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

[The Quest for Six]

I think I was pretty clear that the OL is explicitly elite in their own right.

HOU won for reasons that had nothing to do with how their OL played relative to ours, so, no, I'd say your argument is completely irrelevant there.

sorry, meant Weedon

 

[bsheeern]

but that wasn't the point, this was about one particular unit, the offensive line, not overall team.....I don't care about what QB you have back there playing in the NFC least last year, houston had no problem winning with the multiple QB's last year including the cowboys castoff that couldn't win here so does that make their offensive line better than Dallas??.......Our so called vaunted Line, that mostly cowboy fans believe is elite, yet got their starting QB two broken collarbones last season....as a unit, Elite they are NOT YET, they don't control the line of scrimmage, don't get a consistent push and don't control games especially last year against lesser opponents.....

There's so much flawed logic here.

 

[DTown214]

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

This. Anyone who disagrees is secretly an Eagles fan.

 

[Rogerthat12]

We are elite at the "process"....

 

[LocimusPrime]

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.

We have an elite stadium, elite practice facilities, elite cheerleaders, elite concessions, elite clapping ability, and elite loyalty to the cowboys- we keep watching and buying. Oh and the cowboys foam cowboy hat for like $12 runs a little small but its an Elite value

 

[ICP]

Elite at being average

 

[Ken]

90's NFL is a lot different than 2016 NFL. Bronco's running backs are mediocre as were the Panthers.

BTW, i'm for taking Elliot. I don't really care what other teams or decades have done. This offense was terrible last season but with a healthy Romo they should be back to normal. But I still need to improve it. The only way I can think of doing that is adding a impact player like Elliot to it.

My point was....I don't understand that a tried and true appoach by the same people who won the Super Bowl a certain way would suddenly deviate so far from what worked. While it is true that there are a ton of backs who could rush for a 1,000 yards behind our current line there are only some verybtalented one's who can go for 1,800+ and 15+ tds.

Let's stop beating around the bush and go all in. It would put our offense clearly into the elite of the nfl and would lessen the the necessity to make our defense elite.

 

[bevo11]

Elite offseason hype

You hit that on the head! 20 years of this isshh!

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

He can't play defense or quarterback though. You have a quarterback and all of a sudden they area different team.

Hands down sarcasm, cause Gurley makes the Rams far better than they were. .. And, Elliot make Dallas far better as well.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

One thing to keep in mind about Elliot... both NYG and PHI need a RB. If we drafted Elliot, not only would we get the most dynamic offensive playmaker in this draft, but we'd keep him out of the hands of our division rivals who are drafting at 8 and 10 and surely could take him.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

My point was....I don't understand that a tried and true appoach by the same people who won the Super Bowl a certain way would suddenly deviate so far from what worked. While it is true that there are a ton of backs who could rush for a 1,000 yards behind our current line there are only some verybtalented one's who can go for 1,800+ and 15+ tds.

Let's stop beating around the bush and go all in. It would put our offense clearly into the elite of the nfl and would lessen the the necessity to make our defense elite.

I get it but I think in 2016 its been proven you really don't need dominant backs to make it to the Super Bowl. That surely was the case in 2016. The best backs were either hurt or didn't make the post season aside from AP.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

One thing to keep in mind about Elliot... both NYG and PHI need a RB. If we drafted Elliot, not only would we get the most dynamic offensive playmaker in this draft, but we'd keep him out of the hands of our division rivals who are drafting at 8 and 10 and surely could take him.

That doesn't bother me and shouldn't bother the Cowboys though. You can't take guys based on who might take them after you. Elliot is a great prospect he's not a one man team. I'd be more fearful if either of those teams took a linebacker like a Jack.

 

[Hoofbite]

Well, to answer the question at hand. Kicker.

 

[Rockport]

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.

Our offense is elite when Romo and Dez are playing. It would be stupid to waste the #4 pick on a RB when you can get a guy like Howard from Indiana in the 3rd or 4th round. Cowboys know this.

 

[Rockport]

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.

And that was without Romo and Dez playing.

 

[birdwells1]

Our offense is elite when Romo and Dez are playing. It would be stupid to waste the #4 pick on a RB when you can get a guy like Howard from Indiana in the 3rd or 4th round. Cowboys know this.

If you read my entire post, I mentioned that I felt that we should have signed Lamar Miller to provide a breakaway threat that would put this offense in the elite class.

 

[cowboyblue22]

Elliot is the best player in this draft not just the best running back. if cowboys pass on him the will live to regret it many years.

 

[percyhoward]

Elliot is the best player in this draft not just the best running back. if cowboys pass on him the will live to regret it many years.

The most valuable players in the draft play the positions that most directly affect pass offense or pass defense.

These teams led the NFL in Passer Rating Differential for the season listed.
Playoff wins: 18
2015 Seattle (1)
2014 Green Bay (1)
2013 Seattle (3)
2012 Green Bay (1)
2011 Green Bay
2010 Green Bay (4)
2009 New Orleans (3)
2008 Baltimore (2)
2007 New England (2)
2006 Philadelphia (1)

These teams' RB led the NFL in Rushing Yards for the season listed.
Playoff wins: 3
2015 Minnesota
2014 Dallas (1)
2013 Philadelphia
2012 Minnesota
2011 Jacksonville
2010 Houston
2009 Tennessee
2008 Minnesota
2007 San Diego (2)
2006 San Diego

 

[DandyDon1722]

The most valuable players in the draft play the positions that most directly affect pass offense or pass defense.

These teams led the NFL in Passer Rating Differential for the season listed.
Playoff wins: 18
2015 Seattle (1)
2014 Green Bay (1)
2013 Seattle (3)
2012 Green Bay (1)
2011 Green Bay
2010 Green Bay (4)
2009 New Orleans (3)
2008 Baltimore (2)
2007 New England (2)
2006 Philadelphia (1)

These teams' RB led the NFL in Rushing Yards for the season listed.
Playoff wins: 3
2015 Minnesota
2014 Dallas (1)
2013 Philadelphia
2012 Minnesota
2011 Jacksonville
2010 Houston
2009 Tennessee
2008 Minnesota
2007 San Diego (2)
2006 San Diego

Percy, you know I greatly respect your analysis and I always remember you saying how Def passer rating and points per drive are the two biggest correlations to wins and losses and I have always used those in arguing with people about the Cowboys. This certainly is another example.

However, looking at this team specifically, I would say that we are far, far away from an elite defense and only Elliott away from an elite offense.

Plus, much like Murray, Romo and the line did, Elliott makes the defense much better. If we truly are in the Romo window I believe our best chance of making another deep playoff run is with an elite offense and a better defense because frankly - we are out of time.

 

[percyhoward]

However, looking at this team specifically, I would say that we are far, far away from an elite defense and only Elliott away from an elite offense.

Plus, much like Murray, Romo and the line did, Elliott makes the defense much better. If we truly are in the Romo window I believe our best chance of making another deep playoff run is with an elite offense and a better defense because frankly - we are out of time.

Thanks for the kind words. I think being able to run more often would improve the offense and defense. I don't believe we will be able to run more often with Elliot (or any other back) unless we are passing effectively. If Romo is playing, and is as effective as usual, and the OL stays healthy, then we'll be able to run more often with any competent RB. He doesn't need to be elite with this elite OL and QB.

And unfortunately, passer rating differential is an efficiency stat anyway. So it doesn't matter how much we can keep the defense off the field, if they suck when they're on it.