Finding a Spot for Rod Smith

[TrailBlazer]

The backup oline was awful. Rod Smith had nowhere to run. No way Morris makes the roster even though he is a better runner. Rod can play ST's.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

No way that Smith doesn't make the roster. Hillman looked awful and McFadden was pretty meh. I think the Boys are gonna do their best to try and get something in trade for either Morris or McFadden. Morris looked good last night, but he only plays RB and isn't great in the third down role so he is pretty limited as a one trick pony. He also concerns me that he wore down last year and looked very sluggish as the year went on. Hillman didn't show anything.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

The backup oline was awful. Rod Smith had nowhere to run. No way Morris makes the roster even though he is a better runner. Rod can play ST's.

Smith had no holes but still got some yards mainly by refusing to stop churning the legs.

 

[jday]

I was really impressed with the overall performance Rod Smith put together last night; he carried his great play in camp into the game.

He had obvious burst and ran with power throughout the game and showed good hands catching the ball on the move.

With an offense predicated so heavily on the run do we keep four RBs (+ a FB)? Or, do we go three deep at RB along with a FB?

Frankly, I'm partial to the 6'-3" 240 lbs Rod Smith over the Dunbar'esque Ronnie Hillman.

If we base are cuts on just one game, Rod Smith makes this team. Ronnie Hillman look's like a camp body, I don't see him as a threat to Rod at all. Alfred Morris, on the other hand, may be. I think the Cowboys would like to move Morris if they get a decent enough offer, but if they are unable to move him, that's going to be an interesting decision between Rod and Alfred. They could possibly keep 5, since both Smith's are Special Team contributors. It is possible that right now the real competition is actually happening between the 4th TE the 5th RB and the 6th WR. The tie breaker very well may be a combination of what they do at their normal positions balanced against what they can contribute on Special Teams and how many Special Teams units they can play on.

 

[erod]

Frankly, I think the running backs should be ranked:

1. Zeke
2. Morris
3. Rod Smith
4. McFadden

I used the analogy last night that McFadden runs like an ironing board. He has no shake or swivel to him at all. Worst hips of any back in the NFL. Without a tremendous offensive line, he's virtually worthless, although he does pass protect OK and catch the ball. He too much of a track sprinter, and not a running back.

 

[dallasdave]

I was really impressed with the overall performance Rod Smith put together last night; he carried his great play in camp into the game.

He had obvious burst and ran with power throughout the game and showed good hands catching the ball on the move.

With an offense predicated so heavily on the run do we keep four RBs (+ a FB)? Or, do we go three deep at RB along with a FB?

Frankly, I'm partial to the 6'-3" 240 lbs Rod Smith over the Dunbar'esque Ronnie Hillman.

Smith was good and Hillman is just a camp body. Smith will be on the 53 !!!

 

[dallasdave]

Let's not leave out Morris; who got the ball before Smith.

We can go 4 deep at RB !!!

 

[dallasdave]

Frankly, I think the running backs should be ranked:

1. Zeke
2. Morris
3. Rod Smith
4. McFadden

I used the analogy last night that McFadden runs like an ironing board. He has no shake or swivel to him at all. Worst hips of any back in the NFL. Without a tremendous offensive line, he's virtually worthless, although he does pass protect OK and catch the ball. He too much of a track sprinter, and not a running back.

I like that ranking !!!!

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

He's a younger Richie Anderson, who Parcells loved as that do-it-all bigger nickel RB. Honestly I'd roll with Smith and Zeke splitting the nickel RB duties and keep Morris as the backup RB. Plus Smith can even block as a FB if needed.With Smith on the roster providing the versatility, I think this makes Morris a viable option now as RB #2.

I'm with you on Zeke, Rod and Morris (and Keith Smith at FB).

I've defended D-Mac in the past but he has some obvious weaknesses in his game, namely short-yardage situations. He's fine when he's in open space but I hate the way he hits the line like a robot, pitter-pattering upright with both arms hugging the ball.

Morris looks in great shape and runs decisively.

 

[erod]

I'm with you on Zeke, Rod and Morris (and Keith Smith at FB).

