Do you really want to discuss E. Smith and his part in the SuperBowl teams? I think it has been proven that a great running game is a combination of the oline and RB play. But sure, let's draft a mid -round jag and win a Super Bowl. That sounds like a winner. At 27, they would be lucky to get a defensive player that would play 25% of the snaps. A top running RB could easily be the offensive ROY. Which is going to help the most?
again, if you really read my responses, you would get the point that I don't disagree with the fact that a good RB makes a difference in the running game. I have never not say that. My point is we don't need a first round RB to be a superbowl contender. our issue last year wasn't the running game. it was the defense. I don't think running game is precursor to winning a superbowl, nor a great RB. new England is a great example. giants won it without a great RB. Ray Rice as good as he was, wasn't great RB. all those teams had good OL, good QB play and good defense. seattle had a great suffocating defense. Indy made it to the AFC championship without bottom of the heap RBs. in the end they could score but couldnt' stop NE from scoring. and NE did the scoring with average RBs. Ravens took NE to the edge with Foster a 30 year old Rb who had a ho-hum career.
I totally disagree that we can't get a defensive player that will only take 25% of the snaps. I think you can get a player that will contribute a lot more. we have Hayden as starting DT in one spot. you want to tell me a first round DT is not going to be better than him? Carr is at the end of his useful cycle. Claiborne is a bust. you want to tell me we can't get a CB that can start by mid season or earlier?
and what's the difference between a first round RB and a 3rd round RB? murray was a third rounder. foster was a mid round pick. morris was a 6th round pick. productive Rbs are much easier to find in mid rounds compared to finding Cbs and DTs. fact is that despite your comparison of emmitt smith, this is a different NFL, with RBs devalued. passing game emphasized. and its not a surprise to see Murray's output increase and his productivity increase as we addressed the OL.
again, at the end of the day, we had an 1800 yard RB watching the defense from the sideline because they couldn't get off the field. if you are OK with that, then great, lets draft a RB, lets trade for AP. and we can watch the same thing happen. NFL games aren't won or lost on total yards like fantasy football leage.
I don't care about ROY or any fantasy points a RB might get. Frankly I am really sruprised you mention that as an incentive to get a RB? really? those are not the trophies that I would like the cowboys put on the mantle. if we don't address the defense we are not going to win anything.
we can still be a productive offense without an all world, ROY RB. and to your point. a RB might make us competitive and into the playoffs. delaying on drafting and adding defensive talent, specially as you indicate it takes longer for htem to become productive, then it delays our opportunity and chance to win a superbowl. I don't care about making it to the playoffs. I want to win superbowls. to win superbowls you need a defense. no ifs buts or thens about it. its been proven over and over that you don't need a top notch RB to win a superbowl. can't deny facts.
I think drafting defense in the first round is going to help us more. 100%. ability to get off the field on 3rd downs will directly lead to more offensive possessions and to more scoring opportunities. I disagree that you can't find a productive defensive player at #27 spot. if anything, recent history of drafting RBs in the first round has been nothing but bust after bust. history of draft tells us good, great RBs are found in mid rounds all the time.