What are we elite at? Argument for a top flight RB

[birdwells1]

When you look at our front office's approach to the rb position I think the philosophy is that you can find an adequate rb without using top resources to get him, the better to oline the less talented the rb has to be. I think we have one of the best (if not the best) olines in football but if you pair them with a mediocre runner then you'll probably get good results but what if you pair them with an excellent runner with break away ability? Now you'll get elite results.

In football the offense is so reliant on the what the defense does and vice versa, in 2014 our defense couldn't get to the qb so how were we successful? Our offense dictated to the the other teams offense how they were going to play. Our offense put pressure, not only on the other teams defense, but also on the others teams offense to score when they got the ball back. How did we do that? With an elite (best in the NFL) running game. Our running game set the pace of how the game was going to be played and when the other teams D committed too many player to stopping the run, that's when Romo and company went to work. That formula won us 12 games that year.

We are quick to rag on our defense but our offense put no pressure on the other teams offense to have to take chances. The other teams offense played conservative because they knew that the Cowboys couldn't score enough points to beat them all they had to do was not beat themselves by turning the ball over and they didn't.

When you look at you look at the past few SBs you can look at something on either team that you can point to and say that they are elite and that's why they are in the championship. Last year Denver (defense) and Carolina (defense), Patriots (passing game) and Seattle (defense), Denver (passing game) and Seattle (defense). They focused on that facet of their team and road it to the SB.

I felt that we had a chance to add Lamar Miller, a 24 yo proven running back with low mileage who is the fastest running back ever out of the the University of Miami. I think that this addition would've made our running game elite and we could have done even better than we did in 2014 (barring injury) but we, so far, have chosen to settle for having a good running game.

 

[a.stovall2]

Oline only

 

[Alexander]

Kicker?

 

[bsheeern]

We have an Elite O-line, Elite #1 WR, Elite QB, and Elite kicker.

 

[The Quest for Six]

We have an Elite O-line, Elite #1 WR, Elite QB, and Elite kicker.

fify

 

[birdwells1]

We have an Elite O-line, Elite #1 WR, Elite QB, and Elite kicker.

I guess what I'm saying is run game, pass game, run defense, pass defense or even coaching what are we elite at? We have an elite oline but our run game is just good, we have an elite wr/qb combo but our passing game is just good. I can name about 4 teams that are better at passing the ball than we are and that's not elite. When I say elite I'm talking top 1 or 2 in the league, in 2014 we were the best running team in the league.

 

[Sarge]

I guess what I'm saying is run game, pass game, run defense, pass defense or even coaching what are we elite at?

What makes you think we might be elite at anything?

 

[John813]

Elite offseason hype

 

[CCBoy]

What makes you think we might be elite at anything?

(coughing) Fans at complaining about everything they can...

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Gurley didn't improve the Rams.

 

[bsheeern]

I guess what I'm saying is run game, pass game, run defense, pass defense or even coaching what are we elite at? We have an elite oline but our run game is just good, we have an elite wr/qb combo but our passing game is just good. I can name about 4 teams that are better at passing the ball than we are and that's not elite. When I say elite I'm talking top 1 or 2 in the league, in 2014 we were the best running team in the league.

I see elite as top 5ish in the league.
Let's be honest here : Stats can be very misleading especially in team sports and we all know opinions vary.

 

[bsheeern]

fify

huh?

 

[Alexander]

Elite at keeping relevance.

 

[plasticman]

As much of a fan that I am of a dominant running game, how many elite RB's played a prominent role in helping their team win a Super Bowl in the 21st century?

Where was the elite RB for the Patriots, Giants, Broncos, Saints, Packers, and Steelers. Many of them had very capable running games but I would hardly call them elite.

How has the current elite runners like Chris Johnson, Adran Peterson, Jamaal Charles, and others lifted their teams to championships.

