Titans release RB DeMarco Murray

[Tugboat]

6 hours ago, Broncofan said:

When the decline phase hits, it hits hard for upright runner (well, TBH, RB's in general, but even more so for the guys who use power and/or are upright runners).

Yeah.  It'll be interesting to see what he has left.  He'll get at least another year to show he's got something left to give, somewhere.  It can be tough though.  His running style has always been a bad combination of the upright guy who really thrives when he's got the lanes to run clean, and that physical finishing that takes a real toll on the body.  Those violent top speed collisions add up.

I still think he might have a bit left, in the right situation.  But probably as more of a tandem guy, rather than any sort of specialist.

Makes sense for the Titans to move on though.  Frees up a bunch of cap, and they should be able to find a guy in the draft to tag team with Henry.  They don't automatically have to make Henry a true bell cow, just because Demarco Murray is cut loose.  Other backs are always out there.  Fresh legs.

[Dashing202]

2 hours ago, titans0021 said:

Wait...where's 764 yards coming from? 

I honestly was concerned you were being sarcastic and that I overreacted to your first post. This past season, he averaged over four yards per carry in four of 15 games. In his last 23 games, he's averaged over four yards per carry seven times and under 3.5 14 times.  The worst running teams in football averaged 3.4 yards per attempt last season. The 19th ranked running team averaged 4.0. So, basically, over the last season and a half, you were twice as likely to get a Murray that was equivalent (or worse) to the worst rushing game in the NFL as you were to get a Murray that provided league-average production.

You don't even need to make Henry a true feature back. You can replace Murray's production with almost every single NFL caliber running back. DeMarco Murray, I believe, was on the books to be the sixth highest paid player in the league at this position. I don't care what the cap looks like, no NFL team will pay that for a guy that's had one above average stretch in the last three years. Murray is just so easily replaceable and, from a pure running style standpoint, offers nothing that Henry doesn't bring to the table. Even if Henry isn't getting 300 touches next year (and I'll be very surprised if he does), you want to find a back that offers some speed and explosiveness. Some lightning to Henry's thunder. Not an aging back with broken down legs that can't stay healthy or hit the hole any more.

U said something about 764 , I guess you meant last season.

i respect your analysts tho .

[SteelKing728]

I always found DeMarco Murray's career overall disappointing.

He's had a few good years, but I expected more from him. 

I imagine he'll catch on as a #2 somewhere, signing a 2 year deal at most. 

[Kparty15]

I was under the impression that the Titans OL wasn’t as good this year as it has been over the past few years.  Idk whether that was due to injuries or losing guys to free agency.  Mariota getting hurt let teams focuse more on the run game and Henry had an increased role this year too.  I’m sure Murray has lost a step, but I bet the Titans would’ve kept him around if he didn’t have that large of a contract.

[Heinz D.]

14 hours ago, Broncofan said:

Demarco Murray's 6.5M 2018 contract would have made him the 5th highest paid RB in the NFL.  5M is the 10th highest.   It's not even close to a reasonable contract for the guy he is now.  Just a thought.

Really, whether it's "reasonable" or not depends on the team's cap situation.

13 hours ago, titans0021 said:

Even if Henry isn't getting 300 touches next year (and I'll be very surprised if he does), you want to find a back that offers some speed and explosiveness. Some lightning to Henry's thunder. Not an aging back with broken down legs that can't stay healthy or hit the hole any more.

Well...again, you're assuming he's done. We'll simply have to disagree on the certainty of that assessment. However, what you're talking about there suggests the Titans spending a high pick on a back (most likely no later than 3rd). Do you think that's the best use of their draft capital? Personally, I'm not so sure. You draft a guy late or pick up a JAG, you're taking a big risk, and potentially exposing Henry. 

[Broncofan]

22 minutes ago, Heinz D. said:

Really, whether it's "reasonable" or not depends on the team's cap situation.

...Well...again, you're assuming he's done. We'll simply have to disagree on the certainty of that assessment. However, what you're talking about there suggests the Titans spending a high pick on a back (most likely no later than 3rd). Do you think that's the best use of their draft capital? Personally, I'm not so sure. You draft a guy late or pick up a JAG, you're taking a big risk, and potentially exposing Henry. 

