There's a clear frontrunner for Cowboys RB2 job behind Tony Pollard

[Typhus]

Davis has some style in his game, some wiggle that we have all seen when given snaps.
If that wiggle translates to really good vision, then we might have something here, his breakaway speed can be compensated if Davis truly possesses great vision.
One thing for sure that should be top priority red flag status for all RBs currently rostered....
Better seriously concentrate on your backfield blocking assignment this camp, because that will be a roster spot.

 

[kskboys]

Yes, there is, and we left him behind in the draft.

 

[xwalker]

That doesn't even make sense.

If you need the RB, you take him. Waiting until the round he was projected in would be extremely foolish

The draft just played out the way it went. The backs that they would have taken were of the board each time their pick came up.

4 RBs drafted between #71 and #88.

The Cowboys had picks #58 and #90.

They draft much better when they don't trade up for need.

 

[Typhus]

Yes, there is, and we left him behind in the draft.

Who might that have been, Robinson, Gibbs?
At what cost?

 

[visionary]

Going with our current stable of RBs and saying we will focus on running is stupid in the extreme

Our run game will be practically nonexistent as soon as Pollard misses time die to injury

And without an effective run game, Dak is toast

 

[blueblood70]

Will Pollard produce the same efficiency and compile a similar clip of explosive runs with a significantly increased workload?

It's anyone's guess, really, but fans aren't totally off-base wondering if Pollard could wear down or show fatigue by the end of the season.

While Davis is battling to win the backup job behind Pollard, he received the majority of first-team reps this offseason as Pollard works his way back from tight-rope ankle surgery. Pollard has been present at practice, but Dallas is wisely managing his workload in hope that he'll be fully unleashed at training camp.

Davis' performance has caught the eye of one Mike McCarthy. What that in mind, the Cowboys really need a RB2 to emerge by the end of training camp. It appears to be an open competition, but the latest buzz post OTAs and minicamp indicates Malik Davis is the favorite to win the job.


https://thelandryhat.com/posts/clear-frontrunner-cowboys-running-back-tony-pollard-malik-davis

Dec 18, 2022; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (20) running back / Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

I don't think anything 's clear, I think it's a wide open spot for competition, someone's going to rise to the top and really even whoever is the number two I don't think it's going to get all the other snaps like not all of them. I think you're going to be using whoever you settle on for your roster you're going to depend on the game and the game plan and the opponent sometimes it might be Ronald Jones if he makes the team, deuce Vaughn could have the big gameplan against certain teams. First, we just need to see who plays the best in training camp and preseason games then we'll find out who makes the roster, I think they're going to want to use probably three guys.

 

[blueblood70]

I don’t blame KM for the pancake of an offense second half SF when Pollard went down . That’s on MM the HC . SF should have seen a steady diet of Malik Davis with 21 spelling him occasionally .

With Ronald Jones plus Deuce out of K st this RB room looks like run by committee which makes Pollard even more dangerous .

I’m excited to see an OL that can dominate giving Dak an effective run game which will help his passing lanes and points on the board .

I agree with everything but blaming the head coach dude they only ran the ball 16 times

the game plans may have been approved up front but I don't think there was part of the game where you only run 16 times in a playoff game. so as soon as Pollard goes down and zeke looks ineffective Malik Davis should have been brought in by the offensive coordinator because when he's calling the plays he's got a call run plays that involved Malik Davis because even with Elliot they still only called 16 total run plays that is on the coordinator he's calling the plays so if they end up calling more run plays they would have had to put in Malik Davis that's why you blame moore because he did not run the ball more you like my pun. Kellen Moore abandoned the run or called poor run plays, that's why he gets most of the blame.

 

[Typhus]

Going with our current stable of RBs and saying we will focus on running is stupid in the extreme

Our run game will be practically nonexistent as soon as Pollard misses time die to injury

And without an effective run game, Dak is toast

That is the extreme worst case scenario.

 

[Bobhaze]

In my view, the RB position is one of the more intriguing positions going into TC. Despite what anyone says, none of us really know who will be backing Pollard.

In fact, rather than looking at who will be “backup”, I think this RB position will be a true RB by committee next year with possible 3 guys getting significant carries. Pollard is a great weapon but he’s not built to be a “bell cow” RB with 20-25 carries a game. He’s best with about 15 total touches IMO.

So with that in mind, someone or several guys will need to step into a committee type roll alongside Pollard. It may be Malik Davis or Ronald Jones or Deuce Vaughn. Or all 3 or even someone not yet on the roster which I think is very possible. The bottom line is, none of us really know yet how this will shake out.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Dallas will find out this season they screwed up at RB, just as they found out they screwed up on WR last season.

