Short and Sweet prediction

[KJJ]

If you listen to some of the geniuses on this board they think the running game was fine last season and are satisfied with McFadden. We have a stat master who tried to spin that our running game was better last season than in 2014. I wouldn't be opposed to drafting Elliott but 4th overall is pretty high for a back who's not being compared to Adrian Peterson at least I haven't seen any comparisons. The Cowboys have a dilemma they desperately need defense especially a pass rush and as we saw in 2014 if you have holes defensively even a great running game led by the leagues leading rusher isn't going to get you past the divisional round of the playoffs.

I think Morris is going to provide more in the running game than McFadden so if it were me I would trade down not being comfortable with anyone in the top 5 and pick up at least an extra #2 pick and go defense with my first pick. Most drafts are deep in RBs so we can select one in the 2nd or 3rd round. The Cowboys aren't going to win a championship unless they improve the defense. No question they have to run the ball better doing so will help the defense by keeping the D off the field but if you can't pressure the QB and force turnovers you're always going to come up short regardless how good your offense is.

 

[CowboyRoy]

If the Cowboys draft Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys will go to the playoffs, but will likely fall short of going deep into the playoffs due to holes on defense.

If the Cowboys draft anywhere on defense with the 4th pick, they will be picking high again in 2017.

Discuss

I would say they make the playoffs if Romo plays at least 14 games under that scenario. Now if you are into the possibility of mild short term success, no doubt this would be the way to go.

But in two years when Romo is toast and this team has no QB and still no defense we will be back to 4-12 to 8-8 and in a 5-8 year tailspin to find and groom the next QB. And God help us when Jones gets desperate and drafts a 3rd round pick like Quincy Carter and hands him the keys to the franchise.

 

[kazzd58]

I predict Alfred Morris will show he has a lot left in the tank behind this OL. Playoffs and beyond will come down to keeping Tony Romo upright.

Hes not better than Zeke imo and man our season depends on Romo staying upright period.... if he gone we should shoot for the #1 pick and get Watson next year stop playing just hoping wishing somehow he ends up with us

 

[JoeBoBBY]

I saw those 8-8 teams all over last years team. Without Romo they won a whopping 4 games and looked really really..................really bad. 2014 wasn't the year we thought it was.....every now and then even a blind dog catches a bone...

But; we do have an easy schedule. In an Easy division. Just sitting there, waiting for us to take it.......

I think if everything goes right...... we end up 10-6 division champs. And we may catch the "win one for Romo" lightning in a bottle momentum swing.....maybe.

But I aint betting money on any of that. In fact, I would bet MONEY, on another losing season. or 8-8. But dont worry, we will be battling it out for a playoff spot. Like the Commanders last year.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

We have a 1000 yard rusher who is a good blocker and pass catcher. We brought in depth with Morris.

EE has to be the most overrated prospect since DeCastro.

Gordan, Gurley and Fournette are all contemporaries of Elliott who are better RB.

Frankly I'd rather have Treadwell if you want a skill position player.

 

[Sydla]

If you listen to some of the geniuses on this board they think the running game was fine last season and are satisfied with McFadden. We have a stat master who tried to spin that our running game was better last season than in 2014. I wouldn't be opposed to drafting Elliott but 4th overall is pretty high for a back who's not being compared to Adrian Peterson at least I haven't seen any comparisons. The Cowboys have a dilemma they desperately need defense especially a pass rush and as we saw in 2014 if you have holes defensively even a great running game led by the leagues leading rusher isn't going to get you past the divisional round of the playoffs.

I think Morris is going to provide more in the running game than McFadden so if it were me I would trade down not being comfortable with anyone in the top 5 and pick up at least an extra #2 pick and go defense with my first pick. Most drafts are deep in RBs so we can select one in the 2nd or 3rd round. Analyzing this team they're not going to win a championship unless they improve the defense. No question they have to run the ball better doing so will help the defense by keeping the D off the field but if you can't pressure the QB and force turnovers you're always going to come up short regardless how good your offense is.

You (no one really) has any idea how good or ineffective the running game was last year because the link between 2014 and 2015 wasn't there - Romo.

