Too many important loose ends right now

[Fletch]

If you look at Randle, they basically used him in one formation and a single type of play. You don't see him moving around at all, going in motion, lining up next to Romo in the shotgun, etc. All the things Murray did, Randle did not get used like that at all.

That's why I think McFadden is here. Whatever his ability remains, he knows pass protection and how to work from different positions on the field.

Basically, they have four different and useful guys, but they don't have someone that can do it all. To be a smash-mouth running team, you need that versatile workhorse.

And no, other than Gurley, I don't think that guy was in the draft necessarily.

I agree that Hurley was the only RB with the ability to do it all, and knew that the Cowboys wouldn't be high enough in the draft to even sniff his jock.

I think the Cowboys have the combined experience with the guys already on the roster to do all the things Murray did, and perhaps be better at certain things that Murray wasn't exceptional at.

 

[Idgit]

Thanks, I was just about to post something like this.
If the coaches were concerned about RB or DT, they would have been doing something about it. now, doesn't mean they could, but I'm sure we would of heard about it.
We hear about everything else it seems. Rather true or not.

I think they are content with seeing what they have in TC, then go from there. but if an opportunity presents itself to improve, without giving up too much, or a big cap hit. Then we will see that move be made.

Yep. They certainly threw some options at LB, for example. This team addresses problem areas by throwing numbers at a position to find an adequate stopgap and adequate depth, and then they go out and draft and develop wherever talent falls into their lap.
I think they like Randle, and I think they added McFadden to handicap him as a pass protector since neither Dunbar nor Williams can do that well. And I think we'll run the ball often and be effective on offense generally. Beyond that, I don't really care.

As for the other points, Dez won't get done until some other WR gets done, in large part because of that bad deal DET gave to CJ. Carr's cap hit is really more a question about whether or not he's going to be here *next* year and in a capacity where his role is not guaranteed. Otherwise, he'll keep his money and take his chances in VFA again. The whole Hardy thing is a PR move and not a serious sanction, but it remains to be seen who wins that tug-of-war. It's worth it, though, in whatever capacity we get him here, and I do think the suspension will be dramatically reduced.

 

[VACowboy]

R - E - L - A - X

 

[CIWhitefish]

I'm a fan of the Dallas Cowboys but not a fan of some of the fans that think fandom should be treated like a soap opera. All the speculation and second guessing drives me nuts. The team is run like a tight ship and so you can bet that if the FO had doubts about any area on the team, it would already be dealt with and a plan in place. Now, you may disagree with the course they are on but the speculation that certain contract deals are being held up by the FO, or certain positions are a point of weakness because the FO is not acting to make them better is all nonsense.

Couldn't agree more. You can't run a business without a plan. The only panic is among fans who either don't like the plan or don't know what the plan is. The product on the field will speak for itself in due time.

 

[reddyuta]

I dont agree with the OP assessment of Randle,this snaps were too little to make any definitive statements on his supposed one dimensional play.I am holding off until the TC to panic about the RBs but i am not sure Ryan williams will survive TC at all.

 

[DFWJC]

DEZ:
Dallas already DID franchise Dez. It's up to him to sign it.

RB:
The Paterson stuff is and always was pie-in-the-sky stuff. Not remotely realistic. They will fully evaluate what we have in-house and if they don't feel it's enough, you can be sure they'll get help at the front or back end of that group.

HARDY:
I'm thrilled that we have him with the contract set up the way it is. No matter what his suspension is, he'll be worth it.

CARR:
We have plenty of room under the cap. It'd be great to get Carr at a reduced rate, but since this short term, so the impact would be to Jerry's wallet vs the affecting our 2015 team.

 

[CF74]

Churn Da Rostah Mon!!!

 

[AdamJT13]

Joseph Randle only runs one basic set of plays out of one formation, and I don't think the coaches have a lick of faith in him.

Is this true about only running one formation or are you just making that up?

Randle played 88 offensive snaps in the regular season. Here were the personnel groupings on those plays, in addition to Randle, the quarterback and the five offensive linemen --

44 plays -- 2 WR, 2 TE
26 plays -- 3 WR, 1 TE
8 plays -- 1 FB, 2 WR, 1 TE
4 plays -- 1 FB, 1 WR, 2 TE
2 plays -- 1 RB (Dunbar also on the field), 2 WR, 1 TE
2 plays -- 1 WR, 3 TE
2 plays -- 1 FB, 3 TE

Also, STATS LLC categorized 47 of his 51 rushing attempts by formation -- 38 lone-setback, 4 I-formation and 3 shotgun (for Murray, it was 267 lone-setback, 67 I-formation and 35 shotgun).

 

[Plumfool]

Randle played 88 offensive snaps in the regular season. Here were the personnel groupings on those plays, in addition to Randle, the quarterback and the five offensive linemen --

44 plays -- 2 WR, 2 TE
26 plays -- 3 WR, 1 TE
8 plays -- 1 FB, 2 WR, 1 TE
4 plays -- 1 FB, 1 WR, 2 TE
2 plays -- 1 RB (Dunbar also on the field), 2 WR, 1 TE
2 plays -- 1 WR, 3 TE
2 plays -- 1 FB, 3 TE

Also, STATS LLC categorized 47 of his 51 rushing attempts by formation -- 38 lone-setback, 4 I-formation and 3 shotgun (for Murray, it was 267 lone-setback, 67 I-formation and 35 shotgun).

