Pay for our running backs, or beef up the O-line

[ICP]

Why would we pay Zeke anything? Time to let him walk

 

[McKDaddy]

It's an easy answer, O line.

However, how exactly are we going to strengthen it?

My POV - I don't see them using another first round pick

Tyler - He needs to be your LT. Let him focus on that.

McG - He proved he's a starting G in the league. Probably going to be difficult for the Cowboys to retain. FA isn't going to get anyone better without paying them more. Draft is not guaranteed to be better. Certainly not in the short term. Possible you get lucky and land a stud with a later pick? Sure

TB - He definitely improved. I'm not convinced we should be satisfied though. I would be open to looking at an upgrade if available but I'm guessing the FO is planning to let him play out final year of his deal.

ZM - Very solid player but aging so best you can hope for is that his play stays level. I can't see the FO doing this but if I would at least shop him to see what the return would be before his play dips any further. If you got a nice return, you would then have some extra draft capital to use on OL.

Terrence - Assuming a return to health, no reason to make a change. Now do I expect him to be fully recovered by beginning of season? No I do not. So, I think we need to plan to bridge the gap. But I don't see them moving on from him even if they fear a long recovery. T's are hard to come by and he's arguably the best run blocking RT in the game.

So, I see 4 of 5 and maybe even 5 of 5 returning. The most likely improvements will be due to player growth from the younger guys and perhaps a change of coaching \ scheme will better suit their strengths. Bottom line, high likelihood that any improvements are marginal rather than quantum leap.

 

[CATCH17]

Totally false. The team is in pretty good shape. They have a chance at being very good.

You poor poor guy.

 

[rambo2]

You poor poor guy.

Watch what happens in free agency. I suspect that they will sign a receiver and at least one defensive tackle before the draft.

 

[shabazz]

The Patriots learned this lesson early. They kept a top 5 offensive line for over a decade which made the running backs and wide receivers almost irrelevant……not literally, but they could plug and play Rbs and WRs that didn’t need to be elite

 

[doomsday9084]

They should draft best player available and sign Payne or another dtackle in free agency.

IMO they aren't going to go free agency. They are going to struggle to free up enough capspace for Pollard, Steele and others let alone thinking about getting someone else's free agents. At best they will be dumpster diving for vet min guys.

 

[rambo2]

IMO they aren't going to go free agency. They are going to struggle to free up enough capspace for Pollard, Steele and others let alone thinking about getting someone else's free agents. At best they will be dumpster diving for vet min guys.

Nope I believe they will have enough to sign whoever they want to this season.

 

[goshann]

I think Pollard, especially coming off injury can be had relatively cheap and then draft another mid rounds. Zeke has to go pay cut or not.

They are tagging him
That isn’t cheap and he won’t be cheap

 

[Pass2Run]

We all know that a good o line will get you places to go to Disney the next day! With that said, do we pay Zeke and Pollard, or do we go cheap and save that money for the o line?

I believe we can draft one, get a vet, and still use Davis. We don't need a stud back there, but we need this o line to be on point to take us to the next level. Please give your thoughts

I think there is something to this dilemma you present. Because it comes down to the cap, so yeah, I'm for building the offensive line, especially for the future. Then, your back doesn't matter so much. You can plug anyone in. Shanahan proved this back when Terrell Davis was playing.

 

[big dog cowboy]

You win in the trenches. And this draft is deep with RB's so you can get one late.

 

[rambo2]

They are tagging him
That isn’t cheap and he won’t be cheap

They could tag him or go aggressive in the draft or draft and sign Pollard or another veteran for less than the tag.

 

[SloMo_Joe]

All games are won or lost in the trenches.

 

[StarLord]

Rookie RBs, draft/sign a great OL.. this makese the runningback good and maybe Dak won't jump at shadows like Shaggy and Scoob.

 

[Coogiguy03]

I think there is something to this dilemma you present. Because it comes down to the cap, so yeah, I'm for building the offensive line, especially for the future. Then, your back doesn't matter so much. You can plug anyone in. Shanahan proved this back when Terrell Davis was playing.

So did KC

 

[DandyDon52]

We all know that a good o line will get you places to go to Disney the next day! With that said, do we pay Zeke and Pollard, or do we go cheap and save that money for the o line?

I believe we can draft one, get a vet, and still use Davis. We don't need a stud back there, but we need this o line to be on point to take us to the next level. Please give your thoughts

lol not happening coog, your thinking too logical!!
you need to get with it! Learn hillbilly logic, and then you will know what jones boys are going to do.

 

[cowboys5xsbs]

Running backs are a dime a dozen

 

[b0xZZ]

They are tagging him
That isn’t cheap and he won’t be cheap

Then cut bait and pickup a RB in the draft. Nobody pays backs anymore

 

[buybuydandavis]

We all know that a good o line will get you places to go to Disney the next day! With that said, do we pay Zeke and Pollard, or do we go cheap and save that money for the o line?

I believe we can draft one, get a vet, and still use Davis. We don't need a stud back there, but we need this o line to be on point to take us to the next level. Please give your thoughts

Between the tackle grinders you just keep coming out of college.

RBs who can run by defenders on 60 yard flys you *make use of* and pay real money when you have to. They don't grow on trees.

We wave goodbye to Zeke and pay Pollard. This is not hard. We can franchise Pollard for less than we paid for Schulz last year.

Pollard is the RB/WR we've been working to find for years. Great RB and underutilized as a WR.

This is the key position on an offense in the new NFL, IMO. The guy who causes personnel mismatch problems for a defense.The motion back. Should be *paired* with a straight ahead between the tackles RB who can also pass block.

That's the tweener 5th skill player instead of a 3rd WR or 2nd TE. Not instead of a RB, unless you're going for your speed package where all 5 are a threat and want to keep an option behind the LOS for handoffs.

 

[buybuydandavis]

Running backs are a dime a dozen

Between the tackle grinders are a dime a dozen.

Pollards are not.

 

[buybuydandavis]

Pollard is a special player but for how much longer will he be special?

His vision and acceleration are top notch. He’s got some Christian McCaffrey to his game.

But with Dak screwing up our cap I think RB is not a good investment.

Achane from A&M would be a great Pollard replacement.

We overpaid Zeke in a big way.

Assuming full health, Pollard is more than worth the tag. We paid more for Schulz last year. And Zeke. And Gallup.

I'd rather have Pollard than *all three*. Put your money into the special players.

Churn the ordinary. Should have kept Cooper and let Gallup and Schulz walk. Ferguson already was about as good as Schulz last year. Schulz is ordinary.

Pollard. Speed. Vision. Acceleration. *Contact balance*. That's my favorite with him. He doesn't plow through defenders. He just bounces off of them and stays upright.

And did you see the 60 yard td when he was covered by a LB out wide?

We did that *once* in 4 years. We should be trying to get that matchup *all day long*, and take the pass when teams are dumb enough to give us that matchup. Only a handful of LBs in the league have a prayer of keeping up with Pollard on a fly.

And Dak threw a pretty good pass too. Simple play for a QB. Is the LB gonna get help over the top? No? Then aim and throw.