboys leading 12-10 with around 8 minutes left on a 3rd and 2 McFadden got taken down for a one yard loss resulting in a punt and Seattle proceeded to eat up most of the clock and kicked a FG to beat us. After a 117 yard performance vs Philly in week 9 McFadden was DREADFUL vs Tampa the following week rushing for only 32 yards on 17 carries averaging 1.9 a carry.

The Seattle and Tampa losses really put a dagger in our season neither team was playing very well and both were winnable games but the lack of a running game greatly contributed to those losses. McFadden wouldn't have averaged 4.0 a carry if it wasn't for the final 3 games where we were just playing out the schedule against 3 other teams that had nothing to play for. The Jets and Bills were done and Washington had the division wrapped up. In the games that mattered when the season was still in the balance McFadden wasn't consistent. Anyone who thinks our running game was sufficient this past season and wants to continue with McFadden as our bell cow must have really enjoyed our 4-12 season.

The lack of consistency in our running game played a part in it. Randle wasn't consistent either after a big first half vs Atlanta he had negative rushing yards in the second half which greatly contributed to that loss. In the OT loss to NO Randle averaged 2.4 a carry and McFadden averaged 3.1. We had little running game in the opener but escaped with a win off the arm of Romo. We must run the ball more consistently next season or we'll struggle to go 500 and Romo won't last the season.

One thing to keep in mind is that the offensive line as a whole played better the last half of the season than they did the first half.

Free was a completely different player. Collins had more experience. The game that Bernadeau started at guard was a car-wreck.

The run blocking was much better later on in the season.

 

[KJJ]

DMC is okay, but we aren't getting to the next level with him as the lead back. Either need Miller in FA or a good rookie, Romo needs the pressure to be taken off of him as does the defense and crummy game management.

You said it there he was "okay" and an okay starting RB isn't going to take advantage of the OL we have and keep Romo from having to win games. We can have a dominate running game with the talent we have up front if we can add great runner. The Cowboys have never won a championship without a great lead runner. They won SB VI with Duane Thomas and SB XII with Tony Dorsett and all 3 SB's in the 90s with Emmitt Smith. With an aging Romo who's missed games with injuries the past 3 seasons it's critical that we don't have to depend on him putting the ball up all season to win games.

We can't have what we saw in the opener with Romo having to carry the team to a win. He was on pace for another 40+ passing attempt game when he was injured in week 2. Prior to Romo's second collarbone injury vs Carolina McFadden had 3 negative carries for -10. He had a couple of -3's and a -4 and our lack of success running the ball kept Romo putting it until he was injured.

 

[ghst187]

You said it there he was "okay" and an okay starting RB isn't going to take advantage of the OL we have and keep Romo from having to win games. We can have a dominate running game with the talent we have up front if we can add great runner. The Cowboys have never won a championship without a great lead runner. They won SB VI with Duane Thomas and SB XII with Tony Dorsett and all 3 SB's in the 90s with Emmitt Smith. With an aging Romo who's missed games with injuries the past 3 seasons it's critical that we don't have to depend on him putting the ball up all season to win games.

We can't have what we saw in the opener with Romo having to carry the team to a win. He was on pace for another 40+ passing attempt game when he was injured in week 2. Prior to Romo's second collarbone injury vs Carolina McFadden had 3 negative carries for -10. He had a couple of -3's and a -4 and our lack of success running the ball kept Romo putting it until he was injured.

Preach it!
Hence my affinity for going after Elliott in this draft. To me, it's let's win now by getting Elliott and a WR and defense or let's get a QB for the future. Those, to me, are the main two options we have with this draft.

 

[KJJ]

One thing to keep in mind is that the offensive line as a whole played better the last half of the season than they did the first half.

Free was a completely different player. Collins had more experience. The game that Bernadeau started at guard was a car-wreck.

The run blocking was much better later on in the season.

Hard to put too much of it on the OL when we had three 2015 pro bowlers on it. Someone posted an article with the Cowboys OL being voted the best in the league this season. I'm not saying there weren't some issues upfront this isn't a great pass protecting unit but they excel in run blocking however you still need a talented runner. There's a lot of instinctive moves great backs make before they ever reach the line of scrimmage and once they get passed the OL it's all on them and their skills to make a play.

Murray is a great cutback runner with a powerful stiff arm who was terrific running downhill in our power scheme which we greatly missed in 2015. His powerful downhill running style helped move the chains consistently on 3rd down and we lacked that this past season. McFadden's inability to gain positive yards vs Carolina put Romo in harms way. He only had ONE yard on 7 carries when Romo was injured.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Hard to put too much of it on the OL when we had three 2015 pro bowlers on it.

Sure you can.

Especially if two of the positions were not very good to start the season, combined with suspect pass-blocking at TE.

 

[KJJ]

Sure you can.

Especially if two of the positions were not very good to start the season, combined with suspect pass-blocking at TE.

