Dallas Overrated at RBs?

[sportsman]

Did we fall in love with running backs that really aren't as good as first advertised? Should we now being looking for a RB to replace at least 2 of them. The 3 headed monster rotation was a failure. Do you agree yes or no?

 

[zrinkill]

Yes ....

 

[Doomsday101]

Did we fall in love with running backs that really aren't as good as first advertised? Should we now being looking for a RB to replace at least 2 of them. The 3 headed monster rotation was a failure. Do you agree yes or no?

We are not exactly blowing hole open for them. Many of our decent runs happen off draws or on end arounds but not much up the gut.

 

[SDCowboy]

Yes we definitely are. I honestly think Felix is a bigger threat in the passing game as a receiver than he is as a RB. That's not a slight at his running game but he is extremely dangerous anytime a ball is passed to him in any kind of space.

 

[Stautner]

Did we fall in love with running backs that really aren't as good as first advertised? Should we now being looking for a RB to replace at least 2 of them. The 3 headed monster rotation was a failure. Do you agree yes or no?

Some will slam you for this, but I wont. I think we have to give it another year, but the possibility certainly exists that Felix isn't going to be the superstar many thought. I have to think the team doesn't feel he is because they are still reluctant to give him too many carries. Obviously that may have a lot to do with not being sure about his durability, but just as obviously durability is necessary for a player to be a star.

Yes, the 3 headed monster failed, but I think that was overblown to begin with. I don't think the Cowboys really ever meant to spread the ball around between 3 guys. Whatever action Choice saw was going to be token, if at all.

I think we have to fix the O-line a bit before we really know what we have, but I personally think Felix can be a good RB, but not a great one.

 

[superpunk]

Felix Jones is ok, I guess.

 

[Idgit]

We are not exactly blowing hole open for them. Many of our decent runs happen off draws or on end arounds but not much up the gut.

Yep. The problem is with the OL and not with the RB group. Though MB isn't the explosive back he was in '07.

 

[Doomsday101]

Yep. The problem is with the OL and not with the RB group. Though MB isn't the explosive back he was in '07.

Often times Dallas will attempt to run up the gut to the right side behind Davis and Colombo and I'm not seeing the holes open up for them or that we are getting much of a push. On draw and sweeps we tend to run to the left and have had some success. I'm not trying to make Felix or Choice into elite RB but I do think we can have a more consistent running game with some changes up front.

 

[Sarge]

Barber is done but most realize that. He simply does not run with the same intensity as he did 2 years ago.

Until we get an OL that can run block, it's almost unfair to judge FJ and TC. There were simply no running lanes.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I think Felix has real potential and it's already starting to be realized. He started to develop into a very smooth tailback who could run inside and outside and catch screens and swing passes well. We have to remember that guys like Westbrook were just bit players early on and in Westbrook's case, he eventually became a starter out of necessity and they realized he can really run the ball instead of just catching it, and he turned into a star. So sometimes it takes some tailbacks a few years to get integrated.

I do have some concerns about him with Romo coming back. Kitna was good at throwing screens and swing passes, I don't think Romo is bad at that, but I think Kitna was more adept. But as far as throwing everything else, Romo is far superior. So you take Romo over Kitna, but it may hurt Felix's effectiveness.

In 2010 we used a ton of 2 TE or shotgun personnel. I think roughly 80% of our snaps were playe from at least 2TE or shotgun personnel. We are known as a team that 'throws from running formations', too.

I think the 2 TE formation isn't what Felix runs best out of because it's hard to get into space from that personnel/formation because defenders are going to be cluttered inside the box.

I think what the team really needs to do is get much better at throwing the ball with only 5 guys left in protection instead of 6 or 7 or 8 guys left into protect. So that could mean more 3WR sets, 4 WR sets or do something with say 3 WR's and Witten lined up out wide or 4 WR's and Witten lined out out wide or 3 WR's, Witten and Bennett/Felix lined up out wide.

Instead of being a team that can run and throw effectively from run personnel/formations, we need to be able to run and throw effectively from pass personnel/formations as well. We need to run the ball with Felix out of 3 WR sets.

If we could run and throw effectively from both pass and run personnel/formations and continue to be effective throwing screens and swing passes to Felix like we did when Kitna was starting, this would be a very explosive and balanced offense. And it would make the defense's job easier as well.






