Fix the running back room

[RustyBourneHorse]

Not that Zeke was a “power back” but Zeke was a RB1, no matter how far down the list of RB1s he was (like bottom 10%, sorry Zeke)

But …

Pollard was, is, and will always be, an RB2. It’s just how some players are made.

Could Alvin Harper have been WR1? I’m sure someone could make an argument, but all of us know the real.

Pollard is a change of pace and that’s it. Period. It was a mistake to leave him as our only option.

I’m not even mad about the decision to give him the one year deal. That’s just money. But the RB depth chart needed someone better than Rico Dowdle.

From an offensive gameplan perspective, someone in the talent evaluation department missed the reality check.

Exactly. It was an obvious deficiency. Now it's hitting when we need it not to hit.

 

[SFloridaCowboy]

Was it not great, this lineup with T Smith, Leary, T Fred, Zack and Doug Free? Romo had all day to throw. Demarcus ran for some 1800+ yards. That OL did it all.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

I said it last April. Should have done something with it.

 

[glimmerman]

We need O-Line scheme. And JJ missed that RB train. He gambled on Pollard being a starter and he is not. Now Dowdle is hurt and Luepke has been on the 53 man all season and he has a hand full of carrys. Just stupid. Now Malik is back but something is wrong with him. This staff don’t like him anymore.

 

[Captain-Crash]

wow, so now you guys want to get down on your knees and slouch over and look deuce into his eyes and tell him he's going to get cut. wow.

 

[noshame]

Offensive line blocking stinks
We use a outdated system that is easily confused with today's defensive alignments..
Running backs are being hit before the line of scrimage. I don't care if you have Hershel dam Walker back there.

 

[Redline360]

Texans weren't letting go of Henry anyways. Plus Pollard is having a better season then him ypc wise.

The run game is fine between Pollard and Dowdell. When the OL was clicking for awhile it was just fine plus he's been getting crushed on penalties after large runs the last 3 or 4 weeks. Starts and ends with the OL and the scheme. Sick and tired of watching Pollad get blown up before the los several times a game.

 

[OmerV]

I'd be for calling up Davis or kicking the tires of someone on another practice squad. Someone who can do better than what we have now.

I'm not thrilled with the running game either, but we have to be realistic. Pollard is the 8th leading rusher in the NFL. Granted, at a lower yards per carry average than we would like, but the reality is he is having as good or better a season as guys like Saquon Barkley, Joe Mixon, Travis Etienne, Josh Jacobs & Isaiah Pacheco, not to mention a lot of other players that are getting a fair share of touches. If teams felt better players were on the street or practice squads a lot of teams would be chasing them.

As for kicking tires with players on practice squads, you can't just work them out and see what you think. You have to sign them to a contract and commit to keeping them on the roster or you will lose them again.

If Dowdle is out for awhile, we might go outside the organization for depth, but finding a notably better player than Pollard is unlikely.

 

[Roland]

Is the running back room or the OLine???

IMO, its 4 things. 1-Upgrade at Center , 2-Blocking scheme, 3-Play call and 4- RB (in that order).

 

[Coogiguy03]

It's more of the fact that I don't think we are using him properly. Part of the reason he was so effective is because Zeke was a power back, and Pollard complimented that by being a more outside the tackles back. He can run up the middle, but that's not his bread and butter. I liked picking up Vaughn in the draft, but he's very similar to Pollard in what his skillsets are. That's fine if we have a lead or power back. It's not great if we're asking them to be the back through the middle and being our lead backs.

That's good but if you're paying 10 million for that player you're playing him in Dallas even if it doesn't make sense, money makes sense around there that's all

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

I'm not thrilled with the running game either, but we have to be realistic. Pollard is the 8th leading rusher in the NFL. Granted, at a lower yards per carry average than we would like, but the reality is he is having as good or better a season as guys like Saquon Barkley, Joe Mixon, Travis Etienne, Josh Jacobs & Isaiah Pacheco, not to mention a lot of other players that are getting a fair share of touches. If teams felt better players were on the street or practice squads a lot of teams would be chasing them.

As for kicking tires with players on practice squads, you can't just work them out and see what you think. You have to sign them to a contract and commit to keeping them on the roster or you will lose them again.

If Dowdle is out for awhile, we might go outside the organization for depth, but finding a notably better player than Pollard is unlikely.

I didn't realise that about Pollard, and I wonder if we have scouts for other teams' practice squads.

 

[john van brocklin]

I said it last April. Should have done something with it.

You get a LIKE for that outstanding new AVATAR

 

[plasticman]

The Cowboys RB's is composed of Pollard and a bunch of practice squad players.

The Cowboys two largest issues continued to be a glaring issue throughout the season.while they did nothign toi address them.

Depth at RB and the O-line wasn't weak, it never existed.

 

[TasteMyScythe]

Nothing is going to change with our running game until the draft/FA. We are not going to go poaching or look who's sitting on the couch, we would have done that already. Hopefully a new anchor at OC will be drafted ( Powers-Johnson) and a RB ( Benson or Estime)

 

[KingintheNorth]

Look for a potential 2025 free agent (only 1 year left on his deal) who is not the #1 RB on his current team, and offer a mid-to-late round draft pick for him.

