RB and CB are question marks not weaknesses

[Galian Beast]

I don't think we've seen enough at either of those position groups to consider them weaknesses.

Will running back be the strength of the team that it was last year when the team was riding Murray? Maybe not, maybe even probably not, but I think it's entirely too early to count out these RBs. I think they all offer something that Murray lacked, and used in tandem, they could be very productive for us.

A lot of people also seem to think that the secondary is a weakness. Well, let me say right off the bat that while I think the team will continue to invest in the secondary next year, to suggest that it is a weakness already is pretty hasty.

We haven't seen what this secondary can do when it has an actual pass rush. I think Carr and Scandrick if their contract situations can be resolved will do well next year with this pass rush. I think that it's actually to early to write Claiborne out of the picture. If we can retrieve some value from Claiborne, if he is healthy and gets some confidence back with the help of this pass rush, it will help alleviate some of the resources we have to spend there in the future. Everyone wants to talk about Free Safety, well Jones could be that answer at free safety if things work out at cornerback. I really do think the upside Wilcox possesses, especially at strong safety could result in something special. I think the secondary could be fine next year, in fact I think like the running back group it could be very productive, if not special.

I think the biggest question mark at this point for this team is whether it can stay healthy. I think it has the building blocks, the talent, the potential, and the coaching to beat any team in the league next year, and as a result I'm pretty excited about our prospects.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

I agree. Scandrick is one of the league's best corners (ranked 10th out of 108 qualifiers by Pro Football Focus; for what that's worth) and now add Byron Jones to the mix. Church and Wilcox aren't playmaking safeties; but they're not bad safeties.

And my favorite stat about Murray is his 1,023 yards gained BEFORE contact. And I can guarantee if Dallas did re-sign him, they would be criticized for paying a guy they ran into the ground last year (over 500 combined touches) and has had injury issues.

The league's best o-line got better and the Cowboys added to their pass rush. Games are won and lost up front. I'm really looking forward to next season.

 

[Galian Beast]

I agree. Scandrick is one of the league's best corners (ranked 10th out of 108 qualifiers by Pro Football Focus; for what that's worth) and now add Byron Jones to the mix. Church and Wilcox aren't playmaking safeties; but they're not bad safeties.

And my favorite stat about Murray is his 1,023 yards gained BEFORE contact. And I can guarantee if Dallas did re-sign him, they would be criticized for paying a guy they ran into the ground last year (over 500 combined touches) and has had injury issues.

The league's best o-line got better and the Cowboys added to their pass rush. Games are won and lost up front. I'm really looking forward to next season.

I think there are a few different camps

- People who didn't want to pay Murray, but aren't happy with what we currently have at RB
- People who wanted to pay Murray and aren't happy with what we currently have at RB
- People who didn't want to pay Murray, but are happy with what we have.

If you had to ask me I'm in the first camp. My biggest criticism was not signing Spiller. That being said I really wanted Gurley or Gordon, but I'm just as glad the Cowboys didn't trade up for them as I am that they didn't pay Murray. I think Spiller would have been a great insurance policy. I'd be extremely happy if we traded for a bell cow, but short of that I think we can and should give this group a chance.

 

[JPostSam]

I think there are a few different camps

- People who didn't want to pay Murray, but aren't happy with what we currently have at RB
- People who wanted to pay Murray and aren't happy with what we currently have at RB
- People who didn't want to pay Murray, but are happy with what we have.

If you had to ask me I'm in the first camp. My biggest criticism was not signing Spiller. That being said I really wanted Gurley or Gordon, but I'm just as glad the Cowboys didn't trade up for them as I am that they didn't pay Murray. I think Spiller would have been a great insurance policy. I'd be extremely happy if we traded for a bell cow, but short of that I think we can and should give this group a chance.

I'm in the first camp, too.

But I'm stepping back from the ledge. If the Commanders could win a Super Bowl with Doug Williams and Timmy Smith, we can win one with what we have.

 

[Clove]

The biggest QM is the running situation. Why? Because the running situation was the reason we were 12-4, IMO. We had a crappy secondary & crappy pass rush, and got to 12-4. So the obvious question is whether this cast of characters can grind through a game. Romo alone is not and has never been the answer. So we know that we have to be able to control the clock with these characters, and we just don't know if they can. The homers speculate that they can do it, the realists don't think so or will wait and see. Myself, I wanted Murray here because he's proven. However, no one on this team should be untouchable and if he has to go, so be it. But we'd better get production from these people at RB if we expect to do anything.

Other teams are getting better, we can't stay where we're at, we must be better and I'm on board with the cast, IF, they can grind out games collectively. Teams feared Murray, will they fear these guys? We shall see.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I don't think we've seen enough at either of those position groups to consider them weaknesses.

