Cowboys ready to take reins off their new RB Christine Michael

[Silver N Blue]

Hopefully C-Mike actually gets a decent amount of carries going forward. Along with some of the other changes...gotta see if he can also provide a little spark.

I hear ya I am at the point where I am done with the chitter chatter...either get him carries or move on so us arm chair owners can work on another problem area...I am just ready to talk about how well or not well he performed with his opportunity...get him on the field already!

 

[Doomsay]

For better or worse, these bye week shake ups have a distinct Jonesian feel to them.

 

[Bleu Star]

That's not right at all. Randle was not a "third-down" back last season, and he certainly didn't excel in that role. He was Murray's relief back instead. He entered the game every third or fourth series, and were in the same type plays as Murray did. His approach to those plays is different, to be sure, but they work the third down variety calls. That was Dundar's role. He was more of a "change of pace" back.

Also curious… Where do you see anything, or where have you heard anything, that says anything about Randle "going back" to his previous role? All I've seen says that Michael may be getting more opportunities. I don't know how anybody gets "starting" out of that.

Call it a hopeful hunch and Randle is indeed a scatback by definition. I know many of you were hopeful this idiotic SBBC system would actually work. You wanted the stubborn front office to be right about letting Demarco go and not acquiring a RB in the draft. You were hoping that Randle's idiotic "he left plenty of meat on the bone" comment was a motivational sign of good things to come with him as lead dog..... Well he's a lead pup. That's about it. Thank goodness for the bye week shake up. It may very well save our season. Thank you Jerry for becoming just as disgusted as many of us fans have been for weeks.

 

[Bleu Star]

I have a feeling that the OL won't improve until we have Romo and Dez on the field together.

I have a feeling you're going to be pleasantly surprised coming out of the bye week.

 

[ottawacowpoke]

I have a feeling you're going to be pleasantly surprised coming out of the bye week.

That would be great. I really hope I am wrong.

 

[Bleu Star]

That would be great. I really hope I am wrong.

We will both be smiling.

 

[the_h0wey]

• Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer

IRVING, Texas -- On Wednesday, Jason Garrett announced changes at quarterback (from Brandon Weeden toMatt Cassel) and left guard (from Ronald Leary to La’el Collins). He wasn’t ready to announce any change at the running back spot.

While Joseph Randle might remain the starter, it’s clear Christine Michael will get more opportunities when the Cowboys play the New York Giants on Oct. 25.

The Cowboys acquired Michael from the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 6. He was inactive for the first three games as he learned the offense, and got one carry in each of the last two losses to the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots.

“I think he’s where he needs to be, and we want to take the reins off him and let him rock,” running backs coach Gary Brown said.

At 5-foot-10 and 221 pounds, Michael is bigger than Randle and Darren McFadden. His size can help the offensive line.

“Not to say that the other guys don’t have power, but I think he probably has a little bit more power,” Brown said. “We’ve got to take advantage of that.”

The Cowboys have not been effective enough running the ball so far this season, with 531 yards rushing on 129 carries and five touchdowns. Randle leads the Cowboys with 289 yards on 74 carries and has four touchdowns. Darren McFadden has 37 carries for 129 yards.Lance Dunbar was lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

The team is 19th in the NFL in rushing. Last year the Cowboys were never lower than 11th, with DeMarco Murray rushing for a franchise-record 1,845 yards. They finished as the league’s second-best running team.

Michael has yet to start a game in his career and has yet to have more than nine carries in a game, but that’s mostly because he played behind Marshawn Lynch.

“He’s quick. He’s explosive," Garrett said. “I think he’s proven to be a good runner in college (and) when he’s had opportunities in the NFL. Again, we just want to get him into the mix. We’ll keep giving Joe opportunities. We’ll keep giving Darren opportunities. He’s worthy of a chance to play a little bit more.”

http://teamstre.am/1LQM7yT

I really don't understand why so many people are infatuated with a guy that wasn't good enough to take away carries from Turbin.

 

[Bleu Star]

I really don't understand why so many people are infatuated with a guy that wasn't good enough to take away carries from Turbin.

Hasn't really had an opportunity in the league.
Played in Seattle behind Lynch.
Only going into his 3rd year after having been drafted with promise.
Has all the measurables...
I could go on.......

I'll take a guy that averaged 4.75 yards per carry in Seattle during limited opportunities in a stacked backfield over our SBBC any day of the week. All day. Everyday.
http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/8469/christine-michael

 

[the_h0wey]

Hasn't really had an opportunity in the league.
Played in Seattle behind Lynch.
Only going into his 3rd year after having been drafted with promise.
Has all the measurables...
I could go on.......

