Can Dallas win a Super Bowl with RB By Committee?

[jnday]

Whether you have a great runner or not doesn't seem to matter too much in today's game. Which is why RBs have become devalued. I do agree that we would be best served by having a strong running game to help protect the defense and not force Romo to try and win games - I think his biggest flaw has always been that he tries to do too much. But honestly, it may be that he simply had to do too much since we have never really given him a good defense. The running game definitely helped the D last year, but I don't think we need one back to carry the load to such a lopsided degree to run effectively. A more balance committee approach could certainly work. I think the big issue last year was that they didn't trust Randle enough to give him more of Murray's carries - if we had McFadden last year instead of Randle I'll bet we would have seen Murray carry less because they could rely on McFadden to protect Romo. And I think that would have been better for the team because it would have kept Murray fresher late in the season.

It is not wise to compare Dallas with other teams due to the Cowboys use of the running game. Sure, the league was labeled a passing league, but the offense that the Cowboys are using has always been successful. Dallas struggled for years in the running game because they didn't want to invest in the oline, but now they are leading a trend that will return olineman and RBs to more valued positions. RBs selected in this draft were picked higher than RBs in recent years. I expect the trend to continue and it will take higher draft picks to get the top RBs in the draft. The predraft visits gave a clue that the team wanted one of the top RBs, but things just didn't work out for them drafting one. There should be no underestimating the value of the position in this offense. A handful of below average RBs with major injury histories is not going work well IMO.

 

[xwalker]

I had the feeling that the team had no intention of resigning Murray because they figured that some team would overpay , so they used him up. Sure, he wore down as the season went on, but I think they honestly got everything out of Murray that he had left. It was a harsh way to do business, but it was best for the team. It is going to shorten Murray's career, but they knew that the chances of resigning him were slim. I fully expect Murray to have more injuries in the future and this last season was the high point of his career. I am glad the Eagles didn't realize this and they will regret it soon. Good for them .

I agree, but I think Murray was a willing participant. IMO, Grarrett let Murray decide how many snaps he wanted to play.

The stats show a high probabity that too many carries in 1 season is bad for a RBs future.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Where people are getting this RB committee fantasy from amazes me. Find me one quote from Garrett or Linehan concerning this. Just because you've got 3 don't mean all 3 will be featured.

Very true.

And to answer the question.... we can win with any of these running backs.
The offense is that good, the oline is that good and the defense will continue to have a chip on its shoulder and continue to be an "opportunistic" defense. With a couple of pitbulls in Hardy and DLaw.

50 is ours!!

 

[big dog cowboy]

50 is ours!!

Book it.

 

[jrumann59]

I say if you can get 1500 yards between total from all your backs you have a solid running game.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Book it.

I have to!

Not winning this year... pain is getting unbearable.

To watch Eli and Brady win these super bowls makes me want to vommit.

 

[BigStar]

Surprised to see Rodgers ran for 356 yards that season. Better athlete than given credit for.

 

[Rogah]

The NFL is a passing league. Dallas has an MVP caliber QB. IMHO that is far more valuable - and far more necessary - than a top RB.

As seen in speedkilz' chart, 5 of the past 7 Super Bowl winners didn't have a 1,000 yard rusher.

So yes, Dallas certainly has the tools and talent in the right places to win a SB.

 

[MichaelValentino]

What I actually posted in the other thread was that the Cowboys have never won or reached a SB without having a dynamic back in their backfield. Saying they've never won an SB with an RB by committee was incorrect because they have used multiple backs but they always had a dynamic runner who led the way during their championship years. Although Dorsett and Newhouse split carries in 77 Dorsett added an element to the Cowboys offense that they didn't have prior to his arrival.

The Cowboys would have had a much more difficult time reaching and winning the SB that season had they not had Tony Dorsett. He rushed for over 1000 yards that season, averaged 4.8 yards per carry and provided some long scoring plays that Robert Newhouse wasn't capable of.

^This.

In '71 the Cowboys were loaded at RB with Duane Thomas, Calvin Hill and Walt Garrison. By '75, the cupboard, while not bare, was lacking a quality back. The Cowboys easily got past the Rams in the NFCCG but the combination of Newhouse, Pearson and Dennison put no fear into the Steel Curtain in SB X. Without a real running threat, Staubach was under constant pressure. In '77, Dorsett brought speed and score-from-anywhere-on-the-field ability. Defensive gameplans had to deal with Dorsett first and foremost. I still think if Coach Landry didn't get away from the running game early vs. Pittsburgh in SB XIII, that the Cowboys would've won that game. The Steelers had no answer for Dorsett, who was shredding them early in the game. Fast forward to '92, and despite having an offensive line for the ages, the Cowboys would not have won three SBs in four years if not for Emmitt. We all saw what happened to the running game when Emmitt held out.