Here's what I think I know. McFadden was fairly effective running the ball in an offense that lacked their most important player, the guy who makes the entire thing work, in Romo. It's hard to say how much better McFadden would have been with Romo and Bryant healthy all year but I don't think anyone is exaggerating in suggesting that he probably would have been better with those guys than without them. How good? Who knows. Better than Murray? Probably not but no RB needed to be as good as Murray to make this a good team in 2015.

People can try to discount the stats all they want but some key measures showed the Cowboys running game wasn't nearly as bad as people want to claim and in fact, in some areas where people swore they were better in 2014 (short yardage for example), the stats showed a different story.

To me, it's not about whether McFadden is good enough. I suspect he is good enough behind this OL to make the Cowboys a playoff team but obviously with a GIANT assumption. Romo and Bryant have to be healthy and playing well. If they aren't, it doesn't matter who is playing TB.

The question at this point with McFadden is his health. He was healthy last year but his career is one of injuries constantly creeping up. I think it's as likely, maybe moreso, that he'll get hurt in 2016 as opposed to stay healthy again for 16 regular season games. That's what makes the signing of Morris a very solid move. Throw in a 3rd or 4th round TB like a Booker from Utah or Prosise from ND or Howard from Indiana, and I think you've done more than enough to guarantee a successful running game which allows you to use your first two picks in this draft on BPA at more important positions.

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

I understand being RB malnourished as a fan base, but are we really talking about taking a RB at #4? Seriously? Gurley was a better back and I thought he was lucky to go at 10 last year. Spring forward to 2017 and you can already see potential 1st round grades in Fournette, Cook, McCaffrey, and Chubb. The #4 overall pick needs to be spent on a player that will be part of the organization 10 years from now and a generational talent. Not a guy who had better backs in front of him in 2015 and will have better backs behind him in 2017.

 

[LittleD]

I like the Morris pickup but, it must be understood in the light of he's not much of a threat to catch the
ball and he's not known much for his QB protection skills. I agree that he could have a major comeback
behind this OL though. He must add to his game and protect Romo if the team is to have any success
next year.

 

[jobberone]

We scored 29+PPG with Romo in 2014. We don't need more offense although 35PPG is in rare territory so I'd take it. We need to give up 17-20 PPG to go with the offense and we will be fine.

The idea we can't score without an elite RB is a false narrative although I'd love to have one. We just have bigger problems. Like near the worst in the league in pass rush and a pass defense which is not up to snuff.

Let's get the lights and water on before we redecorate the house.

 

[31smackdown]

I don't think Zeke makes a huge difference over McFadden and Morris with Romo playing. The talent gap at other positions is much wider. Where did other teams attack Dallas last year? SS(Church in coverage), LB(Anyone other than Lee), rub routes on man d(bad zone d dictated, no Scandrick). The most glaring issue on offense was no real consistent threat on the outside after Dez. What did teams do? Double Witten and Beasely!.. which tells you about all you need to know there. Those players plus Dunbar work great when you have Dez, but not so much when the Safeties are playing 15 yards off the ball and ignoring the outside.

So, no, offense needs help in other areas other than RB and defense needs help at multiple positions. Otherwise you might as well be the New Orleans Saints and try to win 40-35 every game.

 

[blindzebra]

We scored 29+PPG with Romo in 2014. We don't need more offense although 35PPG is in rare territory so I'd take it. We need to give up 17-20 PPG to go with the offense and we will be fine.

The idea we can't score without an elite RB is a false narrative although I'd love to have one. We just have bigger problems. Like near the worst in the league in pass rush and a pass defense which is not up to snuff.

Let's get the lights and water on before we redecorate the house.

Murray wasn't an elite RB, a healthy Romo and Dez just made him look like it.

 

[LandryFan]

I think we need a responsible management team that can look beyond their noses and think about the long term future of this team. If your scouts tell you there is a QB to take at #4, you take him and don't look back. Unless you plan to draft in the top 5 on an annual basis. In which case you can wait to draft your QB.

I agree with you that you should take the franchise QB if your scouts tell you one is there, but the problem is, if the Cowboys do not draft a QB at 4 none of us will know why. It could very well be that the scouting staff advised against it, or it could be the front office going against the scouting reports. Those that say we should draft a QB and/or hate the front office will say that JJ went against the scouts recommendation and those that think we should draft anything but a QB will say that the scouts didn't rate a QB high enough to take. I believe that their recent philosophy in dealing with free agency combined with their general success in the draft has earned them the benefit of the doubt. It's not like we have a choice, anyways.

