Current RB outlook

[KJJ]

I hope Randle does a good job but using his YPC as some determining factor of how he will do this coming season makes no sense.

I wasn't using it to determine how he will do this upcoming season. I was using it to point out that his YPC average has been greatly inflated due to some long runs through a few gaping holes.

 

[5Stars]

I wasn't using it to determine how he will do this upcoming season. I was using it to point out that his YPC average has been greatly inflated due to some long runs through a few gaping holes.

Yeah, I wish Murray would have had some gaping holes to run through.

lol...(is this real)

 

[Doomsday101]

I wasn't using it to determine how he will do this upcoming season. I was using it to point out that his YPC average has been greatly inflated due to some long runs through a few gaping holes.

I understand and agree with you. Getting 3 or 4 carries in a game is not going to determine anything as far as him doing good or not this coming season. My hope is he will be able to produce and show he can carry a good portion of the runs, this is his chance.

 

[Silver N Blue]

No, the sample sizes were too small to judge those backups. Consider that with the Cowboys Randle had a 6.7 ypc compared to a 4.7 ypc for Murray. Was Randle better?

In the final 3 games of 2014, Latavius Murray started and had a 4.0 ypc while McFadden as the backup in those games had a 5.33 ypc.

time will tell

 

[Doomsday101]

Yeah, I wish Murray would have had some gaping holes to run through.

lol...(is this real)

At times Murray did have big lanes to run in and did not jerk around, dancing in the back field he would cut up into the hole and get through and pick up the yards. I expect the same from Randle heck I expect the same from McFadden and Dunbar but there are a lot more times when that hole is much smaller and starting to close where the back has to lower his shoulders and plow through

 

[AbeBeta]

Where are the 4-8 yard carries with Randle care to point all of them out? It shouldn't be hard he hasn't had many. As for the Detroit game the defense wouldn't have given up 600 yards had the Cowboys been able to maintain the ball with their running game. Of the Lions 600 yards 80 of those yards came on their final possession due to Randle and Tanner taking back to back losses when the Cowboys were trying to run out the clock. The Cowboys only had 13 first downs in that game due to not being able to maintain the ball giving the Lions plenty of opportunities to exploit the Cowboys defense.

Yes. Randle is the reason Detroit beat us. I'm glad we got that cleared up. All the talk about that game - how Tanner caused the hold by trying to bounce outside. How Carr needed to get help on Megatron - I'm glad we can get past that and blame Randle.

Yes. Randle doesn't have enough 4-8 yard carries. Never mind that over 20% of his carries went for 10+ yards. That's not good, right? I mean, let's look at that Tennessee game - he had three rushes. 4, 11, and 11 yards. That's only ONE 4-8 yard rush! Had Joe had more 4-8 yard rushes, he'd be pushing a 10YPC average. But you'd probably then calculate his YPC without those runs too.

 

[KJJ]

Yes. Randle is the reason Detroit beat us. I'm glad we got that cleared up. All the talk about that game - how Tanner caused the hold by trying to bounce outside. How Carr needed to get help on Megatron - I'm glad we can get past that and blame Randle.

Yes. Randle doesn't have enough 4-8 yard carries. Never mind that over 20% of his carries went for 10+ yards. That's not good, right? I mean, let's look at that Tennessee game - he had three rushes. 4, 11, and 11 yards. That's only ONE 4-8 yard rush! Had Joe had more 4-8 yard rushes, he'd be pushing a 10YPC average. But you'd probably then calculate his YPC without those runs too.

Never said Randle was the reason the Cowboys lost to Detroit but he and the lack of a running game greatly contributed to the loss. If the Cowboys gain one first down with 1:24 left they win the game and neither Randle or Tanner could gain a single yard they went backwards. Randle had 14 carries in that game and to only average 1.9 a carry was a joke. Granted the defense was terrible but it was exposed all day because the Cowboys had a number of 3 and outs. A first down here and there would have knocked the yardage and points Detroit gained down significantly. What made the defense appear better last season was the running game keeping the D off the field an average of 12 fewer plays per game than in 2013. Although 20% of Randle's carries have gone for 10+ yards that leaves 80% of his carries going virtually nowhere. The Cowboys certainly weren't impressed by him he received 3 fewer carries last season than he did as a rookie.

If they thought he was anything special Murray wouldn't have received almost 400 carries or received as many carries as he did with a broken hand. I'm not going to be impressed with Randle until I see some tough inside running that moves the chains. I want to see him make a play where there's no play to be made. Any back can run through a wide open hole I want to see him punish a defender when he has no room to roam knocking them backwards to make a much needed yard or two. I'm not saying he can't get it done and I'm not projecting anything with him but he's going to have to prove to me and the team that he's not just a one trick pony that can run through some gaping holes. As a rookie he showed no ability to gain tough yards avenging only 3.0 per carry on 54 attempts. We'll find out much more about him in 2015.

