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

[MichaelWinicki]

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.

Even if the names are arranged differently you're probably close to how it's going to work out.

 

[alohawg]

One thing about McFadden I noticed when he was in college, he loved being a Razorback and it showed big time. Injured his entire NFL career in the black hole, yes, but watching some of his later performances in Oakland, more often than not he did seem to have lost a step. However, still occasionally flashed like the old Dmac which made me wonder if what was lost was really physical. Two things that gives me a glimmer of hope this year with him, a second chance for redemption with the best o-line in the league and the fact he is a Cowboy fan and playing for the team he loves.....and he wants to make Jerry look good. We'll see, his best chapter may be about to be written.

 

[ConstantReboot]

One thing about McFadden I noticed when he was in college, he loved being a Razorback and it showed big time. Injured his entire NFL career in the black hole, yes, but watching some of his later performances in Oakland, more often than not he did seem to have lost a step. However, still occasionally flashed like the old Dmac which made me wonder if what was lost was really physical. Two things that gives me a glimmer of hope this year with him, a second chance for redemption with the best o-line in the league and the fact he is a Cowboy fan and playing for the team he loves.....and he wants to make Jerry look good. We'll see, his best chapter may be about to be written.

Maybe he can bring that passion back in Dallas who knows. I'm hoping he can. Frankly, its not hoping he can. We need him to.

Thats what I don't like how the Cowboys FO has painted the team into a hole. They are putting a lot of faith into a player that never panned out in the NFL. They selected and a ton of linebackers in the draft and brought some in as free agents. Yet all we did was bring in McFadden and didn't even draft a runningback.

It just doesn't make sense that the biggest need we had on offense is mostly ignored by the FO except with McFadden - which they hope will regain his step by going to Dallas.

 

[alohawg]

Maybe Jerry has something (Peterson) up his sleeve?

 

[whynot]

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

I see an attempt with Hardy, Jones and Gregory, but I'll need to see where these guys play.and if these guys play before I believe that the losses on offense have been negated by supposed gains on defense

Lawrence had 2 sacks in the playoffs and was injured until week 9.

 

[Dhragon]

I think it's Williams. I think the Boys feel he has come a long ways in pass protection understanding. I think they already felt he was a very good runner but would get Romo killed last year. I imagine they worked tirelessly on that while he was on the practice squad.

Seeing how this draft went, it seems they must feel what we have is good enough. I bet they now feel Williams can be adequate at least and not get Romo killed in pass protection. If so, then I feel we have our main back next year.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

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.

What is what? Spencer had successful microfracture surgery and played on the vet min. Leary went undrafted. That is not equivalent to a 4th even assuming the injuries are equitable. For all you know Ajayi's knee could be cottage cheese in there.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

One thing about McFadden I noticed when he was in college, he loved being a Razorback and it showed big time. Injured his entire NFL career in the black hole, yes, but watching some of his later performances in Oakland, more often than not he did seem to have lost a step. However, still occasionally flashed like the old Dmac which made me wonder if what was lost was really physical. Two things that gives me a glimmer of hope this year with him, a second chance for redemption with the best o-line in the league and the fact he is a Cowboy fan and playing for the team he loves.....and he wants to make Jerry look good. We'll see, his best chapter may be about to be written.

Oakland has had a poor program where players underperform regularly. DMC is a class act and doesn't throw people or his former organization under the bus though. His issues have been hamstrings, ankles and the like. I don't like him between the tackles running through contact overly much but his speed is still there.

 

[Beast_from_East]

Maybe he can bring that passion back in Dallas who knows. I'm hoping he can. Frankly, its not hoping he can. We need him to.

Thats what I don't like how the Cowboys FO has painted the team into a hole. They are putting a lot of faith into a player that never panned out in the NFL. They selected and a ton of linebackers in the draft and brought some in as free agents. Yet all we did was bring in McFadden and didn't even draft a runningback.