The Dallas Cowboys' history has been known for great QBs and great defensive fronts. But the Cowboys' two eras of dominance would not have happened without their great featured backs.

 

[KJJ]

The NFL is a passing league. Dallas has an MVP caliber QB. IMHO that is far more valuable - and far more necessary - than a top RB.

As seen in speedkilz' chart, 5 of the past 7 Super Bowl winners didn't have a 1,000 yard rusher.

So yes, Dallas certainly has the tools and talent in the right places to win a SB.

Romo didn't become an MVP caliber QB until he had the top rusher in the league which greatly contributed to him leading the league in passer rating and having the best most efficient season of his career which earned him 2 MVP votes. Last season was the first time Romo ever received MVP votes and now he's without the player that took the pressure off him who allowed him not to have to win games every week. He's not going to have the success he had last season nor will the team have the same success if he has to go back flinging the ball around 35 plus times a game.

 

[KJJ]

I say if you can get 1500 yards between total from all your backs you have a solid running game.

In 2006 our backs combined for 1895 yards but none of them were elite and Romo ended up with all the pressure on him when it came down to crunch time resulting in 8 turnovers during Dec. In 2007 our backs combined 1617 yards but because none were special that season came down to Romo having to win games. It caused him to unravel in Dec/Jan resulting in 6 turnovers the final month which accounted for some dreadful passer rating games. The Cowboys have tried RB by committees with a series of average to decent backs but never had the success we saw last season or during their championship years without an elite lead back. The backs the Cowboys had prior to Murray couldn't make the tough key runs in critical situations in the games that mattered most other than Felix Jones vs Philly during the 09 playoffs which forced Romo to have to win those games. There's runs in key situations that elite backs make that average backs don't. Although Julius Jones had a productive playoff game vs Seattle in 06 he got stuffed in the final 4 minutes putting that game on Romo's shoulders.

Marion Barber put up over 100 yards in the first half vs the Giants in the 07 playoffs but ran out of gas in the second half producing only 26 yards putting that game on Romo's shoulders. Sure you can get production from a committee of backs the Cowboys have done it under Romo but none of those teams were as solid and competitive in the playoffs as last years Cowboys team that featured an elite runner. The Cowboys went up to Lambeau where the Packers had dominated teams all last season and put up a 4 quarter fight mostly due to a running game that allowed Romo to only have to attempt 19 passes. Romo has never looked as steady or efficient in the playoffs as this past season due to having an elite runner the opposition respected and had to account for. We'll find out in 2015 if defenses have any respect for the backs the Cowboys currently have. One of the Cowboys backs better step up and be a threat or the team will face some issues down the stretch and a lot more will be put on Romo's plate in 2015.

 

[blindzebra]

In 2006 our backs combined for 1895 yards but none of them were elite and Romo ended up with all the pressure on him when it came down to crunch time resulting in 8 turnovers during Dec. In 2007 our backs combined 1617 yards but because none were special that season came down to Romo having to win games. It caused him to unravel in Dec/Jan resulting in 6 turnovers the final month which accounted for some dreadful passer rating games. The Cowboys have tried RB by committees with a series of average to decent backs but never had the success we saw last season or during their championship years without an elite lead back. The backs the Cowboys had prior to Murray couldn't make the tough key runs in critical situations in the games that mattered most other than Felix Jones vs Philly during the 09 playoffs which forced Romo to have to win those games. There's runs in key situations that elite backs make that average backs don't. Although Julius Jones had a productive playoff game vs Seattle in 06 he got stuffed in the final 4 minutes putting that game on Romo's shoulders.

Marion Barber put up over 100 yards in the first half vs the Giants in the 07 playoffs but ran out of gas in the second half producing only 26 yards putting that game on Romo's shoulders. Sure you can get production from a committee of backs the Cowboys have done it under Romo but none of those teams were as solid and competitive in the playoffs as last years Cowboys team that featured an elite runner. The Cowboys went up to Lambeau where the Packers had dominated teams all last season and put up a 4 quarter fight mostly due to a running game that allowed Romo to only have to attempt 19 passes. Romo has never looked as steady or efficient in the playoffs as this past season due to having an elite runner the opposition respected and had to account for. We'll find out in 2015 if defenses have any respect for the backs the Cowboys currently have. One of the Cowboys backs better step up and be a threat or the team will face some issues down the stretch and a lot more will be put on Romo's plate in 2015.

