jday
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Like many of you, I am concerned about the Cowboy’s perceived Running Back by committee approach in 2015. After last season, I honestly thought anybody who actually sat down and watched every game understood that much of what was accomplished last year hinged on the running game – every aspect of the Cowboys football team was made better by how well the running game worked.
Some believe Murray benefitted more from the OL. Despite setting the new team record for rushing yards in a season, I do not recall a single game that I walked away from believing that Murray squeezed every last yard he could out of every run. Given that line of thinking, it wasn not too far-fetched to believe that were the Cowboys able to find a guy with a little better vision and better overall speed, behind that offensive line the Cowboys would be unstoppable.
Still others believe that it was the OL that benefitted from the simultaneous threat of the pass vs. the run. It was a true pick your poison situation for the opposing defense last year, meaning much of their game-planning was dependent on reading and reacting post-snap; ill-conceived pre-snap reads against the Cowboys is what led to a good portion of their pay-dirt last season. Therefore, because defenses were continuously off-balance, the offensive line enjoyed a split-second of indecision and this clearly made them look like world-beaters in many situations.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m not discounting the efforts of any one entity - be it the OL or Demarco Murray. I’m merely pointing out that both benefitted from each other – both made each other look better than what they deserved to look like…if that makes sense.
So with all of that having been said, the majority of the so-called experts (including my admittedly not-so-expert-opinion) fully expected the Cowboys to find a guy who could at the very least replace a little of Demarco’s production…and most also agreed that despite having signed McFadden, the search would continue in the draft.
Flash forward to the draft. With the first pick at 27 the Cowboys drafted Byron Jones. Some said this was a reach, some said this was a steal given where in the first round he was taken. Regardless of what you believe, I think most will agree that any RB left at that point, with Gordon and Gurley already gone, would have definitely been a reach.
So at this point, while I was disappointed the “great running back situation” had not been addressed in day 1, I at least understood the move. The Cowboys did address a glaring need and many would agree he was the Best Player Available, so I was still content.
Day 2 of the draft saw a player considered the best pass rusher available in the draft fall to the Cowboys at the 60th pick overall. At one time considered a top 15 talent, knuckleheadedness led to his considerable drop. Despite that, most agree the 60th overall pick was worth the gamble for a team desperate for a pass-rush last season. I’m reluctant to argue against that. Yes, that still meant the running back situation had not been addressed, but once again this was considered a need, especially with the uncertainty of Hardy's suspension situation, so while still uncomfortable with the Cowboys current stable of backs , I understood the move.
Day 3 is where the wheels completely fell off. Every RB worthy of the Cowboys consideration was taken before the Cowboys had an opportunity at 91. Don’t get me wrong, I get that Langford and Ajayi were still available, but to that I would argue that neither of those players or other miscellaneous drafted late RB would be an actual improvement over what the Cowboys already have. Langford is Dunbar/McFadden 2.0. Ajayi remind’s me a lot of JoRan.
Many are still clamoring for a move involving AP which I am resolutely against. He is 30, a year removed from football, would demand a contract of, at least, 3 years 8 mil at minimum, would demand extremely valuable draft picks/players being sent to the Vikings, and would be running on two surgically repaired knees. All the signs and symptoms of disaster waiting to happen are there. Why even Dez is blind to this is beyond me.
Don’t get me wrong, AP may have a good year or two in him…if any Running Back does at 30, he would. But still, the risk versus reward doesn’t add up to good business sense, in my opinion.
In the wake of all this, the Cowboys were able to hush up much of the white-noise in regards to Running Back with the stunning and sudden acquisition of La’el Collins. Clearly, his addition help’s the assertion that any running back should be able to find success behind the offensive line…but still. For me, I still have reservations, misgivings and am back to that old territory that all Cowboys fans should be familiar with post-draft – cautiously optimistic.
Granted, I would give this offseason as a whole an A -. They seemingly improved at various levels on Defense, namely the defensive line. They were able to miraculously add what many would consider three 1st round caliber talents in the draft. With the return of Sean Lee, they are adding what many would consider a first round pick, should you be kind enough to forget about the injury issues. They exercised a great deal of patience throughout Free Agency and ignored the itch to make sweeping massive changes/additions to the team that will cost the Cowboys in the long-run for the exception of the Romo restructure.
