The running game is already established

[fredp22]

Much ado these days about where all of DeMarco Murray's yards will wind up. Who, how many times, and for how many they'll be divvied up among the running back remnants from Survivor: Oxnard Edition.

It doesn't matter. Doesn't matter who the "who" is. Doesn't matter who gets the most tries at it. Doesn't even really matter the tally of total yards by season's end. It just doesn't matter on this team.

Being able to run the ball effectively is 90 percent of the point. Dallas can and will, and everybody on the schedule is fully aware. That's success already, and we're six weeks from a real game.

The running threat is real, and it's spectacular.

This offensive line will force every team to respect every play fake. It'll require a safety to lurk most every play. It'll make every linebacker lean forward just a bit before every snap, and play a tad closer to the line. It'll make defensive linemen hesitate a bit every time before they go hunting for Romo.

There was a time when play fakes around here only worked because they made defensive players laugh out loud. Dallas' o-line got zero push, and Romo had to dance and spin his way into seemingly every throw. Backs sheepishly knew the hole would never be there for them. It was a solo act.

Today, it's an ominous site for a defender to see Dallas break the huddle. The possibilities are endless. "That quarterback is about to rip us apart. But that running back - whoever he is - is going to have a canyon to run through if we don't get up in there. There's that damn tight end again. Crap, Dez is over there, and watch that other dude that seems to only score touchdowns on the other side. Oh, and Peter Dinklage with his goldilocks is in motion. Son of a........"

I fully expect Dallas to throw it more this year, but not really. Screens and hitches are like long handoffs, and they'll be used as part of the running game. More will be on Romo than last year with his better health, and the offense will be more diverse for it. It'll be a nice balance from his previous seasons and last year.

Balance is why..."any running back could run behind that offensive line". We hear that phrase so often, but it's an unfinished sentence. It's not just that offensive line. It's that quarterback, and that receiving corps, too. Balance.

There are a lot of good running backs in the world. Most every team has a really good one or two of them. They're not hard to find or replace, and there's only a small handful that are truly special at it.

Until an elite back surfaces around here, I have no doubt that whoever is totin' it in the meantime will be just fine. It'll make for an interesting watch and conversation, but it's not the crisis we perceive.

They'll get it figured out just fine.

I hope your right but
this reminds me of '93. Let Emmitt hold out. We have a great line. Emmitts good but its the line that makes him. Other teams will have to respect the run because of our line.With Stepnoski, Erik Williams, Gogan, Ron Stone Lassic will do just fine. He didnt and Randle wont. In Randles only 2 starts on '13 he was 19-65 and 14-26 and we lost both. And thats when teams were playing us to pass. I dont see teams playing the run heavy or fearing Randle with our current group.

I think the team knows we need a rb instead of thinking any back can be plugged in. I believe they wanted Gurley in the draft and werent impressed with what was left. I think they also want CJ and are having a problem agreeing on money. I fear going into the season with Randle and Dunbar (forget McFadden- cant even make it to the 1st practice). Unfortunately I think we will end of overpaying for CJ and getting someone next years draft. That or taking our area of strength and trade Leary for a RB. But I hope we address it soon. If we wait till 2-3 games into the season the cost will go up as teams see our desperation. Imagine 1993 if Emmitt didnt come back.

 

[erod]

I hope your right but
this reminds me of '93. Let Emmitt hold out. We have a great line. Emmitts good but its the line that makes him. Other teams will have to respect the run because of our line.With Stepnoski, Erik Williams, Gogan, Ron Stone Lassic will do just fine. He didnt and Randle wont. In Randles only 2 starts on '13 he was 19-65 and 14-26 and we lost both. And thats when teams were playing us to pass. I dont see teams playing the run heavy or fearing Randle with our current group.

I think the team knows we need a rb instead of thinking any back can be plugged in. I believe they wanted Gurley in the draft and werent impressed with what was left. I think they also want CJ and are having a problem agreeing on money. I fear going into the season with Randle and Dunbar (forget McFadden- cant even make it to the 1st practice). Unfortunately I think we will end of overpaying for CJ and getting someone next years draft. That or taking our area of strength and trade Leary for a RB. But I hope we address it soon. If we wait till 2-3 games into the season the cost will go up as teams see our desperation. Imagine 1993 if Emmitt didnt come back.