Its a nice component and it shouldnt be taken for granted if it happens but its true that it isnt a requirement. A team must have a QB, O-line, and diverse weapons and a good defense.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Right now the Cowboys are not elite at anything but with a healthy Romo, healthy Dez and decent running game, they have the capability to be an elite offense. Drafting Elliott would enhance the running game but Romo is still the key.

I still prefer the QB, Ramsey or Bosa before Elliott.

 

[jterrell]

When you look at our front office's approach to the rb position I think the philosophy is that you can find an adequate rb without using top resources to get him, the better to oline the less talented the rb has to be. I think we have one of the best (if not the best) olines in football but if you pair them with a mediocre runner then you'll probably get good results but what if you pair them with an excellent runner with break away ability? Now you'll get elite results.

In football the offense is so reliant on the what the defense does and vice versa, in 2014 our defense couldn't get to the qb so how were we successful? Our offense dictated to the the other teams offense how they were going to play. Our offense put pressure, not only on the other teams defense, but also on the others teams offense to score when they got the ball back. How did we do that? With an elite (best in the NFL) running game. Our running game set the pace of how the game was going to be played and when the other teams D committed too many player to stopping the run, that's when Romo and company went to work. That formula won us 12 games that year.

We are quick to rag on our defense but our offense put no pressure on the other teams offense to have to take chances. The other teams offense played conservative because they knew that the Cowboys couldn't score enough points to beat them all they had to do was not beat themselves by turning the ball over and they didn't.

When you look at you look at the past few SBs you can look at something on either team that you can point to and say that they are elite and that's why they are in the championship. Last year Denver (defense) and Carolina (defense), Patriots (passing game) and Seattle (defense), Denver (passing game) and Seattle (defense). They focused on that facet of their team and road it to the SB.

I felt that we had a chance to add Lamar Miller, a 24 yo proven running back with low mileage who is the fastest running back ever out of the the University of Miami. I think that this addition would've made our running game elite and we could have done even better than we did in 2014 (barring injury) but we, so far, have chosen to settle for having a good running game.

This is all based on assumptions.
1. You assume DMC is not a breakaway threat? Even though he clocked faster than EVERY RB in this draft in his 40 coming out... including Lamar Miller when he came out btw.
2. Having a back take 25 carries is not about breakaways. Even Murray in his epic 2014 when he did break a long run had to rest. A mainline back with breakaway speed is a very rare luxury and generally a tiny part of their game.
3. You assume the 2014 and 2015 offensive difference was rushing... and not the obvious passing aspect.
4. You assume any back in any draft can be counted on to be healthy, reliable, elite for any given period of time.

Reality:
1. Dallas had the 4th best rushing total in the league from DMC. That IS elite performance. 100 RBs in league and he had 4th best total. 96th percentile. Elite.
2. DMC averaged 4.6 yards per carry last year. Behind the same OL Randle averaged 4.1, Christine Michael averaged 3.4. So what DMC did was hardly all OL.
3. Dallas was even better in short yardage rushes in 2015 than it was 2014. BETTER.
4. In short the rushing game MORE than did it's part with zero help from the moribund passing game.

There are 6 on field coordinated aspects to a game: rush (off and def), pass (off and def), ST (off and def).
Dallas won 2 areas last year. Off rushing and ST offense(thanks Dan).
Arguing we need to win those areas by more is just plain foolish.
There simply are not 8 games worth if improvement from DMC to even Adrian Peterson. We might have won 7 games with AD here. But we'd have had 7m less of players around him so who knows.
Those 8 games are going to come from better play at QB/WR/DL/CB/S. All areas we were bottom 10 last year.

 

[DandyDon52]

When you look at our front office's approach to the rb position I think the philosophy is that you can find an adequate rb without using top resources to get him, the better to oline the less talented the rb has to be. I think we have one of the best (if not the best) olines in football but if you pair them with a mediocre runner then you'll probably get good results but what if you pair them with an excellent runner with break away ability? Now you'll get elite results.