All in all, this Cowboys team look’s the best it has since 1995. The big question is will the Cowboys regret not making more of a concerted effort to replace Demarco Murray?
Some believe Murray benefitted more from the OL. Despite setting the new team record for rushing yards in a season, I do not recall a single game that I walked away from believing that Murray squeezed every last yard he could out of every run. Given that line of thinking, it wasn not too far-fetched to believe that were the Cowboys able to find a guy with a little better vision and better overall speed, behind that offensive line the Cowboys would be unstoppable.
Still others believe that it was the OL that benefitted from the simultaneous threat of the pass vs. the run. It was a true pick your poison situation for the opposing defense last year, meaning much of their game-planning was dependent on reading and reacting post-snap; ill-conceived pre-snap reads against the Cowboys is what led to a good portion of their pay-dirt last season. Therefore, because defenses were continuously off-balance, the offensive line enjoyed a split-second of indecision and this clearly made them look like world-beaters in many situations.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m not discounting the efforts of any one entity - be it the OL or Demarco Murray. I’m merely pointing out that both benefitted from each other – both made each other look better than what they deserved to look like…if that makes sense.
So with all of that having been said, the majority of the so-called experts (including my admittedly not-so-expert-opinion) fully expected the Cowboys to find a guy who could at the very least replace a little of Demarco’s production…and most also agreed that despite having signed McFadden, the search would continue in the draft.
Flash forward to the draft. With the first pick at 27 the Cowboys drafted Byron Jones. Some said this was a reach, some said this was a steal given where in the first round he was taken. Regardless of what you believe, I think most will agree that any RB left at that point, with Gordon and Gurley already gone, would have definitely been a reach.
So at this point, while I was disappointed the “great running back situation” had not been addressed in day 1, I at least understood the move. The Cowboys did address a glaring need and many would agree he was the Best Player Available, so I was still content.
Day 2 of the draft saw a player considered the best pass rusher available in the draft fall to the Cowboys at the 60th pick overall. At one time considered a top 15 talent, knuckleheadedness led to his considerable drop. Despite that, most agree the 60th overall pick was worth the gamble for a team desperate for a pass-rush last season. I’m reluctant to argue against that. Yes, that still meant the running back situation had not been addressed, but once again this was considered a need, especially with the uncertainty of Hardy's suspension situation, so while still uncomfortable with the Cowboys current stable of backs , I understood the move.
Day 3 is where the wheels completely fell off. Every RB worthy of the Cowboys consideration was taken before the Cowboys had an opportunity at 91. Don’t get me wrong, I get that Langford and Ajayi were still available, but to that I would argue that neither of those players or other miscellaneous drafted late RB would be an actual improvement over what the Cowboys already have. Langford is Dunbar/McFadden 2.0. Ajayi remind’s me a lot of JoRan.
Many are still clamoring for a move involving AP which I am resolutely against. He is 30, a year removed from football, would demand a contract of, at least, 3 years 8 mil at minimum, would demand extremely valuable draft picks/players being sent to the Vikings, and would be running on two surgically repaired knees. All the signs and symptoms of disaster waiting to happen are there. Why even Dez is blind to this is beyond me.
Don’t get me wrong, AP may have a good year or two in him…if any Running Back does at 30, he would. But still, the risk versus reward doesn’t add up to good business sense, in my opinion.
In the wake of all this, the Cowboys were able to hush up much of the white-noise in regards to Running Back with the stunning and sudden acquisition of La’el Collins. Clearly, his addition help’s the assertion that any running back should be able to find success behind the offensive line…but still. For me, I still have reservations, misgivings and am back to that old territory that all Cowboys fans should be familiar with post-draft – cautiously optimistic.
Granted, I would give this offseason as a whole an A -. They seemingly improved at various levels on Defense, namely the defensive line. They were able to miraculously add what many would consider three 1st round caliber talents in the draft. With the return of Sean Lee, they are adding what many would consider a first round pick, should you be kind enough to forget about the injury issues. They exercised a great deal of patience throughout Free Agency and ignored the itch to make sweeping massive changes/additions to the team that will cost the Cowboys in the long-run for the exception of the Romo restructure.
All in all, this Cowboys team look’s the best it has since 1995. The big question is will the Cowboys regret not making more of a concerted effort to replace Demarco Murray?