Will running back be the strength of the team that it was last year when the team was riding Murray? Maybe not, maybe even probably not, but I think it's entirely too early to count out these RBs. I think they all offer something that Murray lacked, and used in tandem, they could be very productive for us.

A lot of people also seem to think that the secondary is a weakness. Well, let me say right off the bat that while I think the team will continue to invest in the secondary next year, to suggest that it is a weakness already is pretty hasty.

We haven't seen what this secondary can do when it has an actual pass rush. I think Carr and Scandrick if their contract situations can be resolved will do well next year with this pass rush. I think that it's actually to early to write Claiborne out of the picture. If we can retrieve some value from Claiborne, if he is healthy and gets some confidence back with the help of this pass rush, it will help alleviate some of the resources we have to spend there in the future. Everyone wants to talk about Free Safety, well Jones could be that answer at free safety if things work out at cornerback. I really do think the upside Wilcox possesses, especially at strong safety could result in something special. I think the secondary could be fine next year, in fact I think like the running back group it could be very productive, if not special.

I think the biggest question mark at this point for this team is whether it can stay healthy. I think it has the building blocks, the talent, the potential, and the coaching to beat any team in the league next year, and as a result I'm pretty excited about our prospects.

Good post! We need to figure out the Mo/Carr situation past this year before I'm comfortable about that position. Replacing one with Jones is a good start.

 

[Bleu Star]

I think there are a few different camps

- People who didn't want to pay Murray, but aren't happy with what we currently have at RB
- People who wanted to pay Murray and aren't happy with what we currently have at RB
- People who didn't want to pay Murray, but are happy with what we have.

If you had to ask me I'm in the first camp. My biggest criticism was not signing Spiller. That being said I really wanted Gurley or Gordon, but I'm just as glad the Cowboys didn't trade up for them as I am that they didn't pay Murray. I think Spiller would have been a great insurance policy. I'd be extremely happy if we traded for a bell cow, but short of that I think we can and should give this group a chance.

1st camp. I didn't want us to overpay but just wish we would have been more compassionate with handling the situation.

 

[Fredd]

I am in the 4th camp which is "People who didn't want to pay Murray and are hopeful with what we have"...I like the guys that we have @ RB, but I guess I would say I am not yet satisfied

 

[jrumann59]

Claiborne's recovery physically from a torn patellar tendon is one question mark and then his recovery mentally is another. He did not have a lot of burst to begin with throw in this injury he could have lost some more. This is not your typical ACL/MCL/PCL type injury.

 

[ConstantReboot]

I'm in the first camp. Now that you all know where Im at please don't enter my tent during the middle of the night. I don't do warm and fuzzy.

 

[ConstantReboot]

The biggest QM is the running situation. Why? Because the running situation was the reason we were 12-4, IMO. We had a crappy secondary & crappy pass rush, and got to 12-4. So the obvious question is whether this cast of characters can grind through a game. Romo alone is not and has never been the answer. So we know that we have to be able to control the clock with these characters, and we just don't know if they can. The homers speculate that they can do it, the realists don't think so or will wait and see. Myself, I wanted Murray here because he's proven. However, no one on this team should be untouchable and if he has to go, so be it. But we'd better get production from these people at RB if we expect to do anything.

Other teams are getting better, we can't stay where we're at, we must be better and I'm on board with the cast, IF, they can grind out games collectively. Teams feared Murray, will they fear these guys? We shall see.

If you get a good passrush going you improve the CB situation. Fortunately, Dallas took care of the passrush this season and added themselves a top end corner and free safety in the 1st round. Thus I don't think the corner situation is as bad as we are meant to believe.

However, I'm very concerned about our runningback situation. Its been talked about ad nauseam here for a while now and it still hasn't been addressed. People are edgy and on their seats with good reason.

I think the Cowboys are playing a wait and see game. They want to give the runningbacks they have a chance before bringing others in for a look and see. Although I want them to sign someone productive and dependable right now, I can wait. Give it a few days into training camp and Cowboys can best determine whether a runningback is still needed on the team or not. I would hate for us to depend solely on Randle and Dumbar though. It could happen if McFadden and Williams don't pan out and get themselves injured early on.

 

[DallasEast]

How about the camp who understood why the front office did not retain Murray and see the potential of this group of running backs? It's a minority camp but I believe it deserves recognition too.

Out of the two positions, I think the biggest individual question mark rests with Claiborne. His durability is suspect. His coverage skills are arguable. What does the defense lose if he's regulated to the sideline, traded or released? What does the defense gain if he returns to the starting lineup? His resume is the poorest of all players currently under the fan microscope in my opinion. Claiborne is a real enigma, who could solve much of his own riddle if he ever played up to his drafted potential.

