DMN: Laufenberg: What the Cowboys' running back situation is likely to look like next season

[fredp22]

Zeke!

I really dont see how we dont go in this direction with our first pick. The only problem is we may be picking to high (i think top 5) while he is rated for 15-20 range. While a trade down would be ideal I would be ok with the pick

 

[links18]

How depressing is it to be talking about next season with five games left to play in this one.

 

[Seven]

Dallas needs 18 LBers........at least.

And a full secondary.



Pick up a running back, draft defensively heavy, IMO.

 

[JoeKing]

Laufenberg didn't know how the offence functions when he was an active player so why would anyone listen to him now?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Last year a couple of backs jumped way up there but so far from what I can tell there isn't a back sniffing the 2nd round. We are going to be in a much better position to get a RB this year as opposed to last. I don't mind DMC or Turbin particularly if either contributes on teams at all.

 

[texbumthelife]

Just going by what 2015 draftee running backs have done, I think you'll see a second or third round pick and probably a late round pick dedicated to it. The most important thing is getting a kid with experience running in a zone scheme. Otherwise, expect more of the same nonsense missing holes and hesitating. They need a one-cut back. I don't care if he is a scat or power guy, they have to get a guy who fits their scheme.

 

[KJJ]

I'll be surprised if McFadden is back next season and if he is he won't be the starter. He's only averaging 3.8 a carry with 2 TD's and has been very inconsistent. In 11 games he's only averaged over 4.0 a carry in 4 games. Every time he has a productive game he completely falls off the next week. After rushing for 152 yards vs the Giants in week 7 he only produced 64 yards vs Seattle the following week averaging just 3.2 a carry.

After putting up 117 yards vs Philly in week 9 he followed that up with only 32 yards vs Tampa averaging 1.9 a carry. After putting up 129 yards vs Miami in week 11 he followed that up with only 11 yards vs Carolina averaging 1.1 a carry. McFadden isn't the answer and the Cowboys are going to have to spend the offseason hoping they can find the answer because they found out this season that regardless of their OL the back matters.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Last year a couple of backs jumped way up there but so far from what I can tell there isn't a back sniffing the 2nd round. We are going to be in a much better position to get a RB this year as opposed to last. I don't mind DMC or Turbin particularly if either contributes on teams at all.

I agree. I think we could have one, a pretty good one, be there for us in the second round.

Last year there was really only 2 that you really wanted to draft, IMO, and they weren't going to be there by the time we drafted.

 

[KJJ]

Just going by what 2015 draftee running backs have done, I think you'll see a second or third round pick and probably a late round pick dedicated to it. The most important thing is getting a kid with experience running in a zone scheme. Otherwise, expect more of the same nonsense missing holes and hesitating. They need a one-cut back. I don't care if he is a scat or power guy, they have to get a guy who fits their scheme.

The 2015 RB class was graded as a strong RB draft so it's going to depend on how strong this RB crop is as to how high the Cowboys take an RB if they even do. I felt certain after the loss of Murray they would take a back in 2015 but with Romo going down twice this season they not only have RB to think about but finding a solid young QB prospect. To have a good chance of landing a solid QB prospect they're likely going to have to pull the trigger no later than the second round.

RB and QB need to be high on their list but Romo missing games the last 3 seasons and most of this season makes finding a solid backup even more critical than an RB. The Cowboys can't just think backup QB they also have to think future starter because it's anyones guess how much longer Romo has. They can't just keep bringing in undrafted developmental QB projects they need a solid prospect because it's not very likely Romo plays all 16 games next season.

 

[Seven]

How depressing is it to be talking about next season with five games left to play in this one.

.............and nine months for football.

Sigh.........

 

[texbumthelife]

The 2015 RB class was graded as a strong RB draft so it's going to depend on how strong this RB crop is as to how high the Cowboys take an RB if they even do. I felt certain after the loss of Murray they would take a back in 2015 but with Romo going down twice this season they not only have RB to think about but finding a solid young QB prospect. To have a good chance of landing a solid QB prospect they're likely going to have to pull the trigger no later than the second round.

It's not just last year though. It has been proven for well over a decade, that you can find significant contributors at running back in the middle of the draft. I think the most important thing is find the right guy. Not where you find him.

RB and QB need to be high on their list but Romo missing games the last 3 seasons and most of this season makes finding a solid backup even more critical than an RB. The Cowboys can't just think backup QB they also have to think future starter because it's anyones guess how much longer Romo has. They can't just keep bringing in undrafted developmental QB projects they need a solid prospect because it's not very likely Romo plays all 16 games next season.

