The Myth of the Bell Cow

[Galian Beast]

Top 10 offenses in the NFL (PPG)
Green Bay
Denver
Philadelphia
New England
Dallas
Indianapolis
Pittsburgh
Baltimore
New Orleans
Seattle

Teams in bold had a running back with over 1000 yards rushing

I don't think anyone will say that having a bell cow doesn't help your offense, but I think it should be pointed out that you can do things without having one (which isn't even to say that a runner on our team can't be that guy).

Denver had one of the best offenses in the league and their top running back had 849 yards.

The Patriots didn't have a single player break 500 yards.

I think the real question isn't whether or not the team can replicate last year's successful formula, but what the team can do with this years roster to be just as successful if not more so.

I definitely think the Cowboys are looking at the Patriots formula from last year, but thinking they can be more successful running the ball with the offensive line and running backs we have.

I think you look at our offensive weapons and the compare pretty well compared to the Patriots.

Is Gronkowski a better target than Witten? Absolutely he is, but I think Bryant cancels him out.

I think Witten is as good if not better than Edelman as a target.

The question is can Williams be as effective and as consistent as LaFell became. Comparing their career trajectory you would think Williams has the potential to become a better player.

I think Beasley gives us a lot of what Edelman gives us. I expect/hope to see him play a larger role in the offense this year, and I think part of that may have been why we didn't want to pay Murray. Cowboys made a hefty investment in him not to use him more.

I think Dunbar can be every bit as good as Vereen in the passing game.

Escobar is better than Tim Wright as well.

The biggest question is can this offensive line pass protect well enough to allow us to take our passing game to another level? And can our defense become the force it needs to be to change the tone of our games. I think it can.

 

[gmoney112]

It's a simple equation, score more than your opponent.

It also helps our OL is probably going to be better than most have seen in 20 years. Adding two dynamic pass rushers certainly didn't hurt either.

The "bell cow" references, are inferring that we "need" a player than can carry the ball 25 times a game, which is simply inaccurate. Teams use a bell cow because that RB is simply better than the alternatives.

 

[Jenky]

Top 10 offenses in the NFL (PPG)
Green Bay
Denver
Philadelphia
New England
Dallas
Indianapolis
Pittsburgh
Baltimore
New Orleans
Seattle

Teams in bold had a running back with over 1000 yards rushing

I don't think anyone will say that having a bell cow doesn't help your offense, but I think it should be pointed out that you can do things without having one (which isn't even to say that a runner on our team can't be that guy).

Denver had one of the best offenses in the league and their top running back had 849 yards.

The Patriots didn't have a single player break 500 yards.

I think the real question isn't whether or not the team can replicate last year's successful formula, but what the team can do with this years roster to be just as successful if not more so.

I definitely think the Cowboys are looking at the Patriots formula from last year, but thinking they can be more successful running the ball with the offensive line and running backs we have.

I think you look at our offensive weapons and the compare pretty well compared to the Patriots.

Is Gronkowski a better target than Witten? Absolutely he is, but I think Bryant cancels him out.

I think Witten is as good if not better than Edelman as a target.

The question is can Williams be as effective and as consistent as LaFell became. Comparing their career trajectory you would think Williams has the potential to become a better player.

I think Beasley gives us a lot of what Edelman gives us. I expect/hope to see him play a larger role in the offense this year, and I think part of that may have been why we didn't want to pay Murray. Cowboys made a hefty investment in him not to use him more.

I think Dunbar can be every bit as good as Vereen in the passing game.

Escobar is better than Tim Wright as well.

The biggest question is can this offensive line pass protect well enough to allow us to take our passing game to another level? And can our defense become the force it needs to be to change the tone of our games. I think it can.

CJ Anderson wasn't the starter for the first couple of weeks. If he had been, he would have been over 1k easily.

That would make 7/10 teams with a leading back. Also Mark Ingram had 964 yards and i'd expect his work load to increase this year.

 

[dragon_mikal]

The Cowboys aren't the Patriots and shouldn't try to be.

Also you just pointed out the the majority of the top 10 offenses in the NFL had what you would call a "bell cow" running back.

 

[Jenky]

Make no mistake, if NE and Indy had a stud back, they wouldn't use RB by Committee. They are just playing the hand they are dealt. Well Indy TRIED to trade for a stud back but he was a bust.

 

[darthseinfeld]

CJ Anderson wasn't the starter for the first couple of weeks. If he had been, he would have been over 1k easily.

That would make 7/10 teams with a leading back. Also Mark Ingram had 964 yards and i'd expect his work load to increase this year.

Ingram would have gotten about 1,200 if he didnt get hurt

 

[Galian Beast]

I think a couple people missed my point.

I think most people would call a player with over 1000 yards a bell cow, but the fact is many top offenses didn't have one.

You can also get into a discussion on ranges and whether someone is an elite running back or not.

