The Murky Backfield

[Maxmadden]

Before Murray Left- "RB is the easiest position to fill. Anyone can run behind this OL."

After Murray Left(And another 1st RD OL talent is added mind you)- "Our Running game is going to be bad. We don't have anybody to depend on."

It would be comical if it hadn't reached the critically annoying stage. I really wish people would go look at some stats from the last few years before posting this nonsense.

The NFL average rushing yards per team was 1679 yards.

The NFL median rushing yards per team last year was 1740 yards.

Of last years playoff teams, 6 were ranked 15th or lower in the league in total rushing yards.

Denver 12-4, 15th
Pittsburgh 11-5 16th
New England 12-4 18th
Indianapolis 11-6 22nd
Detroit 11-5 28th
Arizona 11-5 31st

Of the teams in the top 10 in total rushing

New York Jets 4-12 3rd
San Francisco 8-8 4th
Houston 9-7 5th
Philadelphia 10-6 9th
Kansas City 9-7 10th

None of these made the playoffs.

The Super Bowl teams ranked 1st(Sea) and 18th (NE) overall in team rushing yards.

The NFC championship game teams ranked 1st(Sea) and 11th(GB).

The AFC championship game teams ranked 18th(NE) and 22nd(IND).

13 RBs ran for over 1000 yards in 2014. 7 of their teams failed to reach the playoffs.

For everyone clamoring about the doom of this team or the doubts, here are some stats that should at least give you some hope, if not some peace of mind. The team upgraded on defense. They have been a top 5 offense long before Murray last year and should continue to be just that.

Exactly, people think we have to follow the same blueprint from last year. It's not a question of how much we run the ball, but can we run it when we need or want to?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Before Murray Left- "RB is the easiest position to fill. Anyone can run behind this OL."

After Murray Left(And another 1st RD OL talent is added mind you)- "Our Running game is going to be bad. We don't have anybody to depend on."

It would be comical if it hadn't reached the critically annoying stage. I really wish people would go look at some stats from the last few years before posting this nonsense.

The NFL average rushing yards per team was 1679 yards.

The NFL median rushing yards per team last year was 1740 yards.

Of last years playoff teams, 6 were ranked 15th or lower in the league in total rushing yards.

Denver 12-4, 15th
Pittsburgh 11-5 16th
New England 12-4 18th
Indianapolis 11-6 22nd
Detroit 11-5 28th
Arizona 11-5 31st

Of the teams in the top 10 in total rushing

New York Jets 4-12 3rd
San Francisco 8-8 4th
Houston 9-7 5th
Philadelphia 10-6 9th
Kansas City 9-7 10th

None of these made the playoffs.

The Super Bowl teams ranked 1st(Sea) and 18th (NE) overall in team rushing yards.

The NFC championship game teams ranked 1st(Sea) and 11th(GB).

The AFC championship game teams ranked 18th(NE) and 22nd(IND).

13 RBs ran for over 1000 yards in 2014. 7 of their teams failed to reach the playoffs.

For everyone clamoring about the doom of this team or the doubts, here are some stats that should at least give you some hope, if not some peace of mind. The team upgraded on defense. They have been a top 5 offense long before Murray last year and should continue to be just that.

Unfortunately your post will result in a lot of hands-over-ears, eyes closed and folks making a "la-la-la, I can't hear you" noises.

 

[Maxmadden]

The problem is we lack the creativity and dynamics in the passing game and if we don't run the ball effectively we will be a average team at best.

We've been down this road before and it ends with us hoping Romo can buy time and make plays..

Please, we have one of the most dynamic receivers and Qb's in the leauge.

 

[AzorAhai]

Unfortunately your post will result in a lot of hands-over-ears, eyes closed and folks making a "la-la-la, I can't hear you" noises.

I know. People are being led to water, but refuse to drink.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

OK, now that i half finished the correspondent course from the Glen Campbell School of Acting i can be more eloquent than ever.

You say murky, I say mercurial. As in you never know what to espect.

Also, you say murky, I say mercenary because jerra ripped us off of a 1,800-yard RB and thinks we will asept a McFadden A GUY WHO THE RAIDERS CUT!!! And Randle WHO COULDN'T EVEN OUTRUN A SECURITY GUARD AT DILLARD'S!!!

You say murky and I say moribund by the end of the season.

You say murky an I say morale buster when all the pressure will be on Dez and Witten and Romo. Yeth we half a great O line to open holes for average runners.

