Meanderings of a bored man

[Bullflop]

I think we've all heard the pros and cons involving C-Mike. He's a jerk, won't listen, fumbles too much, etc, etc. The thing is, he's with a new team and deserves a chance to prove himself deserving without everyone taking on premature judgments until such time as he's had an opportunity to show himself worthy or not worthy within the environment he's dreamed of playing for. Let's not put him in the awkward position of being an outcast before he's even seen the field. Any athlete deserves the benefit of the doubt and a fair opportunity to improve himself.

 

[LandryFan]

I can't imagine a scenario besides injury that Michaels isn't on the gameday roster every week this season.

I can. For one, he probably won't be ready (preparation-wise) to play week one against NY...the coaches have to have some sort of comfort level with him and they probably won't have that after just a couple of practices.
Secondly, the "conditional" 7th pick kicks in if he's on the 46 man roster for three games or more. My guess, and this is only a guess, is that he will not be on the 46 at least one of the other (besides the first game against NY) first four games of the season. When Hardy/McClain come back in week five, two players will have to go. By keeping Michaels out of two of the first four games, Dallas wouldn't lose next year's 7th rounder if they see him as one of the two needed cuts. He's likely going to need to be pretty impressive right off the bat to have a real chance. Then again, I might be totally wrong.

 

[jday]

Secondly, the "conditional" 7th pick kicks in if he's on the 46 man roster for three games or more. My guess, and this is only a guess, is that he will not be on the 46 at least one of the other (besides the first game against NY) first four games of the season. When Hardy/McClain come back in week five, two players will have to go. By keeping Michaels out of two of the first four games, Dallas wouldn't lose next year's 7th rounder if they see him as one of the two needed cuts. He's likely going to need to be pretty impressive right off the bat to have a real chance. Then again, I might be totally wrong.

That is actually a very good point. I figured the Cowboys wouldn't be in a hurry to get him on the gameday roster for that reason, but I didn't take in consideration that they could use his spot for Hardy/McClain.

 

[LandryFan]

That is actually a very good point. I figured the Cowboys wouldn't be in a hurry to get him on the gameday roster for that reason, but I didn't take in consideration that they could use his spot for Hardy/McClain.

Like I said, that's only a guess on my part. They're going to have to cut two from somewhere though, so I'm guessing that he needs to make a very favorable impression in weeks one through four.

 

[jday]

Like I said, that's only a guess on my part. They're going to have to cut two from somewhere though, so I'm guessing that he needs to make a very favorable impression in weeks one through four.

Looking at the roster as it stands, regardless of what he shows, you have to think that 1 of the 4 running backs could be in trouble.

 

[jrumann59]

People need to give this all a rest.

Let the man play. Drop all the blah blah about fumbles, coaches and blocking. Just let him play.

At the end of the day the best RB will get the bulk of the carries. Its all going to play out on the field.

Expect all 3 RBs to run hard, because they are all competing for their football careers. Its basically do or die time for all three.

Ok we will drop the fumbles, pun intended, but listening to coaches and being trusted to do what you are supposed to on the field is what is going to get you on the field. This is not backyard football where we put him in the formation and Romo draws the play in the dirt for him. To be fair the kid has to be prepapred part of that is on the coaches but a lot of is dependent on him, if he cannot assimilate a playbook and blitz pick up he has no business out there at all.

 

[LandryFan]

Looking at the roster as it stands, regardless of what he shows, you have to think that 1 of the 4 running backs could be in trouble.

Completely agree. It's not just Michaels' job that's in jeopardy, it's all of them. That said, Michael's is the newest RB...the one the coaches know the least about. Plus he costs them a draft pick, even if it is just a 7th rounder. He needs to show his value pretty quickly. He might have just four weeks of practice and two active games to state his case.

 

[jrumann59]

And Hardline knocks one out of the park...

I have said this in the past a ball security issue does not happen only on Sunday. When I played football every fumble in practice during drills was one extra gasser or mile added to end of practice cardio. If one cannot be trusted to hold on to a ball in practice why would you trust them when the lights come on.

 

[Future]

It's the rate of fumbling that's at issue for him. He had three others in his preseason carries, too. It's a legit concern.

Yep. For someone who has had so few carries in the regular season, you need to look into preseason carries to find a trend. He's got 4 fumbles total, including preseason.

Preseason alone, he has 55 carries and 62 total touches with 3 fumbles. A fumble every 20 carries is woefully unacceptable.

 

[jrumann59]

Looking at the roster as it stands, regardless of what he shows, you have to think that 1 of the 4 running backs could be in trouble.

Actually if you put gun to my head and asked me to guess, and all things being equal and C-Mike picks up the playbook, is willing to do blitz pick-up and no one is injured, it is randle. C-mike and randle at best are wash in pass blocking, two different backs, DMC is the best pass blocking RB on the squad and is more of 3rd down back passing down back, Dunbar plays ST. So the most redundant of the 4 is C-mike/Randle if there are no injuries no way the team finishes the season with both C-Mike and Randle on the squad.

