Joseph Randles college highlights

[TheMarathonContinues]

I think its a matter of opinion. Murray can do just about everything except take it to the house. Randle does have that ability. But when it comes to short yardage or gaining those extra yards after a hit that is where Murray excels. Randle is great in the open. But when he gets hit he goes down.

I agree but how much do you factor in your offensive line? Mind you, they were already a dominant group last year.....they will be even more improved this year. I need to see more from Randle but my concern with him is if he could take the 20 carries a game as opposed to him not being able to get the tough yards.

 

[ConstantReboot]

I'm not saying he's a Lynch clone or anything, but I posted a vine earlier in the thread where he blows through 2 arm tackles and takes it to the house. I think me and you mostly agree on his role, but I think I'm a little higher on him than you.

Your right that your a little higher on him than me. I'd like to actually see him be the lead starter where defenses account for his running style. Defenses planned for Murray. They didn't plan for Randle. Thus me wanting to see what he can actually do as the starting runningback rather than someone coming off the bench.

Doesn't mean I'm not cheering for him. I just have my doubts. Its reasonable to say that he might not fit the role as top dog and would be better off as a change of pace type of back.

 

[Zekeats]

I agree, just wish he wasn't a scumbag

 

[CATCH17]

I think people fell out of love with Randle after his rookie season. It wasn't ESPN highlight worthy. And that's how NFL fans IMO view players now. Without big time highlights? Players don't matter. And in his rookie year there was nothing really that impressive. His second year, IMO he looked more nimble, faster and quicker. And it showed on the field. Its probably premature but IMO, he is why I don't have to waste a draft pick on a running back. Now for Gurley I would've. But it was important that we went into this draft giving Maranelli high draft picks with skill. We can't keep asking him to take on the Nick Hayden's of the world and keep making them serviceable and ask him to go out there and field a legit defense.

But make no mistake. No one knows if Randle can or can't handle the load next year. People don't value him because everyone wants the big splash guy like AP or a Gurley.

Cowboy fans spent all year touting how great this offensive line was last year and then want to trade 1st rounders for AP or draft a back in the 1st round. You have Randle, Dunbar and Ryan Williams who don't have much wear and tear on their bodies thanks to us overworking Murray. And then you have the vet McFadden.

Cowboys running game will be fine next year. Maybe not for fantasy players but for the Cowboys it will be. The run game is the least of my concern.

To be fair you can usually tell if a RB has anything even in their rookie year.

He looked like a complete jag year 1.

Year 2 was a different story

 

[CATCH17]

OH well I don't think he's as physical of a back as Murray. But Murray couldn't hit the home run so did they make him a complete back?

I'm not quite sold on Randle either being a physical back but as a complete one? I think he is more complete than Murray was. But as of now, I don't know if he does anything great or exceptional like Murray did. Murray was incredibly physical.

His YPC is probably a bit skewed because of the big runs he had but I saw such a progression between year 1 and 2 for Randle that I expect it to continue.

And Randle isn't a small guy. I don't know if he wears small shoulder pads or what but his height and weight aren't small. But the guy looks small on the field for some reason.

Murray is great at getting the tough yards at the line of scrimmage.

Once he got to the 2nd and 3rd level of a defense he was a complete jag because his vision was so poor.

 

[Risen Star]

We are so loaded at RB.

 

[PoundTheRock]

I believe in this guy as a football player. He seemed like the most improved player on the team to me from jump last year. My only concerns there are as a pass catcher and blocker. The off the field stuff can't help, but give you pause though. He just doesn't seem to have it all.

 

[Alexander]

Says it all right here. Randle can "do it all". And Dunbar? "Big play" is what I think of when his name is uttered. Yessir.

 

[xtreme_2k]

Why do you say that? I've stated that I just think that he's nothing more than a change of pace back. If you want an ideal complete back look at Murray. A back that can break tackles, block, catch the ball, and make defenses adjust. Randle can do some of this but not all. When I see Randle handle the things Murray did than I might consider. But for now, I see him nothing more than a good change of pace back that I wouldn't go crazy about.

I think its a matter of opinion. Murray can do just about everything except take it to the house. Randle does have that ability. But when it comes to short yardage or gaining those extra yards after a hit that is where Murray excels. Randle is great in the open. But when he gets hit he goes down.

Then I don't believe you actually watched the video i posted as it shows him running players over, does not shy from contact and doesn't go down on first hits.

 

[xtreme_2k]

Your right that your a little higher on him than me. I'd like to actually see him be the lead starter where defenses account for his running style. Defenses planned for Murray. They didn't plan for Randle. Thus me wanting to see what he can actually do as the starting runningback rather than someone coming off the bench.

Doesn't mean I'm not cheering for him. I just have my doubts. Its reasonable to say that he might not fit the role as top dog and would be better off as a change of pace type of back.

How can a team plan for a player that gets 2-3 touches a game???

 

[StarBoyz83]

We have players at rb im not too worried.

