Dallas Cowboys: Could Darren McFadden Have A Big Year?

When the Dallas Cowboys signed running back Darren McFadden a few weeks ago to a multi-year contract, most Cowboys fans breathed a collective sigh of anger. They just lost their star back in DeMarco Murray to their bitter rival Eagles, and the answer to this huge hole was a running back that up until 2014 had not played a full 16-game season during an injury-plagued seven-year career.

Many Dallas fans could not see McFadden producing anything close to Murray’s numbers from his time in Dallas and were not interested in owner Jerry Jones’ explanations as to why he did what he did.

It has been a few weeks now, and if “Cowboys Nation” is willing to take a collective and figurative step back from the edge of the roof of AT&T Stadium, they would be able to take a hard look at McFadden’s NFL career and see the news is not all bad. In fact, there are many reasons why Dallas fans should actually be excited about 2015 in terms of their team’s rushing attack and McFadden’s potential to excel.

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While it is true that McFadden has struggled to stay on the field, the good news is that his most recent season was his best when it comes to his collective health. And a deeper look into his past shows only one season (2011) where he did not play double-digit number of games in a season. While his career average for games played is closer to 12 a year, he likely will not be asked to carry the ball as many times as Murray did in 2013 or 2014. McFadden’s top total in season carries is 223, a more realistic number for him in 2015.

The better news for the Cowboys and their fans is that while McFadden played for a team in Oakland that could not run-block or put together a competent NFL offense in just about every year he played with them. Still, he has managed to averaged over four yards per carry during his career. All told, 2010 was probably McFadden’s best year statistically. He ran for over 1,000 yards and averaged over five yards a carry with seven touchdowns on the season.

It was also a better year than most for the Raiders offensive line when it came to run blocking. Pro Football Focus ranked them 11th that year in efficiency, a rating that blew away the one the Raiders line received in almost any other year McFadden played. He has never run behind a line ranked higher than that.

“So, yes he would have liked to have had a more productive career. But the kinds of skills that got him drafted with the fourth pick in the draft, he still has.”- Jerry Jones

Why does any of this matter to Cowboys fans? Over the last several seasons, the Cowboys offensive line has ranked consistently in the top half of the NFL when it comes to run blocking, and many times in the Top 5 to 10. In 2010, McFadden’s best year, the Cowboys were ranked second overall in this category by Pro Football Focus, yet the team did not have any 1,000 yard rushers. Could you imagine what McFadden could have done behind that line? He will come into 2015 with a line that was again ranked second last year in run-blocking efficiency.

Sep 28, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72), guard Ronald Leary (65) and tackle Tyron Smith (77) on the line of scrimmage against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium. Dallas beat New Orleans 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

This is why Jerry Jones was so excited to bring him in. He admitted as much in an interview with the Pro Football Talk staff on NBC Sports Radio, when he was quoted as saying: “So, yes he would have liked to have had a more productive career. But the kinds of skills that got him drafted with the fourth pick in the draft, he still has.”

Add to that the passing attack that Dallas has and how play action will come into play for their running game success, and one can start to see why bringing in a player like McFadden could actually be a huge win for Jones and the Cowboys. Time will tell who was right: Jones or the collective fan base in Dallas. But rushing to judgment now based on any player’s record in Oakland is a rash overreaction.

Next: Dallas Cowboys: Will Ameer Abdullah be the next great RB?

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