Five possible draft replacements for DeMarco Murray in Dallas

[Simpleton]

The good thing about it is we will assuredly get a quality back. All is not lost with Murray's departure.

It's likely that very little is lost when you consider that Murray will never again produce like he did last year, and something should be gained when you consider that we probably don't get Hardy if we had signed Murray for what he got.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

It's funny how that works, but Chubb is a special RB, too. It's not like they just plugged some loser in and he got yards because of the line.

The problem is the biggest reason why Chubb is being viewed as a special back, is what he did last year. He only has one year of college production.

I think most Texas fans can attest that high school rankings with RBs are about as worthless as they get.

 

[Simpleton]

Sure, and every RB that Alabama brings in seems to be an elite recruit. Doesn't make them any less of a product of the O-line in front of them.

It's not necessarily a knock. I mean Chubb and Gurley both ran for over 7 yards an attempt. It's an insanely high number. No one would achieve that without some damn good blocking in front of them.

The fact that Georgia's OL is good doesn't change the fact that both Gurley and Chubb have special traits. If Gurley hadn't been injured he'd be a top 15 pick, and not because of his OL.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

The fact that Georgia's OL is good doesn't change the fact that both Gurley and Chubb have special traits. If Gurley hadn't been injured he'd be a top 15 pick, and not because of his OL.

Just makes one a little weary. Kind of like when a school like Auburn supposedly has "2 stud backs" at the same time. While they appear to have special traits, part of the reason why a team has multiple good looking RBs might just be because the O-line is that good.

Same goes for Arkansas when we saw McFadden and Felix.

My biggest concern with Gurley is his injury history. He is an injury prone RB who takes a ton of hits.

 

[Simpleton]

Just makes one a little weary. Kind of like when a school like Auburn supposedly has "2 stud backs" at the same time. While they appear to have special traits, part of the reason why a team has multiple good looking RBs might just be because the O-line is that good.

Same goes for Arkansas when we saw McFadden and Felix.

My biggest concern with Gurley is his injury history. He is an injury prone RB who takes a ton of hits.

It's a warranted concern but those were different cases, especially McFadden and Felix who were reaping the benefits of a gimmick that hadn't been figured out yet. Especially Felix who was never a full-time back, the idea of taking a RB in the 1st who has always been the 2nd RB is mind-boggling at this point.

Anyway, in terms of Gurley, when was the last time you saw a 230 lb RB average almost 40 yards per return over 11 kick returns in college with 2 TD's?

That type of speed and explosiveness is certainly not due to the OL.

If it wasn't for the injuries I'd be 100% on board with taking him at 27, and I'm still mostly on board as it is.

 

[Deuce]

If it wasn't for the injuries I'd be 100% on board with taking him at 27, and I'm still mostly on board as it is.

If it wasn't for the injuries, I'm 100% positive he would be a pipe dream at 27. I'm all about taking gifts when they're presented and a talent like his falling would be ideal.

 

[Simpleton]

If it wasn't for the injuries, I'm 100% positive he would be a pipe dream at 27. I'm all about taking gifts when they're presented and a talent like his falling would be ideal.

Yea, that's why I said he'd be a top 15 pick if it wasn't for the injuries.

 

[dallen]

It's a warranted concern but those were different cases, especially McFadden and Felix who were reaping the benefits of a gimmick that hadn't been figured out yet. Especially Felix who was never a full-time back, the idea of taking a RB in the 1st who has always been the 2nd RB is mind-boggling at this point.

Anyway, in terms of Gurley, when was the last time you saw a 230 lb RB average almost 40 yards per return over 11 kick returns in college with 2 TD's?

That type of speed and explosiveness is certainly not due to the OL.

If it wasn't for the injuries I'd be 100% on board with taking him at 27, and I'm still mostly on board as it is.

McFadden was racking up the yards even before we went to the WildHog

 

[Texas Ace]

The problem is the biggest reason why Chubb is being viewed as a special back, is what he did last year. He only has one year of college production.

