Addressing The Running Back Position

[4lifecowboy]

Kenneth Dixon is my pick but im not sure what round he'd be available. Any guesses?

I like this guy too. We will get a look at him in the senior bowl. So his draft stock hasn't been solidified, but as of today i would guesstimate the 3rd or 4th round.

 

[dfense]

Running the ball was such a huge part of our success in 2014 and I'm curious to see what everyone thinks we should do with the running back position heading into the offseason. The way I see it, these are our options...

-Re-sign Lance Dunbar and Robert Turbin and lean on McFadden as the lead back.

-Draft a RB early in the draft (1st or 2nd round) such as Derrick Henry or Ezekiel Elliott.

-Draft a RB in the mid-rounds (3rd/4th/5th) such as Alex Collins, Devontae Booker, Kenyan Drake, or others.

-Take a flyer on a RB late in the draft and hope he pans out.

-Go after an established veteran RB in free agency such as Matt Forte or Arian Foster (could cost a lot of $).

-Go after a smaller-name RB in free agency on a cheap deal such as Tim Hightower or James Starks.

No to drafting a back in the 1st round
No to Foster, the yearly injured doesn't get better with age.
Yes to Starks.
Yes to Miller from Miami to.

 

[Stash]

Yep.

And what about the winning seasons in '07 and '09?

The leading rusher had less than 1,000 yards in each season.

Yes they won in '14... And at what cost? They essentially burned out Murray. Spend a 1st round pick on a guy so you can give him 400 carries and ruin the guy?

Nope. I'd go with McFadden, a 3rd rounder and an undetermined. I don't think Dunbar comes back... Can't rely on him.

I totally agree on Dunbar. A good player whose body can't handle playing in the NFL. The team just can't trust him to ever stay healthy and be available for a full season.

 

[Stash]

Why? He did a really good job last year.

Career injury history. His great year is undeniable, but so is his history of being hurt. The team needs other options in case McFadden gets injured again.

 

[Silver N Blue]

I'm going to disagree with you, MW. I think Elliott is going to be better than Gurley and Gurley is pretty dang good!

Count me in this group that also disagrees. Elliot has the credentials, plays against top competition, and is the unquestioned three down back coming out of this draft. To get this gift along with a healthy Romo next year would be crazy to pass up. Put Dmac where he belongs---change O pace back.

 

[Stash]

I don't think Miller will hit the open market. The exact same qualities that we all want from him are the reason Miami will resign him.

I'd have to disagree. I think Miller was plenty frustrated at how little work he's gotten in Miami and has every intention of moving on to another team. And Ajayi was getting an increased workload to end the season too.

 

[Silver N Blue]

I'd have to disagree. I think Miller was plenty frustrated at how little work he's gotten in Miami and has every intention of moving on to another team. And Ajayi was getting an increased workload to end the season too.

Yep if they don't draft Zeke then bring in this guy.

 

[Cowboy4ever]

Career injury history. His great year is undeniable, but so is his history of being hurt. The team needs other options in case McFadden gets injured again.

You need a good back up at every position because injuries happen to everyone. But the fact is that he has played all 16 games for the last two years. This year he was a 1000 yard back and 4th in the league in rushing starting 10 games. No way do I waste a high pick on a back in this draft when there is no glaring need.

 

[JoeKing]

McFadden, Dunbar and an unnamed FA will be fine for the RB position. Stop wasting resources on perceived weaknesses rather than using them on real weaknesses like CB and DL.

 

[Doc50]

Like the idea of using the draft....my only issue with drafting a RB is.....very few rookie RBs are making a difference or are productive....Gruely..Yeldon, and late round picks of David Johnson and Matt Jones are a few stand outs but thats a short list......Tevon Coleman, Melvin Gordon was nothing to get excited about and in hindsight they got drafted to high...... Abdulla was alright but already has fumbling issues..Duke Johnson, Jay Ajayi and others cant make it on the field.

I like the idea of drafting a young RB but I like immediate production of a veteran RB better.

There have been teams with poor rushing stats who draft top a RB with the thought that their running problem will be solved. In most of these cases, it's the OL that is deficient, and even the best RB can't solve that problem alone.

 

[Stash]

You need a good back up at every position because injuries happen to everyone. But the fact is that he has played all 16 games for the last two years. This year he was a 1000 yard back and 4th in the league in rushing starting 10 games. No way do I waste a high pick on a back in this draft when there is no glaring need.

I'm not suggesting "wasting a high pick on a back". I'm saying the team needs to acquire a reliable option at some point in case McFadden gets hurt again. And by "reliable", I mean not Lance Dunbar who can't hold up to the rigors of the NFL.

 

[Stash]

McFadden, Dunbar and an unnamed FA will be fine for the RB position. Stop wasting resources on perceived weaknesses rather than using them on real weaknesses like CB and DL.

When has Dunbar ever shown the ability to be "fine for the RB position"?

You want to pair up one guy with a poor injury history in McFadden with a guy with a worse injury history in Dunbar?

 

[Sydla]

Zeke

He's to talented to pass on and behind our line he could be very good. Has speed and power, can block, can catch.

You better trade back if you do that because taking Elliott with the 4th pick would be the height of insanity.

 

[jterrell]

I have been meaning to create a running back manifesto thread to cover all ideas, thoughts and real life considerations.

Busy enough at work to just hop on this thread and let her rip instead.....

RB is not a key worry for the Cowboys.
As with any position you ALWAYS want to get better.
But No Cowboys POSITION player or Coach was better statistically as compared to his peers last season than DMC.
That's simply fact.

