Too many important loose ends right now

[TheMarathonContinues]

The problem with that is A. they miss out on a top 10 talent and B. they get a RB that is no different that what is on the roster. With upgrading the pass rush as the number one need this off season the Cowboys easily made the correct decision by drafting Gregory.

They made the right move. I would've made the same move. I'm speaking on the notion that the Cowboys passed up on a running back in the 2nd round because Gregory fell and was hard to pass up. I don't agree with that. I believe the Cowboys had a plan going into this draft and it was to improve the defense. Running back wasn't going to get addressed in this draft unless Gordon or Gurley fell to them.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Had it not been for Rice's off the field disaster he would have been a much better option than McFadden. Rice hasn't declined in talent as much as McFadden. Rice is only 2 years removed from four straight 1100 plus yard rushing seasons while McFadden hasn't seen a 1000 yard season since 2010 and that was his only one. One down season doesn't mean Rice's tank is empty. McFadden hasn't rushed for more than 707 yards the past 4 seasons and has averaged 3.3 a carry the past 3 seasons which is the lowest in the league for a back not named Trent Richardson.

Rice's lack of rushing success in 2013 can be blamed a lot on the lack of success the Ravens had as a team going 8-8. Joe Flacco had an awful season in 2013 tossing more int's than TD's. His passer rating was a dismal 73.1 which was the lowest of his career. No one played well for the Ravens that season and although Rice didn't produce in the running game he caught 58 passes out of the backfield. He would have been terrific coming out of the backfield for the Cowboys with his quickness. Had it not been for his issues I would have taken him easily over McFadden.

Its hard to judge McFadden when he played for a terrible team and a below average to decent offensive line. A true measuring stick would be what he does with this team and its offensive line next season.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

They coulda, shoulda , woulda done several things to get a RB, but after Gurley and Gordon, it was not worth it. It would have cost too much and would have been reaching. They played the draft smart to get the most talent which was best for the team, but they were never in s good position to get a decent RB. There is no doubt that they wanted one. Drafting at 27 was the worst position that the team could find themselves in if they wanted s RB. I am sure they wanted Gurley or Gordon, but the cost would have been so much that they would have lost the chance to get players that would improve the team overall.

They had plenty of chances. They could've traded up for Gordon if they really wanted him. Cowboys valued the running backs in this draft about what they already have on the roster. Gurley and Gordon were the only talent that was going to actually make a difference and come in and be the best back on this team. If Randle is the running back for this team he's a GREAT asset. He's cheap, can play special teams and has gotten progressively better each offseason he's had in the NFL.

 

[KJJ]

Its hard to judge McFadden when he played for a terrible team and a below average to decent offensive line. A true measuring stick would be what he does with this team and its offensive line next season.

The Raiders obviously judged him by how he played for their team behind their OL. If they thought it was all the team and the OL they wouldn't have dumped him and offered Murray more money than Philly offered. McFadden signed a pretty cheap deal with the Cowboys they certainly aren't banking on him and no other teams thought enough of him to offer him more money. If it takes an all world OL for a back to produce then they're probably not that good.

 

[jnday]

A running back who gets injured or who gets replaced by a change-of-pace back is, by definition, not a "bellcow" running back



The "we need a bellcow" crowd thinks that doesn't matter. All that matters is having one running back get the ball more than 320 times, or whatever their standard is.




Giving one running back that many carries didn't even get us to the NFL championship game, let alone to the Super Bowl and winning it.

Frankly, some people are too caught up in forcing this team to be just like some other team instead of realizing that there are many philosophies that work. The factors that determine whether you win or lose don't change (mainly passing effectiveness and pass defense), but there is no single "best" way to accomplish those things.

The bellcow back sure got the team out of the 8-8 records every year, but that is easy to overlook when it doesn't fit an agenda.

 

[jnday]

Its hard to judge McFadden when he played for a terrible team and a below average to decent offensive line. A true measuring stick would be what he does with this team and its offensive line next season.

My question remains, why did other RBs have more sucess than DMac in Oakland? DAmac didn't produce as well under the same conditions. What is the excuse for that?

 

[AsthmaField]

Too soon?

R-E-L-A-X

Oh, crap! I used Tom Wrigglesworth again...

