News: Are The Cowboys Assembling The NFL's Best Backfield?

[CCBoy]

Are The Cowboys Assembling The NFL's Best Backfield?
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016...ezekiel-elliott-darren-mcfadden-alfred-morris


...Despite Mr. Evans going off the reservation with his analysis, this video did get me thinking about the Dallas Cowboys backfield. The front office invested a lot of capital in upgrading the running back position this offseason. In doing so they have taken a position that preformed adequately in 2015 and are attempting to transform it into a blunt force instrument with which to bludgeon opponents into submission.

The Cowboys signed veteran Alfred Morris away from Washington, and spent draft picks on backs Ezekiel Elliott (fourth overall) and Darius Jackson (216th). Incumbent starter Darren McFadden rushed for 1,089 yards in 2015 and was tied for second in the league with five 100-yard rushing games despite starting only ten games. The team will also be getting change-of-pace back Lance Dunbar back from injury. The Cowboys team site still has Rod Smith listed with this group but he has been getting a look at fullback so we'll exclude him for now.

Dallas doesn't figure to keep all five of these backs on the final roster. Many assumed that the team would look to move on from McFadden after the Elliott pick, but it appears that the team is looking to stick with both McFadden and fellow vet Morris for now at least. Elliott's selection may actually have the most impact on Dunbar. With Elliott's ability to catch the ball out of the backfield the oft-injured Dunbar may be on his way out in Big D. If Dunbar is released or traded that would open up a possible roster spot for the rookie Jackson. Otherwise the Cowboys may try to sneak Jackson onto the practice squad.

One of the major differences between the 2014 NFC East Champion Dallas Cowboys and their 2015 counterpart was the team's ability to run the football. Although the 2015 Cowboys were in the top ten in rushing yards, they were not nearly as efficient as the 2014 team. In an effort to return the the Cowboys to their winning ways, the Cowboys brain trust has made running the football an obvious priority. In the process, might the Dallas Cowboys have built the NFL's best backfield in 2016?

 

[Beats_By_Zeke]

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Far from assembling the best backfield, we have one potentially great runner in Zeki. then it falls into the journmeymen level with McFadden, Dunbar, etc.

Morris will add a spark, but he is not the featured back. McFadden will have a lot of bench time as Zeki learns the system. Kinda sad that there is only one football allowed.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Far from assembling the best backfield, we have one potentially great runner in Zeki. then it falls into the journmeymen level with McFadden, Dunbar, etc.

Morris will add a spark, but he is not the featured back. McFadden will have a lot of bench time as Zeki learns the system. Kinda sad that there is only one football allowed.

But if "backfield' includes Romo, then i would say, yes, one of the best among some good ones.

 

[robjay04]

Far from assembling the best backfield, we have one potentially great runner in Zeki. then it falls into the journmeymen level with McFadden, Dunbar, etc.

Morris will add a spark, but he is not the featured back. McFadden will have a lot of bench time as Zeki learns the system. Kinda sad that there is only one football allowed.

Do other teams have multiple great runners? Most teams have a starter and a couple random guys, some teams have a couple solid guys but no true stud.

We have 3 starting caliber backs, one of which is an elite 20 year old talent.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Do other teams have multiple great runners? Most teams have a starter and a couple random guys, some teams have a couple solid guys but no true stud.

We have 3 starting caliber backs, one of which is an elite 20 year old talent.

While i do appreciate the optimism, we seem to have a potentially great runner in Zeki. the rest would not start (well, maybe McFadden would) on any other NFL team.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Do other teams have multiple great runners? Most teams have a starter and a couple random guys, some teams have a couple solid guys but no true stud.

We have 3 starting caliber backs, one of which is an elite 20 year old talent.

Get back to me at the end of the season. I would love a serving of crow with an amusing red wine.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

One of the major differences between the 2014 NFC East Champion Dallas Cowboys and their 2015 counterpart was the team's ability to run the football.

Our ability to rush the ball wasn't even a too 5 "major difference" in our performance from 2014 to 2015.

Hogwash.