It just doesn't make sense that the biggest need we had on offense is mostly ignored by the FO except with McFadden - which they hope will regain his step by going to Dallas.

Exactly................."hope" is not a strategy in my book.

We "hope" that McFadden has just been dogging it for 7 seasons because he hated being a Raider, but he loves the Cowboys like he loves Arkansas so he will turn into a 5.0 a carry back now.

Seems foolish and frankly irresponsible to risk your entire season on this premise..............and what if we are wrong and the McFadden we signed is the McFadden we saw in Oakland, then what?

Our franchise QB has maybe 3 seasons left and we are going to just piss one of those away if what we "hope" doesn't come to fruition.................WOW

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Exactly................."hope" is not a strategy in my book.

We "hope" that McFadden has just been dogging it for 7 seasons because he hated being a Raider, but he loves the Cowboys like he loves Arkansas so he will turn into a 5.0 a carry back now.

Seems foolish and frankly irresponsible to risk your entire season on this premise..............and what if we are wrong and the McFadden we signed is the McFadden we saw in Oakland, then what?

Our franchise QB has maybe 3 seasons left and we are going to just piss one of those away if what we "hope" doesn't come to fruition.................WOW

He doesn't have to be a 5.0 ypc back in order to be effective. 4.2 will work. 3.7 won't but 4.2 would.

The only guy on this Cowboy team that cracked 5.0+ YPC is still there.

I know you're all in a dither about not having Buck Allen or Mike Davis lead this offense with 280 carries and 1,400 yards (not that they were going to to do that anyway) but come'on. As long as the Cowboys have one guy who can get 1,000 - 1,200 yards they'll be fine.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Exactly................."hope" is not a strategy in my book.

We "hope" that McFadden has just been dogging it for 7 seasons because he hated being a Raider, but he loves the Cowboys like he loves Arkansas so he will turn into a 5.0 a carry back now.

Seems foolish and frankly irresponsible to risk your entire season on this premise..............and what if we are wrong and the McFadden we signed is the McFadden we saw in Oakland, then what?

Our franchise QB has maybe 3 seasons left and we are going to just piss one of those away if what we "hope" doesn't come to fruition.................WOW

That is your paradigm, not the team's, and rationalizations from positions of ignorance are suspect at best.

Do you think the Cowboys are 'hoping' or do you think that the coaches, doctors, trainers, and executives are working and training with these players on a daily basis and have a hell of a lot better idea of where they are at and what they can do this upcoming season than we do?

This whole thing comes down to trust and you don't trust the team. That is what I take away from this.

 

[ConstantReboot]

Exactly................."hope" is not a strategy in my book.

We "hope" that McFadden has just been dogging it for 7 seasons because he hated being a Raider, but he loves the Cowboys like he loves Arkansas so he will turn into a 5.0 a carry back now.

Seems foolish and frankly irresponsible to risk your entire season on this premise..............and what if we are wrong and the McFadden we signed is the McFadden we saw in Oakland, then what?

Our franchise QB has maybe 3 seasons left and we are going to just piss one of those away if what we "hope" doesn't come to fruition.................WOW

Totally agree with what you say here. Their "hoping" that McFadden will regain his form based on what he did in Arkansas is really a dumb strategy. I say its dumb because runningback is the only position we need to fill right now and we are a complete team in challenging for the lombardi. Its also one of the easiest positions to fill.

To put all your eggs in the McFadden basket is just dumb.

If I was the Cowboys I would have drafted 2 runningbacks and signed a few more in free agency. If you have such a great oline why in the world would you want scrubs running behind of it?

 

[DC Cowboy]

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 I would have grab Bennett but like you said they are smarter than me.

 

[Beast_from_East]

That is your paradigm, not the team's, and rationalizations from positions of ignorance are suspect at best.

Do you think the Cowboys are 'hoping' or do you think that the coaches, doctors, trainers, and executives are working and training with these players on a daily basis and have a hell of a lot better idea of where they are at and what they can do this upcoming season than we do?