R-E-L-A-X

 

[KJJ]

The big issue with McFadden has been injuries. If he can stay healthy I'm not saying he can't produce we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Blackspider214]

Way too soon to panic. When it comes down to it, NE won the superbowl with a mixed bag of running backs.

It gets tiring reading this. Dallas and NE's offenses are nothing alike. Our offense was run oriented and needed a bell cow. NE was a passing team and could plug whomever in there. They also have tons of quick passes in their offense that act as runs as well. We do not have many quick passes.

RB does not work when you base your offense around the run like we did last season.

 

[AdamJT13]

The bellcow back sure got the team out of the 8-8 records every year, but that is easy to overlook when it doesn't fit an agenda.

It's even easier to overlook when it's not the reason we finished 12-4.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Had it not been for Rice's off the field disaster he would have been a much better option than McFadden. Rice hasn't declined in talent as much as McFadden.

Everything I've read this off season has said Rice is no where close to what he once was and that is the reason he isn't on any teams roster now not his off the field stuff.

 

[KJJ]

Everything I've read this off season has said Rice is no where close to what he once was and that is the reason he isn't on any teams roster now not his off the field stuff.

I've read some of that but I honestly believe had it not been for that incident/video that rocked the NFL world and the nation he would be on an NFL roster right now. The NFL may not want to admit it nor will any teams but no one wants the PR nightmare/distraction he would bring. When someone's image has been destroyed by a domestic violence incident or any crime some teams don't want to discuss it they'll point to the players skill level as being in decline or they'll just say they have no interest.

You find a lot more faults with a player or anyone when their image has been destroyed and they're carrying a lot baggage. Rice isn't a player teams want representing their organization. If he had a pristine reputation teams would be looking at what he did the previous 4 seasons instead of focusing on what he did in 2013. Trust me if Hardy only produced 3-4 sacks in 2013 he would still be looking for work. Even with 15 sacks in 2013 only a few teams considered him.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I've read some of that but I honestly believe had it not been for that incident/video that rocked the NFL world and the nation he would be on an NFL roster right now. The NFL may not want to admit it nor will any teams but no one wants the PR nightmare/distraction he would bring. When someone's image has been destroyed by a domestic violence incident or any crime some teams don't want to discuss it they'll point to the players skill level as being in decline or they'll just say they have no interest.

You find a lot more faults with a player or anyone when their image has been destroyed and they're carrying a lot baggage. Rice isn't a player teams want representing their organization. If he had a pristine reputation teams would be looking at what he did the previous 4 seasons instead of focusing on what he did in 2013. Trust me if Hardy only produced 3-4 sacks in 2013 he would still be looking for work. Even with 15 sacks in 2013 only a few teams considered him.

I'm not going to disagree with any of that but it is interesting you mention Hardy. It only takes one team and Hardy did. Not Rice however. Once we get into preseason and inuries start to pop up it will be interesting to see if Rice gets any attention.

 

[erod]

Rice just isn't that good anymore. And after last season's work load, Murray may be used up, too.

 

[KJJ]

I'm not going to disagree with any of that but it is interesting you mention Hardy. It only takes one team and Hardy did. Not Rice however. Once we get into preseason and inuries start to pop up it will be interesting to see if Rice gets any attention.

I just explained why Hardy has a team it's because he had a great season in 2013 producing 15 sacks. The bad season Rice had in 2013 gives teams a good excuse not to want to risk the PR nightmare/distraction he would bring which would be a lot more than Hardy because we have video evidence that Rice committed a crime. No one knows exactly what happened with Hardy's situation but we know exactly what happened with Rice's situation and it was very disturbing. The Ray Rice incident turned the NFL upside down and could have cost the commissioner his job. It resulted in an about face and a rule change. I've posted for months pointing out the bad season everyone had on the Ravens in 2013. Flacco stunk with 22 int's and only 19 TD passes due to an OL that got him sacked 48 times. The Ravens OL couldn't run block or pass protect. NFLN showed a segment where Rice had very little running room that season.

