Alfred Morris Agrees to 2 Year deal with Dallas

[Hardcore troubadour 15,436]

Cowboys General Manager said DMC is still the starter.

[petekrum 20]

Cowboys General Manager said DMC is still the starter.

GMs and owners don't decide who starts for properly run teams, so you're right, he's probably the starter.

[Ray_T 753]

Cowboys General Manager said DMC is still the starter.

yes. I am not surprised.

 

but this could be a situation where he gets 15 touches a game instead of 20.

 

He'd still be the starter, but wouldnt put up the same numbers.

[weepaws 3,193]

Short yardage and goal line work , good fit in heavy td leagues . Good move for the Cowboys .

 

Does little for me only in ppr leagues .

 

So McFadden would be the higher ranking player for me .

[BobSanders_33 127]

Poor system fit. Alf will be a game flow dependent running back. A two down back sharing 2 down work with an equally "talented" DMC. Third downs and two minute offense will belong to Dunbar.

[Hardcore troubadour 15,436]

If the Rams cut Foles, that's a guy the Cowboys should look at. He's not great, but he has won some games.

[sirensong 111]

If the Rams cut Foles, that's a guy the Cowboys should look at. He's not great, but he has won some games.

 

wonder what he would cost. i don't see jerry going much over ~$4M per year, and i don't know that a 2-team starter would accept an offer that low.

[R8RMick 242]

Running game will be very ordinary with those two.

[Frozenbeernuts 2,264]

If the Rams cut Foles, that's a guy the Cowboys should look at. He's not great, but he has won some games.

I hope he does. That Rams offense is a pit of despair after Gurley. Plus Fischer is a horrible coach.

[the newb 23]

Running game will be very ordinary with those two.

[murf74 461]

I think it will be a nice backfield top to bottom now. Fantasy wise each will have some value but not huge.

[TimmySmith 2,782]

When Alf is hungry he is a solid back. However, he has always been one of those guys who starts killing it at carry 14. I do not see him working out as an 8-10 touch guy.

[Cruzer 1,995]

Running game will be very ordinary with those two.

Good - ordinary running games win in the NFL, provided your passing game and defense is stout.

[weepaws 3,193]

I think the Cowboys know what they have when they sign Morris , in standard leagues I think he will be a good rb two.

 

A rb three in ppr leagues .

[R8RMick 242]

When Alf is hungry he is a solid back. However, he has always been one of those guys who starts killing it at carry 14. I do not see him working out as an 8-10 touch guy.

 

Only ten players in the NFL averaged at least 14 carries last season, one of them was McFadden. So if he goes down and Alf gets that job, yeah it could happen.

[Cruzer 1,995]

Only ten players in the NFL averaged at least 14 carries last season...

Interesting note on that: Of the 10 teams who had a RB average 14 carries a game (min 223 carries), only 3 of them made the playoffs.... It's new game today.

[Hardcore troubadour 15,436]

Good - ordinary running games win in the NFL, provided your passing game and defense is stout.

Is the Cowboys defense stout?

[R8RMick 242]

Interesting note on that: Of the 10 teams who had a RB average 14 carries a game (min 223 carries), only 3 of them made the playoffs.... It's new game today.

You're right, other than 2014 the Cowboys have been primarily a pass first team in the Jason Garrett era. And how's that worked out for you?

[Cruzer 1,995]

You're right, other than 2014 the Cowboys have been primarily a pass first team in the Jason Garrett era. And how's that worked out for you?

Not too good....... Coincidentally, the offense under that strategy has not been the problem.. Lack of defense has.

[R8RMick 242]

Not too good....... Coincidentally, the offense under that strategy has not been the problem.. Lack of defense has.

But a ball control offense HELPED your defense, even though the yards per play allowed and third down conversion stayed the same? That offense kept your defense off the field and allowed you 12 wins.

 

Just saying. That's a proven formula. Not sure why Cowboy fans are so anxious to scrap that.

[Cruzer 1,995]

But a ball control offense HELPED your defense, even though the yards per play allowed and third down conversion stayed the same? That offense kept your defense off the field and allowed you 12 wins.

 

Just saying. That's a proven formula. Not sure why Cowboy fans are so anxious to scrap that.