 

[boysfanindc]

I am glad someone started this thread as I have been thinking about the running back situation all off season and have not seen any discussion on this board about it.

It's good to see someone is finally considering it.

 

[silver]

Never said Randle was the reason the Cowboys lost to Detroit but he and the lack of a running game greatly contributed to the loss. If the Cowboys gain one first down with 1:24 left they win the game and neither Randle or Tanner could gain a single yard they went backwards. Randle had 14 carries in that game and to only average 1.9 a carry was a joke. Granted the defense was terrible but it was exposed all day because the Cowboys had a number of 3 and outs. A first down here and there would have knocked the yardage and points Detroit gained down significantly. What made the defense appear better last season was the running game keeping the D off the field an average of 12 fewer plays per game than in 2013. Although 20% of Randle's carries have gone for 10+ yards that leaves 80% of his carries going virtually nowhere. The Cowboys certainly weren't impressed by him he received 3 fewer carries last season than he did as a rookie.

If they thought he was anything special Murray wouldn't have received almost 400 carries or received as many carries as he did with a broken hand. I'm not going to be impressed with Randle until I see some tough inside running that moves the chains. I want to see him make a play where there's no play to be made. Any back can run through a wide open hole I want to see him punish a defender when he has no room to roam knocking them backwards to make a much needed yard or two. I'm not saying he can't get it done and I'm not projecting anything with him but he's going to have to prove to me and the team that he's not just a one trick pony that can run through some gaping holes. As a rookie he showed no ability to gain tough yards avenging only 3.0 per carry on 54 attempts. We'll find out much more about him in 2015.

Me thinks the approach will be RB by committee so that the success wont depend on one back but 3 or 4 and with an increased involvement in the passing game mix. In other words we can expect to see 3 different backs in the same series and since all of them are pass catchers it will open the playbook. Last years running attack will not reappear until we get another bell cow. We have a bunch of calves but no bell cow this time. Hey, New England keeps making the superbowl without a bell cow so it's not as if it cant work.

 

[DallasEast]

Never said Randle was the reason the Cowboys lost to Detroit but he and the lack of a running game greatly contributed to the loss.

 

[KJJ]

Me thinks the approach will be RB by committee so that the success wont depend on one back but 3 or 4 and with an increased involvement in the passing game mix. In other words we can expect to see 3 different backs in the same series and since all of them are pass catchers it will open the playbook. Last years running attack will not reappear until we get another bell cow. We have a bunch of calves but no bell cow this time. Hey, New England keeps making the superbowl without a bell cow so it's not as if it cant work.

They'll certainly be a committee even if one back separates themselves the Cowboys will look to spread the carries out to try and keep everyone effective and healthy. One injury could set the running game way back putting too much of the load on the others. Having a back that can pick up the tough 2-3 yards to keep the chains moving will be something the team will focus on in camp and preseason. The Cowboys ran the ball very effectively on a number of 3rd and 3 situations last season keeping Romo from having to put the ball up. The Cowboys may look to cuts to pick up a thumper who can move piles. It's going to be very interesting to see how the RB situation plays out this summer.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Me thinks the approach will be RB by committee so that the success wont depend on one back but 3 or 4 and with an increased involvement in the passing game mix. Hey, New England keeps making the superbowl without a bell cow so it's not as if it cant work.

Doesn't seem that hard does it? Yet so many seem convinced that it won't work here.

 

[Doomsday101]

Doesn't seem that hard does it? Yet so many seem convinced that it won't work here.

Really depends on the RB themselves, Cowboys have never had great success when we had RBBC. I hope someone steps up and shows they can handle a good portion of the carries and be able to get into the flow of a game as opposed to trying to give each guy x number of carries a game. I would like to think one guy can have around 200 carries on the season which is only 12.5 carries a game and someone we can count on in big situations. I hope one of these guys can

 

[KJJ]

Doesn't seem that hard does it? Yet so many seem convinced that it won't work here.

I don't think many if any are "convinced" it won't work because we have yet to see what the plan is and how it will play out. We're all in a wait and see mode as is the team. We're going to see a major change at a position that was the strongest on the team last season and it "appears" to be weak spot heading into 2015. We don't know how it's going to play out and neither do the Cowboys. I'm sure they're as concerned about the position as we are. They know how critical the running game was to the success they had last season and how critical it was to Romo's success. I certainly haven't thrown the towel in on this current RB group they may end up being very good only time will tell.