I'll take a guy that averaged 4.75 yards per carry in Seattle during limited opportunities in a stacked backfield over our SBBC any day of the week. All day. Everyday.
http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/8469/christine-michael

So he was never given an opportunity to take carries away from Turbin? They thought so little of him they let him go for 7th round pick and decided to roll with Fred Jackson and a UDFA in Rawls...

 

[Bleu Star]

So he was never given an opportunity to take carries away from Turbin? They thought so little of him they let him go for 7th round pick and decided to roll with Fred Jackson and a UDFA in Rawls...

You're transfixed "against" accepting the possibility of CMike being a positive for our offense and I am on the complete opposite side of the table. Do we really have anything else to discuss? Talk witcha after the Giants game.

 

[the_h0wey]

You're transfixed "against" accepting the possibility of CMike being a positive for our offense and I am on the complete opposite side of the table. Do we really have anything else to discuss? Talk witcha after the Giants game.

I'm just stating facts. I know those can be tough sometimes when someone holds a differing opinion than you do.

 

[Bleu Star]

I'm just stating facts. I know those can be tough sometimes when someone holds a differing opinion than you do.

If we all lived by our past experiences, the unknown would rarely be discovered. So much would be missed. I'm thankful I look ahead as well as in the past.

 

[cowboys2233]

We'll find out soon. I see no reason to anoint Michael and he's done nothing to seperate himself from Randle. I'd love for either or both of them to find some running room this week, but I don't think there is an NFL quality starting running back on this team.

I expect Collins' impact to be far more significant than Michael or even Cassel.

He's got the size-speed thing but not overly impressed with his actual running ability. Guess we'll see. The thing is, I KNOW there is a guy out there somewhere who is the perfect fit for this offensive line (other than Murray). I think the organization suspects this too and they're moving heaven and earth to find him.

 

[jazzcat22]

Randle may get the start, but they should used Michael not soon after, like the 3rd series if Randle is not showing much. Though I really would like to see Michael right away. See what he brings.
I am not completely sold on him, but want to see what he can do. Need to get him in the flow from the start. And hope he is what the team and fans think he can be. I am a fan and I want the best to get us wins. I don't hate any player on this team. Wish some were better, but do not hate them.

I also want to see Rod Smith in there, and though the new RB, he must get more than 1 or 2 carries to see what he brings.

We need a spark. We got it on defense last week, and it can start a fire on side of the ball for D. Gregory adds more fuel.
But now time for the O to get it's spark. At least to keep it burning until Romo gets back. Cassell, Collins, Dez may be back, and now Michael / Smith....hopefully it can be a good combination of changes for a few wins.

 

[Bleu Star]

Randle may get the start, but they should used Michael not soon after, like the 3rd series if Randle is not showing much. Though I really would like to see Michael right away. See what he brings.
I am not completely sold on him, but want to see what he can do. Need to get him in the flow from the start. And hope he is what the team and fans think he can be. I am a fan and I want the best to get us wins. I don't hate any player on this team. Wish some were better, but do not hate them.

I also want to see Rod Smith in there, and though the new RB, he must get more than 1 or 2 carries to see what he brings.

We need a spark. We got it on defense last week, and it can start a fire on side of the ball for D. Gregory adds more fuel.
But now time for the O to get it's spark. At least to keep it burning until Romo gets back. Cassell, Collins, Dez may be back, and now Michael / Smith....hopefully it can be a good combination of changes for a few wins.

Run Cmike.
Run Randle.
Plug Smith in on short yardage.
Cut McFadden.

Boom. The cake is ready.

 

[jazzcat22]

Run Cmike.
Run Randle.
Plug Smith in on short yardage.
Cut McFadden.

Boom. The cake is ready.

Wouldn't be so quick to cut McFadden. I know you do not like him at all. But he can be of good use. I think get him in space with some running room, he can get some good gains. Like on screen passes. Crap even try a reverse with his speed. Something that seems to escape this playbook.
He can also return KO's, unless they use Smith for that. But I don't see that happening right away. You know, the trust that Garrett puts into players right away...LOL...
Even though Whitehead was finally out there last week. I trust McFadden more than Whitehead right now though.

 

[Bleu Star]

Wouldn't be so quick to cut McFadden. I know you do not like him at all. But he can be of good use. I think get him in space with some running room, he can get some good gains. Like on screen passes. Crap even try a reverse with his speed. Something that seems to escape this playbook.
He can also return KO's, unless they use Smith for that. But I don't see that happening right away. You know, the trust that Garrett puts into players right away...LOL...
Even though Whitehead was finally out there last week. I trust McFadden more than Whitehead right now though.

