RB is an underrated problem

[thunderpimp91]

I was going to add while Williams was nice find, and was good overall as a runner, the NFL has shifted to RBs that can add more in the passing game as well.
Gone are the days where RB's would just run the rock.

CMC finished a handful of yards ahead of Williams rushing wise, but dwarfed him in total yards as he had 900+ receiving yards compared to 177 for J-Will.
Gibbs not only split the load but had ~650+ receiving yards too.

Obviously, there's a talent gap between J-Will and the two above, but just pointing out, as you know, that 9th sounds good on paper but quite a few other backs that are considered very good are dual threat.
Williams is more of a runner only.

I will add that Williams is a plus pass protector, but your point still stands. For any position in the NFL your opponent has to be foreced to account for you doing multiple things on a given play. If not then you're a role player at this level. Williams is a better player, but this is the Jalen Tolbert problem all over again...just because a player does something good doesn't mean they are a good player. Tolbert is a fringe roster type who we were debating if he could be the #2 WR before the Pickens trade.

 

[exciter]

For this team. Williams is a very solid backup. This team got complacent and penciled him in as “solid” let’s re-sign him. Opposing defenses feel 0 threat with Williams. He is solid at the goaline and runs hard but he is 0 threat out of the backfield , no breakaway speed, no elusiveness. Look at what signing Kenneth Walker has done for the chiefs offense. It rejuvenated their entire team. Another miss by the Jones’s.

Lol,
No threat?
I guess that's why they pointed out in thre game last night teams are deploying 5 man fronts specifically for the intention of limiting him and the run game???

 

[thunderpimp91]

Lol,
No threat?
I guess that's why they pointed out in thre game last night teams are deploying 5 man fronts specifically for the intention of limiting him and the run game???

I mean that’s really just a common defensive front these days.

 

[Gonzomandela01]

Good call OP. Javonte runs on mud, the defense just keys on him and a complete dimension of the offense is gone. We need speed and pass catching out of the backfield, especially with an aging QB.

 

[yentl911]

We have bigger and broader issues with this team than running back

 

[exciter]

I mean that’s really just a common defensive front these days.

Yeah!
For the purpose of limiting the run game!
Not the greatest of strategies vs teams with 2 30m receivers and overkill if the RB should be serving coffee somewhere!

 

[Sully]

For this team. Williams is a very solid backup. This team got complacent and penciled him in as “solid” let’s re-sign him. Opposing defenses feel 0 threat with Williams. He is solid at the goaline and runs hard but he is 0 threat out of the backfield , no breakaway speed, no elusiveness. Look at what signing Kenneth Walker has done for the chiefs offense. It rejuvenated their entire team. Another miss by the Jones’s.

I agree....Williams is a nice back but he provides ZERO "juice" for breaking a looong run or being evasive.
He is a predictable RB and really no threat for a 40+ run.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

JWill is a proven starter, and he proved it last year by finishing 9th in the league in rushing yards! That’s not a solid backup, that’s a legit starting RB. The problem is the Cowboys have gotten away from the running game that used to make them nearly impossible to stop. They’ve become so one-dimensional this year, and it’s ridiculous. Get back to running the football and make this offense dangerous again!

I think it's gotten them in unfavorable down and distances...that's why they've abandoned it. But the lack of speed at TE and a RB that can catch out the backfield hurts when the defense is forcing you to get rid of the ball quickly.

 

[Rayman70]

Agreed. Williams is slow. We need a quick rb. Shifty. He's limited. RB is definitely a need.

 

[khiladi]

JWill is a proven starter, and he proved it last year by finishing 9th in the league in rushing yards! That’s not a solid backup, that’s a legit starting RB. The problem is the Cowboys have gotten away from the running game that used to make them nearly impossible to stop. They’ve become so one-dimensional this year, and it’s ridiculous. Get back to running the football and make this offense dangerous again!

Yep, the offense was basically running out of play-action last year. It was more of a return to the Linehan era, as far as Dak is concerned.

That’s really what the run game is for. If you make the defense guess, then it opens up shots. And with these 2 WRs, that’s a problem for any defense.

 

[Gambit]

Williams is a good solid dependable starting back. If we actually ran the ball. Prior yo last night's game we ran it near 7 times fewer per game than last year.

What we need, have needed is that speed at RB to attack edges and be a threat in passing game.

We are built to pass first and often. We tried to work with that and bring in a OC who was known for being a great run play designer. Then we never let him be an OC.

This offense has played tight all year, even more so after Rio.

Id have to see replay of last play where ball was just sailed out of bounds, but at the time it felt like a middle finger to Shotty from Dak.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Yeah!
For the purpose of limiting the run game!
Not the greatest of strategies vs teams with 2 30m receivers and overkill if the RB should be serving coffee somewhere!

Absolutely it’s to stop the run but the point is it’s not really anything extra teams are doing for the cowboys. It’s just standard defense these days.

A lot of teams play 5 up front and still do 2 deep safeties on the back end.

 

[RonWashington]

Yes the Malik Davis injury plus Blue & Mafah washouts as draft picks left the RB room thin as a saltine cracker . Williams is fine for 15-16 touches can also catch out of the backfield and he’s a nice first and goal get in end zone back . It’s what’s backing him up is the problem .

 

[RonWashington]

54 passes for # 4 is going to land him on IR and look out here comes Howell .