Too many important loose ends right now

[waving monkey]

nice opinion piece. If the FO was worried they would have done been more proactive at RB IMO
the dream of AP goes on. I do like most of your write up

 

[dallasdave]

nice opinion piece. If the FO was worried they would have done been more proactive at RB IMO
the dream of AP goes on. I do like most of your write up

Keep that dream alive.

 

[Bullet22]

Mcfadden will be fine.....the running game will be fine...like this guy has inside info..

 

[sbark]

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.

The coaches will have to work to avoid "tendencies" that teams will look for as each RB takes his rotation. Like Dunbar last year---when he was in, teams knew the tendencies of the Cowboys offense toward screen etc, and by mid season, Linehan had abandoned Dunbar.

 

[jday]

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

Not trying to shoo you off no more than you were trying to shoo the op's of the threads/comments/responses that drive you crazy, which is probably the majority of what you see on here.

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.

I really didn't pick up on the OP suggesting the RB position is being overlooked. He was suggesting that, on the contrary, the FO is concerned about the position. But that all is beside my point. You indicated in your initial response to the OP that "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." That is not necessarily the truth.

Team's carry weaknesses into the season all the time. That's the nature of the NFL - you can't have it all. Therefore, the FO get's with the coaches and the scouts and they brainstorm what positions are the most key to making their various schemes work. And then they go out and get the talent to do just that, be it free agency, draft or other. After watching the RB position play a vital role in what was an awesome season in 2014, those who are on the outside looking in that are not drunk on the proverbial koolaid, wonder why more wasn't done to address the position.

Personally, I feel the Cowboys in a way were handcuffed to making smart decisions. The Cowboys could have over-payed for Demarco, but they were concerned about his age and did not want to make the mistake this organization was previously known for: paying a player for what they had done and not what they were going to do. The Cowboys could have reached for a RB in the draft, but they stuck to their draft board and instead upgraded a defense that has stuggled for the last several years in what looks to be a significant way.

The moves the Cowboys have made throughout the offseason are completely understandable and, to an extent, applause-worthy. But at the same time, there was also a significant gamble made. The Cowboys apparantly are hoping that someone will emerge behind what looks to be a dominating line. It's a calculated risk, but risk all the same. And until the season starts and the Cowboys faithful has a definitive answer to this question, the hand-wringing, second guessing, and speculation will continue.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I really think people are overblowing the running back situation. If they were that concerned they would've just brought Demarco back.

You don't tryout Ben Tate and Felix Jones expecting starters. They were camp bodies.

 

[jday]

I really think people are overblowing the running back situation. If they were that concerned they would've just brought Demarco back.

You don't tryout Ben Tate and Felix Jones expecting starters. They were camp bodies.

You are absolutely correct that Ben Tate and Felix Jones were not brought in for starter consideration. However, I disagree somewhat with your thought on bringing Demarco back. I think the Cowboys honestly thought they would be picking up a Rb in this draft. They just couldn't pass on Randy Gregory. After the second round, every running back they viewed as an upgrade over what they alreay had was taken.

But, hey, your guess is as good as mine, and I'm really, really hoping you are right.

 

[JoeKing]

Not trying to shoo you off no more than you were trying to shoo the op's of the threads/comments/responses that drive you crazy, which is probably the majority of what you see on here.



I really didn't pick up on the OP suggesting the RB position is being overlooked. He was suggesting that, on the contrary, the FO is concerned about the position. But that all is beside my point. You indicated in your initial response to the OP that "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." That is not necessarily the truth.

Team's carry weaknesses into the season all the time. That's the nature of the NFL - you can't have it all. Therefore, the FO get's with the coaches and the scouts and they brainstorm what positions are the most key to making their various schemes work. And then they go out and get the talent to do just that, be it free agency, draft or other. After watching the RB position play a vital role in what was an awesome season in 2014, those who are on the outside looking in that are not drunk on the proverbial koolaid, wonder why more wasn't done to address the position.

Personally, I feel the Cowboys in a way were handcuffed to making smart decisions. The Cowboys could have over-payed for Demarco, but they were concerned about his age and did not want to make the mistake this organization was previously known for: paying a player for what they had done and not what they were going to do. The Cowboys could have reached for a RB in the draft, but they stuck to their draft board and instead upgraded a defense that has stuggled for the last several years in what looks to be a significant way.

The moves the Cowboys have made throughout the offseason are completely understandable and, to an extent, applause-worthy. But at the same time, there was also a significant gamble made. The Cowboys apparantly are hoping that someone will emerge behind what looks to be a dominating line. It's a calculated risk, but risk all the same. And until the season starts and the Cowboys faithful has a definitive answer to this question, the hand-wringing, second guessing, and speculation will continue.

You are obviously the kind of poster that has to have the last word whether you are making a valid point or not so go ahead a respond one more time and have you way. I'm done.

 

[Cover 2]

*Reads thread title and goes to get gun*

*Reads post and puts gun back*





*I don't really have a gun, but if I did that's what would have happened*

 

[visionary]

We have every position on the team set with good starters and good backups, other than 2 positions (RB/1-tech). Those two positions happen to be the most easily replaceable and least impactful positions on the offense and defense, respectively.

