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Even though Murray is gone, the Cowboys should continue to pound the ball at a similar rate as last year. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Travis Brown reported on offensive coordinator Scott Linehan's following words:
“Bottom line is there’s certain things we feel very adamant about is going to be important and it’s no different really, same message that we had when we kind of started with ground zero last year,” Linehan said. “I think if we do that and we go back to the basics and do those things well again, it will be benefit us as we move forward.”
The important things are to continue to have success running the ball on first down, have a high third-down efficiency like last season with Murray. While the cast might be different, the strategy will be the same.
"A lot of it was we were run heavy," he said. “That was our mentality, but that mentality and being able to do it even when people kind of knew you were going to do it paid dividends and we’ve got to continue that.”
The Cowboys currently have five running backs on the roster, with three of them having a realistic shot at winning the starting job. Those three are Darren McFadden, Joseph Randle and Ryan Williams. After those three, the Cowboys have Lance Dunbar, who will likely make the team in a niche role and Lache Seastrunk, who was recently signed to the Cowboys, according to DallasCowboys.com's David Helman.
With that being said, let's take an in-depth look at each of the five running backs and their chance to win the starting job or make the 53-man roster.
Joseph Randle
The player with the best chance to win the starting job is Joseph Randle, Murray's backup last year. Randle doesn't bring the power or ability to get the dirty yards like Murray did, but you could make the argument that Randle brings a lot to the table that Murray couldn't last year.
You can't take away anything Murray did last year, as he was a fantastic player; however, he lacked the elusiveness and one-cut ability that are so crucial in the Cowboys' zone scheme. This led to the Cowboys running a lot more gap-style runs to allow Murray to produce at an optimum level.
With Murray gone, the Cowboys will likely go back to being a zone-heavy team, which perfectly fits Randle and his skill set.
Here is a great example of Randle's ability to fit in the Cowboys' zone scheme (h/t Patrick Conn):
Randle understands how to read his keys and vary his pacing when running the outside zone—the Cowboys' most frequent running play. He has the ability to put his foot in the grass and explode upfield and through the hole extremely quickly. Furthermore, Randle is an extremely elusive runner who has the ability to beat penetration and make multiple defenders miss on any given play.
Randle is untested as a receiver out of the backfield and as a pass protector. These are two areas where Randle will need to prove himself and gain the trust of the coaches and, most importantly, Tony Romo.
Randle has the talent and the opportunity to really break out at this point in his career. Whether he takes advantage or not will be on him and no one else.
Darren McFadden
The running back with the most experience on the Cowboys roster is former Oakland Raider Darren McFadden. McFadden has proven he has all the skills to be a productive and reliable three-down running back for his team.
The biggest concern with McFadden has always been whether he stays healthy or not. The 27-year-old has always been a huge talent with game-breaking speed, reliable hands and great pass-blocking skills, but he hasn't been able to stay on the field for very long thus far in his career.
Another worrisome detail about McFadden is that he is significantly better in a gap scheme rather than a zone scheme. He does much better when he is coming downhill, rather than moving laterally while reading his keys.
Luckily for McFadden, he will be a running back the best offensive line in football, which should make things exponentially easier for him than he is used to if he wins the starting job. McFadden will have bigger holes to run through, and he won't have to deal with penetration nearly as much as he is used to.
Still, McFadden is an average running back when asked to run zone plays; therefore, it will be interesting to see if the Cowboys run more gap scheme if McFadden does win the starting job.
The reason McFadden has a great chance to win the job is because he is extremely well-rounded. Romo and the coaching staff won't have to worry about him missing an assignment is pass protection or dropping the ball on a pass.
McFadden is likely the fallback plan for the Cowboys if Randle or Williams doesn't show enough promise to become the starter.
Lance Dunbar
The running back who may be the best bet to be a big contributor to the Cowboys offense this year is Lance Dunbar. He likely won't be in the running for a starting job, but he could have a huge role as a niche player in the offense.
Dunbar is a quick and explosive running back who thrives when he has the ball in space. Also, he is a fantastic special teams player who contributes in multiple facets of that area.
Dunbar has shown he can be a dangerous player in the screen game, as a receiver out of the backfield and even when he is lined up wide. He is a terrible matchup for opposing linebackers, which Linehan loves to take advantage of at certain stages of games.
This year could be the year Dunbar sees his role grow even more. He could be used more out wide and even in two-running back sets in the backfield.
Even though Dunbar's used mostly as a receiver out of the backfield, he is also a good running back. The 25-year-old has good vision, and he is very elusive. He is a great change-of-pace back who can really take advantage of tired defenses.
Dunbar won't get the lion's share of carries or opportunities out of the backfield, but you can bet he is going to be a large part of the Cowboys offense in 2015.
Ryan Williams
The most talented player at running back for the Cowboys just may be Ryan Williams. Coming out of Virginia Tech, Williams was an incredible running back with as much talent as anyone the Cowboys have had in the last few years.
However, multiple injuries have derailed Williams, which has caused him to not reach his immense potential.
Nevertheless, the Cowboys got glimpses of Williams' talent last year during the preseason. He was quick, explosive and showed impressive power and vision.
Here is one run where Williams displays all those traits (h/t Patrick Conn):
Just like Randle, Williams needs to prove himself in pass protection and as a receiver out of the backfield. Williams was shaky in pass protection throughout training camp and preseason last year; therefore, he will really need to improve in that area this year if he hopes to win the starting job.
Another knock against Williams is that he isn't a very good special teams player, which means that it will be hard for him to make the team if he doesn't win the starting job. Williams doesn't have much room for error, so he will need to be on his A-game from training camp on.
One thing in Williams' favor is that he has the explosiveness and an ability to organically generate power that no one else on the roster can do. Williams can push the pile and get the dirty yards Murray got last year.
If Williams stays healthy, he is the dark-horse candidate to win the starting running back job for the Cowboys.
Lache Seastrunk
The newest member at the running back position for the Cowboys is former Baylor Bears star Lache Seastrunk.
The first word that comes to mind when you watch Seastrunk is speed. He gets to full speed extremely quickly, and he can blow by defenses in a blink of an eye.
One area where Seastrunk could possibly sneak onto this team is as a returner, as he can be dynamic as both a kick and punt returner.
Unfortunately for Seastrunk, he doesn't display many other traits that make him worthy of a spot on the 53-man roster. He's not a great receiver out of the backfield, he struggles in pass protection and he has questionable vision as a runner.
The best-case scenario for Seastrunk would be to make the practice squad, where he could develop and possibly compete with Dunbar next year.
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