I don't think they have to target a QB high in the draft to ensure they have a suitable back-up. I think they just have to make a concerted effort to actually address it and find the right guy. Once again, I think its less important how/when they address it.

I don't think, unlike 99% of the population apparently, that this team has to go out with wreckless abandon and commit a high pick to any position. I think they would regret that decision. However, if they do grade a RB or a QB as worthy of a very high selection than we just have to trust that's the right move. If they have a shot at Bosa or Ramsey and have him graded out higher than Goff or Lynch and they're all there, I think they have to take the player rated highest on their board.

 

[KJJ]

It's not just last year though. It has been proven for well over a decade, that you can find significant contributors at running back in the middle of the draft. I think the most important thing is find the right guy. Not where you find him.

I don't think they have to target a QB high in the draft to ensure they have a suitable back-up. I think they just have to make a concerted effort to actually address it and find the right guy. Once again, I think its less important how/when they address it.

I don't think, unlike 99% of the population apparently, that this team has to go out with wreckless abandon and commit a high pick to any position. I think they would regret that decision. However, if they do grade a RB or a QB as worthy of a very high selection than we just have to trust that's the right move. If they have a shot at Bosa or Ramsey and have him graded out higher than Goff or Lynch and they're all there, I think they have to take the player rated highest on their board.

It took 9 years to find a solid starting RB after Emmitt was released. The Cowboys invested a #2 in Julius Jones, a #4 in Marion Barber and a #1 in Felix Jones and didn't come up with a solid answer at the starting position. They all contributed especially Barber in the role they had for him early on but none were consistent starters and the team eventually moved on from them. The team just moved on from a back they took in the 5th round a couple of years ago. The Cowboys got lucky hitting on Murray in the 3rd round who fit the Cowboys perfectly. The draft is a crapshoot at every position now we're in limbo at RB having to bring in several backs looking for an answer.

As for QB if you want to have a decent shot at finding a "solid" prospect you can't go any lower than the second round. There's not a lot of Russell Wilson's out there in the 3rd round but we've seen several second round QBs who've made impacts. With Romo aging and suffering injuries that are causing him to miss games the Cowboys have to start getting serious at QB or they'll end up like they did after Aikman was released. This team will be picking in the top 10 every year without a QB and we can't bank that Romo has another 3-5 years left.

 

[texbumthelife]

It took 9 years to find a solid starting RB after Emmitt was released. The Cowboys invested a #2 in Julius Jones, a #4 in Marion Barber and a #1 in Felix Jones and didn't come up with a solid answer at the starting position. They all contributed especially Barber in the role they had for him early on but none were consistent starters and the team eventually moved on from them. The team just moved on from a back they took in the 5th round a couple of years ago. The Cowboys got lucky hitting on Murray in the 3rd round who fit the Cowboys perfectly. The draft is a crapshoot at every position now we're in limbo at RB having to bring in several backs looking for an answer.

Like I said, you have to target the right guys. There are mid-round backs doing damage all over the league. It's not an anomaly. This team has been focused on finding complimentary backs and that's what they've found. Drafting Felix was an absolute mistake and most people thought so immediately. He was over drafted. Julius Jones should have never happened, we should have taken Steven Jackson-we got cute there and it cost us.

If anything, those first and second round misses go against your argument, as much as they support it.

These are your NFL rushing leaders and where they were drafted:
Adrian Peterson - 1st round (potentially the best back ever)
Doug Martin - 1st round
Jonathon Stewart - 1st round
Chris Johnson - 1st round
Todd Gurley -1st round
Chris Ivory - Undrafted
Latavius Murray - 6th round
Devonte Freeman - 4th round
Mark Ingram - 1st round
Thomas Rawls - Undrafted
Lesean McCoy - 2nd round
Frank Gore - 3rd round
Justin Forsett - 7th round
Darren McFadden - 1st round
TJ Yeldon - 2nd round

That is your top 15 rushers currently. Of those, you have seven first rounders. Of those first rounder, McFadden and Stewart have never lived up to their first round billing--not even close. Ingram still has time, but he's been a disappointment up until last season. You have two undrafted guys, a couple second rounders and then a few mid to late round picks. In other words, you may raise your chances for a stud runningback by drafting him in the first couple rounds, but by no means to you have to do so.

As for QB if you want to have a decent shot at finding a "solid" prospect you can't go any lower than the second round. There's not a lot of Russell Wilson's out there in the 3rd round but we've seen several second round QBs who've made impacts. With Romo aging and suffering injuries that are causing him to miss games the Cowboys have to start getting serious at QB or they'll end up like they did after Aikman was released. This team will be picking in the top 10 every year without a QB and we can't bank that Romo has another 3-5 years left.