No amount of lamenting will bring back Zeke.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

I honestly am more intrigued by Dowdle than Ronald Jones. Dowdle was a core special teamer when he was healthy which is something the backup RBs need to bring to the table.

 

[CCBoy]

Without the dip, is this the Cowboys' next Walt Garrison?

Undrafted free agent, Hunter Luepke, FB, North Dakota State (6-1, 236)​

Strengths: A powerful runner, ideal for gaining yards in short distances, and expected to play fullback on Sundays. When running, displays quickness, excellent balance, and footwork.

He possesses great power and is quite nimble, making it difficult for defenders to bring him down with a single tackle. He breaks through the hole, gaining a lot of yardage and pushing the pile forward.

https://sportdfw.com/2023/06/19/dallas-cowboys-x-factor-hunter-luepke/

 

[CCBoy]

In my view, the RB position is one of the more intriguing positions going into TC. Despite what anyone says, none of us really know who will be backing Pollard.

In fact, rather than looking at who will be “backup”, I think this RB position will be a true RB by committee next year with possible 3 guys getting significant carries. Pollard is a great weapon but he’s not built to be a “bell cow” RB with 20-25 carries a game. He’s best with about 15 total touches IMO.

So with that in mind, someone or several guys will need to step into a committee type roll alongside Pollard. It may be Malik Davis or Ronald Jones or Deuce Vaughn. Or all 3 or even someone not yet on the roster which I think is very possible. The bottom line is, none of us really know yet how this will shake out.

Between Davis and Jones, I'm thinking that one is given a roster slot and the other to the practice squad.

 

[jazzcat22]

No amount of lamenting will bring back Zeke.

Who said anything about bringing him back?
You all can't let it go.

 

[Whiskey Cowboy]

Dallas will find out this season they screwed up at RB, just as they found out they screwed up on WR last season.

I think they managed to salvage it. This offense has been pretty good about highlighting a RBs ability for a long while. If Davis has something, it will show up on the field. Zeke was fading last season and Davis seems at least capable of matching his production. I'm not a fan of the RoJo signing. The scouts must have seen a fit in the offense that I'm missing, but he's going to have to show up big in TC to move the needle. Maybe between him and Deuce, we can see if we have a viable third option and create some mismatches.

That said, not drafting a back earlier was stupid. I like Deuce quite a bit as a player, but there were a number of starter level backs to be taken, and we passed them up for some questionable picks at positions of lesser need. I had far less faith in last years receivers than this years backs, but the position definitely could've been handled much better.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

It's impossible to tell how he plays because even when Zeke was gimp and reinjured and Pollard was out Peete and Moore wouldn't give him a shot.

It's refreshing to see someone acknowledge Zeke was hurt.

Also spot on!... confusing why #3 RB didn't get more snaps during this time.

 

[DuncanIso]

So roster spots are being set in stone at OTAs? Can we at least wait until there is actual tackling?

Camp is next month, so they probably have the 1’s already set.

RB3 won’t get a lot of snaps in camp.

RB4 and RB5 gonna get cut.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

RJones likely the RB2. Even the RB1 if TonyP struggles due to the freak leg injury.

Almost all the other RBs are scrubs.

I think he’s in a boom or bust spot. He could be the #2, or he could be cut before the final 53

 

[rambo2]

I think they managed to salvage it. This offense has been pretty good about highlighting a RBs ability for a long while. If Davis has something, it will show up on the field. Zeke was fading last season and Davis seems at least capable of matching his production. I'm not a fan of the RoJo signing. The scouts must have seen a fit in the offense that I'm missing, but he's going to have to show up big in TC to move the needle. Maybe between him and Deuce, we can see if we have a viable third option and create some mismatches.

That said, not drafting a back earlier was stupid. I like Deuce quite a bit as a player, but there were a number of starter level backs to be taken, and we passed them up for some questionable picks at positions of lesser need. I had far less faith in last years receivers than this years backs, but the position definitely could've been handled much better.

I'm leaning toward that it wasn't stupid in that they got Smith, Schoonmaker, and Overshown and there are plenty of free agent backs still available and 6 backs on the roster already.

 

[DuncanIso]

It's refreshing to see someone acknowledge Zeke was hurt.

Also spot on!... confusing why #3 RB didn't get more snaps during this time.

yes.

Zeke hyperextended his knee vs Detroit.

He's lucky something wasnt torn.