Hard to put much blame on a unit that's considered the best in the league that had three 2015 pro bowlers. It makes it sound like you're searching for excuses. We didn't have the talent in the backfield this season for the OL to look as good as it did in 2014. When you have the leagues leading rusher unless you have AP back there the OL is going to get most of the credit. We didn't have a real productive runner this past season so some are pointing to the OL who many thought could make any back put up 1800 yards. When you look at most of the great runners in history no one talks about their OL. No one talks about the OL's that Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders or AP ran behind those backs got all the credit. Many didn't see Murray as anything special and the OL got all the credit.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Hard to put much blame on a unit that's considered the best in the league that had three 2015 pro bowlers.

I did not use the word "blame". That's your word.

I said or inferred they were not as effective as a unit the first half of the season.

I've noticed you're a "blanket" guy.

You like to imply that (for example) if one is a probowler, then one is performing at a "probowl" level for each and every game.

And that is simply not the case. Not in the NFL, not in the NBA, not anywhere.

Athletic performance is never a straight-line.

Emmitt Smith is a HOF, but that does not mean each and every game of HOF-worthy. There were turds among the diamonds.

And no, Murray was a good back... not a special back in 2014.

In 2015... he was not even average.

 

[Nightman]

Preach it!
Hence my affinity for going after Elliott in this draft. To me, it's let's win now by getting Elliott and a WR and defense or let's get a QB for the future. Those, to me, are the main two options we have with this draft.

We can't have an elite D. But if we add a top RB and another WR to Romo, Witten, the OL and Dez we can have a very, very good Offense.

 

[KJJ]

I did not use the word "blame". That's your word.

I said or inferred they were not as effective as a unit the first half of the season.

I've noticed you're a "blanket" guy.

You like to imply that (for example) if one is a probowler, then one is performing at a "probowl" level for each and every game.

And that is simply not the case. Not in the NFL, not in the NBA, not anywhere.

Athletic performance is never a straight-line.

Emmitt Smith is a HOF, but that does not mean each and every game of HOF-worthy. There were turds among the diamonds.

And no, Murray was a good back... not a special back in 2014.

In 2015... he was not even average.

There's a lot of words that can be used to assign some of the responsibility on the OL and you put some of the responsibility on the OL. I said it's hard to put much of it on the OL and you said sure you can so you're putting some of the blame/accountability on the OL whether you want to admit it or not. I'm not saying the OL played great all season but the OL is the least of the Cowboys problems. You're getting the wrong read because I never implied that a player who makes the pro bowl plays at a pro bowl level each and every game but to get voted into the pro bowl a player has to be consistent throughout the season. That doesn't mean they have to play great each and every week because no player does. Murray was "special" in 2014 leading the league in rushing by more than 500 yards and setting a franchise rushing record.

Those accomplishments made him special that season. Is he a "special" back? Absolutely not and I've never claimed he was but he was special in 2014 and we rode him to the playoffs. In 2015 Murray played on a different team in a different system but still scored twice as many TD's than McFadden who got many more opportunities. Murray was stuck in a bad situation where very few of the players Chip Kelly brought in fit his system and it cost Kelly his job. A player has to fit a team and their system and Murray didn't fit and anyone who's gaging what he would have done in Dallas in 2015 based off what he did in Philly doesn't know football.

As for Emmitt he's in the HOF because he's the NFL's all-time leading rusher and showed up in the big games. His yards led to a lot of wins/championships and the second most career TD's in NFL history. Yards don't mean much for QBs or RBs if they're not leading to TD's and wins. Most of the top RBs in history scored a lot of TD's. If an RB isn't scoring a lot of TD's they're not getting it done. AP has scored double digit TD's every season except for 2014 when he only played one game. McFadden had a career high 239 carries and caught 40 passes and only scored 3 TD's that's not acceptable!

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I still believe the running was less effective during the beginning of the season due to the offensive line underperforming as an entire unit.

 

[KJJ]

I still believe the running was less effective during the beginning of the season due to the offensive line underperforming as an entire unit.

That's your opinion but in all the discussion we've had on this the past couple of days you never brought up the OL until now so it makes it appear you're searching for excuses. You and others claimed it was our QB situation that hindered our running game but even with Romo on the field opening day we had little running game from Randle or McFadden which forced Romo to have to put the ball up 45 times which was more times than in any game in 2014. McFadden provided ONE yard in 7 carries vs Carolina putting the game on Romo and he ended up on his back again done for the season. If the QB situation was the problem McFadden wouldn't have had some of his best, most consistent rushing averages the final 3 games of the season with Kellen Moore at QB.

It was obvious from watching those games neither the Cowboys or their opponents put max effort out because there wasn't anything for anyone to play for. The Cowboys, Jets and Bills were out of the playoffs and Washington already had the division wrapped up and were just trying to get through the game healthy. Despite an awful game by Moore vs Buffalo McFadden still averaged 5.2 a carry in a meaningless game. Moore put up 435 yards against a Washington defense that was just laying down but a couple of FANS on the board were jumping for joy after the game convinced he's our franchise QB of the future and that Romo's job could be in jeopardy next season.

 

[CCBoy]

I still believe the running was less effective during the beginning of the season due to the offensive line underperforming as an entire unit.

Also, Randle was the bell cow for the unit.