This whole thing comes down to trust and you don't trust the team. That is what I take away from this.

I don't live on fantasy island, I live in reality and McFadden has the second worst YPC in the league behind Trent Richardson, has rushed for 1000 yards just 1 time out of 7 seasons, and was benched in Oakland last year because a 6th round rookie was kicking his arse.

That's reality, not rationalizations......................want it boils down to is that the RB actually matters, you cant "plug and play" with scrubs no matter how good you think the line is.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I don't live on fantasy island, I live in reality and McFadden has the second worst YPC in the league behind Trent Richardson, has rushed for 1000 yards just 1 time out of 7 seasons, and was benched in Oakland last year because a 6th round rookie was kicking his arse.

That's reality, not rationalizations......................want it boils down to is that the RB actually matters, you cant "plug and play" with scrubs no matter how good you think the line is.

Sorry but aggregates and similar statistical bias do not manifest in the real world. Your emotional narrative is just so much tripe.

He was 'benched' at the end of the year when Sparano clearly went with developing players for next year. DMC wsa UFA. They canned Watson at RT, and inserted Reese and Murray in the starting lineup. Booth replaced Bergstrom at RG much earlier in the season. I didn't pay attention to their defense but he had a press conference talking about the moves in December.

Their OT, RG, and C lacked power. Their TE was a poorer blocker than Escobar. That being said when Murray was starting he had a 3.8 YPC average and that was with Reese, Booth and Penn who were much better blockers than Olawale, Bergstrom and Watson who were literally league worst candidates.

 

[NextGenBoys]

I'm not any more concerned about RB than I was last season.

So many people upset about not drafting a RB didn't like it when we drafted Murray, didn't like us making Murray the #1 RB, didn't like us moving Williams to the practice squad while we kept Murray and wanted Murray gone after he fumbled against Green Bay.

I think we are going to have legitimate competition for the #1 RB spot between Williams, Randle and Murray and then the #2 RB will be the one that can play special teams.

I don't think it's a bad situation at all. But what really got us here is the Rob Ryan era. It was a failure and forced us to change to the 4-3 and that required us to get DE's that fit the system. He was also the once that convinced us to sign Carr and trade up for Claiborne...so now we *had* to go and find a CB and couldn't pass up on a DE like Gregory.

I actually really like this draft and outside of potential injuries to the RB's, I'm fine with our RB corp.

YR

In the base offense, who is going to be your runner? Getting the tough yards that Demarco got last year...that this offense is nearly predicated around.

Ryan Williams? McFadden?

It's not Dunbar, and it's not Randle, we saw the drop off in play between him and Murray.

 

[DC Cowboy]

It's gotten worse at the RB spot. And it's unproven at swing tackle.

But I expect the offensive line to be even better this year. Especially pass blocking. TE is a push. WR is a push. I would expect a little better blocking from the FB/HB... last year's effort wasn't so hot.

The defense is looking much better than last year.

Speaking of TE, when do we look to draft his replacement as well?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Speaking of TE, when do we look to draft his replacement as well?

I think the next draft is going to be THE offensive skill player's draft for this team:

-QB
-WR
-RB

And yes even TE.

 

[LatinMind]

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 told everybody to prepare for no RB in the draft. Once the Randle no charges announcement came out i knew they wouldnt. After gurley and Gordon non of the other RBs IMO are better than Randle. I dont even think any are better than McFadden. I am completely satisfied with this team going into this season. Im ready for a superbowl.

 

[Hoofbite]

What is what? Spencer had successful microfracture surgery and played on the vet min. Leary went undrafted. That is not equivalent to a 4th even assuming the injuries are equitable. For all you know Ajayi's knee could be cottage cheese in there.

I don't see a 4th rounder as some huge investment. For a guy who was in the discussion for the 2nd round, a late 4th is pretty low risk.