Are we really better off at RB than last year?

[Praxit]

..we had nobody last year, other than Rico. Vaughn was non existent. Zeke was stuck in portal zone.

Leupke didn't play enough. Davis showed some bursts.

Did we get better at RB? Heck yeah. ...

 

[Acceptablename]

I think so

 

[Bullflop]

We've acquired power with one and speed w/the other.

Let's also hope Blue's fumbles are exceptionally rare.

 

[AyeAtey]

If Mafah makes the team perhaps dash, bash and smash.

Perfect for late game control.

I think the Oline should be good enough.

 

[CCBoy]

You started off by admitting you don't know anything about college football and don't know who is any good or not. Then, you proceed to make unfounded ideas about our hopeless failures in the draft and otherwise.

Those who know about our recent acquisitions are filled with delight over the possibilities that lie ahead in the months to come. It will take time to prove it, if given a reasonable chance. Their talent is there and not imagined. Like all young players, it will take time for the proof to be seen.

Believe that those who know college football and know those who are capable or not are really very optimistic about our recent draft and the current acquisitions that we've acquired. There are actually valid reasons why they are thrilled about what lies ahead for them. That draft was one that was very exceptional in the opinions of many football savants who are in the know and well respected.

Cheer up, there's much more potential in those draft choices than you've chosen to believe. Give them a fighter's chance to prove themselves before casting them aside as unfit players. The Cowboys had an offseason that was very exceptional in their choices of promising talent. It's there to be admired by so many optimistic fans.

The first ten games of this season should prove out just those questions!

 

[CCBoy]

We've acquired power with one and speed w/the other.

Let's also hope Blue's fumbles are exceptionally rare.

He won't get out of camp without focus on just that, this one.

 

[CCBoy]

I think they would have drafted either of the Ohio St running backs, or certainly Hampton in the 2nd had they been available. With them off of the board, you either trade down or take BPA. Reaching would have meant passing on EZ. I believe the FO made the right call here.

They could've taken a back in the 3rd. Had that been the case, I would've preferred Skattebo, but none of the guys available measured up to Revel. Corner was a need and they made the right choice picking BPA.

Round 4 would've been the sweet spot had JJ not traded for Mingo, but he did, and we would've had to package picks to move up for a group of players that may or may not be better than Blue, who was our pick in the 5th. Sometimes the draft doesn't fall how you want it to and you have to improvise. I think they did well to accumulate talent that will contribute now and in the future.

Regarding free agency, who would you have rather brought in? Najee Harris was RB1. Aside from him, the list of potential acquisitions was limited at best. Sportrac had Williams as the 4th best back available. The only other options were to trade, which could still be on the table, or wait and see who is available during TC. I've been all over these guys about upgrading the RB for the last 3 offseasons. Last season, bringing in Barkley or Henry made way too much sense, but it didn't happen. This year, with the options available, I don't really see how they could've done a better job at approaching the position.

The receiver group, both wide receiver and tight end are both sources of strength now.

 

[CCBoy]

The receiver group, both wide receiver and tight end are both sources of strength now.

The numbers for the #1 and #2 receivers will improve this year. Hence, so will the numbers for Dak Prescott.

The running game will average at least 4.1 yards per carry and ball movement and Red Zone will upgrade...over the first 10 games.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I wasn't a fan of kellen, the texas coast was something just to make us feel happy or something. Offense had no identity or anything. It was just line up and get lucky if you can.


Our best offensive play is when Dak runs around and a WR finally gets open

remember the 4 WR 12 yard hook...oh I forgot, the TE also ran a 12 yard hook

I said it when we hired him as OC, that he was green. every NFL coordinator and coach has to earn their stay and make mistakes along the way to learn. unfortunatley for us, he did his learning in Dallas, then SD.....

 

[Coogiguy03]

remember the 4 WR 12 yard hook...oh I forgot, the TE also ran a 12 yard hook

I said it when we hired him as OC, that he was green. every NFL coordinator and coach has to earn their stay and make mistakes along the way to learn. unfortunatley for us, he did his learning in Dallas, then SD.....

Right lol lol oh the memories!!! Hopefully with these new coaches all of these concepts are gone!! Maybe one of the WR will now run a go crossing route or something while the others are doing curls who knows lol

 

[kskboys]

Gibbs is clearly the more talented RB - and clearly the more dangerous of the two- run or pass, he is more the instant homerun threat of the two
and he's a first round pick. Yet the Lions scheme/chose him off the bench behind Montgomery . Its a reason for that.
it may not be about just carries - reps may include blitz-blocking as well.,

To add, you want your starter to pound the D, get them worn down, tired of being hit. That's why a tough yards RB is generally better as the starter. That's also why you need a deep DLine rotation, as the big dudes up front need breathers.

 

[Doomsday]

I know they like Shemar James, but there were some solid backs on the board when they moved up for him. I was hoping they were going to grab Martinez when I saw they traded up.

They are basically counting on Williams returning to his preinjury form.

 

[kskboys]

I know they like Shemar James, but there were some solid backs on the board when they moved up for him. I was hoping they were going to grab Martinez when I saw they traded up.

They are basically counting on Williams returning to his preinjury form.

Correct. It's Williams and Blue.

 

[DFWJC]

Yes. Absolutely

Still nothing special, but better

 

[blueblood70]

yes

 

[blueblood70]

Yes. Absolutely

Still nothing special, but better

Yes it doesn't seem like it we're not talking about the running back we're talking about the run game I believe we will be a lot better in the run game and by the way when that bad the end of year that's the problem if Mike Mccarthy and his staff weren't idiotic and late on the trigger to figure out who to use on the offensive line and in the run game until after it was almost over then we we would have had a better run game...