But Randle is capable of doing the exact same thing DMC does.

 

[dallasdave]

• Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer

IRVING, Texas -- On Wednesday, Jason Garrett announced changes at quarterback (from Brandon Weeden toMatt Cassel) and left guard (from Ronald Leary to La’el Collins). He wasn’t ready to announce any change at the running back spot.

While Joseph Randle might remain the starter, it’s clear Christine Michael will get more opportunities when the Cowboys play the New York Giants on Oct. 25.

The Cowboys acquired Michael from the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 6. He was inactive for the first three games as he learned the offense, and got one carry in each of the last two losses to the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots.

“I think he’s where he needs to be, and we want to take the reins off him and let him rock,” running backs coach Gary Brown said.

At 5-foot-10 and 221 pounds, Michael is bigger than Randle and Darren McFadden. His size can help the offensive line.

“Not to say that the other guys don’t have power, but I think he probably has a little bit more power,” Brown said. “We’ve got to take advantage of that.”

The Cowboys have not been effective enough running the ball so far this season, with 531 yards rushing on 129 carries and five touchdowns. Randle leads the Cowboys with 289 yards on 74 carries and has four touchdowns. Darren McFadden has 37 carries for 129 yards.Lance Dunbar was lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

The team is 19th in the NFL in rushing. Last year the Cowboys were never lower than 11th, with DeMarco Murray rushing for a franchise-record 1,845 yards. They finished as the league’s second-best running team.

Michael has yet to start a game in his career and has yet to have more than nine carries in a game, but that’s mostly because he played behind Marshawn Lynch.

“He’s quick. He’s explosive," Garrett said. “I think he’s proven to be a good runner in college (and) when he’s had opportunities in the NFL. Again, we just want to get him into the mix. We’ll keep giving Joe opportunities. We’ll keep giving Darren opportunities. He’s worthy of a chance to play a little bit more.”

http://teamstre.am/1LQM7yT

Cut him loose !!!!!!!!!

 

[xwalker]

Wouldn't be so quick to cut McFadden. I know you do not like him at all. But he can be of good use. I think get him in space with some running room, he can get some good gains. Like on screen passes. Crap even try a reverse with his speed. Something that seems to escape this playbook.
He can also return KO's, unless they use Smith for that. But I don't see that happening right away. You know, the trust that Garrett puts into players right away...LOL...
Even though Whitehead was finally out there last week. I trust McFadden more than Whitehead right now though.

I would try McFadden at WR or at least give him some better routes as a RB. Those little stop/curl routes don't really give much opportunity for YAC. I would like to see him run some of those slant routes that T. Williams runs.

They also seem to highly discourage the RBs from running far to the outside, but I think McFadden would have more success if they gave him more run plays designed to go to the sidelines.

 

[rpntex]

Call it a hopeful hunch and Randle is indeed a scatback by definition. I know many of you were hopeful this idiotic SBBC system would actually work. You wanted the stubborn front office to be right about letting Demarco go and not acquiring a RB in the draft. You were hoping that Randle's idiotic "he left plenty of meat on the bone" comment was a motivational sign of good things to come with him as lead dog..... Well he's a lead pup. That's about it. Thank goodness for the bye week shake up. It may very well save our season. Thank you Jerry for becoming just as disgusted as many of us fans have been for weeks.

Wow! That is a big stretch to go for me saying Randle is not a "third-down" back to all of that you just spewed there. The fact is neither he nor Murray were on the field too often on third-down last year. I didn't disagree with the term "scatback", as you evidently thought I did... Just the "third-down" characterization.

As for the rest of your little diatribe, just be careful about throwing the word "you" around. I couldn't care less about the front office being right or not. FWIW, I agree with them with regards to paying DeMarco (or any running back not named Adrian Peterson) $8m per season - especially coming off of a near-400 carry season. Judging from his struggles in Philadelphia, it's looking like the front office WAS right in that regard.

I WAS on the bandwagon that wanted a back in the draft, too. When that didn't happen, however, my desire was for Randle/McFadden/Dunbar to be effective. Not to vindicate the front office, but rather, because an effective running game gives the Cowboys the best chance to be successful successful of the season I have the same hopes for Michael. If he can solidify the Cowboys running game...outstanding! Who cares if the front office was right or not?

I'd rather the Cowboys win. You'd rather say "I told you so".