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Anybody buying on Demarco Murray? (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter xenon
- Start date
Amused to Death
Footballguy
At the end of a run during 11-on-11 drills on Tuesday, Eagles running back DeMarco Murray went right to the ground, and was quickly surrounded by trainers. At the time, it looked to be a hamstring pull, or something that might have the team's new $40 million running back missing some time.
After practice, Murray revealed what kept him on the ground.
"I got hit in the balls," Murray said as he walked into the locker room.
Ouch.
The shot to his manhood only cost Murray a few plays in what was an otherwise successful practice for the running back.
Murray has looked more and more comfortable out on the practice field as the weeks have gone by, and pulled off a few long runs on Tuesday. He has also started to look better catching the ball out of the backfield, a requirement for all of the running backs in head coach Chip Kelly's offense.
dhockster
Footballguy
karmarooster
Footballguy
I feel like Murray (and to some extent Mathews) could be huge at the beginning of the season, when whatever wrinkles Kelly has dreamed up during the off-season are unleashed on the NFL, and the Eagles favor the run while the QB situation stabilizes. I'm picturing McCoy and Vick in early 2013 when the NFL didn't know what hit them, when McCoy gouged yards with as many carries as he could handle until completely gassed. By mid-season, QB play should improve and it may become more difficult to decipher Murray v Mathews v Sproles week to week.
I don't expect too much deciphering will be needed with Murray-Matthews-Sproles...I am in the camp that thinks Chip Kelly was caught by surprise when the Cowboys let Murray slip. He did not see that coming and, hence, ended up with both Murray and Matthews on contract. If he had signed Murray first, I don't think Mathews would have ended in Philly. He is a great, but also quite expensive insurance to have.
Since Murray is the better back in all aspects of the game, I expect him to be the lead guy while healthy. Mathews role is going to be to spell out Murray + maybe some goalline work. Matthews' historical brittleness is another reason I would expect under 10 touches (mostly carries) per game for him when all are healthy - it just doesn't make sense to put more. Sproles will syphon some passing down opportunities here and there, but he has a very specific role that is practically a non-RB one. If he gets hurt, I doubt any of the other two RBs picks up volume.
Since Murray is the better back in all aspects of the game, I expect him to be the lead guy while healthy. Mathews role is going to be to spell out Murray + maybe some goalline work. Matthews' historical brittleness is another reason I would expect under 10 touches (mostly carries) per game for him when all are healthy - it just doesn't make sense to put more. Sproles will syphon some passing down opportunities here and there, but he has a very specific role that is practically a non-RB one. If he gets hurt, I doubt any of the other two RBs picks up volume.
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Kwai Chang Caine
Footballguy
Every time Murray will be in for a drive, he won't be coming off. Mathews will spell him a drive here and there and that is a good thing. If you throw out Bell because of the suspension, then I like Murray above all other backs except Lacy. And you can often get him round 2!
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unckeyherb
Footballguy
Murray DID sign first. Mathews was set to sign and I believe was in the building (or at least in philly) when the whole fanfare, Demario's jet landing media explosion happened. Then they both signed, Mathews after Murray.
I think that chip plans on running the ball 35+ times a game and needs the horses to do it.
Not necessarily disagreeing. Chip got ~30 running plays per game in both 2013 and 2014, so 35 won't be far off.
But it's worth considering what evidence do we have that Chip wants to run even more...other than signing both Murray and Matthews, which as discussed may not be 100% intentional. According to PFF, he went from 4th (2013) to 7th (2014) in the league in rushing attempts (which could be driven by game flow), but from 27th to 5th in pass attempts. He is obviously got his fast-paced offense going, but that translated into a lot more passes with the same absolute number of rushes. Some small re-balancing might happen, but hard to imagine even 30 carries / games going to the RBs.
Fantasysports1
Footballguy
i don't think Demarco should be taken 7th overall in PPR. You are better off taking a stud WR like Julio.
Kwai Chang Caine
Footballguy
I like Murray more. I don't quite get the Julio love. He's hurt himself quite a bit and stinks in the Redzone. But it is possible to get jones then Murray. Unless you're in a homer league which Insein might be...
Insein
Footballguy
Homer league. And first time PPR. I think Murray will be gone by 18 but a good WR may still be there.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
The O-Line had problems with run-blocking, especially early in the year when Kelce and Mathis were out, and Kelly said that contributed to him calling less running plays than he wanted to. Provided everyone up front stays healthy, I think he will call more running plays this year.
Trade out of the spot then. Murray at 7 in PPR would be crazy. Maybe not Julio, but you could get (as hard as they would be to draft/cheer for) ODB or Dez at that spot.
All these ex-cowboys seem to have total blind allegiances to their former team. Hearing Emmitt and Irvin chime in is comical at times. Didn't smith also say last week that Murray was wrong to join a div rival and he'd never do that?
Insein
Footballguy
Irvin actually said it was a huge mistake to let Murray go.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/15/michael-irvin-eagles-the-favorites-because-of-demarco-murray/
I know Irvin said that, I was mentioning Smith's comments.
Irvin did say the eagles were favourites for the div. But in general, he is always sticking up for the cowboys/Dez/etc.
Insein
Footballguy
Ted Mullins
Footballguy
Can't remember who it was but I remember a few people saying that signing Mathews after Murray signed was a courtesy type thing...like they had the offer out to Mathews but when Murray signed, they didn't want Mathews as much anymore but they didn't want to pull the offer either. No clue how true that is and Mathews ended up signing anyways obviously.