Despite that pretty rare accomplishment, we are still both (1) a young team and (2) not in cap hell.

The front office deserves kudos, not panic.

Are you saying the 2 days of his life Erod spent writing the OP were a waste?

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

You are absolutely correct that Ben Tate and Felix Jones were not brought in for starter consideration. However, I disagree somewhat with your thought on bringing Demarco back. I think the Cowboys honestly thought they would be picking up a Rb in this draft. They just couldn't pass on Randy Gregory. After the second round, every running back they viewed as an upgrade over what they alreay had was taken.

But, hey, your guess is as good as mine, and I'm really, really hoping you are right.

I honestly believe they could've passed up Gregory or at the very least they could've traded down from Jones and gotten a running back.

 

[jday]

I honestly believe they could've passed up Gregory or at the very least they could've traded down from Jones and gotten a running back.

I'm pretty sure you and I are thinking of the same guy: Tevin Coleman. I had a list of three, and two were taken before the Cowboys picked in the first round.

 

[Bullet22]

You all well know that injuries happen, the Boys like all teams check out players in case they have an injury and come cut down time to fill out the roster..

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I'm pretty sure you and I are thinking of the same guy: Tevin Coleman. I had a list of three, and two were taken before the Cowboys picked in the first round.

Right. Coleman is one of the guys I had in mind but I honestly believe the Cowboys like their running backs. That's the only reason for why you don't take a running back in a draft that was full of them.

 

[Dodger12]

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.

I can appreciate your research but it doesn't take into account a "bellcow" RB that may have gotten injured or a team with a philosophy of running the ball and used a change of pace RB. And how many of those teams had franchise QB's who could at least cover any deficiency at the RB position.

In any event, what I do know is what formula Dallas used to be successful last year and I'm not sure why fans are so quick to disregard or minimize it.

 

[jnday]

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.

Speaking of plans, I don't think the Cowboys counted on the draft going the way it did. There is no doubt that they wanted a RB. The predraft visits showed their interest. Things just didn't fall into place . I don't think they had a backup to get a lead RB unless AP was an option. That seems to have cooled off las well. I do fault the FO for not having a backup plan other than these options. I am not s Murray fan, but before they let him walk, they should have made sure that there was a RB with comparable talent that they could sign.

 

[jnday]

Right. Coleman is one of the guys I had in mind but I honestly believe the Cowboys like their running backs. That's the only reason for why you don't take a running back in a draft that was full of them.

They would have to traded up which would have cost too much or they would have drafted a massive reach , which is dumb drafting. The Cowboys were in the worst possible position to draft a quality RB without it costing too much. Things just didn't.'t go their way. This doesn't mean that they are happy with the current RBs on the roster. I think they see the problem with having a roster full of below average RBs when they are a running team. I still think that another RB will be signed if there is anyway possible to work out a decent trade. The RB position is just as important to this team as Emmitt was to the 90's Cowboys. The one thing that may prevent trading for a RB is ego. Jerry and many fans think the line is so good that anybody can run behind the line and produce . This is arrogant thinking. It takes a combination of good line play and a good RB to produce a great running game.

 

[jday]

Right. Coleman is one of the guys I had in mind but I honestly believe the Cowboys like their running backs. That's the only reason for why you don't take a running back in a draft that was full of them.

The draft was full of names, but there were only 3 that I thought may be an upgrade over what the Cowboys had and two of them were taken before the Cowboys could pick in the first round. So, I would like to think the Cowboys are happy with what they have, but at the same time, they didn't have a whole lot of opportunities to address the position after they decided to take Randall Gregory. Which makes me wonder, who do the Cowboys take if Randall Gregory didn't fail the test at the Combine?

 

[jnday]

The coaches will have to work to avoid "tendencies" that teams will look for as each RB takes his rotation. Like Dunbar last year---when he was in, teams knew the tendencies of the Cowboys offense toward screen etc, and by mid season, Linehan had abandoned Dunbar.

Dunbar is very limited on what plays his talents fit. Considering the lack of talent overall at the RB position, he needs to be cut and a well-rounded RB needs to fill his roster spot. As it stands, the team needs a big , physical runner that can move the pile and get the short yards.

 

[jnday]

The draft was full of names, but there were only 3 that I thought may be an upgrade over what the Cowboys had and two of them were taken before the Cowboys could pick in the first round. So, I would like to think the Cowboys are happy with what they have, but at the same time, they didn't have a whole lot of opportunities to address the position after they decided to take Randall Gregory. Which makes me wonder, who do the Cowboys take if Randall Gregory didn't fail the test at the Combine?

I wouldn't go so far as to say they are happy with the current RBs on the roster, but I agree with you that the opportunity to get one of the top RBs was not there. It would have cost too much to trade up for Gurley or Gordon. I don't know how they had the second tier of RBs rated. I did notice that some of those RBs were not the type of physical runner that the team needed.