YR

 

[802dave]

I'm still rueing the day we didn't draft Steven Jackson!

And yes, we need much better OL play!!!

 

[Idgit]

Often times Dallas will attempt to run up the gut to the right side behind Davis and Colombo and I'm not seeing the holes open up for them or that we are getting much of a push. On draw and sweeps we tend to run to the left and have had some success. I'm not trying to make Felix or Choice into elite RB but I do think we can have a more consistent running game with some changes up front.

Yeah. I'm not sure what Garrett thinks he sees on those interior runs to the right. Usually, there's no hole there. And the few times there is a hole and we get Davis up to the second level, he whiffs on his blocks in space and what should be a 10 yard run that was drawn up perfectly ends up a pedestrian 4 yard gain.

I do think it's possible that the team thinks the problems with the OL's run blocking has more to do with preparation than it did with the players. That an aggressive off season can help the players we've got play at a higher level. There certainly was some improvement in our run blocking once Garrett took over and changed things up in practice. I'm skeptical we could get enough benefit that it's not exposed against an elite DL the way we were in MIN in 2009. At the very least, we need more consistent RG play both in terms of handling twists and stunts (don't get me started) and in second-level blocking for the running game.

 

[THUMPER]

Until we fix the O-Line problems there is no point replacing any of our RBs.

That said, I would like to see us target a true feature RB in the very near future. The RBBC (Running Back By Committee) just is not as productive IMO as a true feature back is.

 

[Doomsday101]

Yeah. I'm not sure what Garrett thinks he sees on those interior runs to the right. Usually, there's no hole there. And the few times there is a hole and we get Davis up to the second level, he whiffs on his blocks in space and what should be a 10 yard run that was drawn up perfectly ends up a pedestrian 4 yard gain.

I do think it's possible that the team thinks the problems with the OL's run blocking has more to do with preparation than it did with the players. That an aggressive off season can help the players we've got play at a higher level. There certainly was some improvement in our run blocking once Garrett took over and changed things up in practice. I'm skeptical we could get enough benefit that it's not exposed against an elite DL the way we were in MIN in 2009. At the very least, we need more consistent RG play both in terms of handling twists and stunts (don't get me started) and in second-level blocking for the running game.

I just hope adding a guy like Bruce Matthews (if hired) can help develop some young OL players. What you are seeing with the run and the lack of getting to the 2nd level to open up the lane is exactly what I have been seeing.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Felix is going to be very good if he can stay healthy.

 

[jday]

Did we fall in love with running backs that really aren't as good as first advertised? Should we now being looking for a RB to replace at least 2 of them. The 3 headed monster rotation was a failure. Do you agree yes or no?

I'm not even sure how this even qualifies as a question. In fact, I don't think "overrated" quite captures how epic a fail the trio was this year.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

I'm not even sure how this even qualifies as a question. In fact, I don't think "overrated" quite captures how epic a fail the trio was this year.

Uh.. correct me if im wrong, but even behind this extremely offensive line, Felix still put up 1250 total yards, over 5 yards per touch, and 4.3 ypc.

 

[Kangaroo]

Did we fall in love with running backs that really aren't as good as first advertised? Should we now being looking for a RB to replace at least 2 of them. The 3 headed monster rotation was a failure. Do you agree yes or no?

I did not I always stated Barber was never an elite back and got blasted for it and he never should have been payed like a top 5 back. I never hated Barber I liked him I just saw him as a bruising change of pace to slow to be a feature RB in the league.

I also thought we should have took Mendhall in the draft actually many of us on the board thought we should have even Dallas had him rated just above Felix but we took Felix because Jerry wanted a different style back to go with barber

 

[baj1dallas]

I think Felix will break out next season.

 

[Cowboys2008]

Who are the Dallas Cowboys without a star running back?

Oh that's right, we've been looking at them.

It's time we draft someone actually good so we can get back to what we're all about. This running back by commitee thing Parcells brought in here when he dismissed Emmitt without as much as a courtesy interview has proved to be nothing but disastrous.

Now with the possible rumors of Barber and Choice both on the way out, Ingram is looking better and better with our number 1. The LAST thing I want to do is go into 2011 with Felix being depended on for everything.