The Great Running Back Debate

[Toruk_Makto]

. Exactly what has McFadden done in his pro career that makes you think he is even close to Murray in short yardage situations? He was not even the best RB on the Raider's roster. He signed with Dallas and now he has become a great RB? He has been a bust and will remain a bust until he actually stays healthy and produces.

Remember what Laurent Robinson did here and then did in Jacksonville?

Think about that in reverse.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Remember what Laurent Robinson did here and then did in Jacksonville?

Think about that in reverse.

He's made up his mind and because of how he is, he needs something to vent on. You aren't going to reason him out of his emotional crutch.

 

[jday]

Remember what Laurent Robinson did here and then did in Jacksonville?

Think about that in reverse.

WHAT? Laurent ran for 0 yards that year. We are so screwed!!!!

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I know what your saying. Most of it, anyway. An understanding of context clues is very important when reading your contributions, gimme. And as I've said before, it helps if you use Foghorn Leghorn as your inner-voice when reading.

Nonsensical banter aside, I really am worried about rather or not the Cowboys did in fact make a colossal mistake by letting Murray walk. I did not want the Cowboys to extend Murray into his 30's though, and the Cowboys absolutely could not afford to pay him what he wanted from a cap-stand point. Finally, I thought the timing of his departure was perfect considering the bevy of talent this draft was seemingly brimming with. Everything made sense, up until day 3 of the draft. Since then, I have been completely lost in what the Cowboys were thinking. I understand Jones, the risk taken on Gregory, even the Wilson pick-up make sense. But to not address the RB position at all...only the regular season can answer my question(s) on that issue.

what i should half written was: Dont make me laugh like the rakish, heroic mans I am. (but i was just so vexed and miffed when writing that i couldl not think straight like i ordinarily do).

And I am glad you concur with the dearth at RB. Lisen, this is turning out like Jerra did good, real good during the draft and FA season and the RB position just fell into the crack of a plumbers back.
I mean, like, second to Romo, RB is the most important (and vital) position.
You wanna make a Super Bowl Run? Well we is ready . . . espect for the No. 2 offensive position.
I will roux the day we show up without a viable RB. It is like showing up at the prom with a tuxexio with no c cumberbun. Like showing up at the fireman's picnic without the dessert, like showing up at a politician's birthday with no cash in a envelop. I could go on but the mods would cut me off (and they should; they do a excellent job keeping the riff-raff out and keeping me on the straight and narrows; so I salute them, ahem).

Jerra, you serious? You build a superb team and then plug in McFadden (a Raider castoff) or Randle (a Dillard's Most Wanted)??? Seriously.

This might Jerra's season of genus or maybe a season when we forgot to bring the cash in a envelope and we will roux the day.

 

[dallasdave]

what i should half written was: Dont make me laugh like the rakish, heroic mans I am. (but i was just so vexed and miffed when writing that i couldl not think straight like i ordinarily do).

And I am glad you concur with the dearth at RB. Lisen, this is turning out like Jerra did good, real good during the draft and FA season and the RB position just fell into the crack of a plumbers back.
I mean, like, second to Romo, RB is the most important (and vital) position.
You wanna make a Super Bowl Run? Well we is ready . . . espect for the No. 2 offensive position.
I will roux the day we show up without a viable RB. It is like showing up at the prom with a tuxexio with no c cumberbun. Like showing up at the fireman's picnic without the dessert, like showing up at a politician's birthday with no cash in a envelop. I could go on but the mods would cut me off (and they should; they do a excellent job keeping the riff-raff out and keeping me on the straight and narrows; so I salute them, ahem).

Jerra, you serious? You build a superb team and then plug in McFadden (a Raider castoff) or Randle (a Dillard's Most Wanted)??? Seriously.

This might Jerra's season of genus or maybe a season when we forgot to bring the cash in a envelope and we will roux the day.

Ok, you are truly a poet !!! Take your bow !! The only thing you failed to mention was that Randle can only be a part time RB because of the commitment he has to do all of those Fruit Of The Loam commercials.

 

[jday]

what i should half written was: Dont make me laugh like the rakish, heroic mans I am. (but i was just so vexed and miffed when writing that i couldl not think straight like i ordinarily do).

