If the Running Back Issue Isn't a Problem

[skinsscalper]

Exatamundo. Everything you ponder is worthy of deep discussion given the signals the FO has been sending. & NO this is not media driven. Stephen and Jerry have both made public statements.

Link

 

[Risen Star]

I get what you're saying but these quartet of RBs at least has some talent. Was never the case for that OL.

The problem with that is those that supported the crap we had at the time along the OL would have never admitted there was no talent there. It's easy to say after the fact. At the time it was the same regurgitating out of the homer handbook. The team must see something. Let's wait and see. Do you know more than the team?

 

[PhillyCowboysFan]

Listed below is the last 10 Super Bowl winners. Not one time does the winner have a top 5 running back in yards and only twice a top 10. Five times their leading rusher was out of the top 20.

*New England won the Super Bowl last year. Their leading rusher was Jonas Gray with 412 yards. He was 47th in rushing. There were 4 QB's with more rushing yards then him.

*Seattle won the Super Bowl in 2014. Lynch rushed for 1300 yards. He was 6th in rushing.

*Baltimore won the Super Bowl in 2013. Rice rushed for 1100 yards. He was 11th in rushing.

*Giants won in 2012. Bradshaw rushed for 659 yards. He was 29th in rushing.

*Green Bay won in 2011. Brandon Jackson was their leading rusher at 703 yards. Aaron Rogers was the next leading rusher at 356. He was 32nd in rushing.

*Saints in 2010. Thomas rushed for 793. #24

*Steelers 2009. Parker 791. #26

*Giants 2008. Jacobs 1009. #15

*Colts 2007. Addai 1081. #18

*Steelers 2006. Parker 1202. #12


So in analyzing these numbers, it looks like 8 of these teams could have had a better running back and at least 5 of them had major issues at running back. But still, they won the Super Bowl.

I'm analytical by profession and I know for a fact that no one on this message board has enough, if any analytical data and access to pro scouts that has honed their skills to form an educated opinion on whether the Cowboys needed to draft a RB over Randy or Chaz at their prospected positions at the time they were drafted or if they needed to draft a RB at all.

I will tend to put my trust in the professionals at valley Ranch over internet scouts and GM's.

I believe in Will McClay and what he has done over the last few years.

 

[skinsscalper]

I think they misjudged their options. Nothing fell right in the draft to get a RB and I think they was counting on one of the top RB prospects being available.

I don't think they were counting on anything. They covered their bases by bringing some of those guys in for visits but they never panicked, reached, or traded. And, for the record, some of those prospects WERE available and they passed. I'd hardly call that misjudging, fwiw.

 

[Bleu Star]

Link

Google is your friend. Took me 2 seconds. 1st link that popped up.

"Stephen Jones regarding running back situation"

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***...ys-comfortable-with-their-running-backs.html/

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Listed below is the last 10 Super Bowl winners. Not one time does the winner have a top 5 running back in yards and only twice a top 10. Five times their leading rusher was out of the top 20.

*New England won the Super Bowl last year. Their leading rusher was Jonas Gray with 412 yards. He was 47th in rushing. There were 4 QB's with more rushing yards then him.

*Seattle won the Super Bowl in 2014. Lynch rushed for 1300 yards. He was 6th in rushing.

*Baltimore won the Super Bowl in 2013. Rice rushed for 1100 yards. He was 11th in rushing.

*Giants won in 2012. Bradshaw rushed for 659 yards. He was 29th in rushing.

*Green Bay won in 2011. Brandon Jackson was their leading rusher at 703 yards. Aaron Rogers was the next leading rusher at 356. He was 32nd in rushing.

*Saints in 2010. Thomas rushed for 793. #24

*Steelers 2009. Parker 791. #26

*Giants 2008. Jacobs 1009. #15

*Colts 2007. Addai 1081. #18

*Steelers 2006. Parker 1202. #12


So in analyzing these numbers, it looks like 8 of these teams could have had a better running back and at least 5 of them had major issues at running back. But still, they won the Super Bowl.

