The Myth of the Bell Cow

[big dog cowboy]

Dorsett was not a bell cow when we won SB 12.

Team rushing attempts: 564

Tony Dorsett: 208 or 36.9%.

 

[blindzebra]

In what way?

208 carries, Newhouse had 180 that is called RB by committee.

 

[Stash]

208 carries, Newhouse had 180 that is called RB by committee.

And the fact that he was a rookie is to be completely discounted?

 

[5Stars]

And the fact that he was a rookie is to be completely discounted?

Actually it makes sense that he was a rookie. He had more carries as the rook.

 

[Doomsday101]

Dorsett was not a bell cow when we won SB 12.

and which one of these current guys is Tony Dorsett?

 

[5Stars]

and which one of these current guys is Tony Dorsett?

Was Murry on Dorsett's level?

 

[Doomsday101]

Was Murry on Dorsett's level?

No different type of RB. My point is TD shared a lot of snaps because of Landry, Dorsett did not start as a rookie and was in Landry Dog house because Tony did not run the plays as designed, when he was to hit a certain hole Tony would bounce it and because of his skill he ended up making plays and Landry later eased on TD after his rookie season TD was taking a big portion of the load.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Was Murry on Dorsett's level?

How dare you sir!

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I guess we still do not have consistent agreement on what a "bell cow" back is.

 

[Doomsday101]

I guess we still do not have consistent agreement on what a "bell cow" back is.

I don't think a Bell Cow has to run it 25 times a game, but I do think a bell cow is the guy who will take a large portion of the touches and is the guy who you have on the field in big moments of the game.

 

[5Stars]

No different type of RB. My point is TD shared a lot of snaps because of Landry, Dorsett did not start as a rookie and was in Landry Dog house because Tony did not run the plays as designed, when he was to hit a certain hole Tony would bounce it and because of his skill he ended up making plays and Landry later eased on TD after his rookie season TD was taking a big portion of the load.

I know all of that...but after Landry let Tony do his thing, the rest is History. Murray had one good season and he was the the beneficiary of what the oline finally became. Let's watch him this season with the mighty eagles now that they have him or let's watch the Cowboys implode without him.

 

[Stash]

I guess we still do not have consistent agreement on what a "bell cow" back is.

That seems to be the key talking point.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I don't think a Bell Cow has to run it 25 times a game, but I do think a bell cow is the guy who will take a large portion of the touches and is the guy who you have on the field in big moments of the game.

That defines it some Doom, but I think we can go farther.

Only one back last season averaged more than 20 carries a game. Does that mean folks like Lynch, Bell, McCoy, and Charles aren't "bell cow" backs?

No, I just think many have a less than realistic view of how many carries a "bell cow" back gets in normal circumstances and not the abnormal way the Cowboys used Murray last season.

 

[Doomsday101]

I know all of that...but after Landry let Tony do his thing, the rest is History. Murray had one good season and he was the the beneficiary of what the oline finally became. Let's watch him this season with the mighty eagles now that they have him or lwt's watch the Cowboys implode without him.

Murray played damn well in 2013 as well this 1 season BS is for the birds. Murray as a player did not call his own damn plays the coaches did, he had no control over it. When given the chance to run he did the job and did damn well.. At the end of 2013 every person in here was hollering at Garrett for not running him, why because when he did he was being successful doing it. People either turning a blind eye to facts or have a short memory

 

[Bleu Star]

This Bell Cow definition exploration is

Perhaps JG's explanation will help.

8/13/2014
http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4731699/is-demarco-murray-a-bell-cow

OXNARD, Calif. – Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett considers there to be two types of starting running backs in today’s NFL.

There are a few “bell cows,” the Emmitt Smith-style workhorses that seem to be endangered species. There are a lot of “lead dogs” in committees.

Which category fits Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray?

“I see him as the leader of a committee, but boy, he’s got bell-cow traits,” Garrett said. “We have no issue handing the ball to that guy, throwing it to him and giving him as much touches as possible. He’s one of those guys that good things happen when he has the ball in his hand.

“I say by committee, because boy, we like Lance Dunbar; we like Joe Randle; we like some of the things that Ryan Williams is doing. You want to give those other guys a chance to touch the ball as well. But DeMarco has all the traits you want in a runner.”

En route to his first Pro Bowl appearance, Murray set career-highs last season in carries (217), rushing yards (1,121), rushing touchdowns (nine), receptions (53), receiving yards (350) and receiving touchdowns (one).

If Murray stays healthy – a big if for a player who has missed 11 games in his three NFL seasons – there’s no reason to believe he can’t build on all of those numbers this season. If that’s the case, count on Murray wanting to be paid like a bell cow after his rookie contract expires at the end of the season.

I guess he never got paid like a Bell Cow huh people........

 

[Doomsday101]

That defines it some Doom, but I think we can go farther.

Only one back last season averaged more than 20 carries a game. Does that mean folks like Lynch, Bell, McCoy, and Charles aren't "bell cow" backs?

No, I just think many have a less than realistic view of how many carries a "bell cow" back gets in normal circumstances and not the abnormal way the Cowboys used Murray last season.

I think Lynch and Bell and McCoy are pretty much bell cows, that does not mean they don't come out of the game it does mean they will take a larger load and they are the guys you have in their in crunch time. Murray got more carries than most backs would get and I highly doubt he will ever get that many touches in a season again. I do think he will carry a bigger load and I do think he will be the RB they turn to late in games and in critical moments

 

[5Stars]

Murray played damn well in 2013 as well this 1 season BS is for the birds. Murray as a player did not call his own damn plays the coaches did, he had no control over it. When given the chance to run he did the job and did damn well.. At the end of 2013 every person in here was hollering at Garrett for not running him, why because when he did he was being successful doing it. People either turning a blind eye to facts or have a short memory

Well, then it's a shame that those damn Cowboys did not pay Murray what he wanted so the the Cowboys could afford some damn other players that were needed for that damn defense. That damn Murray is going to tear it up this season and those damn Cowboys are back to 8-8! Damnit!

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I think Lynch and Bell and McCoy are pretty much bell cows, that does not mean they don't come out of the game it does mean they will take a larger load and they are the guys you have in their in crunch time. Murray got more carries than most backs would get and I highly doubt he will ever get that many touches in a season again. I do think he will carry a bigger load and I do think he will be the RB they turn to late in games and in critical moments

I agree with that take.

I think a "bell cow" back can have 16-18 carries a game and still be a "bell cow" back.

 

[Stash]

208 carries, Newhouse had 180 that is called RB by committee.

I see that one more as a changing of the guard or transitional year. But you are right that they were able to win with it.

 

[Bleu Star]

Based upon JG's description, which is the only one that matters in my mind, defining "bell cow" has nothing to do with yards. It has to do with strategic reliance on that single back for a myriad of situations.