 

[robjay04]

I am just hoping Randle earns and wins the job instead of McFadden. Randle is just a better football player at this stage of their career with much more upside.

 

[CATCH17]

We are so loaded at RB.

I think we are loaded with guys that can make big plays.

I just worry about making the small plays.. The 3rd and 1's or 3rd and goal.

Murray was nasty in those situations and that will be hard to replace.

 

[tyke1doe]

I think we missed a clue with respect to the Cowboys and their approach to the running back position.

Remember, with Ryan Williams, he rejected offers with other teams to remain with the Cowboys. The Cowboys must have told him something for him to remain on the practice squad when other clubs were offering him a chance to possibly play last year.

And that means the Cowboys really see something in him but are giving him a chance to grow. He has the speed. He just needed to get healthy and mature.

I think the Cardinals threw him to the wolves when he wasn't ready. He wasn't a complete back. But with time to rest and learn the position (and possibly learn how to block for the quarterback), he could be one who will definitely surprise in 2015.

 

[tyke1doe]

I think we are loaded with guys that can make big plays.

I just worry about making the small plays.. The 3rd and 1's or 3rd and goal.

Murray was nasty in those situations and that will be hard to replace.

But that's why we signed Days of Thunder in free agency.

 

[CATCH17]

I think we missed a clue with respect to the Cowboys and their approach to the running back position.

Remember, with Ryan Williams, he rejected offers with other teams to remain with the Cowboys. The Cowboys must have told him something for him to remain on the practice squad when other clubs were offering him a chance to possibly play last year.

And that means the Cowboys really see something in him but are giving him a chance to grow. He has the speed. He just needed to get healthy and mature.

I think the Cardinals threw him to the wolves when he wasn't ready. He wasn't a complete back. But with time to rest and learn the position (and possibly learn how to block for the quarterback), he could be one who will definitely surprise in 2015.

I think Ryan Williams wasn't "ready" because he had so many injury set backs.

Dallas probably told him it would be in his best interest to sit out a year, get healthy, and work on your technique.

His career should be over with some of the injuries he has had.

 

[gimmesix]

Not trying to thread hijack, but this needs to be posted as well:

(Scroll to 2:20)



Look at that agility.

Ryan Williams just hasn't stayed healthy. He can play. Big difference between him and say a guy like Trent Richardson.

Randle's tape was impressive too. Hell, his 2014 Cowboys tape is impressive. People just wanted a new shiny toy.

No. Some of us just wanted more competition for a position that has no proven commodity. Randle might turn out fine given more carries, but he hasn't carried the ball more than 54 times in a season yet. His first year, the only one in which he has started games so far, he averaged 3.0 YPC, including 3.4 and 1.9 in his two starts, while Murray averaged more than 5 YPC that year.

The positive news is what Randle did last year as a backup, but that was still as a player who only touched the ball 51 times and wasn't forced to be the bell cow in any games.

Based on the number of players who succeed as pros, tape from college means little. It's how they transition their game to a level where they aren't outrunning future mechanics and sports radio hosts. Right now, the track record of the guys we have is sketchy.

That doesn't mean it won't work out, but "a shiny new toy" might end up being what we need this year if it doesn't. At this point, though, we might have to settle for a creaky, old one that's better than what we've got. I hope not because I'd rather the players we have succeed, but it's silly to look at what these guys have done so far as pros and say there's no reason to be concerned.

 

[gimmesix]

And he still averaged over 6 YPC

I care little about that since YPC can be skewed for a player receiving few carries by a few long runs. However, I did feel better after calculating that Randle's average last year after being adjusted to take out runs of 30-plus yards was still 4.16 per carry. That was lower than Murray's adjusted average of 4.3, but at least it wasn't in the 3's.

 

[gimmesix]

Also for some good college tape, Ryan Williams is better than Randle. If he was in this last class I bet he would have been the 3rd RB chosen.

Talent hasn't been the issue with Williams. It's been health and pass protection.

He didn't produce well in Arizona when given a chance, but I don't think we've really seen what he can do when fully healthy, except last preseason against scrubs. The question is whether he, and McFadden for that matter, can stay healthy enough to show us what they've got.

 

[ConstantReboot]

Then I don't believe you actually watched the video i posted as it shows him running players over, does not shy from contact and doesn't go down on first hits.

I watched every game last season sometimes 2-3 times over. Randle hardly breaks tackles and goes down easier than Murray did. Where Randle made a 2-3 yard gain, Murray could have gained an extra few yards and turn it into a a 5 yard gain. On the other hand, Murray's long 20 yard runs or more, could have easily been turned into a TD by Randle.

Randle's game is not is ability to break tackles or gain a few more yards after contact. He has wiggle and when he sees daylight he is off to the races. Not blazing fast but good enough. Thus my assertion is that Randle is good enough to be a good change of pace back. I just don't think he's good enough to be a work horse that can lead a running attack like what Murray did for us last year.