Do people really think that Randle or McFadden can't break 1000 yards with this offensive line? I think McFadden if healthy and in good shape could certainly do it. I think we need to see how he fares compared to how he was in 2011. That's a long time in running back years, but he was certainly considered one of the best running backs in the league that year. Is that player still there? Can he fit in a zone scheme? Will playing in this offense let him play even better than he did in 2011? Randle might also have turned himself into a back who can have success in this league. I also don't think Williams or even Dunbar should be counted out.

 

[gmoney112]

I think a couple people missed my point.

I think most people would call a player with over 1000 yards a bell cow, but the fact is many top offenses didn't have one.

You can also get into a discussion on ranges and whether someone is an elite running back or not.

Do people really think that Randle or McFadden can't break 1000 yards with this offensive line? I think McFadden if healthy and in good shape could certainly do it. I think we need to see how he fares compared to how he was in 2011. That's a long time in running back years, but he was certainly considered one of the best running backs in the league that year. Is that player still there? Can he fit in a zone scheme? Will playing in this offense let him play even better than he did in 2011? Randle might also have turned himself into a back who can have success in this league. I also don't think Williams or even Dunbar should be counted out.

I think the vast majority of RB's, if given 250 carries, would break 1000 yards in this offense.

 

[Hoofbite]

In short, if you have Peyton, Brady, or Brees you don't need a running game.

 

[Galian Beast]

In short, if you have Peyton, Brady, or Brees you don't need a running game.

I don't think Romo is any worse than the players you named.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Really there was only one "bell cow back" last year and that was Murray. He averaged over 20 carries per game. No other back in the league did that.

I think the perception of what a "bell cow back" is has become warped due to the number of carries (beyond the typical for a lead back) that Murray had last season.

A typical lead back will get 15-18 carries per game. Not the 24 that Murray had.

 

[gmoney112]

Really there was only one "bell cow back" last year and that was Murray. He averaged over 20 carries per game. No other back in the league did that.

I think the perception of what a "bell cow back" is has become warped due to the number of carries (beyond the typical for a lead back) that Murray had last season.

A typical lead back will get 15-18 carries per game. Not the 24 that Murray had.

Yep, good point.

Can't look it up right now, but I think Lynch averaged what, 18 or so carries a game? I think most would call him a "bell cow".

 

[Galian Beast]

I think the question we should be asking if a combination of McFadden, Randle, Williams, and Dunbar (probably only three of them) run for a 30 times a game?

I think so. I think if you just started with the goal of giving three running backs 10 carries each, you would probably end up seeing improvement over Murray's numbers.

Can McFadden handle 160 carries for a season? I think he probably can. The question is whether or not that's enough carries in a game to get into a rhythm with this offensive line?

And I think we all know that the carries will begin to shift based on who is most productive.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Yep, good point.

Can't look it up right now, but I think Lynch averaged what, 18 or so carries a game? I think most would call him a "bell cow".

Of course.

If it weren't for Murray's 394 carries, the perception of the "bell cow back" would be more like 280 carries.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I think the question we should be asking if a combination of McFadden, Randle, Williams, and Dunbar (probably only three of them) run for a 30 times a game?

I think so. I think if you just started with the goal of giving three running backs 10 carries each, you would probably end up seeing improvement over Murray's numbers.

Can McFadden handle 160 carries for a season? I think he probably can. The question is whether or not that's enough carries in a game to get into a rhythm with this offensive line?

And I think we all know that the carries will begin to shift based on who is most productive.

Agreed.

There is going to be one back who gets about 17 carries per game. Another will get about 8 and the remaining 5 will be divvied up between the 3rd RB, a WR end around here and there and a QB carry.

 

[gmoney112]

Of course.

If it weren't for Murray's 394 carries, the perception of the "bell cow back" would be more like 280 carries.

Haha yeah, e had a complete outlier in his # of carries. I think 2nd most in attempts had
bout 80 less, and 280 was about the average for "bell cows". That's 17.5 carries a game.

 

[sureletsrace]

Wouldn't surprise me to see 2 of our RBs go over 1,000.

 

[Broges74]

CJ Anderson wasn't the starter for the first couple of weeks. If he had been, he would have been over 1k easily.

That would make 7/10 teams with a leading back. Also Mark Ingram had 964 yards and i'd expect his work load to increase this year.

Ingram also missed time.

Also, each of those top offenses you listed has QB that would rate in the top 4 in the league. future first ballot HOFers. Romo, may get in the Hall but, unless he wins a SB or two, isn't a first ballot guy.

We need a bell cow type back.

 

[Nightman]

Wouldn't surprise me to see 2 of our RBs go over 1,000.

really?????

 

[sureletsrace]

really?????

Really. If the offense stays run heavy and two RBs share the bulk of the carries, I don't see why it can't happen.