 

[KJJ]

You (no one really) has any idea how good or ineffective the running game was last year because the link between 2014 and 2015 wasn't there - Romo.

Here's what I think I know. McFadden was fairly effective running the ball in an offense that lacked their most important player, the guy who makes the entire thing work, in Romo. It's hard to say how much better McFadden would have been with Romo and Bryant healthy all year but I don't think anyone is exaggerating in suggesting that he probably would have been better with those guys than without them. How good? Who knows. Better than Murray? Probably not but no RB needed to be as good as Murray to make this a good team in 2015.

People can try to discount the stats all they want but some key measures showed the Cowboys running game wasn't nearly as bad as people want to claim and in fact, in some areas where people swore they were better in 2014 (short yardage for example), the stats showed a different story.

To me, it's not about whether McFadden is good enough. I suspect he is good enough behind this OL to make the Cowboys a playoff team but obviously with a GIANT assumption. Romo and Bryant have to be healthy and playing well. If they aren't, it doesn't matter who is playing TB.

The question at this point with McFadden is his health. He was healthy last year but his career is one of injuries constantly creeping up. I think it's as likely, maybe moreso, that he'll get hurt in 2016 as opposed to stay healthy again for 16 regular season games. That's what makes the signing of Morris a very solid move. Throw in a 3rd or 4th round TB like a Booker from Utah or Prosise from ND or Howard from Indiana, and I think you've done more than enough to guarantee a successful running game which allows you to use your first two picks in this draft on BPA at more important positions.

Romo started 4 games and we only ran the ball well in ONE of his 4 starts. It was the lack of consistency with our running game that put us in so many long down situations. Romo was injured both times in long down situations where the defense could just pin their ears back and come after him. Stats don't tell the whole story most stats never do. With the addition of Morris I expect a balance of carries between he and McFadden. With Dunbar coming off a significant knee injury and only signed to a one year deal he'll be on the hot seat in camp. I would expect the Cowboys to draft a back we'll just have to see how high. Romo has to be playing well regardless of our RB situation a lot of games still come down to the performance of the QB.

 

[Doomsday101]

Hes not better than Zeke imo and man our season depends on Romo staying upright period.... if he gone we should shoot for the #1 pick and get Watson next year stop playing just hoping wishing somehow he ends up with us

I did not say he was better than Zeke but I would not spend a 4th overall on Zeke and fact is we don't know what he will do at this level. I'm not trying to put him down but thus far he has not taken 1 snap in the NFL Morris as an NFL RB was 2nd leading rusher in 2012 he has proven himself at this level.

 

[StarBoyz83]

I think they can make the playoffs with the rbs now. It'll most likely be Dallas or ny. Defense isn't good enough for a playoff run no matter who they draft.

 

[jobberone]

If you listen to some of the geniuses on this board they think the running game was fine last season and are satisfied with McFadden. We have a stat master who tried to spin that our running game was better last season than in 2014. I wouldn't be opposed to drafting Elliott but 4th overall is pretty high for a back who's not being compared to Adrian Peterson at least I haven't seen any comparisons. The Cowboys have a dilemma they desperately need defense especially a pass rush and as we saw in 2014 if you have holes defensively even a great running game led by the leagues leading rusher isn't going to get you past the divisional round of the playoffs.

I think Morris is going to provide more in the running game than McFadden so if it were me I would trade down not being comfortable with anyone in the top 5 and pick up at least an extra #2 pick and go defense with my first pick. Most drafts are deep in RBs so we can select one in the 2nd or 3rd round. The Cowboys aren't going to win a championship unless they improve the defense. No question they have to run the ball better doing so will help the defense by keeping the D off the field but if you can't pressure the QB and force turnovers you're always going to come up short regardless how good your offense is.

You're very long on opinion and short on facts as well as insight. Trying to compare last year with no QB is fruitless. Teams knew we couldn't score or pass so they geared up to stop what we could do. And we still ran the ball well considering no passing attack.

In fact there is no way to get you to understand so I won't say more.