I think most Texas fans can attest that high school rankings with RBs are about as worthless as they get.

Ain't that the truth.

~Looks at Malcolm Brown and Jonathan Gray~

 

[Simpleton]

McFadden was racking up the yards even before we went to the WildHog

I was saying that mostly in regard to Felix, McFadden looked like he was going to be a damn good back a few years ago but he could never stay healthy. I didn't think McFadden ran with great power in college though, he's kind of cut high and doesn't have great lower body strength. Anyway, like I said earlier, injuries aside, Gurley would have almost no flaws as a prospect. He runs with speed and power, doesn't really fumble, can block and catch the ball out of the backfield.

 

[ravidubey]

Gurley would have almost no flaws as a prospect. He runs with speed and power, doesn't really fumble, can block and catch the ball out of the backfield.

The payoff for some playoff team drafting in the 20's is going to be huge for years to come.

 

[p1_]

This is all setting up very nicely for us. It's amazing, considering letting the league Offensive MVP walk.

 

[dallen]

I was saying that mostly in regard to Felix, McFadden looked like he was going to be a damn good back a few years ago but he could never stay healthy. I didn't think McFadden ran with great power in college though, he's kind of cut high and doesn't have great lower body strength. Anyway, like I said earlier, injuries aside, Gurley would have almost no flaws as a prospect. He runs with speed and power, doesn't really fumble, can block and catch the ball out of the backfield.

Yeah, I remember being concerned about his power at the NFL level. He always had really skinny legs

 

[Cowboysrock55]

It's a warranted concern but those were different cases, especially McFadden and Felix who were reaping the benefits of a gimmick that hadn't been figured out yet. Especially Felix who was never a full-time back, the idea of taking a RB in the 1st who has always been the 2nd RB is mind-boggling at this point.

Anyway, in terms of Gurley, when was the last time you saw a 230 lb RB average almost 40 yards per return over 11 kick returns in college with 2 TD's?

That type of speed and explosiveness is certainly not due to the OL.

If it wasn't for the injuries I'd be 100% on board with taking him at 27, and I'm still mostly on board as it is.

Yeah if he never missed a game in his college career I'd be all about him at 27. I'm not trying to rip the guy totally apart. I mean he is a 230 lb back with alleged 4.4 to sub 4.4 type speed. He isn't the most sudden back in the world but he cuts really well while going full speed. Once he is up to full speed basically no one wants to try and tackle the guy. Which is why he has been scary on kick returns.

The injuries bug me though. He plays a position in the NFL that takes more of a beating then any other position. On top of that his running style is going to lead to even more hits then the average back. If it was just a torn ACL and he was running at full speed already ala AP, I might be able to overlook it. But this is a guy who hasn't been able to play a full season in college football the last two years. Here is his injury history:

Durability is the biggest concern when projecting long-term success in NFL. In 2014, suffered season-ending ACL tear vs. Auburn (in first game back from four game suspension). In 2013, missed three games (UT, Missouri, Vanderbilt) with ankle injury, and did not appear to be 100 percent when he returned. Also missed portions of two other games with ankle and hip injuries.

 

[Simpleton]

Yeah if he never missed a game in his college career I'd be all about him at 27. I'm not trying to rip the guy totally apart. I mean he is a 230 lb back with alleged 4.4 to sub 4.4 type speed. He isn't the most sudden back in the world but he cuts really well while going full speed. Once he is up to full speed basically no one wants to try and tackle the guy. Which is why he has been scary on kick returns.

The injuries bug me though. He plays a position in the NFL that takes more of a beating then any other position. On top of that his running style is going to lead to even more hits then the average back. If it was just a torn ACL and he was running at full speed already ala AP, I might be able to overlook it. But this is a guy who hasn't been able to play a full season in college football the last two years. Here is his injury history:

Durability is the biggest concern when projecting long-term success in NFL. In 2014, suffered season-ending ACL tear vs. Auburn (in first game back from four game suspension). In 2013, missed three games (UT, Missouri, Vanderbilt) with ankle injury, and did not appear to be 100 percent when he returned. Also missed portions of two other games with ankle and hip injuries.

