What we know
Randle is a good back-up RB, but not a lead horse. His mouth has written a lot of checks that he has failed to cash as of yet. He definitely has failed at taking the meat off the bone.
DMac was a desperation signing. He has had a few good plays, but for the most part has been quite subpar. He should not be on the roster. IMO, he is done.
Dunbar was a fantastic weapon as a WR. He was decent on draws, but was subpar with other running plays. As a returner, he left a lot to be desired, both with his execution and decision making. He is definitely missed in our offense.
Clutts is a barely average FB. There are other options out there, but we refuse to look into them.
I would cut Clutts and DMac before we play the Giants. Make a statement to the team that if you fail to perform up to standard, you need to go.
What we don't know
What will Michael bring to the offense. Can he be more than a short yardage, one carry a game back. Can he carry the load, give us good yardage on 1st down, get the tough yardage when they know we will be running, pick up the blitz, and catch it out of the backfield.
Is Rod Smith worth the roster spot. With his addition, does that make Michael the lead back, and Smith the short yardage dirty yards back? How is his blocking?
Maybe Michael and Smith bring some much needed OOMPH to our rushing game. Maybe they can solve our RB woes for this season and the future. My hope is that at least one of them makes a huge impact and we can get him long term, making the RB position less of a necessity in the 2016 draft.
I love me some Elliott or Henry, but I would rather use our first rounder on a RT, S, or QB.
I disagree.
We don't know how much of the running game issues are the OL and other blockers, how much is due to defenses loading up against the run due to not respecting the passing threat and how much is the actual RBs.
The running game has not wowed anybody and Randle it the starter; therefore, people want to blame him. Very few people actually seem to study the game footage. The RBs have had very little space to work with this season but it's easier for people to blame the guy with the ball in his hands.
McFadden has been good as a receiver and really has been OK as a runner in some games. People primarily just don't like his running style.
The majority of people hated Dunbar prior to this season but yet those people still can't learn to give players some time before making final judgment on them.
Maybe C-Mike will be better, but the blocking is also likely to improve. Leary really struggled due to injury and Collins should get better than he was in his 1 start. If Hanna gets healthy that will help because he was a big part of the run blocking last season. Obviously, if they can get the passing game into gear that will help to keep defenses from loading up against the run.
Another issue is the predictability of the run/pass play calling. They got by with that last year when they had a great passing offense, but when Weed is the QB and Dez is out, that predictability just makes running next to impossible. They run over 85% of the time on 1st down and pass over 85% of the time when in shotgun and on 3rd down, IIRC. Those are just the easy predictable things to point out. I'm certain that NFL defensive coordinators see even more than tendencies.
I will agree that Randle is a moron. If he loses the starting role it will likely be more in regards to not accepting coaching than it will be due to a lack of ability.
The RBs have not been fumbling a lot and C-Mike does have a history of fumbling. The problems could get worse. The Cowboys were in contention to win both the Falcons and Saints games. The offense was not great but with just a little better defense they would have won both games.
Fans need someone to blame and it's too complicated and takes too much effort for most fans to figure out who to blame in terms of blocking failures; therefore, it is much easier to just blame the RBs. Also, nobody (including myself) really want to think that the OL is not what we expected it to be when speculating in the off-season. It's easier to hope that the problem is all on Weed and Randle/McFadden because there are possible replacements for them available.
A microcosm of fan mentality was shown by the poster that created a new thread just to say that Lucky Whitehead has not accomplished anything as a WR or returner and should be cut, He has made that judgment despite the fact that Whitehead only has 1 punt return, 1 kick return and 2 passes throw to him all season.
When I study the game footage, I just don't see where Murray (even the 2014 version) would be doing much if any better. Unless a RB is an Adrian Peterson or Barry Sanders type talent, they have to have blocking to succeed.