Wasn't dynamic and I can tell you this jayden blew himself makes this run game more dynamic we got Tony Pollard back basically we have a guy that can possibly grow into a bigger role but now all we need is a grinder and I believe mafa and some of these other guys can help with the early down run game hopefully they can use a full back hopefully maybe Prescott's under center more they disguise it more but the run gains absolutely going to be better think about it if we start the year like we ended it and then it gets better that's my view of it..

Starts with the offensive line and starts with a better rotation that is on the coaches to bring in the right players for situational football the game plans who were playing that week they can utilize running back by committee but it doesn't have to be the same every week you don't have to force Zeke on the field you don't have to force Anything you should have a plan.

It was a mirage on how bad our run game was even with the players we had last year it could have been better from the jump had they literally come up with a proper rotation and plan and training cap a preseason where you're supposed to you're supposed to come into game one knowing how you're going to use your team and they were flat out wrong and most everything they did just like in years past Mike McCarthy did not know how to use Tony Pollard and it continued on between Zeke and Rico and they didn't use Turpin correctly the kid who used Hunter more a full back, I mean he literally just were terrible....

 

[Spottswoode]

I admit that I was down on Dowdle going into last year because he had not shown he could take on a bigger role. But based on how he played, I agree. I would have preferred him over the two vets we picked up. And then I would have tried to draft someone to beat him out. But at least if they failed to do that, we would have had a back who had good success last year.

I was indifferent on keeping Dowdle because I assumed we would address the position more aggressively this offseason. With the luxury of hindsight, I would have kept him.

Many underestimate the year Dowdle had. For RB’s with 200+ carries, he was tied for 8th in Y/A. Remove the carries and he was tied for 11th. That is a solid year.

I think we are deeper at RB but questions remain at the top. I also think having a legit 2nd threat at WR and a year of seasoning plus a new guard should improve the OL. For me, the RB position is TBD.

 

[America's Cowboy]

I see some hope being placed in the RB group that we've added this year, and that's understandable to some extent simply because we haven't seen this group either succeed or fail here. However, I do think there is reason to look at this group and wonder if we did any better this year than last year.

Miles Sanders vs. Ezekiel Elliott: Elliott had hit the wall that catches up to all players. He had averaged 3.8 YPC, then 3.5 YPC his last two years before going to New England and averaging 3.1. Elliott was in his seventh year when the wheels fell off. Sanders is going into his seventh year, but it appears that his wheels may have come off sooner. He's averaged 3.3 and 3.7 the last two years. Expecting him to recapture his juice is probably expecting too much. This one is likely a wash.

Rico Dowdle vs. Javonte Williams. Dowdle was our best back last year. He was coming off a season in which he averaged 4.1 YPC in a No. 2 role and averaged 4.6 when given a bigger role. That earned him a deal with Carolina, and Williams was brought in as his replacement. Williams has averaged 3.6 and 3.7 YPC in a time-sharing role in Denver the last two years. It's hard to say that he'll ever get back to the form of his first two years while Dowdle's stock is on the rise. Advantage Dowdle.

Jayden Blue vs. Royce Freeman, Before stashing Dalvin Cook on the practice squad and finding out he was just as cooked as Elliott, Dallas first brought in Freeman. Freeman was coming off a 4.1 season with the Rams in a backup role. He had a decent start to his career (averaging 4.0 per carry as a rookie) but it derailed pretty quickly. Blue brings an element to the run game that Dallas didn't have last year with his speed. The Cowboys are hoping that he can outplay his draft status (fifth round). Freeman was a third-round pick (71) while Blue was taken at 149, and we saw what became of Freeman. With this one, we just hope it turns out better.

Phil Mafah vs. Malik Davis. Davis was a UDFA that looked like he was going to at least carve out a backup role, but he faded quickly. Mafah was practically a UDFA, since he was taken in the seventh round. We have to hope he outplays his draft status as well.

Deuce Vaughn vs. Deuce Vaughn. There are times that Vaughn has shined and times when his lack of size has shown. He likely has to prove this year that he deserves a spot on the roster or he'll be gone. He had a grace period the last two years as a fifth-round pick and the son of a Cowboys staffer.

We're all hoping that the guys we've got will be better than the ones we lost or cut, but there are a lot of question marks here. We did not clearly upgrade and may have actually downgraded from Dowdle. It'll be interesting to see how it turns out, but the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

Good post, brother, but the problem I hear from you is what I hear from others and have seen from the team. Need to trust the young players. They are better than the older, worn down players.

If I were the Cowboys, my 2025 RB group (4) would go like this:

Jaydon Blue
Phil Mafah
Deuce Vaughn
Hunter Luepke

That's it! Out with the old and slow. In with the young, faster, quicker and hungrier.

 

[DuncanIso]

Deuce is getting cut. Didn't impress much, and he never established himself with a limited running back room.

He might surprise us.

Both of the FA RBs are scrubs.

We could see both rookies and Deuce make the team.

 

[DuncanIso]

Good

Good post, brother, but the problem I hear from you is what I hear from others and have seen from the team. Need to trust the young players. They are better than the older, worn down players.

If I were the Cowboys, my 2025 RB group (4) would go like this:

Jaydon Blue
Phil Mafah
Deuce Vaughn
Hunter Luepke

That's it! Out with the old and slow. In with the young, faster, quicker and hungrier

Good stuff