Interesting Issues At RB

[Verdict]

It is plausible that if Murray is resigns we that we keep every running back on the roster and have very little, if any turnover. On the other hand, if Murray leaves for free agency, then Ryan Williams is probably the safest player on the roster with his new contract. Randle can't be counted on because he appears to be an idiot. Dunbar is a luxury type of player, but could probably not be used as an every down between the tackles type of runner.

In this instance, Murray's departure would create not only a hole where Murray used to be, but I think it also makes you look really hard at Randle and Dunbar. My guess is that if Murray leaves, you might see two backs taken in this draft by the Cowboys, one with a premium pick and another back late in the draft (5th-7th rounds) or another mid-tier RB signed by the Cowboys in free agency.

The Cowboys probably wouldn't jettison Randle simply for the reason that he is an idiot in his current role. But they might have to rethink that if they were in the position of needing Randle to potentially be the lead back. If we keep Randle as the primary backup then I think that is a very strong vote of confidence for Williams by the Cowboys. The only way Dunbar makes this roster is if we keep 4 running backs. If Williams and Randle are kept and we only keep 3 running backs on the roster, I do not think that Dunbar will be the third back.

So I guess the point that I am making is that losing Murray has a domino effect on the remaining running backs and creates more than one hole.

 

[xwalker]

I took 2 RBs in my mock with the assumption that Murray was gone.

In your scenario (where they can't count on Randle/Dunbar in 2015), I don't know if a 5th/6th round pick really helps in 2015. In your scenario it would be Ryan Williams and the early draft pick that would have to carry the load.

Personally, I'm not that concerned about Randle. I think he and Ryan Williams would be a decent rotation. Then throw in the draft pick for insurance.

In regards to Dunbar, he is a guy I like having on the team. They could consider him as a 5th/6th WR and Special Teams player. I think if Beasley had been injured in 2014, that Dunbar would have been his replacement. He plays on a lot of the special teams units. He can return kicks if needed.
http://cowboyszone.com/threads/some-different-offseason-and-mock.316136/
http://cowboyszone.com/threads/some-different-offseason-and-mock.316136/

Free Agents
Add Greg Hardy and Pernell McPhee

Hardy will play both DE and 3tech DT like he did in Carolina.

Retain
Dez
Carr with a big pay cut
Beasley
Parnell
1 LB of McClain, Durant, Carter
Sterling Moore
Leary/Weems already signed

Going into the draft I'm loaded at DE and have Hardy to play some of the 3tech snaps.

I plan for 1 of Brent, Bishop or T. McClain to step us as the starting 1tech.

Teams find out that Gurly is unlikely to participate in training camp and he drops to the 2nd round.

Trade R1 (27) for R2(37) and R3(101)

R2 (37) Gurley RB
R2 (60) Steven Nelson (73) CB (Ready now type player)
R3 (91) Josh Shaw (88) DB (Could be CB or Safety)
R3(101) Mike Davis (102) RB
R4 (124) Stephone Anthony (128) LB
R5 (155) Kenny Bell (136) WR/Returner

R7 (206)
R7 (208)

7th rounders from this list:
208 FS Chris Hackett
282 LB Max Valles
161 LB Ben Heeney
196 LB Taiwan Jones
216 LB Hayes Pullard
156 LB Zach Hodges
184 OT Jeremiah Poutasi
160 DL Ray Drew
199 DE Deion Barnes
155 FB Jalston Fowler
169 FB Tyler Varga

 

[Jenky]

I took 2 RBs in my mock with the assumption that Murray was gone.
In your scenario (where they can't count on Randle/Dunbar in 2015), I don't know if a 5th/6th round pick really helps in 2015. In your scenario it would be Ryan Williams and the early draft pick that would have to carry the load.

Personally, I'm not that concerned about Randle. I think he and Ryan Williams would be a decent rotation. Then throw in the draft pick for insurance.

In regards to Dunbar, he is a guy I like having on the team. They could consider him as a 5th/6th WR and Special Teams player. I think if Beasley had been injured in 2014, that Dunbar would have been his replacement. He plays on a lot of the special teams units. He can return kicks if needed.
http://cowboyszone.com/threads/some-different-offseason-and-mock.316136/

Free Agents
Add Greg Hardy and Pernell McPhee

Hardy will play both DE and 3tech DT like he did in Carolina.

Retain
Dez
Carr with a big pay cut
Beasley
Parnell
1 LB of McClain, Durant, Carter
Sterling Moore
Leary/Weems already signed

Going into the draft I'm loaded at DE and have Hardy to play some of the 3tech snaps.

I plan for 1 of Brent, Bishop or T. McClain to step us as the starting 1tech.

Teams find out that Gurly is unlikely to participate in training camp and he drops to the 2nd round.