 

[AbeBeta]

Never said Randle was the reason the Cowboys lost to Detroit but he and the lack of a running game greatly contributed to the loss. If the Cowboys gain one first down with 1:24 left they win the game and neither Randle or Tanner could gain a single yard they went backwards. Randle had 14 carries in that game and to only average 1.9 a carry was a joke. Granted the defense was terrible but it was exposed all day because the Cowboys had a number of 3 and outs. A first down here and there would have knocked the yardage and points Detroit gained down significantly. What made the defense appear better last season was the running game keeping the D off the field an average of 12 fewer plays per game than in 2013. Although 20% of Randle's carries have gone for 10+ yards that leaves 80% of his carries going virtually nowhere. The Cowboys certainly weren't impressed by him he received 3 fewer carries last season than he did as a rookie.

If they thought he was anything special Murray wouldn't have received almost 400 carries or received as many carries as he did with a broken hand. I'm not going to be impressed with Randle until I see some tough inside running that moves the chains. I want to see him make a play where there's no play to be made. Any back can run through a wide open hole I want to see him punish a defender when he has no room to roam knocking them backwards to make a much needed yard or two. I'm not saying he can't get it done and I'm not projecting anything with him but he's going to have to prove to me and the team that he's not just a one trick pony that can run through some gaping holes. As a rookie he showed no ability to gain tough yards avenging only 3.0 per carry on 54 attempts. We'll find out much more about him in 2015.

If they though he was anything special, we surely wouldn't have gone out and signed a retread and not drafted a single RB. Oh. Wait. Maybe that does mean they thing he's something special.

 

[KJJ]

Really depends on the RB themselves, Cowboys have never had great success when we had RBBC. I hope someone steps up and shows they can handle a good portion of the carries and be able to get into the flow of a game as opposed to trying to give each guy x number of carries a game. I would like to think one guy can have around 200 carries on the season which is only 12.5 carries a game and someone we can count on in big situations. I hope one of these guys can

I pointed out a few weeks ago the Cowboys have never reached a SB or won one without having an elite back. They had rotation back in 77 with Robert Newhouse and Tony Dorsett but Dorsett added a big play element to the Cowboys offense that made them a great team. I feel for the Cowboys running game to be a success in 2015 that one of the backs has to step up and separate themselves from the rest and be the one the team leans on in big games.

 

[Doomsday101]

I pointed out a few weeks ago the Cowboys have never reached a SB or won one without having an elite back. They had rotation back in 77 with Robert Newhouse and Tony Dorsett but Dorsett added a big play element to the Cowboys offense that made them a great team. I feel for the Cowboys running game to be a success in 2015 that one of the backs has to step up and separate themselves from the rest and be the one the team leans on in big games.

I tend to agree. My hope is one of these RB step up and show they can be the primary back who we can count on. I don't expect any of them to take on the work load we saw from Murray last season heck if Murray was still here I would not expect the same workload but I do expect to see someone be the lead RB a guy who is not having to come out of the game constantly. I think the more you can keep the same personnel groupings in together the smooth the offense tends to be.

 

[KJJ]

If they though he was anything special, we surely wouldn't have gone out and signed a retread and not drafted a single RB. Oh. Wait. Maybe that does mean they thing he's something special.

Signing a retread shows how much doubt the team has in Randle. McFadden could still be looking for a team had the Cowboys resigned Murray. At the time the Cowboys signed McFadden Randle was facing a possible suspension to start the season so the McFadden signing was more than just picking up some depth. The Cowboys didn't draft an RB because both top rated RB's were off the board. They may end up wishing they took one with their 3rd round pick Green undergoing surgery.

 

[KJJ]

I tend to agree. My hope is one of these RB step up and show they can be the primary back who we can count on. I don't expect any of them to take on the work load we saw from Murray last season heck if Murray was still here I would not expect the same workload but I do expect to see someone be the lead RB a guy who is not having to come out of the game constantly. I think the more you can keep the same personnel groupings in together the smooth the offense tends to be.

Naturally none of them will get near the workload Murray did and like you said not even Murray would have gotten the same amount of work. I feel one of the backs needs to step up enough to get at least 250 carries if the Cowboys are going to have a solid running game. If we're having to play musical chairs at starter each week to try and come up with something consistent it will lead to problems. You have to have some continuity so you need one back to lean on and find roles for the others.

 

[AbeBeta]

Signing a retread shows how much doubt the team has in Randle. McFadden could still be looking for a team had the Cowboys resigned Murray. At the time the Cowboys signed McFadden Randle was facing a possible suspension to start the season so the McFadden signing was more than just picking up some depth. The Cowboys didn't draft an RB because both top rated RB's were off the board. They may end up wishing they took one with their 3rd round pick Green undergoing surgery.

Signing McFadden to a deal at near the vet minimum with a 200k SB shows that we doubt Randle? Right. Because we'd have gone into camp with just Randle, Dunbar, some UDFAs and the oft-injured Williams.