Had he been a model citizen a team would have snapped him right up he's only 28. He would have been perfect for the Cowboys coming from a winning organization and having a SB ring. The incident makes everyone focus on the bad they saw from his 2013 season. No one wants the headache or the risk that he could fracture their locker room along with disgruntling some of their fan base who would have an issue with Rice representing their team. An injury making for a desperate situation is the only way I see Rice receiving an ounce of interest. He's missed a lot of work and I can't see how he could realistically help a team without any OTA's, training camp and possibly little to no preseason. The more team work he misses the less likely anyone will sign him. They'll be bringing in a very rusty player who's been disgraced and who will cause nothing but a huge PR nightmare and distraction.

 

[DandyDon52]

big mistake not keeping murray is what it is looking like.]
Had they kept murray they would be set for a run right now instead of changing what worked last year.
In 2014 on 1st down rushing dallas avg 5.1 on 1st and 10 which makes it easier to get a 1st down, and makes for a lot of 3rd and shorts.

so can the RB we have do that again in 2015 ?? maybe but I doubt it.
The FO had a great off season, but not keeping murray was the one stupid thing they did .
Murray wasnt perfect, but he was well rounded, and knew all the plays formations etc, hard worker, stayed out of trouble,
and they had a formula using him that was proven to work very good, it even made romo a better QB.
And they threw all that out the window over a couple of million.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

The Raiders obviously judged him by how he played for their team behind their OL. If they thought it was all the team and the OL they wouldn't have dumped him and offered Murray more money than Philly offered. McFadden signed a pretty cheap deal with the Cowboys they certainly aren't banking on him and no other teams thought enough of him to offer him more money. If it takes an all world OL for a back to produce then they're probably not that good.

I wouldn't consider the Raiders great talent evaluators to begin with. Any move they make...... I'd assume the opposite is probably the better move.

 

[DandyDon52]

I just explained why Hardy has a team it's because he had a great season in 2013 producing 15 sacks. The bad season Rice had in 2013 gives teams a good excuse not to want to risk the PR nightmare/distraction he would bring which would be a lot more than Hardy because we have video evidence that Rice committed a crime. No one knows exactly what happened with Hardy's situation but we know exactly what happened with Rice's situation and it was very disturbing. The Ray Rice incident turned the NFL upside down and could have cost the commissioner his job. It resulted in an about face and a rule change. I've posted for months pointing out the bad season everyone had on the Ravens in 2013. Flacco stunk with 22 int's and only 19 TD passes due to an OL that got him sacked 48 times. The Ravens OL couldn't run block or pass protect. NFLN showed a segment where Rice had very little running room that season.

Had he been a model citizen a team would have snapped him right up he's only 28. He would have been perfect for the Cowboys coming from a winning organization and having a SB ring. The incident makes everyone focus on the bad they saw from his 2013 season. No one wants the headache or the risk that he could fracture their locker room along with disgruntling some of their fan base who would have an issue with Rice representing their team. An injury making for a desperate situation is the only way I see Rice receiving an ounce of interest. He's missed a lot of work and I can't see how he could realistically help a team without any OTA's, training camp and possibly little to no preseason. The more team work he misses the less likely anyone will sign him. They'll be bringing in a very rusty player who's been disgraced and who will cause nothing but a huge PR nightmare and distraction.

yeah if your going to sign rice the thing to do would be to sign him early so he could get in shape and learn offense.
I think the owners all agreed to give him a year or 2 off before anyone of them will sign him.
It would be a unofficial ban.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

My question remains, why did other RBs have more sucess than DMac in Oakland? DAmac didn't produce as well under the same conditions. What is the excuse for that?

I can't say I saw enough Raider games to make a opinion on the matter. I don't expect McFadden to do much here personally. I'm not in the camp of you can put anyone behind this line and they'll have success. I think he's here more for his blocking possibly on third downs. I think Randle is the one who's going to be our lead back.

 

[DandyDon52]

It gets tiring reading this. Dallas and NE's offenses are nothing alike. Our offense was run oriented and needed a bell cow. NE was a passing team and could plug whomever in there. They also have tons of quick passes in their offense that act as runs as well. We do not have many quick passes.

RB does not work when you base your offense around the run like we did last season.

Exactly, and the other team in SB had a power back like murray. Seattle would have won had they just used their RB instead of trying some silly trick play.