I don't disagree, and it's why I'd take a guy like Dupree over him at 27 if given the choice. But if the decision is down to Gurley, trading down and the best DL on the board is Goldman?

I totally understand wanting to go with Gurley, especially if Goldman is gone.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I don't disagree, and it's why I'd take a guy like Dupree over him at 27 if given the choice. But if the decision is down to Gurley, trading down and the best DL on the board is Goldman?

I totally understand wanting to go with Gurley, especially if Goldman is gone.

I understand being enticed by the talent. I've gone back and forth on Gurley myself. But you won't survive long in the NFL continually drafting injury prone players with top picks. Your team will look great to start every season and never do anything in the playoffs. The teams that are generally able to stay the healthiest are usually the teams standing there at the end of the season.

 

[Jiggyfly]

Yeah if he never missed a game in his college career I'd be all about him at 27. I'm not trying to rip the guy totally apart. I mean he is a 230 lb back with alleged 4.4 to sub 4.4 type speed. He isn't the most sudden back in the world but he cuts really well while going full speed. Once he is up to full speed basically no one wants to try and tackle the guy. Which is why he has been scary on kick returns.

The injuries bug me though. He plays a position in the NFL that takes more of a beating then any other position. On top of that his running style is going to lead to even more hits then the average back. If it was just a torn ACL and he was running at full speed already ala AP, I might be able to overlook it. But this is a guy who hasn't been able to play a full season in college football the last two years. Here is his injury history:

Durability is the biggest concern when projecting long-term success in NFL. In 2014, suffered season-ending ACL tear vs. Auburn (in first game back from four game suspension). In 2013, missed three games (UT, Missouri, Vanderbilt) with ankle injury, and did not appear to be 100 percent when he returned. Also missed portions of two other games with ankle and hip injuries.

I agree about Gurley add in the fact that this draft is so deep at RB and it makes that decision even harder.

I see it playing out similiar to Murray in Dallas he will look great but miss 2 to 3 games a year.

 

[BipolarFuk]

I was saying that mostly in regard to Felix, McFadden looked like he was going to be a damn good back a few years ago but he could never stay healthy. I didn't think McFadden ran with great power in college though, he's kind of cut high and doesn't have great lower body strength. Anyway, like I said earlier, injuries aside, Gurley would have almost no flaws as a prospect. He runs with speed and power, doesn't really fumble, can block and catch the ball out of the backfield.

Agreed. His only weakness he's been hurt. Wouldn't have a problem rolling the dice on him at all at 27 now that the Cracken is signed.

 

[ravidubey]

Durability is the biggest concern when projecting long-term success in NFL. In 2014, suffered season-ending ACL tear vs. Auburn (in first game back from four game suspension). In 2013, missed three games (UT, Missouri, Vanderbilt) with ankle injury, and did not appear to be 100 percent when he returned. Also missed portions of two other games with ankle and hip injuries.

Yeah that sounds dicey.

He has this loping style which probably makes him more of a downhill runner but his vision seems excellent. It's hard not to notice how fricking awesome the Georgia OL is at run blocking, but Gurley makes his own plays too.

 

[Texas Ace]

I also think Gordon will show to be a better receiver then people expect. The lack of catches in college for him has way more to do with the offense they ran then his ability as a receiver.

Plus we should be ok throwing to backs with McFadden in the fold.

Yes, we have to hope he stays healthy, but I would imagine he'll only get 10-12 touches a game at most so it increases his odds of staying healthy. McFadden is a great weapon in the passing game and his speed and acceleration are both excellent.

If he can avoid injury, I think McFadden is going to be a nice piece to the offense. I'll be pretty excited about him and Gordon together.