It helps, sure.. But you can get by with average running games, even below in some cases..... But dominant, turnover causing, pass rushing defenses are much more important - those are what wins you titles.

[R8RMick 242]

It helps, sure.. But you can get by with average running games, even below in some cases..... But dominant, turnover causing, pass rushing defenses are much more important - those are what wins you titles.

That must be the reason for new found interest in re-signing Hardy lol. Well, you got your average running game at least.

[weepaws 3,193]

Morris has a career avg of 4.5 yards per carry , and if the Cowboys Oline is as good as advertised he will upgrade their running game a lot . I still don't see a Super Bowl team but now they can take a good long look at the Qb postion .

 

I think they need to find someone to replace Romo , Romo has the look of a player that's breaking down .

[Cruzer 1,995]

That must be the reason for new found interest in re-signing Hardy lol. Well, you got your average running game at least.

For the right price, Hardy could be a value signing... As time ticks closer to camp, his price lowers - and he knows it... Like I said, average running games win titles - I'll take my chances if it means the defense improves.

[Frozenbeernuts 2,264]

I had a buddy asking if he should trade Morris for a late 2nd rookie pick. I told him to hold in case Dallas signed him. He was happy to have listened to me.

[sirensong 111]

You're right, other than 2014 the Cowboys have been primarily a pass first team in the Jason Garrett era. And how's that worked out for you?

 

garrett has always wanted a run-first approach, but they just didn't have the pieces to make it happen consistently. remember, garrett's tenure started out with having to dump a bunch of overpriced vets to get the cap under control. as an example, they went from pro bowl C gurode to an undersized 7th round rookie in garrett's first full season. they had junk up front, and an iffy stable of backs. once murray broke in, he was spotty but not reliable.

 

the 2015 approach is what garrett was talking about back when he was the interim HC. they just had to acquire the talent.

[sirensong 111]

But a ball control offense HELPED your defense, even though the yards per play allowed and third down conversion stayed the same? That offense kept your defense off the field and allowed you 12 wins.

 

Just saying. That's a proven formula. Not sure why Cowboy fans are so anxious to scrap that.

 

 

it's a question of which is preferable: compensating for a weak defense or fixing a weak defense.

 

over a full 16 game season, DMC would have challenged emmit's place as the 2nd best season output in team history. think about that for a second. in murray's record 2015 season, he averaged 4.7. DMC averaged 4.6 in 2015. what this suggests is that a 4th-pick upgrade of the RB position would result in diminishing returns--only a small upgrade resulting from an enormous investment of draft capital.

 

there are counterarguments to be made, but this is a powerful point.

[Hardcore troubadour 15,436]

 

 

it's a question of which is preferable: compensating for a weak defense or fixing a weak defense.

 

over a full 16 game season, DMC would have challenged emmit's place as the 2nd best season output in team history. think about that for a second. in murray's record 2015 season, he averaged 4.7. DMC averaged 4.6 in 2015. what this suggests is that a 4th-pick upgrade of the RB position would result in diminishing returns--only a small upgrade resulting from an enormous investment of draft capital.

 

there are counterarguments to be made, but this is a powerful point.

Not really. YPC is an empty stat if you don't compare the amount of carries. DMC wasnt even the starter until half way through the season. Keep this in mind about YPC: a guy scores from the 1 yard line, it brings his YPC down. A guy runs 12 yards on a draw play on 3rd and 20 it brings his YPC up. What's the better run?

[Ray_T 753]

Not really. YPC is an empty stat if you don't compare the amount of carries. DMC wasnt even the starter until half way through the season. Keep this in mind about YPC: a guy scores from the 1 yard line, it brings his YPC down. A guy runs 12 yards on a draw play on 3rd and 20 it brings his YPC up. What's the better run?

That's why TD's are worth 6 points.

[sirensong 111]

Not really. YPC is an empty stat if you don't compare the amount of carries. DMC wasnt even the starter until half way through the season. Keep this in mind about YPC: a guy scores from the 1 yard line, it brings his YPC down. A guy runs 12 yards on a draw play on 3rd and 20 it brings his YPC up. What's the better run?