If you tell you want to use a high first on a RB I am going to feel much like Matt Barnes (violence is never the answer, except sometimes it is).
We didn't have a QB in the top 35. http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/passing/sort/passingYards/year/2015/seasontype/2
We didn't have a WR in the top 35 http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/receiving/sort/receivingYards/year/2015/seasontype/2
But we had the 4th leading rusher in DMC.
We had Sean Lee tied for 6th in tackles. Think about that. DMC ranked ahead of Sean Lee versus his peers.
Our highest sack guy was tied for 22nd.
We don't even show on lists for INTs because we don't know what those are. --WHAT ARE THOSE!>!>!>

So... in sum. We suck a lot of places but RB is not one of them.
I'd love to add Lamar Miller to complement DMC and be the guy longer term IF the price is right.
I'd be fine with a RB in round 3 or 4 if the board dictates that.
But I am not using FA money plus a valuable pick at RB.
We have a lot of supplemental picks and I'd be very interested in tossing one of those at a RB that can help on ST while we learn to trust him.

There are legit reasons to be worried at RB. DMC has age and long-term health concerns. And his contract is very short.
But there is basically zero chance he doesn't start next year as the lead guy barring major injury and we all know he will likely have very few carries to get seriously injured next pre-season.

So I've got to play a RB that can protect Romo's beaten up near corpse and be a threat behind this OL. That guys is easily DMC.
After that I want to protect myself in case of DMC injury and also keep him a bit fresher than last season so I need a guy who can block for the QB and learn the offense.

In all likelihood for me it comes down to price for Miller and if he goes to higher bidder I resign Dunbar.
I bring Turpin back as a 3rd RB but I'll get a rookie or young street FA somewhere to battle in camp.

 

[jterrell]

You better trade back if you do that because taking Elliott with the 4th pick would be the height of insanity.

It is the very definition insanity to even consider it.
We've never seen a RB lead his team to Super Bowls in this modern era.
LT? Nope. AD? Nope.
Hall of Fame RB does not equal ultimate success so you can't use ultimate resources on them.

Elliot has MAYBE a 10% chance of being better than DMC in 2016. MAYBE 10%.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

You better trade back if you do that because taking Elliott with the 4th pick would be the height of insanity.

Would it? Three of the four teams left in the tournament are in the top eight in offensive efficiency. I wouldn't call it insanity.

The good news is: Three of the teams are in the top five in defensive efficiency; NE is till in the top 10. If you are a proponent of the theory that defense wins championships, then this is a good sign. I am one of those people.

So, if you go offense with the #4 pick it wouldn't be prudent but it would not be insane. I still like Elliot at #4 but only if both the QBs are gone. I would not be upset, though, if Dallas drafts a DT, LB, or safety in that order.

 

[Sydla]

Would it? Three of the four teams left in the tournament are in the top eight in offensive efficiency. I wouldn't call it insanity.

The good news is: Three of the teams are in the top five in defensive efficiency; NE is till in the top 10. If you are a proponent of the theory that defense wins championships, then this is a good sign. I am one of those people.

So, if you go offense with the #4 pick it wouldn't be prudent but it would not be insane. I still like Elliot at #4 but only if both the QBs are gone. I would not be upset, though, if Dallas drafts a DT, LB, or safety in that order.

Yeah it would be insanity because you'd be undervaluing the pick. Elliott is not a Top 5 draft pick in this draft. So if you took him with the 4th, when he'd likely be available in the say 10-15 range, you've not gotten true value for that 4th pick.

And let's look at those 3 teams leading in offensive efficiency. NE, Arizona and Carolina. Only one is using a first round TB as their primary back. And none of the three rely on their TBs to be the lead dog for their offense. NE and Carolina rely heavily on their QBs and Arizona relies mostly on their strong trio of WRs and QB.

 

[Stash]

Would it? Three of the four teams left in the tournament are in the top eight in offensive efficiency. I wouldn't call it insanity.

The good news is: Three of the teams are in the top five in defensive efficiency; NE is till in the top 10. If you are a proponent of the theory that defense wins championships, then this is a good sign. I am one of those people.

So, if you go offense with the #4 pick it wouldn't be prudent but it would not be insane. I still like Elliot at #4 but only if both the QBs are gone. I would not be upset, though, if Dallas drafts a DT, LB, or safety in that order.

Given the true needs this team has, I think running back is down the list a bit, don't you? Not that they don't need one at all, but that they don't have to use a Top 5 pick on one.

 

[jterrell]

Would it? Three of the four teams left in the tournament are in the top eight in offensive efficiency. I wouldn't call it insanity.

The good news is: Three of the teams are in the top five in defensive efficiency; NE is till in the top 10. If you are a proponent of the theory that defense wins championships, then this is a good sign. I am one of those people.

So, if you go offense with the #4 pick it wouldn't be prudent but it would not be insane. I still like Elliot at #4 but only if both the QBs are gone. I would not be upset, though, if Dallas drafts a DT, LB, or safety in that order.

Bro, that argument makes zero sense.
Less than zero.

Offensive efficiency?
Try rushing if you want to discuss RB.
2 teams are left that were more effective rushing than Dallas.
Carolina whose rushing is bolstered largely by it's QB.
And Arizona who is very balanced with a retread RB and lowly drafted Rookie doing just fine.

The presumed SB favorite is god awful rushing the ball. NE ranked 30th. Dallas ranked 9th. They beat us by about 30.

So, yes, investing a top pick to go form 9th in rushing to even 1st would be rather stupid.

 

[Doomsday101]

RB not a high priority in my view heading into this season but if Dallas does look to RB I would hope it would be mid rd and a guy like Kelvin Taylor