And I am glad you concur with the dearth at RB. Lisen, this is turning out like Jerra did good, real good during the draft and FA season and the RB position just fell into the crack of a plumbers back.
I mean, like, second to Romo, RB is the most important (and vital) position.
You wanna make a Super Bowl Run? Well we is ready . . . espect for the No. 2 offensive position.
I will roux the day we show up without a viable RB. It is like showing up at the prom with a tuxexio with no c cumberbun. Like showing up at the fireman's picnic without the dessert, like showing up at a politician's birthday with no cash in a envelop. I could go on but the mods would cut me off (and they should; they do a excellent job keeping the riff-raff out and keeping me on the straight and narrows; so I salute them, ahem).

Jerra, you serious? You build a superb team and then plug in McFadden (a Raider castoff) or Randle (a Dillard's Most Wanted)??? Seriously.

This might Jerra's season of genus or maybe a season when we forgot to bring the cash in a envelope and we will roux the day.

Last season purchased for the Jones braintrust the benefit of the doubt. It has left many zoners who are typically convicted about their beliefs in doubt about their own understanding of what happened last year. The untrained eye easily see's that the running game last year was the nucleus of everything good that happened. So, it should be understandable that us not-so-expert-couch-gm's are more than perplexed by the fact that the running game seem's to be at risk in the upcoming season. For now, all of my confidence in this team hinges on the possibility that the higher-ups know something we don't. It's a little bit like religion. I can't see it, but I'm doing my darndest to have faith that a running game does still in fact exist in Dallas.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Ok, you are truly a poet !!! Take your bow !! The only thing you failed to mention was that Randle can only be a part time RB because of the commitment he has to do all of those Fruit Of The Loam commercials.

heh. Not to mention a starring role in Security guard training films. Sorry, mr. Randle, i could not resist this at your expense. But at least you make the NFL minimum while i make the real-life minimum. Even then I kin afford to buy mein own undies and cologne. heh

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Last season purchased for the Jones braintrust the benefit of the doubt. It has left many zoners who are typically convicted about their beliefs in doubt about their own understanding of what happened last year. The untrained eye easily see's that the running game last year was the nucleus of everything good that happened. So, it should be understandable that us not-so-expert-couch-gm's are more than perplexed by the fact that the running game seem's to be at risk in the upcoming season. For now, all of my confidence in this team hinges on the possibility that the higher-ups know something we don't. It's a little bit like religion. I can't see it, but I'm doing my darndest to have faith that a running game does still in fact exist in Dallas.

I half faith in Jerra but I jus know he's gonna fail.
(with apologies to the writers of "Walk Hard")

 

[jnday]

The running game is predicated on the line. Not the back. Remember Randle was more productive per carry.

No, a great running game is a combination of both. Emmitt held out for two games and proved a point. A great line can't do it without a quality RB. This line, or any line for that matter, can't make a JAG RB great. Randle benefitted from a few longer runs after Murray had wore the defense down.

 

[jnday]

WHAT? Laurent ran for 0 yards that year. We are so screwed!!!!

Concussions and the lack of a decent QB really killed any chance of having any production with the Jags.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Just thought i'd throw this out there.....

Last year, these projections had the Cowboys way too low, with a mean forecast of just 7-9. This year, our projection looks too extreme in the other direction. How can Dallas be the second-best team in the league despite the loss of DeMarco Murray? History says that losing a top running back doesn't tend to have a strong impact on overall offensive quality. The passing game and the offensive line simply have much more importance in the modern NFL. The Cowboys are likely to have more injuries on offense (No. 2 in our adjusted games lost metric) but better health on defense (No. 28 in AGL) should help improve that unit to league average. (The Cowboys are also the only NFC East team that will not have to face the suspended Tom Brady).

 

[Idgit]

Remember what Laurent Robinson did here and then did in Jacksonville?

Think about that in reverse.

Or, they can just think of Robinson with the Rams/Falcons, before he came here.

 

[Idgit]

Just thought i'd throw this out there.....

The argument that rushing effectiveness is just not that important never goes over well. Damn the history of the NFL, we've seen it with our own eyes.

Meanwhile, the team essentially ignores the RB position and focusses all of it's attention on pressuring the QB and improving coverage in the offseason. Because that's what wins and loses football games.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The argument that rushing effectiveness is just not that important never goes over well. Damn the history of the NFL, we've seen it with our own eyes.

Meanwhile, the team essentially ignores the RB position and focusses all of it's attention on pressuring the QB and improving coverage in the offseason. Because that's what wins and loses football games.

Of course. Justin Forsett had 1,200+ yards last season. If the Cowboys get a "Justin Forsett-performance" out of a back, they'll be just fine.

They didn't need Murray this season. And they don't need Peterson– a very expensive and unnecessary "toy".