In football the offense is so reliant on the what the defense does and vice versa, in 2014 our defense couldn't get to the qb so how were we successful? Our offense dictated to the the other teams offense how they were going to play. Our offense put pressure, not only on the other teams defense, but also on the others teams offense to score when they got the ball back. How did we do that? With an elite (best in the NFL) running game. Our running game set the pace of how the game was going to be played and when the other teams D committed too many player to stopping the run, that's when Romo and company went to work. That formula won us 12 games that year.

We are quick to rag on our defense but our offense put no pressure on the other teams offense to have to take chances. The other teams offense played conservative because they knew that the Cowboys couldn't score enough points to beat them all they had to do was not beat themselves by turning the ball over and they didn't.

When you look at you look at the past few SBs you can look at something on either team that you can point to and say that they are elite and that's why they are in the championship. Last year Denver (defense) and Carolina (defense), Patriots (passing game) and Seattle (defense), Denver (passing game) and Seattle (defense). They focused on that facet of their team and road it to the SB.

I felt that we had a chance to add Lamar Miller, a 24 yo proven running back with low mileage who is the fastest running back ever out of the the University of Miami. I think that this addition would've made our running game elite and we could have done even better than we did in 2014 (barring injury) but we, so far, have chosen to settle for having a good running game.

Well I agree with you, lets get a elite RB, the only choice left is elliot, hopefully they get him at 4.
if they trade back they might not get him, and the extra pick could be someone like mo , a average player.

But we just have to wait and see how it goes and what they do.

 

[cowboyblue22]

in my mind Elliot may not be just the best running back but the best player in this draft. He will have a greater impact on this team this year more than any other player. the rushing stats may say the boys had the fourth best rushing total but in the end the most important stat of the season was 4 and 12 so no they are not elite.

 

[Sydla]

in my mind Elliot may not be just the best running back but the best player in this draft. He will have a greater impact on this team this year more than any other player. the rushing stats may say the boys had the fourth best rushing total but in the end the most important stat of the season was 4 and 12 so no they are not elite.

I would wager that the reason we were 4-12 last year had little to do with the running game at all.

I think some of you are now creating bizarre justifications as to why we have to have Elliott at 4.

 

[CyberB0b]

When you look at our front office's approach to the rb position I think the philosophy is that you can find an adequate rb without using top resources to get him, the better to oline the less talented the rb has to be. I think we have one of the best (if not the best) olines in football but if you pair them with a mediocre runner then you'll probably get good results but what if you pair them with an excellent runner with break away ability? Now you'll get elite results.

In football the offense is so reliant on the what the defense does and vice versa, in 2014 our defense couldn't get to the qb so how were we successful? Our offense dictated to the the other teams offense how they were going to play. Our offense put pressure, not only on the other teams defense, but also on the others teams offense to score when they got the ball back. How did we do that? With an elite (best in the NFL) running game. Our running game set the pace of how the game was going to be played and when the other teams D committed too many player to stopping the run, that's when Romo and company went to work. That formula won us 12 games that year.

We are quick to rag on our defense but our offense put no pressure on the other teams offense to have to take chances. The other teams offense played conservative because they knew that the Cowboys couldn't score enough points to beat them all they had to do was not beat themselves by turning the ball over and they didn't.

When you look at you look at the past few SBs you can look at something on either team that you can point to and say that they are elite and that's why they are in the championship. Last year Denver (defense) and Carolina (defense), Patriots (passing game) and Seattle (defense), Denver (passing game) and Seattle (defense). They focused on that facet of their team and road it to the SB.

I felt that we had a chance to add Lamar Miller, a 24 yo proven running back with low mileage who is the fastest running back ever out of the the University of Miami. I think that this addition would've made our running game elite and we could have done even better than we did in 2014 (barring injury) but we, so far, have chosen to settle for having a good running game.

I wouldn't say Lamar Miller is proven, by any means.