Dallas Cowboys 2015 Running Game: Darren McFadden Can Have Same Success as DeMarco Murray

I have to ask the Cowboy’s fans and the Cowboy haters out there two vital questions regarding the Dallas Cowboys previous and current running backs?

1. How well did DeMarco Murray run the football before his monster 2014 season with the Dallas Cowboys?
2. How well did Darren McFadden run the football as an Oakland Raider before he signed with the Dallas Cowboys?

First, we will address DeMarco Murray’s rushing stats before 2014. According to the NFL.com, Murray’s player profile states the following rushing numbers listed in the snapshot below…

 

photo: NFL.com

Second, we will address Darren McFadden’s rushing stats as a Raider before signing with the Cowboys. According to the NFL.com, McFadden’s player profile states the following rushing numbers listed in the snapshot below…

photo: NFL.com

Comparing the two running backs was very interesting to me. Just looking at the stats alone, DeMarco Murray averaged 4.9 yards per carry his from 2011 to 2013. Darren McFadden has averaged 4.1 yards per carry throughout his entire career at Oakland. Remember, these are strictly numbers before the Murray’s big rushing season in 2014 that produced 1,845 yards.

The reason I bring this up is because, Murray ran for a career best 1,121 in 2013. McFadden’s career best was 1,157 back in 2010. Before the 2014 season, Murray and McFadden produced similar careers. Both backs had a difficult time staying on the field due to numerous injuries in their careers. Both running backs a very similar except in running styles.

Most who have watched these two run know that Murray is a tough, hard nose running back while McFadden is more of a homerun hitter. Either way, I believe that both of these running backs were the same in their careers. The only thing that changed was the 2014 addition of Zack Martin at guard for the Cowboys line. Martin allowed the Cowboys to be considered one of the best offensive lines in football in 2014.

Martin was not the only new arrival in 2014. Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan was also a new addition. The play calling from Linehan allowed Murray to receive the ball 392 times. The most Murray received the ball prior was 217 times. The most attempts McFadden had in his career, as a Raider, was 223 back in 2010 when he went for 1,157 yards.

All of the question marks regarding Murray prior to the 2014 season was, “Can Murray stay healthy for a full season?” Remarkably after his 1,845 yard season, everyone asked, “How could the Cowboys let him go?

If you were a business owner of a company and your employee was hurt 23.3% of each year, 3 of the 4 years with the business, how would you feel? Would you, as an owner, reward your employee with a big contract based on 1 year of attending work full time?

In order to get a big contract employees normally need to show their dedication to the company especially in the first few years with the company. Owners, CEO’s and top executive management are always looking for the best and brightest talents to bring in with the better dedication.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved Murray, but being hurt 3 out of 4 years was not the winning pitch to get a bigger contract. Technically, Murray was hurt 3 of 4 years while at the University of Oklahoma, according to Pro Football Talk.com. McFadden has had the same issues as Murray.

Now the football world will see if McFadden can produce behind the same line as Murray did. McFadden was not hired to get 1,800 yards, but his $3 to 6 million contract depends on reaching 1,000 yards each of the two years signed plus a few other incentives, according to ESPN.com.

McFadden’s success in 2015 will depend on three things: (1) his ability to stay healthy, (2) Linehan’s play calling capabilities, and (3) the offensive line play. I don’t see why McFadden cannot succeed like Murray did.

Again, the only big difference in my opinion is Murray was a tough running back where McFadden is a homerun hitter. There were many times when Murray was caught from behind. If McFadden gets some steam I believe his 40-yard dash time of 4.33 will come into play, according to NFL.com. Even if he has slowed down, his estimated current speed of 4.43 will still assist him.

Give McFadden the same weapons in Dallas Murray had and I believe he will be fine. Put Murray out in Oakland and I think Murray would have been out of the league by now. It takes a strong minded player to stay in Oakland for 7 years. Murray is mentally tough as well, but Murray may have had a broken leg or something messing around with the Raiders.

Think about it….

Oakland for 7 years?

McFadden’s first year in 2015 should be similar to Murray’s 2014 year behind the same line and maybe better because they have gelled. I am not looking for 1,800+ yards, just the same per play average of 4.5 to 4.9 yards per carry. Let Joseph Randle produce the other 500 to 800 yards.