You're Darren McFadden

[Spectre]

I'm not Darren McFadden... You are.

 

[erod]

I saw and opened this thread thinking oh great, another our RBs suck, how did we let DeMarco walk, I need to refinance my house to help Jerry trade and pay for AP but that wasn't the case. Nice read, a breath of fresh air around these parts and as I said before, I'm confident we have a more than serviceable stable of RBs, including McFadden. There is a very real chance he was a victim of circumstance playing in that black hole of an organization. Unlike QBs, college success for a RB typically translates to like success in the NFL - I'm hoping this new opportunity for him produces similar results.

(Don't shoot me, but I still want AP.)

 

[erod]

I think McFadden is being given too much attention.

I'm not convinced that he's going to be the starter.

I agree, but I was just trying to write the thoughts I think he's feeling. All of those backs are feeling this in a way, and I'd bet they're working their tails off right now to get ready.

For the record, I still want AP. Badly.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think McFadden is being given too much attention.

I'm not convinced that he's going to be the starter.

I don't know I think McFadden enters training camp penciled in as a starter in large part he can block and catch the ball out of the backfield. If Randle or anyone else can show they can be trusted to pick up the blitz and can run the ball better then they should get the job. But if others struggle to pick up blitzers then they will not win that starting job

 

[Spectre]

Welcome to the Cowboys, Darren... No pressure.

 

[tm1119]

Prediction: McFadden goes down week 2 of preseason and Ryan Williams seizes the opportunity and becomes the starter. Ryan Williams and Joe Randle run for a combined 1,700 yards with a 4.5 ypc average.

 

[CATCH17]

I agree, but I was just trying to write the thoughts I think he's feeling. All of those backs are feeling this in a way, and I'd bet they're working their tails off right now to get ready.

For the record, I still want AP. Badly.

Yeah.. Just think about Ryan Williams.

What a talent he was until injuries just took over his career. Like a Ricky Williams style runner.

 

[mattjames2010]

Welcome to the Cowboys, Darren... No pressure.

Apparently, to some, there is no pressure because of how great our line is.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

God that speech made me nervous and im not even Darren McFadden

 

[CyberB0b]

Murray is 27, too.

The difference is, he's making tens of millions, and McFadden is guaranteed $200K.

The difference is that McFadden has been in the league a lot longer, and has been steadily declining over the last 4-5 seasons. Murray has never had a YPA below 4. McFadden hasn't had anything over 3.5 YPA since 2011, even with a decreased workload. For the record, I wouldn't have signed Murray to that deal, either, but McFadden isn't the answer.

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

I think McFadden is being given too much attention.

I'm not convinced that he's going to be the starter.

Me either, I think he's the third down back that Dunbar never was and that Dunbar loses his job. McFadden is a good pass protector and catches the ball well. It makes sense to have him on the field for 3rd down. I believe it will be Randle and and Williams splitting carries with McFadden coming in on 3rd downs.

 

[visionary]

I meant, except you, visionary.

So when you said you you actually meant everyone except you?

Got it
Thx

 

[Verdict]

I was in the camp of resigning Murray. Having said that, McFadden is the most interesting running back on this roster. He is a very good receiver out of the backfield. Very good. I think he can put up very good numbers in this offense. I am more worried about him getting two tough yards at the goal line that Murray would have hammered in, or getting the last tough yard for a first down. Murray was uncanny at that. I am also worried about McFadden's durability ..... but I think the ability is there.

 

[erod]

The difference is that McFadden has been in the league a lot longer, and has been steadily declining over the last 4-5 seasons. Murray has never had a YPA below 4. McFadden hasn't had anything over 3.5 YPA since 2011, even with a decreased workload. For the record, I wouldn't have signed Murray to that deal, either, but McFadden isn't the answer.

Stats tell little.

Murray had Romo.

McFadden had about 37 different quarterbacks.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Me either, I think he's the third down back that Dunbar never was and that Dunbar loses his job. McFadden is a good pass protector and catches the ball well. It makes sense to have him on the field for 3rd down. I believe it will be Randle and and Williams splitting carries with McFadden coming in on 3rd downs.

As of today that's kinda how I see it too.

 

[big dog cowboy]

If I'm McFadden I'd worry about beating our Randal.

 

[Fletch]

You're Darren McFadden, and you're the worst player on the Cowboy offense.

You're the weak link, the biggest question mark, and the only guy that can keep this Lamborghini of an offense out of top gear.

You're also Darren McFadden, the freakishly talented 4th pick in the 2008 draft. Probably the greatest running back in the history of Arkansas. You're big, you're fast, and you were supposed to set this league on fire. Franchise player, one of the NFL all-time greats. That was your supposed destiny.

But Oakland happened, and you all but disappeared. First in the mired seasons of futility. Then the lonely confines of the injury list. And then the humbling reality of the wrong side of the depth chart. You became backup, Darren McFadden, the guy that should have.

Finally, the Raiders said "no thank you", and you were relegated to vagabond running back looking for work.

But then, "Pig Sooey" paid off, and look at you now.

You're here, where every running back in the NFL would love to be. Redemption is yours if you have it in you. Everything is there for the changing. The perfect team for a running back.

No better situation, no better opportunity on planet Earth. Running backs are dying to be you. BETTER backs are trying to finagle their way here and take your place in running back Utopia. And the reality is, your employer hopes they can.

Yesterday, you watched the best offensive line in football fall into another great lineman. You have a top 10 quarterback with a deadly group of receivers. You're on arguably the best offense in football, and it's designed for YOU.

Frankly, only you can screw this up, and you know it. You're job security is a fart in the whirlwind.

So what do you do? You'd better prepare like you've never prepared in your life. You'd better be in the best shape you're 27-year-old body is capable of. You'd better know the playbook better than DeMarco Murray, and you'd better finish the runs he couldn't. You'd better know every pass protection Linehan asks of you. You'd better run tougher than you did before, and you'd better hang on to the ball when you do it.

You're Darren McFadden, the unrealized superstar. Or are you?

Prove it.

Enjoyed that erod! Time for #20 to seize the moment, or die trying.

 

[CyberB0b]

Stats tell little.

Murray had Romo.

McFadden had about 37 different quarterbacks.

So what kind of production are you expecting out of McFadden? I'm expecting about 150 carries for about 525 yards.

 

[DFWJC]

I think it's pretty clear that McFadden is what he is at this point. 27 year old running backs don't generally get better with age. There are some circumstances here that could allow him to have success, but I wouldn't count on it.

Maybe so.

I did like what Justin Forsett did last year at age 29.

 

[Fletch]

I think it's pretty clear that McFadden is what he is at this point. 27 year old running backs don't generally get better with age. There are some circumstances here that could allow him to have success, but I wouldn't count on it.

So let's hope we get that 30 year old that hasn't played in over a year in here ASAFP!