Actually, I think the Titans will spend a day 3 pick on RB - to provide depth for Henry, and a COP guy.  Because you can find that without having to invest major resources.   Henry is their guy, and they'll get depth quite cheaply.  The RB market makes that a reality nowadays.   It's easy to point to Kareem Hunt or Kamara - but you don't even have to use those extreme examples.   Don't believe me?   Take a look at the last 3 years of draft RB's:

2017:

Rd 4-7 - Samuel Perine, Tarik Cohen, Marlon Mack, Aaron Jones, Jamal Williams, Chris Carson

2016:

Rd 4-7 - Kenneth Dixon, Jordan Howard, Alex Collins

2015:

Rd 4-7 - Buck Allen, Jay Ajayi

2014:

Rd 4-7 - Devonta Freeman, James White

That list is just Rd4+ who became starters for their teams, or big key players - we're not talking about what TEN would be even looking for, since Henry is their guy.   

And that's before you talk about late Rd 3, which if you want a more sure starter, gets you really good talent - thing is, given they have Henry, they aren't looking to get a starter, just depth.   A 3rd gets cheap talent like Hunt/Kamara/D'Onta Foreman/David Johnson/Tevin Coleman/Kenyan Drake.   Again, though, Henry is a guy they're happy to take over, they can easily find depth to be his backup/COP later.  So, no, I don't expect a huge investment - which again...5th highest salary for Murray.   I don't have to assume he's done - I just have to assume he's done being a top 20 RB to make it compelling argument if he was being paid at top 10-15 prices. At top 5?   Slam dunk.  

And the final part of the equation - what alternative do you have if you don't keep Murray?   If there were no choices, there's some argument.  But again we have a deep draft class.  Which then allows TEN to get a depth guy.   And which likely contributes to Murray signing for a much cheaper deal wherever he goes - which reflects his lower value nowadays.  Which is what matters more...not his name, or his past production.

Your assumption is that teams have to spend huge draft or $ capital for a RB - they don't, unless the guy is generational, or elite.  Demarco is none of those anymore.   No matter how you slice it, a 6.5M RB salary that is top 5, for a guy who's not even a top 10 at this stage, or likely top 15-20 RB this year, is nuts.     Overpaying for a guy would only be justified if there is no reasonable alternative, or the guy in question is such a difference-maker that he justifies the extra cost.    Again, Demarco is none of those.

We can certainly agree to disagree - there's just no rational argument to back your belief up, other than his name and past production.   That seldom ends well.

[Heinz D.]

51 minutes ago, Broncofan said:

Actually, I think the Titans will spend a day 3 pick on RB - to provide depth for Henry, and a COP guy.  Because you can find that without having to invest major resources.   Henry is their guy, and they'll get depth quite cheaply.  The RB market makes that a reality nowadays.   It's easy to point to Kareem Hunt or Kamara - but you don't even have to use those extreme examples.   Don't believe me?   

I do believe you, actually, and am also aware of how the last few drafts have gone. Thanks, though. 

My issue is with what I bolded in there. All things point to you being correct in your interpretation of their intentions. My position is that, if I were the Titans GM, Henry has not shown me conclusively he can really be counted on to be a true feature back. And as such, that changes the entire situation for me. This is a team that could definitely return to the playoffs, and maybe make it to the AFC Championship. If they were rebuilding, or middle of the road, my take on their strategy would be different. 

[-Hope-]

17 hours ago, Tugboat said:

Makes sense for the Titans to move on though.  Frees up a bunch of cap, and they should be able to find a guy in the draft to tag team with Henry.  They don't automatically have to make Henry a true bell cow, just because Demarco Murray is cut loose.  Other backs are always out there.  Fresh legs.

yeah, i'd be stunned if we ended the offseason without acquiring a RB in the mid rounds of the draft or FA.

[RuskieTitan]

3 hours ago, Heinz D. said:

I do believe you, actually, and am also aware of how the last few drafts have gone. Thanks, though. 

My issue is with what I bolded in there. All things point to you being correct in your interpretation of their intentions. My position is that, if I were the Titans GM, Henry has not shown me conclusively he can really be counted on to be a true feature back. And as such, that changes the entire situation for me. This is a team that could definitely return to the playoffs, and maybe make it to the AFC Championship. If they were rebuilding, or middle of the road, my take on their strategy would be different. 

Did you watch the playoffs by any chance?

Here:

 

Derrick Henry finished with 151 yards on 23 carries for a 6.8 ypc average and sealed the game at the end.

