Are we really better off at RB than last year?

[quickccc]

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.

Don't forget RB Dalvin Cook signing we brought on ....

 

[kskboys]

So hope is our new strategy?

Nope. Not new, w/ Jerry has GM hope is and always has been our only strategy!!!!

 

[DuncanIso]

Depends on O-Line. Our run game picked up some last year when the O-Line started to gel and run block better. If the O-Line gets better this offseason and these RB can learn the plays which I don’t see any reason they won’t. Then we should improve at running the ball.

We played a lot of bad teams in that stretch.

They just need to burn Big Mikes playbook.

 

[DuncanIso]

Don't forget RB Dalvin Cook signing we brought on ....

I forgot about him….

Big basically ignored him.

 

[DuncanIso]

Production should be better this season with a improved OL and run scheme, and George Pickens being added should lighten up the box. It's just a better situation this season for success in the run game.

Rico is a better RB than any RB they have now, but Zeke was trash. So, I'd say the RB2 and RB3 is significantly improved. Cowboys didn't have the big play ability of a Blue last season and he's the difference at RB2 over a wore down Zeke. Cowboys still need a RB1 as this bunch is filled with RB2s and RB3s. I would say, Yes, the RB room is better this year because I think they will add a guy later to Blue, Javonte, and Luepke.

Rico is too slow.

Ran a 4.54 40

He was big Mikes pet cat.

 

[Coogiguy03]

We played a lot of bad teams in that stretch.

They just need to burn Big Mikes playbook.

Well only 30 percent of it was his remember the 70 percent belonged to Garrett or Moore!

 

[DuncanIso]

We’ll find out if we’re better off when the season starts.

Blue should be RB1. He has the speed.

The others….scrubs.

I expect we keep our FB.

 

[DuncanIso]

Well only 30 percent of it was his remember the 70 percent belonged to Garrett or Moore!

They might keep a copy of it in their backups.

Letting KMoore walk….huge mistake.

Remember when they called it the Texas Coast offense?

8)

 

[Coogiguy03]

They might keep a copy of it in their backups.

Letting KMoore walk….huge mistake.

Remember when they called it the Texas Coast offense?

8)

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

 

[75boyz]

Is any of the current roster guys better than what Rico gave us last year?
I'd say hoping for past pseudo successful FAs like Williams and Sanders combined with the potential of draftees Blue and Mafah is about the same.
And that is to say you're only as good as your last game.
So with that said, Rico is better than the current group.

And as with all the other team FA reclamation projects, it appears as though hope and potential is the strategy for the RB room vice pedigree.

jmo

 

[quickccc]

Blue should be RB1. He has the speed.

The others….scrubs.

I expect we keep our FB.

RB1 is gonna take on a lot of carries - i dont think that's a good idea at all with Blue's build and style of play.

But the fact that a 5th rd pick (Blue) is gathering such attention and fanfare, should tell us what the worrisome situation is at the assumed RB1 role.

free agent sign on J. Williams is simply gonna have to show me that he has regained that in-out hole burst pre-ACL to convince me otherwise. .

 

[conner01]

somebody was saying Blue this year will remind us of OJ Simpson. So, if he's gonna run like Orenthal, I say we're better off this year

He’s not close to OJ but he has potential to be a guy who can make some plays not only running the ball but as a reciever too

 

[conner01]

RB1 is gonna take on a lot of carries - i dont think that's a good idea at all with Blue's build and style of play.

But the fact that a 5th rd pick (Blue) is gathering such attention and fanfare, should tell us what the worrisome situation is at the assumed RB1 role.

free agent sign on J. Williams is simply gonna have to show me that he has regained that in-out hole burst pre-ACL to convince me otherwise. .

I’m hoping we get all of them carries. Let them earn it if they want to be the guy carrying the load. Giving it to Zeke early last year was huge mistake

 

[conner01]

Blue is a possibility 3rd down guy and has to earn the rest

3rd down guy has to be able to block. I’ve not seen him block. But he runs routes really well so I’d find a way to use that a few times a game. Get him matched up on a safety or LB in coverage

 

[_sturt_]

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.

Not a fan of the idea of X vs. Y... for instance, why would we compare a RB like Blue to a RB like Freeman?

But that said... yes, the 2024 group featured two players who, conventional wisdom affirmed, would enter the season as the #1 and #2 RBs based on empirical evidence as well as what was understood from Joneses and McCarthy comments.

We have no empirical evidence that should affirm we even have a definitive #2 RB (or if you prefer "#1-b"), let alone a #1 RB (or if you prefer, "#1-a").

You've got, rather... (1) a FA signee who appears destined to be a 3rd down back, (2) a FA signee who appears to be on his last legs ahead of retirement, aka "camp body," (3) a 5th rounder who has turned heads and was even said to have been the 3rd RB on Will McClay's board, yet only carried the ball 15+ times exactly one time in 38 Longhorn games, (4) a 7th rounder who may eventually turn heads, but conventional wisdom says should only be expected to make the practice squad, and (5) Deuce, who never has been taken to be a serious threat by the Cowboys to play any significant role, and who should hope he can be released sooner than later so he can hook up with a team where he can get a genuine shot.

And. What's more, even having Rico and Zeke topping the depth chart this time last year, there were still... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... count-em 7... 7 RBs in Oxnard to start camp (... and no, that doesn't include Luepke, who technically could be counted as #8).

Anyone wanna place a bet on whether there will be another RB, if not two, added to the roster in the next 60 days?

 

[deerhunter11]

Better than Rico 2 TDs Dowdle

2024 Zeke Elliott?

Do we really need to ask?

Much improvement at the running back position. Mafah and Blue will find running lanes with this offensive line,and down at the goal line out of the I formation I can see success with Leupke leading the way for Mafah.I don't see this coaching staff giving up on the run either and Dallas will probably run out of the jumbo package some as well.Blue will have his fair share of 30 and 40 yard runs it will be fun to watch.

 

[Bamx]

RB1 is gonna take on a lot of carries - i dont think that's a good idea at all with Blue's build and style of play.

But the fact that a 5th rd pick (Blue) is gathering such attention and fanfare, should tell us what the worrisome situation is at the assumed RB1 role.

free agent sign on J. Williams is simply gonna have to show me that he has regained that in-out hole burst pre-ACL to convince me otherwise. .

In his first year Gibbs had 182 carries to Montgomery 219 carries. That is around 2-3 more carries a game for Montgomery over 17 games.

In his second year Gibbs had 250 carries to Montgomery's 185. Gibbs averaged 15 carries per/game

Both are considered RB #1's

 

[SinceDayOne]

More speed this year. More depth than last year perhaps. People who can run outside and be receivers out of the backfield. But can any of them run between the tackles? Can they block blitzing linebackers in the passing game? Can they plow ahead for a couple of yards in short down situations?

I like this year's group better than last year's squad as a group. They bring more potential to the RB room. But at this time I would say that Rico Dowdle would be RB1 hands down if he were still a Cowboy.

 

[KJJ]

Blue should be RB1. He has the speed.

The others….scrubs.

I expect we keep our FB.

It takes more than speed to be a good RB. Darius Jackson who we drafted in the 6th round in 2018 had 4.35 speed and lasted only one season in the NFL. Blue was a 5th round pick so there’s flaws. One concern with him is fumbles. We’ll see how he performs this summer.

 

[quickccc]

In his first year Gibbs had 182 carries to Montgomery 219 carries. That is around 2-3 more carries a game for Montgomery over 17 games.

In his second year Gibbs had 250 carries to Montgomery's 185. Gibbs averaged 15 carries per/game

Both are considered RB #1's

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.,