RB target: Thomas Rawls

[Rockport]

I won't be surprised if he plays by then. I also won't be surprised if he comes up lame when we need him.

His injury history concerns me too much to rely on him. Quite frankly, it was my main concern with re-signing Murray, but he seemed to find a formula for staying healthier after two seasons struggling with it. McFadden has always had problems, and recurring ones with his hamstrings.

The point is that on Aug. 15, we don't know yet. So all these people freakin out are freakin out about nothing.

 

[Bleu Star]

The point is that on Aug. 15, we don't know yet. So all these people freakin out are freakin out about nothing.

Keep telling yourself that. Perhaps eventually one of those barbs will stick. For now, it's pretty obvious to me that:

• Our once nicely balanced offense is now questionable in terms of its ability to dictate the terms.
• No one in our RB stable is "dependable"
• Randle is our best possible chance and he is untested
• Romo's window is oiled
• Our defense has a lot of potential but also an equal amount of questions.
• Those of us that have expected our defensive improvement to offset any deficits on offense are hopeful but the bottom line is until the defense puts in work we just won't know. Rookies normally have to adjust and it doesn't happen overnight.
• Back to our RBs, they need to be putting in work. Not nursing. If this approach is what we are to expect from them when the chips are down, we will not win too many close games.
• Competition breeds success. Currently at the RB position, there is no desire to compete. An immature Randle probably thinks he has the top spot sewn up when watching McHamstrung go through his usual gyrations and McHamstrung is going to be content putting in his usual 6-8 games of effort before hitting the injured list.
• Randle needs REAL competition at rb. That competition will only be found in a veteran FA (sooner rather than later).
• Trust is a powerful word. It can take you all the way to a Lombardi trophy. I don't trust any of our top 3 rbs. Take that as you will.

 

[Idgit]

Nate Newton addressed this during Thursday night's game, saying essentially that a good line was made great by Emmitt. Expecting just any RB to have success is just silly. They still have to have the vision to see the holes, the burst to get through the holes and the power/balance to shrug off any arm tackles or that one defender who is unaccounted for by blocking (especially in eight-man fronts).

Nate's also a fan of Randle's.

If we really wanted Rawls, we'd have thrown even a perfunctory 7th rounder at him. Easy enough to do if we were worried about RB.

That said, if I'm SEA, I'm trying to move a RB at cutdowns for anything. Even a role player who makes our team is worth keeping away from us if they can, because RB is the biggest question mark in Dallas. If they're shedding a player they like, they might as well trade him if they can. There's more than one team looking for a back right now. AZ and HOU probably are, for starters.

 

[StarBoyz83]

No rb's worth picking up yet even though our rb's now look like nothing. Just camp bodies until cuts come

 

[Rockport]

Keep telling yourself that. Perhaps eventually one of those barbs will stick. For now, it's pretty obvious to me that:

• Our once nicely balanced offense is now questionable in terms of its ability to dictate the terms.
• No one in our RB stable is "dependable"
• Randle is our best possible chance and he is untested
• Romo's window is oiled
• Our defense has a lot of potential but also an equal amount of questions.
• Those of us that have expected our defensive improvement to offset any deficits on offense are hopeful but the bottom line is until the defense puts in work we just won't know. Rookies normally have to adjust and it doesn't happen overnight.
• Back to our RBs, they need to be putting in work. Not nursing. If this approach is what we are to expect from them when the chips are down, we will not win too many close games.
• Competition breeds success. Currently at the RB position, there is no desire to compete. An immature Randle probably thinks he has the top spot sewn up when watching McHamstrung go through his usual gyrations and McHamstrung is going to be content putting in his usual 6-8 games of effort before hitting the injured list.
• Randle needs REAL competition at rb. That competition will only be found in a veteran FA (sooner rather than later).
• Trust is a powerful word. It can take you all the way to a Lombardi trophy. I don't trust any of our top 3 rbs. Take that as you will.

