I love our draft, but I'm worried about RB. We can feel both things, they aren't mutually exclusive.

[wileedog]

If you don't realize how much better this team is going to be by adding Hardy, Gregory, Jones, Lee and a second year Lawrence, and possibly even a healthy Claiborne, well I don't know what to tell you.

Hardy may not even play until week 11, Gregory can't play the run so he he is a 1 down player (and that's assuming he doesn't land on the NFL "Too Stoned to Play" list) and who knows how long Lee lasts? He didn't make it out of OTA's last year. And we've had a healthy Mo before, he wasn't that much of an improvement over injured Mo.

Just playing devil's advocate, but between these guys and the RB thing a lot has to go right for us to repeat last year, or even more to improve on it.

 

[Wood]

If you watched the post-draft press conference you can just see the uneasiness by Jerry that RB was not addressed. Do not be surprised to see him doing something in next few months. Dallas has some wiggle room in next year draft with multiple supplemental picks.

 

[ConstantReboot]

Clearly, RB is the biggest concern moving forward.

That said, I'm super pumped about adding all the talent to defense. Our defense needed talent and we got it in droves. Jones and Gregory are impact players right away, along with Hardy and Lee. We knocked it out of the park with Jones/Gregory.

Wilson might help a little. I think adding a swing tackle was really smart. I'm blah on Russell, but it was the 5th round, so whatever. Still confused why we didn't get a DT like Jerrett or Bennett, but the Cowboys scouts are smarter than me, and they've earned our faith.

Our defense got by on effort and coaching and want-to last year. Now add top shelf talent to that attitude and effort, and whoo boy. The D is gonna be back in Big D.

Still... the reason we won last year was because of a strong running game. I'm not really comfortable rolling with McFadden, Randle, Williams and Dunbar. Still hoping for a trade of some kind (AD, Tre Mason... someone). I'm concerned.

Love the draft, but I'm worried about RB. You don't have to pick sides. You can feel both ways.

Runningback position should be a very big concern. We all here in the forums maybe airchair QBs but we know what this team needs.

Now is not the time to be experimenting with whether our success was the oline or Murray ( I think it was both) was the reason why we were successful last year. Now was the time to find a capable replacement for Murray and to make sure that the league still respects our run game. Unfortunately, I don't think thats gonna happen with McFadden, Randle, Williams and Dunbar.

I don't buy into the fact that there wasn't anyone better around the 3rd or 4th round. Coleman was available and was a Murray clone with speed. Coleman would have been a better replacement than what we have now. Unfortunately that opportunity has gone out the window.

If this experiment fails the FO has no excuse whatsoever. I hope Im wrong but sometimes I get it right. I knew Mo was a bust and I knew we needed a passrush last year - which was another thing we ignored. Hopefully Im wrong though and can eat crow.

 

[trickblue]

Clearly, RB is the biggest concern moving forward.

That said, I'm super pumped about adding all the talent to defense. Our defense needed talent and we got it in droves. Jones and Gregory are impact players right away, along with Hardy and Lee. We knocked it out of the park with Jones/Gregory.

Wilson might help a little. I think adding a swing tackle was really smart. I'm blah on Russell, but it was the 5th round, so whatever. Still confused why we didn't get a DT like Jerrett or Bennett, but the Cowboys scouts are smarter than me, and they've earned our faith.

Our defense got by on effort and coaching and want-to last year. Now add top shelf talent to that attitude and effort, and whoo boy. The D is gonna be back in Big D.

Still... the reason we won last year was because of a strong running game. I'm not really comfortable rolling with McFadden, Randle, Williams and Dunbar. Still hoping for a trade of some kind (AD, Tre Mason... someone). I'm concerned.

Love the draft, but I'm worried about RB. You don't have to pick sides. You can feel both ways.

I think people have forgotten how good McFadden was... IF he can stay healthy with us, He can put up serious numbers...

 

[big dog cowboy]

Hardy: imminent suspension for most of year
Gregory: talented but?
Jones: what position does he even play?
Lee: I don't even need to explain
Lawrence: 0 sacks last year

All of this improvement is questionable, if you ask me. I don't see major definitive strides

Could you have any more negative spin on that? My goodness. Hardy's suspension will be reduced and everyone knows it just for starters.

 

[Derinyar]

The offense will work or not based on one thing, just like last year, the play of the QB. We get good QB play the offense will be fine and work. We don't get good QB play the offense won't work. That's what happened last year and it's what will likely happen this year.

The defense should be better then it ended last year. We have more LB depth with possibly an upgrade in talent. The Dline has a lot more talent then it has in years. The secondary has some more talent in it too. Its yet to see if it forms into something better but its got better pieces.

