Can Dallas win a Super Bowl with RB By Committee?

[DandyDon52]

I dont think the backs we have right now will hold up , I see all of them being hurt and we are out of backs by game 6, if they give them 25-30 carries a game.
If they keep it below 20 they might last longer, but I think this year people will see what "injury prone" is all about.
None of them can carry the load week after week, and they might have a problem by game 6.
Randle seems to be the only one that might hold up.

 

[KJJ]

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.

The Cowboys current backs have average NFL talent that's what they've shown up to this point. If the Raiders honestly believed their OL was the reason McFadden averaged only 3.3 a carry the past 3 seasons I doubt they would have offered Murray more money than Philly offered. McFadden being dumped and the Raiders lucrative offer to Murray is a big indication they were putting a lot of the blame on the backs they have and not their OL. I'm not saying the Cowboys won't be able to run the ball in 2015 but I don't think they'll run it as efficiently as they did with Murray. None of the RB's the Cowboys have will have to be accounted for by defenses the way they Murray had to be accounted for unless one of them steps up. We may see more stacked boxes against this current group unless one of them emerges and provides a real threat. Having an elite runner can open up some great play action pass opportunities we saw that last season.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

The Cowboys current backs have average NFL talent that's what they've shown up to this point. If the Raiders honestly believed their OL was the reason McFadden averaged only 3.3 a carry the past 3 seasons I doubt they would have offered Murray more money than Philly offered. McFadden being dumped and the Raiders lucrative offer to Murray is a big indication they were putting a lot of the blame on the backs they have and not their OL. I'm not saying the Cowboys won't be able to run the ball in 2015 but I don't think they'll run it as efficiently as they did with Murray. None of the RB's the Cowboys have will have to be accounted for by defenses the way they Murray had to be accounted for unless one of them steps up. We may see more stacked boxes against this current group unless one of them emerges and provides a real threat. Having an elite runner can open up some great play action pass opportunities we saw that last season.

I hope we do see more loaded boxes because that means that Dez is going to be seeing more single coverage. I am confident that if that happens, Tony and Dez will have big numbers. The running game doesn't have to produce like they did last year. They simply have to create situations which are favorable to our Offense. I don't think teams will use a loaded box against us if we can score in the passing game. I think it will eventually swing and that should allow the running game to be more productive. Murray had the ball way too much last year. Not saying that we ran the ball to much because I think the two things are different. Murray had way too many carries but emphasis on the running game is still possible and should still be a big part of our Offense. I am not one who favors 30/40 attempts a game on a regular basis but, I also think that it's possible to distribute carries and still produce a strong running attack. I understand the skepticism surrounding that but I think the backs we have can be productive. They just have to do it.

 

[KJJ]

I hope we do see more loaded boxes because that means that Dez is going to be seeing more single coverage. I am confident that if that happens, Tony and Dez will have big numbers. The running game doesn't have to produce like they did last year. They simply have to create situations which are favorable to our Offense. I don't think teams will use a loaded box against us if we can score in the passing game. I think it will eventually swing and that should allow the running game to be more productive. Murray had the ball way too much last year. Not saying that we ran the ball to much because I think the two things are different. Murray had way too many carries but emphasis on the running game is still possible and should still be a big part of our Offense. I am not one who favors 30 attempts a game but I also think that it's possible to distribute carries and still produce a strong running attack. I understand the skepticism surrounding that but I think the backs we have can be productive. They just have to do it.

The concern is the Cowboys are going to be relying more on the talent of their OL than the talent of their backs. More stacked boxes could lead to a considerably less effective running game which is going to force Romo into more passing situations. One area of concern with the OL has been in pass protection. Although Romo had the fewest passing attempts of his career last season in which he played at least 15 games he was sacked 29 times including 5 times vs Washington which resulted in another back injury forcing him to miss a game. The Cowboys were very fortunate not to have lost Romo for the season on that play. If Romo is forced to throw more his int's will likely increase and his efficiency will likely decrease.