Total BS. How can you make these statements about the running game when you haven't seen the top 3 RB's play in preseason this year? You can't. So if you base it on past performance, Randle averaged 6.7 yrds last year.

 

[big dog cowboy]

our rb's now look like nothing.

This is based on what exactly? Our top 3 didn't play last Thursday.

 

[Idgit]

Total BS. How can you make these statements about the running game when you haven't seen the top 3 RB's play in preseason this year? You can't. So if you base it on past performance, Randle averaged 6.7 yrds last year.

People are excited for this season. And RB is the one position they think could derail things. Which is why they magnify the importance of it. It's natural.

If something derails 2015, it's going to be
some other position people aren't worried about right now. QB, maybe. Or OT. It's not going to be RB. It's just not that important a position these days, and we have the tremendous advantage of an OL and a very good QB to keep the offense on track. We're going to score a lot of points.

 

[Rockport]

People are excited for this season. And RB is the one position they think could derail things. Which is why they magnify the importance of it. It's natural.

If something derails 2015, it's going to be
some other position people aren't worried about right now. QB, maybe. Or OT. It's not going to be RB. It's just not that important a position these days, and we have the tremendous advantage of an OL and a very good QB to keep the offense on track. We're going to score a lot of points.

Very true. Last year at this time the consensus was 4-12. Like Coach Garrett says, every year is different. What the fans believe is usually 100% wrong (that's my take).

 

[Bleu Star]

I'm glad you guy are happy & content. The regular season is just around the corner. Then we will begin to understand just how important the RB position is. (or how unimportant it apparently is in your eyes)

 

[Rockport]

I'm glad you guy are happy & content. The regular season is just around the corner. Then we will begin to understand just how important the RB position is. (or how unimportant it apparently is in your eyes)

Yes, we will see for sure.

 

[StarBoyz83]

This is based on what exactly? Our top 3 didn't play last Thursday.

Tc. I like randle outside of that we have nothing.

 

[guag]

I'd happily take any of the 4 RBs on Seattle's roster. (Lynch, Turbin, Michael, Rawls)

Any of them.

If I was someone in the Cowboys FO, I'd make every effort to get in contact with friends of Michael and Rawls. Obviously talking to the players themselves would be considered tampering, but are there any rules about talking with friends of players? And maybe these "friends" could put in a good word for us when one of them is eventually released.... wishful thinking, I know.

Then again maybe we won't even need them. If all of our backs are healthy by the end of camp, I think we're in good shape.

 

[ErikWilliamsHeadSlap]

And with Erik Williams he was only great for the seasons prior to the car wreck. After that he was more a solid type guy and not a dominator.

When I was well, I was hell.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Keep telling yourself that. Perhaps eventually one of those barbs will stick. For now, it's pretty obvious to me that:

• Our once nicely balanced offense is now questionable in terms of its ability to dictate the terms.
• No one in our RB stable is "dependable"
• Randle is our best possible chance and he is untested
• Romo's window is oiled
• Our defense has a lot of potential but also an equal amount of questions.
• Those of us that have expected our defensive improvement to offset any deficits on offense are hopeful but the bottom line is until the defense puts in work we just won't know. Rookies normally have to adjust and it doesn't happen overnight.
• Back to our RBs, they need to be putting in work. Not nursing. If this approach is what we are to expect from them when the chips are down, we will not win too many close games.
• Competition breeds success. Currently at the RB position, there is no desire to compete. An immature Randle probably thinks he has the top spot sewn up when watching McHamstrung go through his usual gyrations and McHamstrung is going to be content putting in his usual 6-8 games of effort before hitting the injured list.
• Randle needs REAL competition at rb. That competition will only be found in a veteran FA (sooner rather than later).
• Trust is a powerful word. It can take you all the way to a Lombardi trophy. I don't trust any of our top 3 rbs. Take that as you will.

Agree with all points

 

[gimmesix]

The point is that on Aug. 15, we don't know yet. So all these people freakin out are freakin out about nothing.