In 2006 Romo took tbe team down the field for the win but a greased ball screwed it up. Romo has played at an elite level for several years now and is more than capable to carry this team to a title.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

In 2006 Romo took tbe team down the field for the win but a greased ball screwed it up. Romo has played at an elite level for several years now and is more than capable to carry this team to a title.

Hey Zebra, how have you been?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

In 2006 our backs combined for 1895 yards but none of them were elite and Romo ended up with all the pressure on him when it came down to crunch time resulting in 8 turnovers during Dec. In 2007 our backs combined 1617 yards but because none were special that season came down to Romo having to win games. It caused him to unravel in Dec/Jan resulting in 6 turnovers the final month which accounted for some dreadful passer rating games. The Cowboys have tried RB by committees with a series of average to decent backs but never had the success we saw last season or during their championship years without an elite lead back. The backs the Cowboys had prior to Murray couldn't make the tough key runs in critical situations in the games that mattered most other than Felix Jones vs Philly during the 09 playoffs which forced Romo to have to win those games. There's runs in key situations that elite backs make that average backs don't. Although Julius Jones had a productive playoff game vs Seattle in 06 he got stuffed in the final 4 minutes putting that game on Romo's shoulders.

Marion Barber put up over 100 yards in the first half vs the Giants in the 07 playoffs but ran out of gas in the second half producing only 26 yards putting that game on Romo's shoulders. Sure you can get production from a committee of backs the Cowboys have done it under Romo but none of those teams were as solid and competitive in the playoffs as last years Cowboys team that featured an elite runner. The Cowboys went up to Lambeau where the Packers had dominated teams all last season and put up a 4 quarter fight mostly due to a running game that allowed Romo to only have to attempt 19 passes. Romo has never looked as steady or efficient in the playoffs as this past season due to having an elite runner the opposition respected and had to account for. We'll find out in 2015 if defenses have any respect for the backs the Cowboys currently have. One of the Cowboys backs better step up and be a threat or the team will face some issues down the stretch and a lot more will be put on Romo's plate in 2015.

I would say this. None of those team, IMO, had the talent of this current team, on the Offensive Line. JMO.

 

[blindzebra]

Hey Zebra, how have you been?

Good, you?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Good, you?

No complaints man. I'm just glad it's Friday.

;-)

 

[KJJ]

In 2006 Romo took tbe team down the field for the win but a greased ball screwed it up. Romo has played at an elite level for several years now and is more than capable to carry this team to a title.

It was Romo who was having to take the team down the field due to the running game not producing. It resulted in an incompletion on 3rd and long and a bobbled snap on the FG attempt that unfortunately has been the most memorable play of Romo's career. With an elite runner the Cowboys could have likely run the ball in for a score on that drive. Go back to the Cowboys second SB vs Buffalo and look how Emmitt stepped up in the 3rd quarter and ran all over the Bills taking the will right out of them and removing all the pressure off Aikman. Romo has yet to show that he can carry the Cowboys to a title. Him having to carry the team always leads to a disaster. No Cowboys QB has had to carry the team to a championship because they all had an elite runner in the backfield and a solid defense. Had the Cowboys had a solid defense last season they would have had a great shot of reaching the SB.

 

[KJJ]

I would say this. None of those team, IMO, had the talent of this current team, on the Offensive Line. JMO.

I would agree but you can't win a championship with just a talented OL. The backs you have matter because it's not like the OL is going to produce holes on every play. There's going to be plenty of plays where the backs are going to have use their vision and create some plays out of nothing if the Cowboys want to be the team they were last season and have a chance to be even better.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I would agree with that but you can't win a championship with just a talented OL. The backs you have matter because it's not like the OL is going to produce holes on every play. There's going to be plenty of plays where the backs are going to have use their vision and create some plays out of nothing if the Cowboys want to be the team they were last season and have a chance to be even better.

I agree. You have to have talent at RB to make it work. I think we do have talent at RB. They just need to prove me right or wrong.

 

[jnday]

The NFL is a passing league. Dallas has an MVP caliber QB. IMHO that is far more valuable - and far more necessary - than a top RB.

As seen in speedkilz' chart, 5 of the past 7 Super Bowl winners didn't have a 1,000 yard rusher.

So yes, Dallas certainly has the tools and talent in the right places to win a SB.

The "passing league" name may apply to most of the NFL. Dallas tried it and 8-8 was the result for three years. The running game is the reason for the 12-4 record . A running team needs a top quality lead RB. This line is good, but not good enough to make below average RBs into great RBs. Romo has a limited time left and this could be a wasted year if one of the current RBs on the Roster don't step up. Romo is a much better QB when he is not trying to carry the offense.