The running game is already established

[Stash]

That line got Romo dang near killed.

So did being one dimensional.

You want to see "killed"? Check out early Aikman!

Just brutal! Guys would be arrested for doing that stuff today.

 

[Bullflop]

We're still in need of a bruising, battering ram type of RB. We have plenty of change-of-pacers but the blue collar bruisers had best be included into our makeup within the RB corps for a well-rounded running game. Hope for that.

 

[Verdict]

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.

If McFadden is still healthy, and isn't "done" then he is a far superior back to Randle, and its not even close. If McFadden doesn't have anything left in the tank, then the voices of concern are spot on.

 

[Redball Express]

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 you are right.

We all hope you are right.

But I think you are whistling in the dark as you walk past the graveyard so to speak.

Over the 45+ years I have been a fan of this team..

it has virtually never won a championship WITHOUT a dominant back running the ball.

Committees have never worked.

Don Perkins.

Danny Reeves.

Walt Garrison

Calvin Hill

Duane Thomas

Tony Dorsett

Emmitt Smith

Hershel Walker

DeMarco Murray

All lead their teams to Division Conference and World titles being the lead horses.

Guys like Preston Pearson, Ron Springs, MBIII, Felix Jones and numerous others are moving parts that have to complement the lead hog.

And right now I have no sense whatsoever of the necessary lead hog.

So this is dangerous topography if you ask me.

I do not really understand why we didn't draft one in the first round..

trade up if needed and fill the gapping hole and not take guys like Jones and Collins and back fill already strong positions.

I suspect we may struggle with this logic all year.

We will see.

 

[Verdict]

The run against Chicago was the most impressive run all year in Dallas. Randle was outstanding at Oklahoma State. He dropped in the draft because he's a knucklehead. And yes, that concerns me.

I actually LIKED the Randle pick at the time it was made. I have changed my mind on picking him since then. He seems to make poor choices off the field, and I really haven't seen anything so far in his play for Dallas that validated my initial enthusiasm over the pick. I hope he makes something out of this opportunity and shows all of us that he can be the reincarnation of last year's DeMarco Murray. It would be a nice surprise to me, but I am not holding my breath.

 

[Verdict]

I hope you are right.

We all hope you are right.

But I think you are whistling in the dark as you walk past the graveyard so to speak.

Over the 45+ years I have been a fan of this team..

it has virtually never won a championship WITHOUT a dominant back running the ball.

Committees have never worked.

Don Perkins.

Danny Reeves.

Walt Garrison

Calvin Hill

Duane Thomas

Tony Dorsett

Emmitt Smith

Hershel Walker

DeMarco Murray

All lead their teams to Division Conference and World titles being the lead horses.

Guys like Preston Pearson, Ron Springs, MBIII, Felix Jones and numerous others are moving parts that have to complement the lead hog.

And right now I have no sense whatsoever of the necessary lead hog.

So this is dangerous topography if you ask me.

I do not really understand why we didn't draft one in the first round..

trade up if needed and fill the gapping hole and not take guys like Jones and Collins and back fill already strong positions.

I suspect we may struggle with this logic all year.

We will see.

I think we COULD win a super bowl without a lead running back, but the chances are not as good as if you have a lead back that you refuse to sit down because you know his backup can't carry his jock because he is that good.

 

[Plankton]

So did being one dimensional.

You want to see "killed"? Check out early Aikman!

Just brutal! Guys would be arrested for doing that stuff today.

Brutal? I think it's a good look.

 

[starfrombirth]

LOL....I wonder how many caught this, knowing the reference. Well done.

Seinfeld???

 

[BARRYRAY]

I personally would have paid DeMarco Murray.I think he will surprise people in his new home.I am A Cowboy fan but I hope he makes Jerry eat his words..

This guy was the single season leader since time began.One season yes but thats better than Emmit and all the others that came before him.Tony Dorset and many others.And they all had some great lines and a great qb.But I think the Cowboys were wrong.Instead we have the underwear guy.Its not just the yards here, say what you will Murray showed up every day and every game.We will miss him.Hey we lost two backups already that were cut or have bad hamstrings.Really Grandpa McFadden is going to fill up that gap for about two plays in game one.

 

[Brooksey]

I'm just excited about Gus Johnson. (lol, I know it's funny). After McFadden does his hammy, Gus will be carrying the load with Randle. Joe Randle can't handle 25 carries a game, imo. Gus Johnson is a nice sleeper, love how he runs the ball. If he can translate that into this league behind our line (big if)...watch out.

A Bruising 5'9 215 back with 4'4 speed and good hands. Gus Johnson.

 

[Hardline]

Murray was nothing special until last year. If he was, he would still be here.

In this case, I think plug-and-play will be very much the same.

In what combination of the running backs on the roster will the 1800+ yards going to come from?

 

[DCBoysfan]

The run against Chicago was the most impressive run all year in Dallas. Randle was outstanding at Oklahoma State. He dropped in the draft because he's a knucklehead. And yes, that concerns me.

I'm not rooting against him , I want him to succeed, I just don't have my hopes up for him.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Over the 45+ years I have been a fan of this team..

it has virtually never won a championship WITHOUT a dominant back running the ball.

Doesn't mean it can't happen.

 

[Redball Express]

Doesn't mean it can't happen.

Ok.

I just don't see it.

And that's not to imply it can't happen now.

But I think without it..

it's going against the odds realistically.

Just my point. That's it.

 

[blindzebra]

As long as the offense has Dez outside and Witten and Beasley underneath the running game will face plenty of 7 man fronts just like last year. Murray benefited greatly from having a safety over the top on Dez consistently.

 

[T-RO]

Seinfeld???

Teri Hatcher says to Jerry

 

[starfrombirth]

Teri Hatcher says to Jerry

Thought that was it

 

[Alexander]

So did being one dimensional.

You want to see "killed"? Check out early Aikman!

Just brutal! Guys would be arrested for doing that stuff today.

That shot he took under the chin in Phoenix when he hit Dixon with a frozen rope for thw TD was incredible.

 

[Typhus]

I have been totally enamored with this staffs ability to evaluate talent the past 3-4 years, just exceptional.
I just wish they would have gone after a UDFA RB like Thomas Rawls, that has totally impressed Pete Carroll.
We gave UDFAs like Farmer a big sign on bonus, and instead, signed RBs like Synjyn Days.
I know udfas are a crap shoot, and we have done really well in that dept, just wish they could do a little better with udfa RBs.
One could have really helped this team this year.

 

[JoeBoBBY]

I think we will see Randle and DMC or whoever have some very good games....racking up yards and scores, etc etc.

However;

We need the running game to be dominant. Game in and Game out. Not just "Okay"...
Thats how we won games last year. The Dominant running game......I am not saying we cant win any other way, but we won more regular season games last year, because of a Dominant Running Game.

Will we win more battles against the defense , when everybody knows we are going to run the ball? Can we pick up 3 yards when it counts? When the game is on the line? Or we will lose those battles more often then not, and inch back towards the passing game, relying on Romo more and more down the stretch? Not trusting anybody at the RB position for those plays? Will Romo call his his own number when he audibles? I am not saying Romo cant handle it, just , over the period of 16 games, I want Romo as fresh as he can be down the stretch....

Demarco Murray was are rally point, are identity last year. Obviously, thats going to change...There is more to all this, then just numbers.

It doesn't matter one way or another to me. Just get the Ws when they count.