Those backups in '93 weren't the caliber of Randle or McFadden. Probably not even Dunbar. Derrick Lassic and Lincoln Coleman were awful.

And those losses had more to do with other things, not just Emmitt. They were a bit punch drunk from the Super Bowl, and Jimmy was notorious for running that team into the ground at camp. I've heard Daryl Johnston say it wasn't until October until the team felt good because the camps were brutal.

And lastly, Emmitt Smith was Emmitt Smith. DeMarco Murray isn't in that conversation.

 

[erod]

I won't dispute the importance of the offensive line. You're talking to one of the guys who's been screaming for an investment there for the past decade, you can look that up!

That said, it doesn't make the running back position fungible or inconsequential. Talent there matters too. And more importantly, availability does too.

500 points for the use of the word "fungible". LOL, Jerry threw us all off with that one.

 

[jrumann59]

I hope your right but
this reminds me of '93. Let Emmitt hold out. We have a great line. Emmitts good but its the line that makes him. Other teams will have to respect the run because of our line.With Stepnoski, Erik Williams, Gogan, Ron Stone Lassic will do just fine. He didnt and Randle wont. In Randles only 2 starts on '13 he was 19-65 and 14-26 and we lost both. And thats when teams were playing us to pass. I dont see teams playing the run heavy or fearing Randle with our current group..

So you are going back to his rookie year when this team overall was not that good, and was passing team? Curious the team was pass happy and teams played it to pass, who would have thunk it.

 

[DCBoysfan]

I won't dispute the importance of the offensive line. You're talking to one of the guys who's been screaming for an investment there for the past decade, you can look that up!

That said, it doesn't make the running back position fungible or inconsequential. Talent there matters too. And more importantly, availability does too.

Exactly, we have a very good line, but the notion any RB can get behind this line is nonsense. The line can open the hole but the RB still gots to see it and be able to get small and get thru it.

 

[erod]

Exactly, we have a very good line, but the notion any RB can get behind this line is nonsense. The line can open the hole but the RB still gots to see it and be able to get small and get thru it.

Murray never got small. And Randle had the highest per-carry average in the league behind this line.

They'll be fine.

The Patriots won the Super Bowl with who at running back?

 

[CATCH17]

It's literally the easiest position in the NFL to fill and get productivity.


CJ is just sitting there and he easily has a 900-1300 yards and 6-8 TD's in him. That's not even considering what he could do here.

 

[DCBoysfan]

Murray never got small. And Randle had the highest per-carry average in the league behind this line.

They'll be fine.

The Patriots won the Super Bowl with who at running back?

Murray did get small when he had too. I also discount Randle's production last year, most of his yards were during garage time. I believe the running game will be fine because I don't think the starting RB for the season is currently on the roster.

 

[Stash]

Murray never got small. And Randle had the highest per-carry average in the league behind this line.

They'll be fine.

The Patriots won the Super Bowl with who at running back?

They're the champs because of a ridiculously stupid play call. But it's a great example to try to point to in an effort to minimize the running back position.

 

[erod]

Murray did get small when he had too. I also discount Randle's production last year, most of his yards were during garage time. I believe the running game will be fine because I don't think the starting RB for the season is currently on the roster.

Randle is the same size as Murray, and he's faster. He showed far more vision, elusiveness, and quickness in the hole than Murray. He doesn't run as tough as Murray, and we'll see how this extra size he put on will pan out. Randle was fantastic in college.

Randle most certainly isn't the teammate that Murray was. That's for sure.

But just as a running back, I would be surprised if Randle isn't far better than anything else available. I think he ends up getting most of the carries if he keeps his head straight.

 

[erod]

They're the champs because of a ridiculously stupid play call. But it's a great example to try to point to in an effort to minimize the running back position.

Who ran it for Green Bay when they won it? Who's the back in Denver? Baltimore? Arizona?

There's Peterson and Lynch, then everybody else. There are a ton of good backs in the NFL, and they're simply not hard to find.