You say murky and I say Moradabad, in Pradish, India, where I will escape to in shame when our running game make us 9-7. In Moradabad I will operate a teriyaki bar where people just get up and sing American standards and British dubstep.

Well, ok, i half run out of big words. I hope we can half a credible running game. if not I can be reached at:

Sahib Gimmie most pleasant mans
Postal Staff Quarters,
Vysar Nagar Colony, Vysarpady,
Chennai-600039

“For the friendship of two, the patience of one is required.”
~Indian proverb

 

[gmoney112]

Ooh! A thread about RBs!

Seriously, though, I just don't get why people think we're going to run it less this season or use the RB position less as a whole. Maybe there's a slight shift, or we start using a bit more play action and a bit more of the screen game. So what? We've been effectively offensively for years, and we're going to be effective again this season. No matter what.

It's the defense that kept those 8-8 teams from being division winners, and that's gotten a lot of attention here in the offseason. We deliver on some of our newfound sack potential and nobody's going to be regretting not putting another $8M per on a RB with ~450 carries on him from last season.

McFadden does have chicken legs. Randle is my bet for starter. And I still do like Ryan Williams a lot of he's healthy, though it's true that the team seems to feel otherwise, the guaranteed money they gave him notwithstanding.

I don't think some even watched the 2013 season.

 

[AzorAhai]

I don't think some even watched the 2013 season.

You mean the one where Dallas lost a game 48-51? Yeah the RB and offense were completely at fault that year.

 

[robjay04]

You mean the one where Dallas lost a game 48-51? Yeah the RB and offense were completely at fault that year.

It is true that our offense did make our defense a lesser unit in 2013 but I don't credit that on Murray as much as playcalling. In 2013, we still had Murray and our OL was solid but we refused to ever commit to running the ball. The team believes now if they commit to running the ball, anyone can help move the chains especially when we still have a dynamic passing game that can convert 3rd and short situations.

 

[gmoney112]

You mean the one where Dallas lost a game 48-51? Yeah the RB and offense were completely at fault that year.

Haha, yeah. I think we set a Cowboys record for injuries in the defensive front 7. I know it was the worst DFL we ever had statistically or something.

Fans that, you know, actually watched the Cowboys games, saw that with even an "average" defense we would have finished 10-6 or 11-5. That fact alone was discussed the entire season here on this board.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Exactly, people think we have to follow the same blueprint from last year. It's not a question of how much we run the ball, but can we run it when we need or want to?

Correct.

Folks are fixated on last year.

This is a different cast of characters.

It will be different than last year. It will be different than '13. It will be different than '12.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

It is true that our offense did make our defense a lesser unit in 2013 but I don't credit that on Murray as much as playcalling. In 2013, we still had Murray and our OL was solid but we refused to ever commit to running the ball. The team believes now if they commit to running the ball, anyone can help move the chains especially when we still have a dynamic passing game that can convert 3rd and short situations.

That's the one right there.

The change in play calling was huge.

 

[AzorAhai]

Correct.

Folks are fixated on last year.

This is a different cast of characters.

It will be different than last year. It will be different than '13. It will be different than '12.

Exactly. People praise Belichek for building his scheme around what that roster does well, yet want Dallas to stick to the exact same blueprint as last year. What kills me is the "Cowboys had a great RB for every SB" stuff like thats the only way to win. Most of those teams had a great WR also, yet I hear all the time how you don't need one of those now.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Exactly. People praise Belichek for building his scheme around what that roster does well, yet want Dallas to stick to the exact same blueprint as last year. What kills me is the "Cowboys had a great RB for every SB" stuff like thats the only way to win. Most of those teams had a great WR also, yet I hear all the time how you don't need one of those now.

Great point about Belichek.

Those Cowboy teams also had very good defenses and good FG kickers and so on and so on...

I ignore those posts that start with "Well the Cowboys had one left-handed guard when they won each of their Super Bowls".

 

[TwoDeep3]

The issue is not how much they run. I don't believe anyone has ever stated they think this team will not try and run the ball.

It's the quality of running backs and their sketchy health and production that causes concern.

 

[jnday]

You know after being right on almost every move they've made the last few seasons in player acquisition, you would think it bought the team some benefit of the doubt. Some of you may choose not to give them this, but I will.

