Are we really better off at RB than last year?

[Praxit]

If Mafah makes the team perhaps dash, bash and smash.

Perfect for late game control.

I think the Oline should be good enough.

..yep, that's my thinking. RZ this year could be awesome for us.

 

[Bullflop]

The first ten games of this season should prove out just those questions!

True, although, it's the last seven that we'll really have to watch out for -- so many of those playoff contenders will likely separate the men from the boys. We'll have to hope our draft picks and other youngsters are ready to blossom earlier than normal expectations call for.

That's destined to be a prove-it-spell for our players, no doubt. Surprises might be in store, if our youngsters manage to exert their best efforts. It'll be very difficult, though. It's a test that would challenge even the best of teams. I hope we'll prove to be one to surprise us all.

 

[CCBoy]

True, although, it's the last seven that we'll really have to watch out for -- so many of those playoff contenders will surely separate the men from the boys. We'll have to hope our draft picks and other youngsters are ready to blossom.

That's destined to be a prove-it-spell for our players, no doubt. Surprises could be in store, if our youngsters manage to exert their best efforts. It'll be very difficult though. It's a test that would challenge even the best of teams. Let's hope we're one of them.

Great view.

Please, Lord, no injuries!

 

[DC Cowboy]

RB is still a mess IMHO

Just commit to the run game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DC Cowboy]

I like Blue, but as of now, the Cowboys don’t have an NFL starting running back.

he needs to dd more muscle mass

 

[ChronicCowboy]

Unless Blue over-performs and takes the job, no way things are better than last year. I’d be more confident with Rico.

 

[Bullflop]

he needs to dd more muscle mass

He'll have pro trainers that will tend to that in good shape. It's a given.

 

[Bullflop]

Unless Blue over-performs and takes the job, no way things are better than last year. I’d be more confident with Rico.

There will be additional players this year that will be difference makers. This RB corps will have all the support needed to improve this offense. The defense will benefit from much the same. The LB corps should see noticeable improvements, also. It's far from a hopeless case. Better on both sides of the ball is a very good thing. Perk up.

 

[ChronicCowboy]

There will be additional players this year that will be difference makers. This RB corps will have all the support needed to improve this offense. The defense will benefit from much the same. The LB corps should see noticeable improvements, also. It's far from a hopeless case. Better on both sides of the ball is a very good thing. Perk up.

I’ll perk up when the team gives me a reason to. I’m not a romantic when it comes to football or the Cowboys.

 

[Chasing6]

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.

Bigger question is are better at stoping the run.

 

[Bullflop]

I’ll perk up when the team gives me a reason to. I’m not a romantic when it comes to football or the Cowboys.

Needless to say, that holds true for both of us. It's not out of the question for our OL to improve, especially with Guyton and Steele having time to get their bodies fit. No guarantees.

You're right to stay in touch with reality, no doubt. The proof will come in due time. All we can do is wait for results. I'll confess to being an optimist. It's what has kept me being a fan for the past 60 years and holding. I'm just an old fool, I'm afraid. I'd likely be a Texans fan if I weren't.