His chance of injury goes up the more he has to throw unless the OL provides better pass protection. Great run blocking unit but it's been suspect in pass protection. It's very possible to distribute the carries and still have a strong running attack the Cowboys had pretty good running attacks distributing carries in 06 in 07 but they couldn't pick up the tough yards and the running game started to fizz once the season got down to do or die. This put all the pressure on Romo to have to win those games in the 4th quarter. We'll find out soon enough how the Cowboys RB situation affects the upcoming season.

 

[USMarineVet]

Any team can with with RB by committee... With a very good defense and a decent offense, anything can happen. There's no reason why this year's Cowboys can't excel on offense as long as the back stay healthy.

 

[Section446]

Simple answer, nope.

 

[big dog cowboy]

The "passing league" name may apply to most of the NFL. Dallas tried it and 8-8 was the result for three years.

Talk about revising history.

 

[JDSmith]

Simple answer, nope.

Well thanks for that, now I'm free the entire season.

 

[Section446]

Well thanks for that, now I'm free the entire season.

Glad I could help.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

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.

No. It's not.

Romo and mostly passing = we ain't winning it.

Forget that "passing league" nonsense. Running behind that line was our strength.

Stay with it.

 

[jnday]

Talk about revising history.

Dallas didn't go three straight 8-8 seasons? The running game came together and 12-4 was the result. Exactly what part of this statement is not true? You are welcome to disagree with my opinion, but this is not my opinion. It is fact.

 

[KJJ]

I'll keep repeating it one of the backs has emerge and be the one the Cowboys count on. If one of the backs doesn't separate themselves it's going to be difficult seeing the consistency we saw last season in the running game. If the Cowboys are forced to start different backs every few weeks trying to find consistency from the starting position this will lead to some trouble. I posted several weeks ago that the RB position reminds me a little of the WR position heading into the 09 season. TO had just been released after the 08 season and Roy Williams who Jerry traded for during the season did virtually nothing. The Cowboys had to make up for TO's production and only Williams ever had a productive season and that was 3 years earlier.

With Miles Austin who hadn't done anything and Patrick Crayton who was a 3rd receiver back to being a starter again the receiving corp looked pretty weak. I knew one of the receivers had to step up and be a threat. The Cowboys started the 09 season looking pretty shaky until Austin emerged vs KC. It's the same thing with the RB's heading into 2015 one of them has to seize the opportunity or Romo will have to do more which will affect his consistency and the teams consistency.

 

[jnday]

No. It's not.

Romo and mostly passing = we ain't winning it.

Forget that "passing league" nonsense. Running behind that line was our strength.

Stay with it.

I agree. Why is it so hard for posters to see that in this particular offense, the running game is just as important as the QB? After watching the 90's Cowboys, this fanbass should be the first to recognize and embrace this type of offense and know what a top RB with a top line can accomplish. I understand the younger fans because all they know is that this is a "passing league". They don't realize that a RB can be the second most important player on the offense. That is why so many post have been started about the Pats RBBC and other teams that depend on mostly QB play. Romo is at his best when he is not forcing the ball and trying to make plays.

 

[KJJ]

Everyone keeps saying a committee of backs can make up for Murrays production and I've never disputed that. In 06 the combination of Jones, Barber, Thompson, Poilite and Kincade produced 1795 rushing yards and 19 TD's. Barber alone scored 14 TD's which was one more than Murray had last season. Romo even put up 102 yards rushing. Julius Jones put up almost 1100 yards that season and provided a speed threat that Murray didn't provide. In a game vs NO Julius had a 77 yard TD run but the Cowboys got blown out 42-17 because he only produced 39 yards the rest of the day putting the game on Romo and the defense. Although the Cowboys got production from a committee of backs that season none of them were special. In games late in the season where the Cowboys needed to maintain possession of the ball and pick up critical first downs this committee of backs didn't come through forcing Romo to have win games which led to 6 int's and 2 lost fumbles. In Julius's final 3 games of the 06 season he averaged 2.0, 3.8 and 2.7 a carry leading to 1-2 record the final 3 weeks of the regular season. This put a lot of pressure on Romo and his game began to suffer. Although Julius was productive vs Seattle in the playoffs he didn't produce on first and second down in the final 4 minutes with the Cowboys driving trying to take the lead putting them in a 3rd and long leading to a Romo incompletion and the bobbled snap on the FG attempt. With an elite runner deep in Seattle territory the Cowboys could have likely run the ball in for a score.