I've defended D-Mac in the past but he has some obvious weaknesses in his game, namely short-yardage situations. He's fine when he's in open space but I hate the way he hits the line like a robot, pitter-pattering upright with both arms hugging the ball.

Morris looks in great shape and runs decisively.

Yep, McFadden looks like he's running with his eyes closed.

 

[dallasdave]

I'm with you on Zeke, Rod and Morris (and Keith Smith at FB).

I've defended D-Mac in the past but he has some obvious weaknesses in his game, namely short-yardage situations. He's fine when he's in open space but I hate the way he hits the line like a robot, pitter-pattering upright with both arms hugging the ball.

Morris looks in great shape and runs decisively.

Morris looked like a beast

 

[Silver N Blue]

We can go 4 deep at RB !!!

No problemo with that! Better than where we were a few years ago bro!

 

[dallasdave]

No problemo with that! Better than where we were a few years ago bro!

Yeah, kind of rem a couple of guys saying that we needed multiple RB'S that could play !!! Now who were those GUY'S

 

[Silver N Blue]

Yeah, kind of rem a couple of guys saying that we needed multiple RB'S that could play !!! Now who were those GUY'S

Do they even still visit this forum? Must have been igglet trolls like we expected!

 

[dallasdave]

Do they even still visit this forum? Must have been igglet trolls like we expected!

 

[CowboyRoy]

I was really impressed with the overall performance Rod Smith put together last night; he carried his great play in camp into the game.

He had obvious burst and ran with power throughout the game and showed good hands catching the ball on the move.

With an offense predicated so heavily on the run do we keep four RBs (+ a FB)? Or, do we go three deep at RB along with a FB?

Frankly, I'm partial to the 6'-3" 240 lbs Rod Smith over the Dunbar'esque Ronnie Hillman.

Unless he can block as a FB I dont see the need to keep him. Short yardage should always be Zeke. Smith averaged close to 3 yards per carry. Hardly anything to get excited about.

 

[Hardline]

He's a younger Richie Anderson, who Parcells loved as that do-it-all bigger nickel RB. Honestly I'd roll with Smith and Zeke splitting the nickel RB duties and keep Morris as the backup RB. Plus Smith can even block as a FB if needed.With Smith on the roster providing the versatility, I think this makes Morris a viable option now as RB #2.

If there's some Ritchie Anderson in him he MUST make this roster.

 

[darthseinfeld]

I was really impressed with the overall performance Rod Smith put together last night; he carried his great play in camp into the game.

He had obvious burst and ran with power throughout the game and showed good hands catching the ball on the move.

With an offense predicated so heavily on the run do we keep four RBs (+ a FB)? Or, do we go three deep at RB along with a FB?

Frankly, I'm partial to the 6'-3" 240 lbs Rod Smith over the Dunbar'esque Ronnie Hillman.

I think will end up beating out Morris. This is the third HB spot we are talking about and Rod Smith is a 3 down with some position flex as a FB. You are in really good shape if none of the 3 backs on your depth have to come off the field on 3rd down

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

It's pretty normal to start the season with 25 Offensive Players, 25 Defensive Players and 3 specialists.

So, we could go:

QB - 2 (Prescott, Moore)
RB - 4 (Elliott, Morris, DMC, R. Smith)
WR - 6 (Dez, T-Will, Beasley, Switzer, Butler, A. Jones)
TE - 4 (Witten, Hanna, Swaim, Gaithers)
OL - 9 (starters, Green, Looney, Cleary and Bell).

I don't see needing 6 WR's as a lock. I don't see DMC as a lock either. Where DMC may get the advantage is with kickoff returns. And a lot depends on what happens with Switzer in the return game. So there's potential room there.




YR

I don't see us keeping Swaim AND Hanna. They are the same guy. I see us cutting Hanna, due to his age, & keeping Blake Jarwin because he is a better receiver than either one.

 

[Kaiser]

QB - 2 (Prescott, Moore)
RB - 4 (Elliott, Morris, DMC, R. Smith)
WR - 6 (Dez, T-Will, Beasley, Switzer, Butler, A. Jones)
TE - 4 (Witten, Hanna, Swaim, Gaithers)
OL - 9 (starters, Green, Looney, Cleary and Bell).

I think that is exactly how it plays out, baring injury.