Thanks for facts

 

[CF74]

Randle is the most durable back we have right now yet unproven...

 

[jday]

'm a fan of the Dallas Cowboys but not a fan of some of the fans that think fandom should be treated like a soap opera. All the speculation and second guessing drives me nuts.

Why would you come to a Dallas Cowboys blog then? That is pretty much what we do all day and night long on this blog - speculate and second guess. If it drives you nuts, you might consider sticking with dc.com, espn, etc.

The team is run like a tight ship and so you can bet that if the FO had doubts about any area on the team, it would already be dealt with and a plan in place.

If the FO had it in his power to fix it, I agree, he absoutely would. But the truth is in football with a cap and a roster limit, there really is only so much the FO can do. Every team has weaknesses The OP's concern, along with many of us, is that we have a weakness in the one position that established an identity for the Cowboys last year. Granted, to address the weakness at RB, the Cowboys would have either had to over-pay for Demarco or reach for running back in the draft. But for us fan's who saw what the running game did for a season that was projected to be an epic failure, clearly running back is and should be a concern.

 

[Risen Star]

I agree that Hurley was the only RB with the ability to do it all, and knew that the Cowboys wouldn't be high enough in the draft to even sniff his jock.

I think the Cowboys have the combined experience with the guys already on the roster to do all the things Murray did, and perhaps be better at certain things that Murray wasn't exceptional at.

What did you think about the other 1st round back, Melvin Hordon?

 

[hlh_8728]

Randle played 88 offensive snaps in the regular season. Here were the personnel groupings on those plays, in addition to Randle, the quarterback and the five offensive linemen --

44 plays -- 2 WR, 2 TE
26 plays -- 3 WR, 1 TE
8 plays -- 1 FB, 2 WR, 1 TE
4 plays -- 1 FB, 1 WR, 2 TE
2 plays -- 1 RB (Dunbar also on the field), 2 WR, 1 TE
2 plays -- 1 WR, 3 TE
2 plays -- 1 FB, 3 TE

Also, STATS LLC categorized 47 of his 51 rushing attempts by formation -- 38 lone-setback, 4 I-formation and 3 shotgun (for Murray, it was 267 lone-setback, 67 I-formation and 35 shotgun).

That's a lot of interesting info there. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

 

[Picksix]

Too soon?

Love the pic, but I always hate the "panic" talk. Concern? Sure. But I hate the thought of any panic, because that usually leads to poor decision . Like Jim Cramer says, "nobody ever made a dime by panicking."

 

[Fletch]

What did you think about the other 1st round back, Melvin Hordon?

Jason Whitten would love to seal block for Hurley or Hordon.

 

[PhillyCowboysFan]

What did you think about the other 1st round back, Melvin Hordon?

I see what you did there.....nice!

 

[JoeKing]

Why would you come to a Dallas Cowboys blog then? That is pretty much what we do all day and night long on this blog - speculate and second guess. If it drives you nuts, you might consider sticking with dc.com, espn, etc..

Not everyone takes that approach here and I doubt the admin folks appreciate you trying to shoo off those that don't.

If the FO had it in his power to fix it, I agree, he absoutely would. But the truth is in football with a cap and a roster limit, there really is only so much the FO can do. Every team has weaknesses The OP's concern, along with many of us, is that we have a weakness in the one position that established an identity for the Cowboys last year. Granted, to address the weakness at RB, the Cowboys would have either had to over-pay for Demarco or reach for running back in the draft. But for us fan's who saw what the running game did for a season that was projected to be an epic failure, clearly running back is and should be a concern.

Missing the point... OP is treating the RB position as if it's just being overlooked by the FO when in reality the FO has got the personnel they want at the position at the price they want to pay and will make adjustments if needed once training camp is under way and not before. It's a business and the FO is taking care of their business.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Running back is the most fungible position in the league.

 

[AdamJT13]

Teams that feature the run this much need a bellcow.

Over the past 15 seasons, there have been 20 teams that won at least 12 games, ran the ball at least 480 times and threw fewer than 500 passes (all but one actually ran more than they passed, and that other team had 491 pass attempts and 487 rushing attempts). Those 20 teams' leading rushers had anywhere from 403 carries down to 194 carries, and only eight of them had a back with more than 282 carries. Eight had no backs with more than 251 carries. Ten had two running backs with at least 100 carries, and six had two backs with more than 150 carries.

In other words, teams that "run this much" have done it with a "bellcow" and without a "bellcow." There is no evidence whatsoever that a team *needs* a "bellcow" to be successful.

 

[sureletsrace]

Over the past 15 seasons, there have been 20 teams that won at least 12 games, ran the ball at least 480 times and threw fewer than 500 passes (all but one actually ran more than they passed, and that other team had 491 pass attempts and 487 rushing attempts). Those 20 teams' leading rushers had anywhere from 403 carries down to 194 carries, and only eight of them had a back with more than 282 carries. Eight had no backs with more than 251 carries. Ten had two running backs with at least 100 carries, and six had two backs with more than 150 carries.

In other words, teams that "run this much" have done it with a "bellcow" and without a "bellcow." There is no evidence whatsoever that a team *needs* a "bellcow" to be successful.

Comin up in here ruining everything with yer silly goshfangled facts n stuff.