I'm analytical by profession and I know for a fact that no one on this message board has enough, if any analytical data and access to pro scouts that has honed their skills to form an educated opinion on whether the Cowboys needed to draft a RB over Randy or Chaz at their prospected positions at the time they were drafted or if they needed to draft a RB at all.

I will tend to put my trust in the professionals at valley Ranch over internet scouts and GM's.

I believe in Will McClay and what he has done over the last few years.

Brilliant analysis.

And only 5 1,000 yard backs.

That's telling.

 

[darthseinfeld]

I'm resigned to the fact that these are our running backs this year. Not my plan A.B or C but I'm left to hope Randle or Ryan Williams can emerge. Maybe McFadden can be semi-effective with limited touches.

This definitely reeks of the get by mentality we had along the OL several years ago.

I think McFadden has legitimate value to the team,but none as a lead runner.

Even though he isnt much of a first and second down running threat he is excellent in blitz pick and is a very capable maybe even dangerous receiver out of the back. At this stage in his career he is a quality 3rd down back. In that aspect he is a upgrade over Murray. With very limited carries he is also less likely to get hurt and if he save his legs, could be dangerous on a shotgun draw. On 3rd and 5 with Romo and McFadden in the gun, McFadden on the draw has to be accounted for, maybe even feared.

IMO McFadden has significant value to us, just not where many are looking

 

[skinsscalper]

Google is your friend. Took me 2 seconds. 1st link that popped up.

"Stephen Jones regarding running back situation"

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***...ys-comfortable-with-their-running-backs.html/

And logic is yours. From the article you posted (in case you didn't read it):

“We’re going to get to see these guys a lot and at the same time we’ll keep our eyes wide open and look if there are opportunities to improve, not just at running back but other positions, and we’ll improve the team.”

If the Cowboys were as panicked as the Internet GMs around here about the RB position they would have traded their souls for the likes of Matt Forte, at this point. Crawl in the bunker. The sky is falling.

 

[Little Jr]

Jerry Jones said last week he'd consider trading a first round pick in 2016 for the right player.



http://www.foxsports.com/southwest/...-trading-cowboys-2016-first-round-pick-050815

This answered your question from your op. If it can improve the team.

 

[darthseinfeld]

And logic is yours. From the article you posted (in case you didn't read it):

“We’re going to get to see these guys a lot and at the same time we’ll keep our eyes wide open and look if there are opportunities to improve, not just at running back but other positions, and we’ll improve the team.”

If the Cowboys were as panicked as the Internet GMs around here about the RB position they would have traded their souls for the likes of Matt Forte, at this point. Crawl in the bunker. The sky is falling.

I dont understand why they would trade for Forte when he is more expensive then Murray, older and not any better

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Then why are there so many comments in the press about the Jones boys looking to trade? And why are there so many threads about this issue?

If this RBBC is the answer, then why has the organization stated they are looking?

Why has this site blown up with RB threads and speculation?

I guess it could be the never ending quest to improve.

Or...

It could be the team made a mistake and misjudged their options.

Because people are smart groups of people are dumb.

 

[Bluestang]

It has never been about the amount of rushing yards.

It's all about being effective, keeping the down and distance short on 3rd down.

In 2014, the Cowboys were 2nd in 3rd down conversions, where the prior season they were 25th.

However, I will contend that Romo had less attempts which also kept him fresh in the last leg of the playoff race. There are a number of variables in play here to keep this team successful for this upcoming season and hopefully the team will have accounted for the running back situation when the season starts.

 

[lwehlers]

i am also concerned about defensive tackle. what we have now is Crawford and that's it. I do not believe that mcclain is anything special and the rest are seventh round and undrafted free agents. if Crawford gets hurt we are in serious trouble. hopefully we can pick up another tackle during the cutdowns in preseason this year.

 

[skinsscalper]

I dont understand why they would trade for Forte when he is more expensive then Murray, older and not any better

Me either, my friend, but for some reason it's the flavor or the month....er..... minute.