 

[Joe_Fan]

If you watched the post-draft press conference you can just see the uneasiness by Jerry that RB was not addressed. Do not be surprised to see him doing something in next few months. Dallas has some wiggle room in next year draft with multiple supplemental picks.

I'd be worried too considering the fact that they think they can just simply plug in McFadden for DeMarco and everything be okay.

Maybe reality finally set in and he realized that he screwed up and got too complacent simply because he had nostalgia for McFadden.

 

[Wood]

I'd be worried too considering the fact that they think they can just simply plug in McFadden for DeMarco and everything be okay.

Maybe reality finally set in and he realized that he screwed up and got too complacent simply because he had nostalgia for McFadden.

Jerry mentioned the draft just didn't break cowboys way in terms of RB falling to them and that they stayed true to their board and drafted BPA. I can't fault them for that and rebuilding the trenches is the way to go. That being said, they need to make something happen between now and start of season at RB because right now Dallas has no physicality at RB position and that was their ethos last year.

 

[Joe_Fan]

Jerry mentioned the draft just didn't break cowboys way in terms of RB falling to them and that they stayed true to their board and drafted BPA. I can't fault them for that and rebuilding the trenches is the way to go. That being said, they need to make something happen between now and start of season at RB because right now Dallas has no physicality at RB position and that was their ethos last year.

Agree 100%.

 

[Hoofbite]

I'm not as easily convinced that you can just replace the production Murray provided.

Time control and converting short distance helped the entire team.

No RB selection in the draft is a little concerning to me. I think the team is betting too much on the OL having made Murray.

If the team is going to go with the odds and hope that one of the bunch pans out, I don't see why they didn't increase those odds and get a guy like Ajayi in the 4th.

Bad knees didn't stop the team from taking a low risk flyer on Leary or Spencer (time and time again).

It is what it is, I guess. Gotta hope one of the guys steps up, I guess.

 

[Craig]

Didnt it come out that ajayi's knee is basucally bone on bone right now? I wanted him up until i heard that.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

I love how people are "not concerned" about RB ... do we honestly believe we could get the divisional round last year if we swapped Murray for McFadden?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I don't think it's a case of not being concerned about the RB position.

I think it's more of a case of someone will emerge and they do not need to match Murray's production in order for this to be a good running game.

Still available are:

Steven JacksonRB31ATL TBD
Knowshon MorenoRB27MIA TBD
Chris JohnsonRB29NYJ TBD

None are long term solutions.

But for one season?

Yeah I could see one of those three in here getting 150-200 carries.

Moreno tore his ACL last October so he could very well be ready for training camp.

Jackson averaged 3.7 ypc behind Atlanta's poor offensive line and Chris Johnson averaged 4.3 ypc for the Jets.

 

[cowboyfan4lyfe]

If the defense is better, that takes the pressure off the offense. Won't have to hold the ball as long.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

If the defense is better, that takes the pressure off the offense. Won't have to hold the ball as long.

There's a lot of merit to that.

Usually seasons do not mirror each other. There's always some kind of difference from one to another and I think the upcoming will differ from the past season in 3 ways:

1. A better defense.
2. A good running game but not as determined a running game as in '14.
3. A little more aggressive passing game.

 

[DanTanna]

I'm not worried about the RB. Coming out of college, Murray was a good RB, not a great RB. Same with Randle, good but not great. However, Randle did have a better YPC than Murray throughout his college career (same conference). All other metrics were about the same with Randle leading most. I'm going to wait and see what Randle can do behind the exact same line Murray had. Looking at last year's stats Randle did avg 2 yards per carry more than Murray. Have we forgotten about all of the fumbles??? All the injuries??? Mostly the same whiners are worried. Book marked.

 

[Marktui]

DMac runs for a 1000 yards and Randle or Williams brings in 500 yards. Dunbar 300 yards. I think that is how we replace Murray. I am confident with this offensive line and those backs we can get the job done.

 

[Ender]

Lol @ people still crying over not drafting a RB. Whats the point in drafting a RB if they aren't any better than the 4 we have currently on the roster? Especially considering the had to address they defense, an area that was far more problematic than the running back entering the draft. After Gurly and Gordon was gone, why waste the pick? It's crazy that people complain about not drafting on Oline and Dline for years, and when we finally start going after these player, people complain about not drafting skill position players.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I don't see why they didn't increase those odds and get a guy like Ajayi in the 4th.

If he has a 2nd round grade like the mediots thought, a lot of teams passed over him multiple times. There was a reason that happened.

 

[speedkilz88]

Didnt it come out that ajayi's knee is basucally bone on bone right now? I wanted him up until i heard that.

Yes, I'm not sure if anyone actually put that in print. But Brugler and Broaddus talked about that on their DC.COM show. They said it was bone on bone and they don't know how long it would last. But that he is ready to play.