Trade R1 (27) for R2(37) and R3(101)

R2 (37) Gurley RB
R2 (60) Steven Nelson (73) CB (Ready now type player)
R3 (91) Josh Shaw (88) DB (Could be CB or Safety)
R3(101) Mike Davis (102) RB
R4 (124) Stephone Anthony (128) LB
R5 (155) Kenny Bell (136) WR/Returner

R7 (206)
R7 (208)

7th rounders from this list:
208 FS Chris Hackett
282 LB Max Valles
161 LB Ben Heeney
196 LB Taiwan Jones
216 LB Hayes Pullard
156 LB Zach Hodges
184 OT Jeremiah Poutasi
160 DL Ray Drew
199 DE Deion Barnes
155 FB Jalston Fowler
169 FB Tyler Varga

We would have 4 or 5 RBs on the roster.

 

[Verdict]

I took 2 RBs in my mock with the assumption that Murray was gone.
In your scenario (where they can't count on Randle/Dunbar in 2015), I don't know if a 5th/6th round pick really helps in 2015. In your scenario it would be Ryan Williams and the early draft pick that would have to carry the load.

Personally, I'm not that concerned about Randle. I think he and Ryan Williams would be a decent rotation. Then throw in the draft pick for insurance.

In regards to Dunbar, he is a guy I like having on the team. They could consider him as a 5th/6th WR and Special Teams player. I think if Beasley had been injured in 2014, that Dunbar would have been his replacement. He plays on a lot of the special teams units. He can return kicks if needed.
http://cowboyszone.com/threads/some-different-offseason-and-mock.316136/

Free Agents
Add Greg Hardy and Pernell McPhee

Hardy will play both DE and 3tech DT like he did in Carolina.

Retain
Dez
Carr with a big pay cut
Beasley
Parnell
1 LB of McClain, Durant, Carter
Sterling Moore
Leary/Weems already signed

Going into the draft I'm loaded at DE and have Hardy to play some of the 3tech snaps.

I plan for 1 of Brent, Bishop or T. McClain to step us as the starting 1tech.

Teams find out that Gurly is unlikely to participate in training camp and he drops to the 2nd round.

Trade R1 (27) for R2(37) and R3(101)

R2 (37) Gurley RB
R2 (60) Steven Nelson (73) CB (Ready now type player)
R3 (91) Josh Shaw (88) DB (Could be CB or Safety)
R3(101) Mike Davis (102) RB
R4 (124) Stephone Anthony (128) LB
R5 (155) Kenny Bell (136) WR/Returner

R7 (206)
R7 (208)

7th rounders from this list:
208 FS Chris Hackett
282 LB Max Valles
161 LB Ben Heeney
196 LB Taiwan Jones
216 LB Hayes Pullard
156 LB Zach Hodges
184 OT Jeremiah Poutasi
160 DL Ray Drew
199 DE Deion Barnes
155 FB Jalston Fowler
169 FB Tyler Varga

I don't think the round the player is selected in has as much bearing on this issue as the type of player we get. The player would have to be an every down player and be able to pick up the blitz (if we went with only 3 rb's) Dunbar would have to make the team only in his capacity as a special teams ace, because I do not think we would rely on him to carry the load if he were elevated to starter without a major revamp in the type of plays called.

 

[Verdict]

Also, XWalker, when I say I am concerned about Randle I am saying it from an off the field issue point of view, although I am not sold on him as a runner yet either.

 

[xwalker]

I don't think the round the player is selected in has as much bearing on this issue as the type of player we get. The player would have to be an every down player and be able to pick up the blitz (if we went with only 3 rb's) Dunbar would have to make the team only in his capacity as a special teams ace, because I do not think we would rely on him to carry the load if he were elevated to starter without a major revamp in the type of plays called.

My point is that if a guy with talent is available in the 6th round, it's probably because he needs time to develop. Those developmental 5th/6th round type normally don't contribute much other than Special Teams as rookies.

 

[Hardline]

If Murray leaves then Gurley becomes the top target in the draft.

 

[xwalker]

Also, XWalker, when I say I am concerned about Randle I am saying it from an off the field issue point of view, although I am not sold on him as a runner yet either.

I would not put Randle in a lead back role, but I'm confident that he could be good with a lot more carries than he received in 2014.

I think the off-field issues might be over-blown. The stealing was stupid, but I've studied the Hotel/ex-girlfriend incident and I believe that she was just trying to get him in trouble in order to get her way. What did having weed have to do with domestic violence. "He got weed" is a common thing that women say when their intention is to get a guy in trouble.

I actually believe that a rotation of Ryan Williams, Randle and Dunbar would be decent. It would be risky considering Williams injury history, but if he is healthy I think they could get good production from that rotation. Adding a draft pick would really lower the risk.

Randle was reasonably good in the few opportunities that he had in Pass Protection which is something that has been mentioned as a concern. I don't know about Ryan Williams in regards to Pass Pro.