I think that the predraft visits gave a clue as to the feelings that the coaches had toward the current RBs on the roster. Every decent RB that entered the draft came to Dallas for a visit. I do think that the team saw the need for a lead RB, but they didn't expect the top RBs to be valued so much in the draft. All signs point to them recognizing the lack of talent on the roster at the RB position. There was s couple free agent RBs that the team was rumored to have interest in , but they were signed before Dallas decided if they wanted them or not. I will give the staff credit for seeing the problem, but it was very poor planning to count on the draft to provide a feature RB. It didn't work out in the draft and since there was no plan B, the roster is filled with below average RBs. Before Murray walked out the door, a replacement or a plan to sign a replacement, should have been in place. I think it was poor planning and bad luck that resulted in the shortage of quality talent at the RB position . I do find it amusing that so many fans have made DMac into some type of hope and some comments are so over the top that they suggest that he is a top talent.

 

[AzorAhai]

I think that the predraft visits gave a clue as to the feelings that the coaches had toward the current RBs on the roster. Every decent RB that entered the draft came to Dallas for a visit. I do think that the team saw the need for a lead RB, but they didn't expect the top RBs to be valued so much in the draft. All signs point to them recognizing the lack of talent on the roster at the RB position. There was s couple free agent RBs that the team was rumored to have interest in , but they were signed before Dallas decided if they wanted them or not. I will give the staff credit for seeing the problem, but it was very poor planning to count on the draft to provide a feature RB. It didn't work out in the draft and since there was no plan B, the roster is filled with below average RBs. Before Murray walked out the door, a replacement or a plan to sign a replacement, should have been in place. I think it was poor planning and bad luck that resulted in the shortage of quality talent at the RB position . I do find it amusing that so many fans have made DMac into some type of hope and some comments are so over the top that they suggest that he is a top talent.

The Cowboys had the opportunity to draft every RB not named Gurley or Gordon in the draft. If they saw it as such a huge need as you're saying, which everything they said BEFORE the draft contradicts, they would have drafted one or moved up to ensure getting one. The only RB they had talks with in FA was Spiller, who by the way, is injury prone and NOT a feature RB. Nearly everything they have done and said shows they believe in what they have and directly contradicts how you're portraying their feelings. "All signs" actually point to them being content with what they have, much to the chagrin to many on these boards.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I do find it amusing that so many fans have made DMac into some type of hope and some comments are so over the top that they suggest that he is a top talent.

Yeah, I do not have high expectations for the guy. Like many, his last 3 seasons do not instill me with high-hopes.

BUT I think his ability to bounce back will be shown early in camp. And if not, they there will be others brought in.

That being said, as much as I think he's a knucklehead I think Randle could put together a more than acceptable season for this team as its starter.

 

[jnday]

Exactly, people think we have to follow the same blueprint from last year. It's not a question of how much we run the ball, but can we run it when we need or want to?

This offense is at it's best when the running game is working. This team is so much better overall due to the running game. This offseason , the strength of this team was weakened and make no mistake, the running game was the one part of the offense that improved the team as a whole. As of now, I doubt the team's ability to get the critical three yards when it is needed. I don't think there is a RB on the roster that has proven that they are capable of doing that . Many fans are saying that if a combination of RBs can produce close to the same yardage as a great lead RB, that there is no difference and it simply is not true. Only comparing the RB production by total yards gained can be very misleading. If they have lost the ability to get the needed short yards and the physical running, I don't expect the team to win.

 

[big dog cowboy]

You know after being right on almost every move they've made the last few seasons in player acquisition, you would think it bought the team some benefit of the doubt. Some of you may choose not to give them this, but I will.

It's only topped by those who think we are looking at another 8-8 this year.

 

[Maxmadden]

This offense is at it's best when the running game is working. This team is so much better overall due to the running game. This offseason , the strength of this team was weakened and make no mistake, the running game was the one part of the offense that improved the team as a whole. As of now, I doubt the team's ability to get the critical three yards when it is needed. I don't think there is a RB on the roster that has proven that they are capable of doing that . Many fans are saying that if a combination of RBs can produce close to the same yardage as a great lead RB, that there is no difference and it simply is not true. Only comparing the RB production by total yards gained can be very misleading. If they have lost the ability to get the needed short yards and the physical running, I don't expect the team to win.

I agree with the majority of this but I don't think just because we are not as good in short yardage situations that we will just simply not win. We will have to find other ways to win. Somebody will have to step up whether it's on the offensive or defensive side of the ball.