I actually think Mathews is good enough that it limits Murray's touches a decent bit, maybe finishes with 300-325ish pace over the 16 games? Mathews has obviously been hurt a lot but is a good runner and I'd assume Sproles hogs the passing down work. This could all be out the window if Chip has something up his sleeve with these guys on the field together fairly often.
Basically I still like Murray and agree his season has become under-appreciated but I do temper expectations as I worry that he only gets 75-80% of the (already quite efficient) touches he had last year. This seems to be priced in to a decent extent as he'd be top 2-3 if we expected anywhere near last year's load. PPR maybe worries me a little more due to Sproles.
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Bracie Smathers
Footballguy
Go to the link for the full read:
http://www.csnphilly.com/football-philadelphia-eagles/demarco-murray-dangerous-territory-after-historic-2014
http://www.csnphilly.com/football-philadelphia-eagles/demarco-murray-dangerous-territory-after-historic-2014
The article mentions RB DeMarco Murray had the most carries of any player in NFL history in a season before he changed teams but Murray is also the first healthy leading rusher in NFL history to change teams so it makes sense he'd have the most carries in NFL history before changing teams because no team has ever traded away or let someone who produced league leading numbers get away so it will be interesting to see what Murray does this year.
Kwai Chang Caine
Footballguy
I caught part of an interview today on 97.5 in Philly (can't remember the analyst's name) but this gentleman claimed that Jerry jones controls all propaganda coming out of Dallas and the fact that Murray was gonna walk made him pump up all the success to the o-line. This guy maintained that Murray was much more responsible for his success the the line. We shall see.
Manster
Footballguy
Murray clearly wore down with the workload last season. He runs violently. He intiates, and takes a lot of contact. I don't wanna take away from what he did last season, because he had a great season.......aside from wearing down and costly fumbles. I think Dallas would most definitely be better with him still on their team. But, they did the right thing by not paying him. They've built a juggernaut of an O-line. Murray is not an "elite" talent. He's very good, but can be replaced.
Time will tell if he will be able to duplicate in Philly.
Time will tell if he will be able to duplicate in Philly.
Insein
Footballguy
But they didn't replace him. I don't see McFadden or Randle doing anything near what he did last year.
Kwai Chang Caine
Footballguy
This. This is one of the most interesting stories that I can't wait to see unfold. The Dallas RBs look like dreck to me. DMC ran worse than his other teammates in Oakland over the last few years. I don't know that that line will make a difference for him.
Manster
Footballguy
Im convinced the Cowboys see Randle as the replacement, at least for now. He looked good in limited reps. last season. He's faster than Murray, with a little more wiggle. Prolly wont be as physical. I have no confidence in DMac staying healthy. IF he can, he could be a very good 3rd down/special package back. He's a good pass catcher/pass blocker. I am a little bit excited to see him behind our line......but yea, the injury history.
Or they bring in another back during TC.
If the running game is serviceable the Cowboys should be fine. The O-line is absolutely stacked. Don't forget, they added Lael Collins, who was a first round talent. Romo's got plenty of weapons at his disposal. The defense will better than most think. Hardy and McClain are the wild cards.......and Lee staying healthy.
Or they bring in another back during TC.
If the running game is serviceable the Cowboys should be fine. The O-line is absolutely stacked. Don't forget, they added Lael Collins, who was a first round talent. Romo's got plenty of weapons at his disposal. The defense will better than most think. Hardy and McClain are the wild cards.......and Lee staying healthy.
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
Exactly. He had the greatest offensive line ever, and never came close to 2,000 yards. Yeah, Murray "left yards on the field," yet still outdid Smith's best season ever.
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
Emmitt played against far better defenses and almost never got caught from behind. Murray gets run down on every play. You're insinuating that Murray > Emmitt and that's far crazier then what Emmitt, Tomlinson, the underwear model, and a few others have said.
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
No, I said that Murray outdid Smith's best season, which is factually true. Smith's comments smack of that old-timers "I would have done this or that" chatter.
Fantasysports1
Footballguy
At this point you almost have to take Demarco once CJ, Forte and Foster are taken.
BigSteelThrill
Footballguy
ChuckLiddell
Footballguy
cr8f
Footballguy
That's where he's going based on rankings here (9th) but I agree with before Forte and Foster.
jurb26
Footballguy
Yup, before CJ for sure IMO. Forte maybe, depends a lot on scoring. Foster, probably not.
Sabertooth
Footballguy
Are people really taking foster over Murray? This guy is undervalued right now. He's a perfect fit for Kelly's offense. He's going to show the problem was McCoy not the system or line.
jurb26
Footballguy
Foster seems to be a forgotten man in fantasy right now. Well, not totally forgotten but people certainly are forgetting how good he is. Foster was RB3 in PPG last year, less than 1 PPG behind Murray who was #1. Foster didn't change teams and we should feel pretty confident in what his usage will be. He also has a much longer track record of high/elite performance. Both have great injury histories and concerns. Injury might be the main factor in why Foster is being largely ignored at the top of the RB rankings. Compared to Murray however, this seems like a push and no reason to downgrade.
Insein
Footballguy
No doubt Foster, when healthy is one of the top backs. People have fear of the immediate past though. He was injured last year.
Sabertooth
Footballguy
And the year before. Plus he's going to be 29 in a few weeks.
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