 

[Floatyworm]

I thought that the running game before the season would be our biggest concern prior to the season, and it seems to be. Because Jerry wasn't willing to find a viable replacement for Zeke (including possibly trading for Derrick Henry), we are where we are now. For those wondering where the running game is, Mike tried to run the ball earlier this season. It became clear that we are deficient in that area, so that's when he started relying on Dak's arm more. As well as Dak has played this season, this doesn't bode well for playing on the road in the playoffs. This is because, especially when you're on the road in the playoffs, you must be able to run the ball effectively. I don't care who your QB is. You must run the ball. The Bills game was a prime example where running the ball is key in bad weather games. If you've ever thrown or caught a football, it's much harder to do so when the ball is wet than dry. You know what's easier when the weather is bad? Running the ball!

Jerry needs to fix the running back room if we are going to try to have success. Being one dimensional in the NFL makes it that much harder to win. Unfortunately, because of our lackluster running back room, we don't have the ability to run the ball as we would like.

If I were Mike McCarthy, I'd start by seeing what Vaughn can do. At least with little screen plays, it's basically an extended handoff. Meanwhile, he needs to kick the tires on every running back currently available and see who can be viable. He and the FO should be bringing in running backs from now until the playoffs for workouts to see who can be a viable option to be a bandaid until the offseason. Then, start over with the running back room. Draft an olineman round one, sign Derrick Henry or Barkley, and then draft another back in round 3. At least then, we stand a reasonable chance of sustaining a run game. If we can do this, then our offense will be much more effective and efficient.

I keep hearing Adrian Peterson wants a shot...I bet he still might have 4-6 good carries a game in him

 

[Bagman]

As many times as it takes to get the importance of a run game “threw” your skull

So i guess, infinite number

Definitely a former Spelling Bee champ

 

[quickccc]

I thought that the running game before the season would be our biggest concern prior to the season, and it seems to be. Because Jerry wasn't willing to find a viable replacement for Zeke (including possibly trading for Derrick Henry), we are where we are now. For those wondering where the running game is, Mike tried to run the ball earlier this season. It became clear that we are deficient in that area, so that's when he started relying on Dak's arm more. As well as Dak has played this season, this doesn't bode well for playing on the road in the playoffs. This is because, especially when you're on the road in the playoffs, you must be able to run the ball effectively. I don't care who your QB is. You must run the ball. The Bills game was a prime example where running the ball is key in bad weather games. If you've ever thrown or caught a football, it's much harder to do so when the ball is wet than dry. You know what's easier when the weather is bad? Running the ball!

Jerry needs to fix the running back room if we are going to try to have success. Being one dimensional in the NFL makes it that much harder to win. Unfortunately, because of our lackluster running back room, we don't have the ability to run the ball as we would like.

If I were Mike McCarthy, I'd start by seeing what Vaughn can do. At least with little screen plays, it's basically an extended handoff. Meanwhile, he needs to kick the tires on every running back currently available and see who can be viable. He and the FO should be bringing in running backs from now until the playoffs for workouts to see who can be a viable option to be a bandaid until the offseason. Then, start over with the running back room. Draft an olineman round one, sign Derrick Henry or Barkley, and then draft another back in round 3. At least then, we stand a reasonable chance of sustaining a run game. If we can do this, then our offense will be much more effective and efficient.

aah, Derrick Henry running ball out of shotgun formation, dancing and dodging & weaving tacklers behind the line,
instead of QB under center handoffs and Henry being allowed to run downhill...?

And instead in fresh, long term legs, we're going to wear-toll RBs that are not near what they used to be ?

While you're mentioning the Bills and ' bad weather' ... the Bills very own RB James Cook ran the ball.. caught the ball
and amassed almost 200 combine yards on us , in " bad weather " ..and he's not even the big pounder that you
are upselling to get. He's an all purpose RB guy much like Tony Pollard.

But he has a key OC play caller (Joe Brady) that is making the new difference for Cook and the Bills, ...
Brady is exploiting and maximizing Cooks' full skill set, both running ball/ catching the ball
and its not mere dump offs either, they are using Cooks across the field on shallow routes, they are using Cooks
upfield vs coverage LBs, .they are making work heavy in trying to defend him

But what are We the cowboys doing with our own RBs ? they are solely blitz blockers, offer zero threat as receivers outta
the backfield .. zero threat to LBs ..Pollard just decoys and free lances.

 

[quickccc]

That'd be smart.

LOL .. smart ?

Dontcha think its' a reason why a former ex-1st rounder bust is on a "practice squad " at this point of a season?

 

[quickccc]

RB room is fine, OL room is another story.

OL coach is even twice more the story.

Solari arrives in his 1st year here, you have too many people on that OL struggling, including one future HOFer.
Another was a pro bowl alternate only a year ago>
And another one may have been hampered by bad coaching to combine with a slow ACL recovery.
And it's a suspect run game scheme, per OL and RB.

I expect a coaching change in some OL & RB related positions post season.