 

[jnday]

The argument that rushing effectiveness is just not that important never goes over well. Damn the history of the NFL, we've seen it with our own eyes.

Meanwhile, the team essentially ignores the RB position and focusses all of it's attention on pressuring the QB and improving coverage in the offseason. Because that's what wins and loses football games.

Do you think the three Super Bowls that was won during the 1990's would have been won without Emmitt?

 

[Idgit]

Do you think the three Super Bowls that was won during the 1990's would have been won without Emmitt?

Nope.

But it's not 1990, and we're not talking about Emmitt Smith v. Dereck Lassic.

I don't actually know if the passing game correlations hold up for that early 90s era. It's very possibly the case that the changes to what's permissible for a DB contributed to the diminishing of the relative effectiveness of the running game. I'm not sure, though.

I do know those early 90's teams all fielded much, much better defenses than we've fielded here under Jason Garrett. That's a huge part of the equation. We were also pretty effective passing the ball even back then, so that played a role, too.

And I do know that in today's NFL, the teams that win the passing effectiveness differential win the football games. And that running the ball effectively doesn't really help you do that all that well. Which is why Toruk's Football Outsiders quote says what it does, and probably why we let Murray walk, didn't replace him, and added the pass rushers and drafted the CB in the first round. We're playing the percentages. It's got people antsy, but the percentages are the percentages for a reason.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Nope.

But it's not 1990, and we're not talking about Emmitt Smith v. Dereck Lassic.

I don't actually know if the passing game correlations hold up for that early 90s era. It's very possibly the case that the changes to what's permissible for a DB contributed to the diminishing of the relative effectiveness of the running game. I'm not sure, though.

I do know those early 90's teams all fielded much, much better defenses than we've fielded here under Jason Garrett. That's a huge part of the equation. We were also pretty effective passing the ball even back then, so that played a role, too.

And I do know that in today's NFL, the teams that win the passing effectiveness differential win the football games. And that running the ball effectively doesn't really help you do that all that well. Which is why Toruk's Football Outsiders quote says what it does, and probably why we let Murray walk, didn't replace him, and added the pass rushers and drafted the CB in the first round. We're playing the percentages. It's got people antsy, but the percentages are the percentages for a reason.

Yep.

It ain't the 1970 or the 1990 NFL.

 

[dallasdave]

We don't have a bell cow RB on the roster. Have to wonder about Rundles intelligence. Mcffaden won't suddenly become a great back.
I'm pinning my hopes we are still searching. I don't want to revert to a pass happy team.

Well said, stay thirsty my friend.

 

[dallasdave]

Different team, different qb, different rb, different blocking scheme, different football idealogy, different HC, different situation all together.

In the paraphrased words of Matt Lauer, "that's not science, that's nonsense!"

Well said indeed sir, that other stuff is pure nonsense and stupid.

 

[jnday]

Nope.

But it's not 1990, and we're not talking about Emmitt Smith v. Dereck Lassic.

I don't actually know if the passing game correlations hold up for that early 90s era. It's very possibly the case that the changes to what's permissible for a DB contributed to the diminishing of the relative effectiveness of the running game. I'm not sure, though.

I do know those early 90's teams all fielded much, much better defenses than we've fielded here under Jason Garrett. That's a huge part of the equation. We were also pretty effective passing the ball even back then, so that played a role, too.

And I do know that in today's NFL, the teams that win the passing effectiveness differential win the football games. And that running the ball effectively doesn't really help you do that all that well. Which is why Toruk's Football Outsiders quote says what it does, and probably why we let Murray walk, didn't replace him, and added the pass rushers and drafted the CB in the first round. We're playing the percentages. It's got people antsy, but the percentages are the percentages for a reason.

If you will notice, this team has been built using the 90's teams as a model. Just because fans and the media label the league as a passing league , it doesn't change the fact that physical, ball control, running teams can not win. The style of the 90's teams win in any era IMO. In this offense, the RB is still a very important position. Before comparing this team to other teams, that has to be considered. The difference between 8-8 and 12-4 was the running game. The defense appeared to be better on paper, but the fact that they wasn't on the field and there was less chance of them being exposed made them look better than they really was. It takes both the line and a good RB to maintain the progress they made last year. If the running game is not as old, the defense will be exposed and a couple rookies are not going to make much difference. I don't think the starting RB is on the roster yet. I would think that the powers that be in Dallas is smarter than to go with what they have. If not, they are just trending water and not making progress.