 

[Stash]

Who ran it for Green Bay when they won it? Who's the back in Denver? Baltimore? Arizona?

There's Peterson and Lynch, then everybody else. There are a ton of good backs in the NFL, and they're simply not hard to find.

Then why can't this team do it?

 

[erod]

Then why can't this team do it?

It can. That's the point. Just watch.

This offense is so balanced, and the line allows for anything you want to do.

 

[DCBoysfan]

Randle is the same size as Murray, and he's faster. He showed far more vision, elusiveness, and quickness in the hole than Murray. He doesn't run as tough as Murray, and we'll see how this extra size he put on will pan out. Randle was fantastic in college.

Randle most certainly isn't the teammate that Murray was. That's for sure.

But just as a running back, I would be surprised if Randle isn't far better than anything else available. I think he ends up getting most of the carries if he keeps his head straight.

Well Randle didn't have over 450 touches so you can't say he had the same sample cause he didn't, I hope Randle pans out, I really do I would love to be wrong, but there were times last year when Randle could have gotten more snaps and Garrett stayed with Murray.

Randle is faster but can he get that tough 3nd and 1 or 4th and goal, time will tell. But to assume I would be automatic because of the line is foolish in my opinion.

 

[CATCH17]

Well Randle didn't have over 450 touches so you can't say he had the same sample cause he didn't, I hope Randle pans out, I really do I would love to be wrong, but there were times last year when Randle could have gotten more snaps and Garrett stayed with Murray.

Randle is faster but can he get that tough 3nd and 1 or 4th and goal, time will tell. But to assume I would be automatic because of the line is foolish in my opinion.

To me, it looked like Murray called the shots throughout the game as to when he would be in the game and when he wouldn't be.

Unless there was some type of 3rd down package with Dunbar I saw Murray doing most of the communicating as to when he would leave the field.

 

[Stash]

It can. That's the point. Just watch.

This offense is so balanced, and the line allows for anything you want to do.

They don't even have one surefire candidate, much less anything to feel confident in.

It's not just about the offensive line.

 

[DCBoysfan]

To me, it looked like Murray called the shots throughout the game as to when he would be in the game and when he wouldn't be.

Unless there was some type of 3rd down package with Dunbar I saw Murray doing most of the communicating as to when he would leave the field.

I didn't see it that way, and I saw every snap last year, I believe the coaching staff decided who would play.

 

[erod]

They don't even have one surefire candidate, much less anything to feel confident in.

It's not just about the offensive line.

Which is what I said in the OP. It's about the line, the QB, and the receiving corps FAR more than the running back. This isn't Minnesota where Peterson has to do it by himself. Leveon Bell wouldn't do much without Roethlisberger. Lacy would be dead meat without Rodgers. Flacco allows any Ravens back to be successful, not just Rice.

 

[erod]

Well Randle didn't have over 450 touches so you can't say he had the same sample cause he didn't, I hope Randle pans out, I really do I would love to be wrong, but there were times last year when Randle could have gotten more snaps and Garrett stayed with Murray.

Randle is faster but can he get that tough 3nd and 1 or 4th and goal, time will tell. But to assume I would be automatic because of the line is foolish in my opinion.

Your last point is the best. He's got to be able to pick up that tough yard when needed.

I expect him to get four yards when Murray would have gotten six. But he'll get 50 when Murray would have gotten 15.

McFadden is the one I'm not confident about. I've really got to see it from him. I'd rather pair Randle with a physical runner like Stephen Jackson than McFadden.

I feel a trade or signing is still in the works to round this out.

 

[jjktkk]

Yet this team can't do it and is instead relying on a damaged goods disappointment.

I think it's a bit more difficult than your attempted dismissal wants to indicate.

Of the four options being discussed as a possible replacement for Murray, two can now be scratched from the list. That doesn't sound like the "easiest position to fill on a football team".

Only the media outside of DFW assumed McFadden was the lead horse in the Cowboy's rb competition. I have always assumed Randle gets the first crack at starting rb and McFadden was more of a low risk signing to see if he has anything left.