He's been stuck behind Demarco Murray for the past few seasons, and you are complaining he hasn't shown you he can be the true feature back? Well better never let him start to find out, am I right?

I understand that maybe he won't actually prove it, but anyone who bothered to watch a Titans game over the past two seasons can tell you that when it comes to running, Henry would outshine Murray the vast majority of the time. He might not be an all-purpose superstar back like Le'Veon Bell, but he should be more than capable of handling the bellcow role.

[Heinz D.]

3 hours ago, RuskieTitan said:

Did you watch the playoffs by any chance?

Here:

 

Derrick Henry finished with 151 yards on 23 carries for a 6.8 ypc average and sealed the game at the end.

He's been stuck behind Demarco Murray for the past few seasons, and you are complaining he hasn't shown you he can be the true feature back? Well better never let him start to find out, am I right?

I understand that maybe he won't actually prove it, but anyone who bothered to watch a Titans game over the past two seasons can tell you that when it comes to running, Henry would outshine Murray the vast majority of the time. He might not be an all-purpose superstar back like Le'Veon Bell, but he should be more than capable of handling the bellcow role.

No, I didn't watch the playoffs. At all. I actually try not to watch football, or follow it very closely. That makes it all that much more enjoyable to post on football forum sites.

And the wisdom of a team who has Super Bowl aspirations approaching the season with the plan to "find out" if their second string running back can be a "true feature back" is absolutely unassailable. You've got me there. I'll let you far more knowledgeable folks retake the discussion, and lay out how three or four million dollars in cap space is worth potentially blowing a hole in your roster.

Peace! 

[dtait93]

19 minutes ago, Heinz D. said:

No, I didn't watch the playoffs. At all. I actually try not to watch football, or follow it very closely. That makes it all that much more enjoyable to post on football forum sites.

And the wisdom of a team who has Super Bowl aspirations approaching the season with the plan to "find out" if their second string running back can be a "true feature back" is absolutely unassailable. You've got me there. I'll let you far more knowledgeable folks retake the discussion, and lay out how three or four million dollars in cap space is worth potentially blowing a hole in your roster.

Peace! 

What else would Henry have to do to prove to you that he is capable of being a feature back? I can assure you the hole would still be there on our roster if we would have trotted Murray out there week in and week out. That 3-4 million dollars you speak of can be used much more wisely to bring in a back that compliments Henry's skill set. If you watched any Titans games last year it would be very clear to you how superior of a runner Henry was. You have to see what else you got in your 2nd round pick that has more than flashed. Teams do this all the time. Move on from the overpaid diminishing vet to the cheaper and superior younger player

[Heinz D.]

3 minutes ago, dtait93 said:

What else would Henry have to do to prove to you that he is capable of being a feature back? I can assure you the hole would still be there on our roster if we would have trotted Murray out there week in and week out. That 3-4 million dollars you speak of can be used much more wisely to bring in a back that compliments Henry's skill set. If you watched any Titans games last year it would be very clear to you how superior of a runner Henry was. You have to see what else you got in your 2nd round pick that has more than flashed. Teams do this all the time. Move on from the overpaid diminishing vet to the cheaper and superior younger player

Ummm...do it for another season?

The money I speak of should remain with Murray, with the Titans using a low level (or even UFA) slot for another back. If Murray ends up being the third back--GASP!--that's absolutely fine. It's only money. 

[dtait93]

9 hours ago, Heinz D. said:

Ummm...do it for another season?

The money I speak of should remain with Murray, with the Titans using a low level (or even UFA) slot for another back. If Murray ends up being the third back--GASP!--that's absolutely fine. It's only money. 

There's no point doing it for another season. He already proved what he can do last season.

And lol...it's only money. Glad you aren't the GM. We'd be in cap hell with that mind set. Sorry but not interested in paying a 3rd down back that's injured all the time with no burst/vision 6 mil. That's stupid.

[Heinz D.]

11 hours ago, dtait93 said:

Glad you aren't the GM.

I'm sure you are. I'd have done any number of crazy things you wouldn't approve of. Like retaining a coach who turned the team around, and won a playoff game--just this last season. 

[ttitansfan4life]

10 hours ago, Heinz D. said:

I'm sure you are. I'd have done any number of crazy things you wouldn't approve of. Like retaining a coach who turned the team around, and won a playoff game--just this last season. 

Thank god for Jon Robinson getting rid of that bum. No more prehistoric offenses!!!