I don't necessarily disagree with this. If Lynch, Goff or Wentz are there in the second I think we should absolutely grab one of them. However, none of those guys is worth a high first round pick, just because it is an otherwise quarterback deficient draft, particularly when there are a few defensive talents who could/should be immediate impact starters. I take the immediate impact starter over the potential future QB any day and all day when you have a hall-of-fame caliber quarterback under contract with a few good years left.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

Turbin could play himself into a role for next season yet too.

Babe said:

I seem to recall Jimmy putting Aikman in for the 2nd half, but maybe that was a different game. And the only reason he didn't start was he wasn't fully 100% IIRC. Eitherway, we did have some good backups for Aikman for a period there...they made it a priority. Initially it was Steve Walsh, then Steve Beuerlein, then Rodney Peete, then Randall Cunningham.

ya...some good backups....called emmitt smith lol

 

[texbumthelife]

Seeing Rodney Peete and Randall Cunningham wearing stars was painful, but Randall was at least fun to watch.

 

[DandyDon52]

The 2015 RB class was graded as a strong RB draft so it's going to depend on how strong this RB crop is as to how high the Cowboys take an RB if they even do. I felt certain after the loss of Murray they would take a back in 2015 but with Romo going down twice this season they not only have RB to think about but finding a solid young QB prospect. To have a good chance of landing a solid QB prospect they're likely going to have to pull the trigger no later than the second round.

RB and QB need to be high on their list but Romo missing games the last 3 seasons and most of this season makes finding a solid backup even more critical than an RB. The Cowboys can't just think backup QB they also have to think future starter because it's anyones guess how much longer Romo has. They can't just keep bringing in undrafted developmental QB projects they need a solid prospect because it's not very likely Romo plays all 16 games next season.

Well that isnt fair to Mcf, in the Carolina game they loaded up to stop the run, as they were confident they could cover with 4-5 guys.
I think the priority was to shut down the run and make dallas pass.
That took away our strength, which was running.
Tampa may have done the same thing.

Detroit shut down the GB run game, and I see other teams do that. Then it depends on whether the team can pass or not.

Any run game can be shut down.

A good defense can shut down the run, and if a pass play bring pressure too.

That is where adjustments come in and we stink at that, on offense and defense.

McF has done good, I just dont think he can handle a big load week after week like murray did.

and it is pointless to try and guess what the jones boys will do about RB's or the draft.
They will never do what you are wanting or thinking, and often it makes no sense what they do lol.

After all the reason they are in the RB circus is what they did last off season !!!!!!!

not signing Murray started a chain of events that led to where we are now.
And I can also say Murray was stupid to go to philly, and I think he knows that now.
I could see him asking to be traded after the season is over.

 

[KJJ]

Like I said, you have to target the right guys. There are mid-round backs doing damage all over the league. It's not an anomaly. This team has been focused on finding complimentary backs and that's what they've found. Drafting Felix was an absolute mistake and most people thought so immediately. He was over drafted. Julius Jones should have never happened, we should have taken Steven Jackson-we got cute there and it cost us.

If anything, those first and second round misses go against your argument, as much as they support it.

These are your NFL rushing leaders and where they were drafted:
Adrian Peterson - 1st round (potentially the best back ever)
Doug Martin - 1st round
Jonathon Stewart - 1st round
Chris Johnson - 1st round
Todd Gurley -1st round
Chris Ivory - Undrafted
Latavius Murray - 6th round
Devonte Freeman - 4th round
Mark Ingram - 1st round
Thomas Rawls - Undrafted
Lesean McCoy - 2nd round
Frank Gore - 3rd round
Justin Forsett - 7th round
Darren McFadden - 1st round
TJ Yeldon - 2nd round

That is your top 15 rushers currently. Of those, you have seven first rounders. Of those first rounder, McFadden and Stewart have never lived up to their first round billing--not even close. Ingram still has time, but he's been a disappointment up until last season. You have two undrafted guys, a couple second rounders and then a few mid to late round picks. In other words, you may raise your chances for a stud runningback by drafting him in the first couple rounds, but by no means to you have to do so.

I don't necessarily disagree with this. If Lynch, Goff or Wentz are there in the second I think we should absolutely grab one of them. However, none of those guys is worth a high first round pick, just because it is an otherwise quarterback deficient draft, particularly when there are a few defensive talents who could/should be immediate impact starters. I take the immediate impact starter over the potential future QB any day and all day when you have a hall-of-fame caliber quarterback under contract with a few good years left.