 

[Sydla]

Romo started 4 games and we only ran the ball well in ONE of his 4 starts. It was the lack of consistency with our running game that put us in so many long down situations. Romo was injured both times in long down situations where the defense could just pin their ears back and come after him. Stats don't tell the whole story most stats never do. With the addition of Morris I expect a balance of carries between he and McFadden. With Dunbar coming off a significant knee injury and only signed to a one year deal he'll be on the hot seat in camp. I would expect the Cowboys to draft a back we'll just have to see how high. Romo has to be playing well regardless of our RB situation a lot of games still come down to the performance of the QB.

4 games is hardly a good sample size. And two of the games played, McFadden wasn't the starter, Randle was and I tend to agree the Cowboys whiffed in thinking he could be a starting TB.

In the two games McFadden started and played with Romo, one was against Carolina who was pretty much stifling any team's running game. So any belief that a guy like Elliott would have ran over Carolina is just silliness IMO. The other game McFadden and Romo started together, he ran for 130 yards with a 4.5 ypc average.

I am not really sure you are necessarily disagreeing though with my overall point. With a draft pick, Morris and McFadden, there's probably enough to have a competent running game along as Romo is healthy. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if Morris became the starter. I think he has something left in the tank.

 

[jday]

If you listen to some of the geniuses on this board they think the running game was fine last season and are satisfied with McFadden. We have a stat master who tried to spin that our running game was better last season than in 2014. I wouldn't be opposed to drafting Elliott but 4th overall is pretty high for a back who's not being compared to Adrian Peterson at least I haven't seen any comparisons. The Cowboys have a dilemma they desperately need defense especially a pass rush and as we saw in 2014 if you have holes defensively even a great running game led by the leagues leading rusher isn't going to get you past the divisional round of the playoffs.

I think Morris is going to provide more in the running game than McFadden so if it were me I would trade down not being comfortable with anyone in the top 5 and pick up at least an extra #2 pick and go defense with my first pick. Most drafts are deep in RBs so we can select one in the 2nd or 3rd round. The Cowboys aren't going to win a championship unless they improve the defense. No question they have to run the ball better doing so will help the defense by keeping the D off the field but if you can't pressure the QB and force turnovers you're always going to come up short regardless how good your offense is.

That is essentially what my point was. I get that going running at that spot would likely mean falling short in the playoffs, but on the other hand, at least the games would be watchable again...

Because I watch football to be entertained, I am honestly hoping for Elliott rather they get him at 4 or trade back and still get him. And I hope that, fully recognizing that they will likely fall short in 2016 regardless of who they draft and when they draft him.

 

[KJJ]

You're very long on opinion and short on facts as well as insight. Trying to compare last year with no QB is fruitless. Teams knew we couldn't score or pass so they geared up to stop what we could do. And we still ran the ball well considering no passing attack.

In fact there is no way to get you to understand so I won't say more.

I wouldn't be talking about me being long on opinion and short on facts when you kept arguing the other day that the Cowboys didn't draft Hershel Walker. The comparisons that can be made is how the team looked during Romo's 4 starts last season. The Cowboys looked very similar to their 8-8 teams with Romo having to carry the offense. Last years opener is a good barometer for how the season might have gone with Romo. He carried us to that win on opening day due to a pair of backs that averaged 3.5 a carry and a defense that continues not being able to make critical stops. There's a reason Romo attempted 45 passes in the opener which were more attempts than he had in any game in 2014. He was on pace for another 40 attempt game when he was injured in Philly.

 

[Sydla]

I wouldn't be talking about me being long on opinion and short on facts when you kept arguing the other day that the Cowboys didn't draft Hershel Walker. The comparisons that can be made is how the team looked during Romo's 4 starts last season. The Cowboys looked very similar to their 8-8 teams with Romo having to carry the offense. Last years opener is a good barometer for how the season might have gone with Romo. He carried us to that win on opening day due to a pair of backs that averaged 3.5 a carry and a defense that continues not being able to make critical stops. There's a reason Romo attempted 45 passes in the opener which were more attempts than he had in any game in 2014. He was on pace for another 40 attempt game when he was injured in Philly.

You really can't though use those 4 games if one is truly honest with themselves. Two of those games played Romo was clearly out of his element given he came back, possibly too soon, from a significant broken bone. Further, another key piece of the puzzle - Bryant - was also a non factor with his injury.

So frankly, I think it's largely misguided to suggest that the 4 games Romo played last year without a doubt proves that our running game was pretty bad.