 

[darthseinfeld]

My opinion

We are a 13 win team if we add a back capable of 1,500 yards behind this line. Miller, Mason and Christine are all capable of that. I do not feel Randle is.

We are a 10 win team if we dont. Our defense has improved, and combined with Romo, Bryant and our OL are enough to make us a playoff team, but to be elite we must maintain the status quo on offense in terms of TOP dominance. That takes both a dominant line and a very good back. We have one decent in Randle, one role player in McFadden and two others that are marginal NFL players at best. Randle could be a decent starter, but there is a very good chance he is a Troy Hambrick, and at this point in his career asking McFadden to be a starter is madness and shear hubris

 

[jobberone]

The problem with that is those that supported the crap we had at the time along the OL would have never admitted there was no talent there. It's easy to say after the fact. At the time it was the same regurgitating out of the homer handbook. The team must see something. Let's wait and see. Do you know more than the team?

Not certain but I remember most weren't happy about the OL and were labeled homers for hoping players might develop.

We did neglect the OL some but were greatly handicapped by the cap and a lack of talent at multiple positions.

But you're still right about it being generally marginal overall and was not addressed well in the draft. A fair amount of that was consistently missing on too many OL picks and not simply ignoring it. To be fair some was, again, not addressing it with more resources.

I think it resulted in some injuries to Romo but I don't think it overall made much difference in our records. Our defense has been the primary cause of our failures in the past. Again, to be fair, we could have won 1-2 more games a season with more defense but that is speculative.

 

[PhillyCowboysFan]

It has never been about the amount of rushing yards.

It's all about being effective, keeping the down and distance short on 3rd down.

In 2014, the Cowboys were 2nd in 3rd down conversions, where the prior season they were 25th.

However, I will contend that Romo had less attempts which also kept him fresh in the last leg of the playoff race. There are a number of variables in play here to keep this team successful for this upcoming season and hopefully the team will have accounted for the running back situation when the season starts.

New Orleans was 1st and went 7 and 9 and didn't make the playoffs.

San Diego was 4th and went 9 and 7 and didn't make the payoffs.

Seattle was 20th the year they won.

Baltimore was also 20th.

There are so many variables to keeping the down and distance short and to winning in general. A lot of those running backs I listed was below 4 yards per average. So I tend to believe they didn't help their teams down and distance average that much.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Not certain but I remember most weren't happy about the OL and were labeled homers for hoping players might develop.

We did neglect the OL some but were greatly handicapped by the cap and a lack of talent at multiple positions.

But you're still right about it being generally marginal overall and was not addressed well in the draft. A fair amount of that was consistently missing on too many OL picks and not simply ignoring it. To be fair some was, again, not addressing it with more resources.

I think it resulted in some injuries to Romo but I don't think it overall made much difference in our records. Our defense has been the primary cause of our failures in the past. Again, to be fair, we could have won 1-2 more games a season with more defense but that is speculative.

The big difference between the OL situation and this one is that with the Oline you're looking to improve 5 positions... and with each team in the NFL needing 5 quality starters... the well gets dry pretty quickly.

You need one good back. And it's a position that not all teams value equally so you end up with guys always being available either as free agents or as low cost trade options.

 

[Hardline]

Lets just imagine we been watching Joseph Randle YouTube college highlight clips for months before the 2015 NFL draft and the Dallas Cowboys just selected him in the third round.

Problem solved.

 

[jaybird]

Then why are there so many comments in the press about the Jones boys looking to trade? And why are there so many threads about this issue?

If this RBBC is the answer, then why has the organization stated they are looking?

Why has this site blown up with RB threads and speculation?

I guess it could be the never ending quest to improve.

Or...

It could be the team made a mistake and misjudged their options.

No one said it wasn't a concern. The decision to not sign Murray at that price was the correct decision. Our biggest concern is not offense but rather defense. You can't over pay for a one year wonder player and manage the cap.

Overall the Jerry's team has been spot on! Hopefully adding a RB without sacrificing the future can be accomplished. No more M Barber deals or Roy Williams trade please