Keep 5 RB's?

[jazzcat22]

Could they keep 5 RB's?
So if neither of the Smith's step up and show they can be the FB they want / need. And I am not sold on keeping 4 TE's and this TE / FB experiment they keep failing at. As I am not sold on keeping Traylor yet as that 4th TE if Hanna stays on PUP.

So here is my reasoning to keep 5 RB's.

Our RB's, except Dunbar, have the size similar to the 2 FB's, within reason. So why not keep all 5, and utilize a combination of them for FB. Especially since a FB is not in on every play. How many plays do they get anyway, less than 10 a game, I have no idea.

Do you now have 2 RB set, one as a FB, but can also run.
This way you keep Darius Jackson, and do not risk losing him if released and exposing him to waivers or the PS.
He also has some size to be a lead blocker.
You keep McFadden, for his role as a back up with experience, and pass protection skills. Can return kicks if needed.
Morris has some size to also be a lead blocker.

There is much versatility there, as McFadden can also be in there for Dunbar if needed, and run those bubble screens or how ever they use him.

Zeke of course being the bell cow that they surround him with all these options to spell him too.

 

[Stash]

Could they keep 5 RB's?
So if neither of the Smith's step up and show they can be the FB they want / need. And I am not sold on keeping 4 TE's and this TE / FB experiment they keep failing at. As I am not sold on keeping Traylor yet as that 4th TE if Hanna stays on PUP.

So here is my reasoning to keep 5 RB's.

Our RB's, except Dunbar, have the size similar to the 2 FB's, within reason. So why not keep all 5, and utilize a combination of them for FB. Especially since a FB is not in on every play. How many plays do they get anyway, less than 10 a game, I have no idea.

Do you now have 2 RB set, one as a FB, but can also run.
This way you keep Darius Jackson, and do not risk losing him if released and exposing him to waivers or the PS.
He also has some size to be a lead blocker.
You keep McFadden, for his role as a back up with experience, and pass protection skills. Can return kicks if needed.
Morris has some size to also be a lead blocker.

There is much versatility there, as McFadden can also be in there for Dunbar if needed, and run those bubble screens or how ever they use him.

Zeke of course being the bell cow that they surround him with all these options to spell him too.

I think that the better move is the one they're currently thinking about. Keeping McFadden in NFI into the season in case of injury.

He's missed all of training camp and is in no way ready to start the season anyway, and you couldn't keep all of them active in game days even if you wanted to. And McFadden doesn't play special teams either.

I like the idea of keeping him 'on ice', just in case the best.

 

[fifaguy]

Just curious, won't Dunbar and McFadden likely be on the pup list to start the season?

 

[speedkilz88]

Just curious, won't Dunbar and McFadden likely be on the pup list to start the season?

Dunbar is off PUP already and McFadden should be close to be able to come off.

 

[gmoney112]

We're not keeping 5 RB's.

Whether they cut/trade McFadden due to salary, or because they try and get Jackson to the PS, they're going with 4.

5 in this league is just overkill. If they don't go with a FB, they'll go long at another position. Traylor, Jones, an extra DL, maybe another safety at cuts.

 

[Cowboy4ever]

No. Noway I keep 5 RB. Not even sure if they can keep a player on PUP that has been cleared to play. I think the league would get suspicious if it takes the elbow 2 times longer to heal in Dallas than anywhere else on the planet. So I don't know that is even an option. But I still wouldn't do it. As soon as he is cleared, I activate him and trade him or Dunbar or both for whatever I can get and move on with Zeke Morris, Jackson or Dunbar.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

You can't go with less then 4 TEs so if we are keeping 5 backs, it's going to be another position group that goes light IMO.

 

[gimmesix]

You can't go with less then 4 TEs so if we are keeping 5 backs, it's going to be another position group that goes light IMO.

Well, three tight ends and a fullback since they are virtually the same position.

We'll either keep three tight ends and a fullback or four tight ends. Four tight ends and a fullback has an outside shot.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Well, three tight ends and a fullback since they are virtually the same position.

We'll either keep three tight ends and a fullback or four tight ends. Four tight ends and a fullback has an outside shot.

You can't go with less then 4 TEs if you run double TE formations. If we are no longer going to use those in our Offense, then you might be able to go with 3 TEs and FB but you can't go with just three TEs if you are going to use Double TE formations.