Murray created plays that average backs don't create. Go back to the Cowboys big opening night win over the defending SB champion Giants on the road in 2012 while the OL was still in transition. Murray got trapped in the backfield and turned what looked like a certain 6-7 yard loss into a 48 yard gain. He got no help from his OL on that play that was all him. An average back doesn't make that play. We've seen a number of terrific runs by Murray that average backs don't produce. Julius Jones gave the Cowboys a speed threat that resulted in some long runs but he could never consistently make the 5-8 yard runs which is why he flamed out. Felix Jones gave the Cowboys a speed threat producing several long runs but like with Julius he couldn't consistently pick up the tough chain moving yards. It's not all about trying to make up for Murrays production it's trying to make up for the tough yards he gained between the tackles in critical games that helped the offense maintain possession and kept the defense off the field. Go back and look at what Murray did against that great Legion of Doom defense last season. He consistently popped 4-6 yard runs sucking the life out of that defense. He had to scratch and claw for every yard he got in that game and he never ran out of gas despite 28 carries against one of the greatest most physical defenses the NFL has seen in more than a decade.

What made Emmitt great wasn't speed or long runs it was being able to sustain and pound away at defenses. It was moving the chains with tough runs in big games. I'm not doubting that McFadden and Randle can break off some long runs the question is can they produce those 5-8 yard runs consistently like we saw with Murray. Will the Cowboys still be able to run the ball consistently on 3rd and 2's and 3's or will Romo have to put it up in those situations? It's clear some don't know what makes certain backs special all you have to do is watch Emmitt and Walter Payton nothing flashy. I'm certainly in NO WAY trying to compare Murray with those backs so don't even go there I'm simply pointing out that a back can be elite without having great speed or producing a bunch of long TD runs. It's being able to run with power and sustain and Murray showed he could do that despite a franchise record number of carries. Sometimes a back has to dish out some punishment and still have the legs in the 4th quarter to move the chains. A lot of questions on the Cowboys RB's will be answered in the coming months should be interesting!

 

[DandyDon52]

Murray became so effective that the Cowboys centered their whole offense on him. Murray led all rushers in 2014 with 392 rushing attempts. Tack on 44 additional attempts in the playoffs. Murray also caught 57 passes of the 64 times he was targeted. Of the 1,059 snaps the Cowboys took last season, DeMarco Murray accounted for 42.3% of their offensive plays.

so Actually 436 carries + 57 pass/ runs is 493 touches ! That is a bell cow RB.
To equal Murray 2 backs would have to have 215 carries each, or 250,100,86 for 3 backs.
But he wasnt worth keeping lol.

 

[gmoney112]

Of course. And if we stay relatively healthy, i wouldn't be too surprised if we did.

I'm just really looking forward to a deep playoff run without a "bellcow". It's going to make all the "8-8ers" disappear or backtrack completely.

 

[jnday]

Of course. And if we stay relatively healthy, i wouldn't be too surprised if we did.

I'm just really looking forward to a deep playoff run without a "bellcow". It's going to make all the "8-8ers" disappear or backtrack completely.

If they drop two or three games due to RB play, do you want to be reminded of this post. you seem eager to rub it in.

 

[gmoney112]

Dallas didn't go three straight 8-8 seasons? The running game came together and 12-4 was the result. Exactly what part of this statement is not true? You are welcome to disagree with my opinion, but this is not my opinion. It is fact.

It's not a fact we were 12-4 just because of the game. OL, not setting records for injuries on defense, and offensive playcalling were all contributing factors. You're trolling pretty hard bro. You even watch the Cowboys?

 

[gmoney112]

If they drop two or three games due to RB play, do you want to be reminded of this post. you seem eager to rub it in.

Doesn't matter if our defense gives up 75 points in a loss, you'll still find a way to blame the run game. I'll put a 100$ donation to CZ our run game doesn't keep us from the playoffs though. You down?

 

[SportsGuru80]

I want Joe Randle to be the lead dog this year, seems like he's the best talent on the RB roster.