Naturally you have to target the right guys but finding the right guys can be a crapshoot. The draft is and will always be a roll of the dice especially when drafting a QB. The drafting of Felix Jones with a #1 pick as a complimentary back to Barber who was better suited as a complimentary back was a huge mistake. Had the Cowboys taken Steven Jackson they likely wouldn't have ended up with Demarcus Ware in 05 it was the pick we got for trading down that helped us secure Ware the following year. No one is arguing you can't find quality backs later in the draft but to find a solid QB prospect you have to look in the first 2 rounds to increase the odds of finding a solid one.

We found Murray in the 3rd round but we had several misses before we found him. He was a back who fit our system and was productive. Losing him in his prime was a contributing factor in the disappointing season the Cowboys are suffering through. No one you draft is a sure immediate starter. I'm not saying we need to take a QB in the first round I don't see Jerry doing that but he needs to look hard at taking one in the second round if one warrants the pick. We can't just wait until Romo is done before we start addressing the position that's how the Cowboys ended up in a 6 year funk until they struck gold with Romo.

 

[KJJ]

Well that isnt fair to Mcf, in the Carolina game they loaded up to stop the run, as they were confident they could cover with 4-5 guys.
I think the priority was to shut down the run and make dallas pass.
That took away our strength, which was running.
Tampa may have done the same thing.

Detroit shut down the GB run game, and I see other teams do that. Then it depends on whether the team can pass or not.

Any run game can be shut down.

A good defense can shut down the run, and if a pass play bring pressure too.

That is where adjustments come in and we stink at that, on offense and defense.

McF has done good, I just dont think he can handle a big load week after week like murray did.

and it is pointless to try and guess what the jones boys will do about RB's or the draft.
They will never do what you are wanting or thinking, and often it makes no sense what they do lol.

After all the reason they are in the RB circus is what they did last off season !!!!!!!

not signing Murray started a chain of events that led to where we are now.
And I can also say Murray was stupid to go to philly, and I think he knows that now.
I could see him asking to be traded after the season is over.

Defenses stacked up to stop Murray last season and couldn't do it most of the time. McFadden's performances have been very inconsistent behind what's been touted as the best OL in football. He's good one week and horrible the next. He's only had 3 good games all season and only became the starter after Randle got injured and was then released. I commend McFadden's effort but he's not the answer.

As for Murray can't say going to Philly was stupid he got paid a lot of money to do it and you have to take the cash while you can especially for an RB. If anyone was stupid it was the Cowboys for not paying him the player they did pay isn't having a good season and still hasn't matured.

 

[DandyDon52]

Defenses stacked up to stop Murray last season and couldn't do it most of the time. McFadden's performances have been very inconsistent behind what's been touted as the best OL in football. He's good one week and horrible the next. He's only had 3 good games all season and only became the starter after Randle got injured and was then released. I commend McFadden's effort but he's not the answer.

As for Murray can't say going to Philly was stupid he got paid a lot of money to do it and you have to take the cash while you can especially for an RB. If anyone was stupid it was the Cowboys for not paying him the player they did pay isn't having a good season and still hasn't matured.

Murray likes to play, and wants the ball at least 20 times a game, and he hasnt had that in philly.
I understand the money part , but he might have been better off in Oakland or Jacksonville, or staying here for 1 year , then hold out for more
money or get the endorsements money.
I think he wanted to have another good year, and to not even be in top 10 or 20 is frustrating.

It wasnt McF fault he wasnt starter from game one, and with no dez and no romo he has done pretty good.
not saying he is the answer but is a good # 2 back. or could share the # 1 spot.

 

[KJJ]

Murray likes to play, and wants the ball at least 20 times a game, and he hasnt had that in philly.
I understand the money part , but he might have been better off in Oakland or Jacksonville, or staying here for 1 year , then hold out for more
money or get the endorsements money.
I think he wanted to have another good year, and to not even be in top 10 or 20 is frustrating.

It wasnt McF fault he wasnt starter from game one, and with no dez and no romo he has done pretty good.
not saying he is the answer but is a good # 2 back. or could share the # 1 spot.

It's easy to say now Murray might have been better off in JAX or Oakland but they sucked last season and Philly appeared to have a good team that was on the rise. He probably wishes he did go to Oakland now they offered him more money but can't blame him for taking the money Philly offered and going to what looked like the better team. He needs carries and the right system to be effective. The Cowboys obviously liked Randle better as the starter but his injury and release opened the door for McFadden who hasn't been consistent.