Will Darren McFadden Return As The Starter?

[MichaelWinicki]

If we had a better running game the defense wouldn't have spent so much time on the field being fresh and alert would have led to more turnovers. Our turnover differential was -22 the worst in the league and +6 in 2014. A lot of the difference had to do with the defense being tired and spending too much time on the field. It's hard to force turnovers when you're fatigued.

Oh no doubt.

The defense had 978 plays in 2014.

While they had 997 plays in 2015.

I'm sure those extra 19 plays probably cost all sorts of turnovers.

 

[KJJ]

Yep.

I remember.

The offensive line wasn't very good in either game.

So it was the OL not the backs? There isn't anything that will get you to point the finger at the backs you're pinning it on the strongest area of the team. lol

 

[KJJ]

Oh no doubt.

The defense had 978 plays in 2014.

While they had 997 plays in 2015.

I'm sure those extra 19 plays probably cost all sorts of turnovers.

It's not just the extra plays it's the fact that we had teams playing from behind in 2014 and that wasn't the case in 2015. It's easier to force turnovers when your opponent is having to play from behind. Once we got behind in games this past season our opponents didn't have to take a lot of chances. You don't have to force throws or press when you're leading.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

So it was the OL not the backs? There isn't anything that will get you to point the finger at the backs you're pinning it on the strongest area of the team. lol

Everyone has a bad game... And especially the Giant game after a preseason of the offensive line barely playing together due a variety of injuries. In addition Free was still gimpy from his offseason surgery.

Here what PFF reported on the Cowboy's offensive line for the Giant game:

Frederick - worst game of the season
Martin - worst game of the season
Smith - 2nd worst game of the season
Free - 4th worst game of the season

I think I've proven my point.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

It's not just the extra plays it's the fact that we had teams playing from behind in 2014 and that wasn't the case in 2015. It's easier to force turnovers when your opponent is having to play from behind. Once we got behind in games this past season our opponents didn't have to take a lot of chances. You don't have to force throws or press when you're leading.

Offer some numbers to prove your point.

Other lousy teams that were behind often managed to get turnovers.

 

[KJJ]

Everyone has a bad game... And especially the Giant game after a preseason of the offensive line barely playing together due a variety of injuries. In addition Free was still gimpy from his offseason surgery.

Here what PFF reported on the Cowboy's offensive line for the Giant game:

Frederick - worst game of the season
Martin - worst game of the season
Smith - 2nd worst game of the season
Free - 4th worst game of the season

I think I've proven my point.

That's one opinion but we still won that game. If the OL was the problem in the 8 games that McFaddden averaged under 4.0 a carry Frederick, Martin and Smith wouldn't have been named to the Pro bowl in 2015 and our OL wouldn't have been named the best OL in the league this past season. I think I've proven my point.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

That's one opinion but we still won that game. If the OL was the problem in the 8 games that McFaddden averaged under 4.0 a carry Frederick, Martin and Smith wouldn't have been named to the Pro bowl in 2015 and our OL wouldn't have been named the best OL in the league this past season. I think I've proven my point.

No you haven't.

You post in circles and provide little to support your argument.

Obviously the offensive line rebounded.

Again you've become "blanket man". One argument covers all situations.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

We won't have Romo a full season if McFadden and the other backs we have next season don't do a better job than they did this season. To keep Romo healthy we need a solid, consistent running game.

Romo got hurt because of Romo.

 

[KJJ]

Offer some numbers to prove your point.

Other lousy teams that were behind often managed to get turnovers.

That would take some work how about naming some of these lousy teams that were "behind" when they got their turnovers? Not saying that doesn't happen it does but name these teams so we can examine it closely. The Cowboys were the worst team in the league at getting turnovers there's a problem with the players and the scheme.

 

[KJJ]

Romo got hurt because of Romo.

Romo does what he does tries to extend plays it's made him what he is. He's taken a lot of sacks not as many as some like Roethlisberger. If he keeps breaking his collarbone or something else causes him to miss games he'll be done because he can't be counted on.