 

and despite this, he finished 4th in rushing yards (8th in attempts). with a total of 129 yards rushing prior to week 7, he averaged 96 yds/game after taking over the lead role, despite godawful QB play and defenses loaded against the run. now, we can't automatically assume that this would have translated into a 1536 yard season, but 1400 is a very reasonable 16-game estimate. for a free agent whose cap number was just over $1M.

 

incidentally, DMC was also 8th in run success rate, with a better rate than forte, gurley, freeman, martin, or AP.

 

so what is it that you think you proved with the sentence in red?

[Hardcore troubadour 15,436]

 

and despite this, he finished 4th in rushing yards (8th in attempts). with a total of 129 yards rushing prior to week 7, he averaged 96 yds/game after taking over the lead role, despite godawful QB play and defenses loaded against the run. now, we can't automatically assume that this would have translated into a 1536 yard season, but 1400 is a very reasonable 16-game estimate. for a free agent whose cap number was just over $1M.

 

incidentally, DMC was also 8th in run success rate, with a better rate than forte, gurley, freeman, martin, or AP.

 

so what is it that you think you proved with the sentence in red?

I assumed it was common knowledge that he has an extensive injury history and a rep for being soft.

[Cruzer 1,995]

 

and despite this, he finished 4th in rushing yards (8th in attempts). with a total of 129 yards rushing prior to week 7, he averaged 96 yds/game after taking over the lead role, despite godawful QB play and defenses loaded against the run. now, we can't automatically assume that this would have translated into a 1536 yard season, but 1400 is a very reasonable 16-game estimate. for a free agent whose cap number was just over $1M.

It was a phenomenal season by a guy who all had written off as an old, slow, always injured player... When you factor into account that he did it with back up qbs who went 1-11 and w/out a #1 wr - it's mind blowing.. It's also the kind of season that defies the logic that you need a stud RB to have a running game.

 

Had Murray been on this team last year, and had Murray put up the kind of #'s DMC did - w'out Romo, w'out Dez, everyone would have been calling for Jerry to induct him in the Ring of Honor.

[sirensong 111]

I assumed it was common knowledge that he has an extensive injury history and a rep for being soft.

 

how is that relevant to your post about draws on 3rd and 20 skewing YPC, or my post talking about diminishing returns?

[sirensong 111]

It was a phenomenal season by a guy who all had written off as an old, slow, always injured player... When you factor into account that he did it with back up qbs who went 1-11 and w/out a #1 wr - it's mind blowing.. It's also the kind of season that defies the logic that you need a stud RB to have a running game.

 

Had Murray been on this team last year, and had Murray put up the kind of #'s DMC did - w'out Romo, w'out Dez, everyone would have been calling for Jerry to induct him in the Ring of Honor.

 

yeah, some people (i'm looking at you R8Rmick) forecast doom and gloom, calling the guy junk. that wasn't an altogether unreasonable projection, and at least R8R owned his miss (though he's talking the same way this offseason, evidently hoping to get it right sooner or later ). but he performed quite well, and there's no reason to expect a decline this season. the addition of morris bodes very well for him, keeping his carry count down and providing a change of pace.

[giraldi02 474]

DMC's injury history cannot be overlooked solely because he avoided missing time last season.

[Hardcore troubadour 15,436]

 

how is that relevant to your post about draws on 3rd and 20 skewing YPC, or my post talking about diminishing returns?

YPC on its own is a useless stat. If his YPC is so good, why not give it to him more? It's a first down every 3 carries according to YPC. Context is necessary.

[rholio 339]

It helps, sure.. But you can get by with average running games, even below in some cases..... But dominant, turnover causing, pass rushing defenses are much more important - those are what wins you titles.

I'm curious, which defensive stud did they pass up to sign Morris?

[Cruzer 1,995]

I'm curious, which defensive stud did they pass up to sign Morris?

They didn't.. But signing Morris solidifies the thinking that Elliot is not on the radar, thus freeing up the #4 pick overall on a defensive player.... Of course things change drastically if Wentz somehow falls.

[Ray_T 753]

DMC's injury history cannot be overlooked solely because he avoided missing time last season.

for the record, he did not miss time in 2014 or 2015.

 

but worth noting he was not very effective in 2014 when he did play.

 

it is possible he was playing hurt that year.

[Kent 228]

That line will help him but Alf runs now worrying about fumbling. Both arms wrapped around the ball and it slows him down. He's not the same guy.