 

[jazzcat22]

You can't go with less then 4 TEs if you run double TE formations. If we are no longer going to use those in our Offense, then you might be able to go with 3 TEs and FB but you can't go with just three TEs if you are going to use Double TE formations.

Those double TE plays need to go. Have any of them really worked? I prefer the FB. Old school pound them and run it down their throats.

 

[speedkilz88]

You can't go with less then 4 TEs if you run double TE formations. If we are no longer going to use those in our Offense, then you might be able to go with 3 TEs and FB but you can't go with just three TEs if you are going to use Double TE formations.

It sounds like Hanna is going to stay on PUP so they only have 3 TEs unless you want to keep Traylor.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Those double TE plays need to go. Have any of them really worked? I prefer the FB. Old school pound them and run it down their throats.

They do work, depending on the running game you use. You can use one as an extra blocker and send one into the pattern to keep Safeties honest or take a LB into coverage. You can even send both into the pattern the way GB used to do years ago and the way New England did a few years ago, before prison. It definitely works if you have the right personnel.

Really kinda depends on what kind of back is starting. Murray never really used a FB. He ran from the stretch and use one cut to hit the hole. Elliot (assuming he is the starter) may like a FB better. He may not or it might not make much difference. Morris can go either way.

 

[erod]

Nope.

When the music stops, McFadden will be the guy without a chair.

Jackson looks way too good to get on a practice squad. In a couple of years, it'll be the Zeke/Jackson combo.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

It sounds like Hanna is going to stay on PUP so they only have 3 TEs unless you want to keep Traylor.

Cuts haven't started yet so we don't really know what the team will do there. They could pick up another TE from somebody else's roster or they could go with a FB or maybe try to use Jackson at FB. Lots of options and we really don't have a good idea of what they want to do because we don't know how they value what they currently have at TE or RB or FB. We also don't know what Elliot works best with because we haven't seen him.

 

[Ken]

In Madden...I kept Smith at FB and Zeke, Morris, McFadden, and Dunbar.

Jackson is on the PS.

I believe this is the right move.

I have also been able to get all of the backs their carries and or packages.

Just sayin' lol

 

[Bullflop]

It would be a total departure from this team's normal practice to keep 5 RBs. Sometimes it's 3 and rarely, it's 4 but not 5.

 

[jazzcat22]

In Madden...I kept Smith at FB and Zeke, Morris, McFadden, and Dunbar.

Jackson is on the PS.

I believe this is the right move.

I have also been able to get all of the backs their carries and or packages.

Just sayin' lol

This is more how I see it also.
I don't see what others see in Jackson so far. I think most talk themselves into wanting Jackson, just because they don't like McFadden. As opposed to seeing the best for the team.
Now if they keep Jackson over Dunbar, I am fine with that too. As I think McFadden and Jackson can do Dunbar's role.

Jackson is a 6th round draft pick, but people act as if he was taken right beside of Zeke.

 

[Cowboy06]

I'll keep it simple. Let's keep players where we have strength and proof of concept. If we know we can run, let's not limit ourselves to only 2 backs. I would probably release or trade McFadden, but I can see value in him as well. We can also create a trade market. Just my 2 cents.

 

[gimmesix]

You can't go with less then 4 TEs if you run double TE formations. If we are no longer going to use those in our Offense, then you might be able to go with 3 TEs and FB but you can't go with just three TEs if you are going to use Double TE formations.

In 2014, we had Witten, Escobar and Hanna with Tyler Clutts at fullback. In 2013, we opened with four TEs on the roster, but Andre Smith was waived in November after appearing in three games and was eventually replaced by Clutts. In 2012, our first-week roster had four tight ends and a fullback, but we were only carrying three TEs and a fullback after that week, cutting Colin Cochart on Sept. 11. In 2011, we opened with four TEs and no fullback, but we cut Martin Rucker on Sept. 4 and added FB Tony Fiammetta, leaving us with three TEs and a fullback.

So last year was the only one under Garrett where we kept more than three tight ends and a fullback on the roster at the same time for more than just the first week of the season. In 2011, we were trying to switch to just being a two-tight end offense, but Garrett changed his mind pretty quickly. We tried it again in 2013 before settling back into carrying a fullback and sticking with three tight ends.

Last year, we carried four TEs because of Swaim's potential, so it's possible that we'll do it again if we like the potential of either Traylor or Gathers. But our past rosters under Garrett show that carrying four TEs isn't the norm.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Haha he said Mcfadden return kicks......injuried on first return. He can't be a returner