 

[perrykemp]

I agree. Scandrick is one of the league's best corners (ranked 10th out of 108 qualifiers by Pro Football Focus; for what that's worth)

For what it is worth I'd qualify this and say that Scandrick is one of the leagues top slot CBs -- possibly the best slot CB in the NFL right.

Having said that, he's not the kind of corner you can match consistently on #1 WRs in the league -- he just doesn't have the size to match up with the Megatrons, AJ Greens, Julio Jones, Jordy Nelsons, etc.

That's ok -- the coaching staff recognizes that and avoids those kinds of match-ups.

 

[Doomsday101]

I agree that question marks do not necessarily mean weakness it means unknown. Could RB be a problem sure it could so could CB, until they hit the field it is an unknown. I am concerned that what was once a strength is now a question mark

 

[links18]

If Jeff Heath sees more than spot duty at safety due to injury then, yeah, the secondary is a weaknesses

 

[LandryFan]

I don't think we've seen enough at either of those position groups to consider them weaknesses.

Will running back be the strength of the team that it was last year when the team was riding Murray? Maybe not, maybe even probably not, but I think it's entirely too early to count out these RBs. I think they all offer something that Murray lacked, and used in tandem, they could be very productive for us.

A lot of people also seem to think that the secondary is a weakness. Well, let me say right off the bat that while I think the team will continue to invest in the secondary next year, to suggest that it is a weakness already is pretty hasty.

We haven't seen what this secondary can do when it has an actual pass rush. I think Carr and Scandrick if their contract situations can be resolved will do well next year with this pass rush. I think that it's actually to early to write Claiborne out of the picture. If we can retrieve some value from Claiborne, if he is healthy and gets some confidence back with the help of this pass rush, it will help alleviate some of the resources we have to spend there in the future. Everyone wants to talk about Free Safety, well Jones could be that answer at free safety if things work out at cornerback. I really do think the upside Wilcox possesses, especially at strong safety could result in something special. I think the secondary could be fine next year, in fact I think like the running back group it could be very productive, if not special.

I think the biggest question mark at this point for this team is whether it can stay healthy. I think it has the building blocks, the talent, the potential, and the coaching to beat any team in the league next year, and as a result I'm pretty excited about our prospects.

A lot of people worry about losing the yardage that Murray accounted for last year but, IMO, Murray himself wouldn't have repeated that in the coming season. In short, If we can end up with roughly 90% of what we had last year, then we probably didn't lose anything with Murray's departure. Admittedly, that's a big IF.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I can see someone listing them as a weakness on paper and I would be ok with that as we all have our opinions on strengths and weaknesses...I doubt many would claim that we can not call our offensive line a strength at this time...it's what we do on boards.

With that said, although we might consider them a weakness at this time and on paper...let's see how it plays out in actual games and label it accordingly.

We considered Murray a good RB going into last year, I don't know of any that really thought he would be putting up the numbers he did.

Early...let it play out.

 

[TwistedMetal]

I think there are a few different camps

- People who didn't want to pay Murray, but aren't happy with what we currently have at RB
- People who wanted to pay Murray and aren't happy with what we currently have at RB
- People who didn't want to pay Murray, but are happy with what we have.

If you had to ask me I'm in the first camp. My biggest criticism was not signing Spiller. That being said I really wanted Gurley or Gordon, but I'm just as glad the Cowboys didn't trade up for them as I am that they didn't pay Murray. I think Spiller would have been a great insurance policy. I'd be extremely happy if we traded for a bell cow, but short of that I think we can and should give this group a chance.

3rd camp, We are going to roll with what we have and still have a great running game. DMC, Williams and Randle with be a RBBC, looking forward to it.

 

[Doomsday101]

3rd camp, We are going to roll with what we have and still have a great running game. DMC, Williams and Randle with be a RBBC, looking forward to it.

I still hope to see someone emerge as more of a work horse RB. I know many have pointed to the Pats but come post season that RBBC went out the window as LeGarrette Blount took over the role where he had 47 attempts and the 2nd most rushing attempts was Brady 11 outside of that none of the other backs were getting much action. Blount did not even get to NE until week 12 of the season as he started the season and 1st 11 games in Pitts.

 

[Idgit]

I think, when it comes to NFL rosters, question marks *are* weaknesses, aren't they? While I don't think CB has too many question marks, RB definitely does. And while there are options on the roster, none of them have a track record you can feel great about. Put them altogether and maybe you have a running game you can work around. Individually, there's not all that much to get excited about relative to other NFL rosters.

A good way to gauge is is to ask: which teams would I switch places with at the RB position? Jags, Pats, Raiders, TB...maybe? http://www.fantasypros.com/nfl/depth-charts.php. In other words, we're looking at a bottom 5 group on paper. Question mark or not.