 

[KJJ]

No you haven't.

You post in circles and provide little to support your argument.

Obviously the offensive line rebounded.

Again you've become "blanket man". One argument covers all situations.

I've spend post after post supporting my argument which is a strong one and you don't have anything to support yours. You're pointing the finger at the OL that had 3 pro bowlers on it and was picked as the best OL in football this past season.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

That would take some work how about naming some of these lousy teams that were "behind" when they got their turnovers? Not saying that doesn't happen it does but name these teams so we can examine it closely. The Cowboys were the worst team in the league at getting turnovers there's a problem with the players and the scheme.

All you've got to do is look at the records... Tennessee, Cleveland, San Diego, SF... several teams as bad (or worse) than Dallas who managed to get far more turnovers.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I've spend post after post supporting my argument which is a strong one and you don't have anything to support yours. You're pointing the finger at the OL that had 3 pro bowlers on it and was picked as the best OL in football this past season.

I pointed my finger at one game where you said the running backs were bad... and I showed that the offensive line (for that game) was bad.

Prove that they weren't bad in the Giant game.

 

[KJJ]

All you've got to do is look at the records... Tennessee, Cleveland, San Diego, SF... several teams as bad (or worse) than Dallas who managed to get far more turnovers.

Do some research and find out how many turnovers those teams forced while they were "behind" compared to the Cowboys when they were behind? I'm not saying all or none of those teams didn't force more turnovers than us in come from behind situations but you brought it up so you do the legwork if you want to continue wasting time on it.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Do some research and find out how many turnovers those teams forced while they were "behind" compared to the Cowboys when they were behind? I'm not saying all or none of those teams didn't force more turnovers than us in come from behind situations but you brought it up so you do the legwork if you want to continue wasting time on it.

I've done enough of your legwork.

It's about time you did something other than continue to lean on a "The world is flat" argument.

 

[KJJ]

I pointed my finger at one game where you said the running backs were bad... and I showed that the offensive line (for that game) was bad.

Prove that they weren't bad in the Giant game.

The RBs were bad in the opener and the opinion of one publication that pointed to the OL not playing well isn't going to change it. The backs did nothing in week 2 vs Philly is there another publication that pointed to our OL as the problem? If our OL was a problem for our lack of consistency in the running game and the reason we were worst team in the league on 3rd and one they wouldn't have received the glory they did this season.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The RBs were bad in the opener and the opinion of one publication that pointed to the OL not playing well isn't going to change it. The backs did nothing in week 2 vs Philly is there another publication that pointed to our OL as the problem? If our OL was a problem for our lack of consistency in the running game and the reason we were worst team in the league on 3rd and one they wouldn't have received the glory they did this season.

I never said Randle was good in the first part of the season.

I just know the offensive line wasn't as good early as it was late.

 

[KJJ]

I've done enough of your legwork.

It's about time you did something other than continue to lean on a "The world is flat" argument.

I've done plenty to prove my point and I'll promise you the majority of Cowboys Nation would like to do better than McFadden as our starter next season with an elite runner who could put up not only a lot yards but TD's.

 

[Nightman]

What is so hard about putting the best RB you can behind those monsters up front?

Why settle for average when we can be GREAT with a simple draft pick or a little more money?

McFadden took all the hits in a 4-12 year so now lets thank him and move on to someone better.

We passed on every RB last year and didn't sign McFadden until after Murray left as an insurance policy.

Selvie was good- for a year then nothing
LRobinson was good- for a year
Mincey was good- for a year
SMoore was good- for almost a year
McFadden was good- for a year

These guyd were in the bargain bin for a reason.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I've done plenty to prove my point and I'll promise you the majority of Cowboys Nation would like to do better than McFadden as our starter next season with an elite runner who could put up not only a lot yards but TD's.

The story will unfold one way or another. Doesn't bother me either way. If the Cowboys find a better alternative so be it. If McFadden is again the starter I accept that also. And if the rest of the "Nation" doesn't like it... well then hard cheese.