 

[JoeBoBBY]

I see it as a commitment to run the football. They tried something they believed could work. RBBC. It didnt.

We are going to run the football. And were going to keep running the football..... and when those DBs and LBs creep in , mid 3rd qrt.....Romo to Dez will benefit.....game over. Formula = Playoffs.

Line up that talented Offensive Line, let them fire off the ball, and Run the Football..................a lot.

 

[big dog cowboy]

We have 3 backs that could gain 1000 yards each if they would be the featured back.

How many other teams can say that?

 

[casmith07]

0.

We have 3 backs that could gain 1000 yards each if they would be the featured back.

How many other teams can say that?

 

[Vinnie2u]

I don't want to see any passing plays called on third and two..not even a Romo audible.

 

[gimmesix]

But if "backfield' includes Romo, then i would say, yes, one of the best among some good ones.

But then you have to downgrade when we use a fullback since all we've got is a converted linebacker and a converted running back.

Me? If I was serious about wanting our backfield to be the best, I would have gone after the best fullback available in free agency or at least drafted one in the later rounds.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

But then you have to downgrade when we use a fullback since all we've got is a converted linebacker and a converted running back.

Me? If I was serious about wanting our backfield to be the best, I would have gone after the best fullback available in free agency or at least drafted one in the later rounds.

Well, I am on board with that, going after the best fullback in FA or the draft. But our draft picks are limited and our payroll is limited, so we do the best we can. A fullback, compared to other needs was low in priority. But I hear Morris is a good blocker. So who knows? We might have a good backfield, but that will depend on Zeki. Potential means nothing in the NFL until you do something. But I believe the experts: An excellent pick on which to build on.

 

[VACowboy]

We have 3 backs that could gain 1000 yards each if they would be the featured back.

How many other teams can say that?

McFadden did it starting 10 games last year, without the threat of a passing attack. My questions are, what % of RBs who will be active in 2016 would've achieved the same thing? And, is McFadden really a quality starter or could most any guy get 1000 yards on 239 carries in the Dallas offense, minus Romo?

 

[Hardline]

As of now Peterson,McKinnon and Asiata are #1

 

[AsthmaField]

I see it as a commitment to run the football. They tried something they believed could work. RBBC. It didnt.

Actually, it pretty much did work... even with the terrible decision of going with Randle as the lead back.

The problem was the complete lack of passing game and the complete disdain that defenses could show the Dallas aerial attack. Put a healthy Romo and Dez in last year's offense and everything is completely different. What Dallas was doing on the ground would have been more than adequate.

Still, I was for drafting Elliott and I understand that the group we have now is going to be significantly better than last year's group. Ezekiel can be a very special back.

 

[VACowboy]

Well, I am on board with that, going after the best fullback in FA or the draft. But our draft picks are limited and our payroll is limited, so we do the best we can. A fullback, compared to other needs was low in priority. But I hear Morris is a good blocker. So who knows? We might have a good backfield, but that will depend on Zeki. Potential means nothing in the NFL until you do something. But I believe the experts: An excellent pick on which to build on.

Interesting. If Morris really is a good blocker, maybe we go with split backs in our base offensive set and feature a bunch of veer action. Now THAT's innovation, baby!

 

[ghst187]

We have 3 backs that could gain 1000 yards each if they would be the featured back.

How many other teams can say that?

All of them across the league plus my grandma behind our OL and a healthy Romo and Dez.

 

[gimmesix]

Well, I am on board with that, going after the best fullback in FA or the draft. But our draft picks are limited and our payroll is limited, so we do the best we can. A fullback, compared to other needs was low in priority. But I hear Morris is a good blocker. So who knows? We might have a good backfield, but that will depend on Zeki. Potential means nothing in the NFL until you do something. But I believe the experts: An excellent pick on which to build on.

I don't think it would have hurt our future to take a fullback over a basketball conversion project or second running back. We could have gotten the best fullback available at that point, but that might not be saying much.

I would have rathered used FA because you can get the best one fairly cheap. Of course, there's still some out there, including John Kuhn, who's old but went to the Pro Bowl last year.