Well, I don't know if we can say it's nothing. McFadden's past doesn't exactly lend itself to keeping calm. The only problem I have with Dallas' approach right now is that they are looking past his history at what he can be instead of what he has been primarily because of those injuries.

When the problem that has plagued him in the past has already reared its ugly head, I do think that's cause for some alarm. How much? Enough for me to look for real competition for his spot as the veteran fallback instead of just camp bodies.

 

[gimmesix]

Nate's also a fan of Randle's.

Well, I think he's the one back we've got that gives us any kind of hope. His 6.7 average came in a backup role with few carries, but he still did average 6.7 YPC. That's not an easy feat.

I don't know how that translates over a full season with at least three times the number of carries, and that's what makes me apprehensive about him. I'd be less apprehensive if our fallback plan wasn't a back entering his eighth year who has struggled with injuries and only had three good seasons, his last one four years ago.

Now, I'm a Dunbar fan and thought a few years back when Murray was fighting injuries that he should be given a chance to be a Brian Westbrook-type starter, but at this point, I can't seem him carrying much more of a role than he has been as a change of pace.

So that really leaves us with one option, and if that option fails, then we better hope we can find a better one or that our defense can make up for what we lose in the running game this year.

 

[Idgit]

Well, I think he's the one back we've got that gives us any kind of hope. His 6.7 average came in a backup role with few carries, but he still did average 6.7 YPC. That's not an easy feat.

I don't know how that translates over a full season with at least three times the number of carries, and that's what makes me apprehensive about him. I'd be less apprehensive if our fallback plan wasn't a back entering his eighth year who has struggled with injuries and only had three good seasons, his last one four years ago.

Now, I'm a Dunbar fan and thought a few years back when Murray was fighting injuries that he should be given a chance to be a Brian Westbrook-type starter, but at this point, I can't seem him carrying much more of a role than he has been as a change of pace.

So that really leaves us with one option, and if that option fails, then we better hope we can find a better one or that our defense can make up for what we lose in the running game this year.

That's actually about how I see it. DMC is the roster space I'm least sure about. Though I think Randle will be fine, and we can pickup a serviceable fourth option at cutdowns if we want to.

I'll feel better about things once we see the group in preseason, at least. Still, I just don't think RB is all that important a position anymore as long as they can pass protect.

 

[gimmesix]

That's actually about how I see it. DMC is the roster space I'm least sure about. Though I think Randle will be fine, and we can pickup a serviceable fourth option at cutdowns if we want to.

I'll feel better about things once we see the group in preseason, at least. Still, I just don't think RB is all that important a position anymore as long as they can pass protect.

I had felt that way up until last year when we used Murray as an effective hammer to help keep the defense off the field. Having a back who can get 4 yards on first down or pick up third-and-2 makes it easier to sustain drives. It's not the only way to get it done. We have a strong passing game and if our defense is improved, we can succeed that way, but it's that much easier if we have an effective running game as well.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I'm glad you guy are happy & content. The regular season is just around the corner. Then we will begin to understand just how important the RB position is. (or how unimportant it apparently is in your eyes)

I am glad you guys are so unhappy and discontent. We are only one game into the preseason and some are already whining and ready to call it season over.

See how this works.

We won't know until we do. You can go the pollyanna route like all is well or you can got the negative nancy route like all is doomed....how about we wait and see.

Last year at this time I was negative nancy and thinking 8-8 at best...should have waited and seen.

Just some advice.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I am glad you guys are so unhappy and discontent. We are only one game into the preseason and some are already whining and ready to call it season over.

See how this works.

We won't know until we do. You can go the pollyanna route like all is well or you can got the negative nancy route like all is doomed....how about we wait and see.

Last year at this time I was negative nancy and thinking 8-8 at best...should have waited and seen.

Just some advice.

I'm sad happy about the running back position; does that make me a nancyanna?