 

[Idgit]

Yep. For someone who has had so few carries in the regular season, you need to look into preseason carries to find a trend. He's got 4 fumbles total, including preseason.

Preseason alone, he has 55 carries and 62 total touches with 3 fumbles. A fumble every 20 carries is woefully unacceptable.

Nothing sits a back faster than fumbling. I wonder what kinds of plays the fumbles were on? To hear their fans talk about them, it sounded like he mostly had the ball in the wrong hand and not covered up in traffic.

 

[jrumann59]

Nothing sits a back faster than fumbling. I wonder what kinds of plays the fumbles were on? To hear their fans talk about them, it sounded like he mostly had the ball in the wrong hand and not covered up in traffic.

IF you are going to carry a ball and not switch hands you better have both hands on a ball when you are hit. Fumbling and blitz pick up are almost even when it comes to things that will get you benched.

 

[jday]

I have said this in the past a ball security issue does not happen only on Sunday. When I played football every fumble in practice during drills was one extra gasser or mile added to end of practice cardio. If one cannot be trusted to hold on to a ball in practice why would you trust them when the lights come on.

That's a very good point. And you have to think going against that defense every day, he had plenty of opportunities to display an issue.

 

[jday]

Actually if you put gun to my head and asked me to guess, and all things being equal and C-Mike picks up the playbook, is willing to do blitz pick-up and no one is injured, it is randle. C-mike and randle at best are wash in pass blocking, two different backs, DMC is the best pass blocking RB on the squad and is more of 3rd down back passing down back, Dunbar plays ST. So the most redundant of the 4 is C-mike/Randle if there are no injuries no way the team finishes the season with both C-Mike and Randle on the squad.

Given Randle's legal issues and potential pending suspension, he's the first guy I thought of, as well. But, on the other hand, he is also the guy most see as the lead dog. So it really is hard to say for certain who has their foot dangling out the door.

 

[jday]

Nothing sits a back faster than fumbling. I wonder what kinds of plays the fumbles were on? To hear their fans talk about them, it sounded like he mostly had the ball in the wrong hand and not covered up in traffic.

On 105.3 the fan they had a media member from Seattle call in and he mentioned Michaels has a habit of holding the ball in the wrong hand going to the outside both ways. You would think that would be a fixable issue.

 

[jday]

IF you are going to carry a ball and not switch hands you better have both hands on a ball when you are hit. Fumbling and blitz pick up are almost even when it comes to things that will get you benched.

And that's the point many fans overlook. They take a look at the highlights and see a guy with great talent running the ball and that really is close to being 1/3 of the running back's job. If he can't secure the ball and/or pick up the blitz, many coaches will view him as next to worthless.

 

[Manster68]

Excellent post! Thanks for contributing.

To your point, your response really got me thinking. I threw out that "15 year" number with out really considering how far back I have to go to remember feeling this good about an offseason...and to be honest I'm not sure such an offseason has occurred in my lifetime (I was born in 1978). I guess if I knew what the Herschel Walker trade would lead to I would have felt awesome, but like you said that move did take patience.

I feel good about what is on paper, which to be honest isn't saying a whole lot. Three years from now I'll be able to speak more intelligently on the matter, but for now, this offseason looks like one of those once in a lifetime offseason that can put a team in playoff contention for years to come. You might even call it a dynasty starter. To be fair, it started in the draft that landed Tyron Smith...but still, this offseason will be the offseason that future football historians will point to should the Cowboys win the Super Bowl in the next 3 years.

1. I got 14 years on you. My entire time in elementary school was in the Staubach era. I grew up spoiled.
2. I would back up one year to 2010 - the additions of Dez Bryant and Sean Lee are quite significant today (despite the injuries to Lee).
3. It took great patience for the Hershel Walker trade not only because of the coming picks, but also the fact that the Cowboys were so bad in 1988 and 1989 (4-28 combined) it rivaled the 0-11-1 1960 Inaugural Cowboys.
3A. When you add that Dallas started off 3-7 in 1990, that brought their record to 7-35 in those 2.5 seasons (YUK).
3B. That 35th loss was a Sunday Night ESPN loss to Joe Montana and the 49ers. Dallas would win the next four games on the comeback trail. The highlight was the Thanksgiving win against the Commanders 27-17 where Emmitt broke Green's tackle.
3C. If you watch the rebroadcast of that game, you will hear Summerall say to Madden, "If Dallas gets lucky in the draft, they are going to be a power.... soon!"

4. I consider the wins last season in Seattle and in Philadelphia the equivalent to the Commander Thanksgiving win.

The Cowboys are coming!

 

[Manster68]

On 105.3 the fan they had a media member from Seattle call in and he mentioned Michaels has a habit of holding the ball in the wrong hand going to the outside both ways. You would think that would be a fixable issue.

Holding on to the football can be coached.