Video: What We Should Expect From This Running-back Duo
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Good video. Not sure how accurate it is about Vaughn's usage. Simply because no one knows.
But Lamb, Cooks, TE, Pollard and Vaughn on the field at the same time is a lot of juice.
But Lamb, Cooks, TE, Pollard and Vaughn on the field at the same time is a lot of juice.
JBS
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That’s not a cowboys jersey
buybuydandavis
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Little turnover in the RB group yet.
We let go of #2, kept the rest, then added 3 more this offseason.
Wouldn't be surprised if we sign another one.
The only uncuttable guy is Pollard.
buybuydandavis
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The Deuce is Loose!
plasticman
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The Cowboys have a duo?
Wouldn't it be prudent to wait until he actually makes the team?
Vaughn is a 6th round pick.
In 2021 there were 42 players drafted in the 6th round due to compensatory picks. Three of them started more than 6 games.
There were 4 RB;s drafted in the 6th round in 2022. They participated in a combined 35 of 68 possible games or 51.5%. They started a combined 1 game. They carried the ball a combined 69 times in their rookie season for an average of 1 carry a game.
The Cowboys most recent RB's drafted in day #3 was Darius Jackson in 2016 and Mike Weber in 2019. They combined for a total of 4 games participated and 6 carries.
Vaughn isn't going to be part of any duo. If he makes the team then they will use him as a hybrid player much like Travon Austin. He will get 3-5 opportunities per game.
They plan to overuse Pollard just like they did Barber. I expected the Cowboys to draft a RB in the top 3 rounds if they were serious about forming an RB duo. That didn't happen so it's probably going to be Ronald Jones by default. The only other option would be if they grabbed a veteran that gets cut later for cap reasons.
Wouldn't it be prudent to wait until he actually makes the team?
Vaughn is a 6th round pick.
In 2021 there were 42 players drafted in the 6th round due to compensatory picks. Three of them started more than 6 games.
There were 4 RB;s drafted in the 6th round in 2022. They participated in a combined 35 of 68 possible games or 51.5%. They started a combined 1 game. They carried the ball a combined 69 times in their rookie season for an average of 1 carry a game.
The Cowboys most recent RB's drafted in day #3 was Darius Jackson in 2016 and Mike Weber in 2019. They combined for a total of 4 games participated and 6 carries.
Vaughn isn't going to be part of any duo. If he makes the team then they will use him as a hybrid player much like Travon Austin. He will get 3-5 opportunities per game.
They plan to overuse Pollard just like they did Barber. I expected the Cowboys to draft a RB in the top 3 rounds if they were serious about forming an RB duo. That didn't happen so it's probably going to be Ronald Jones by default. The only other option would be if they grabbed a veteran that gets cut later for cap reasons.
quickccc
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Huh ? Pollard is Not a bell cow pounder like MB3 was, ..so why would we choose to use (and abuse) pollard as such ?
The continuing vibe that I get from fans on this board is the expectation of the ground and pound bell cow mentality from our RBs.
They just cannot think or envision differently from 90's Emmitt Smith dayz,..the Marion Barber dayz... the Zeke Elliott pound-grind days..
Also Darius Jackson, Mike Weber never had the prolific college production careers that Deuce had at KSU.
Jackson was all athlete, zero run instincts, zero elusiveness and stiff receiver - he was merely a str8 liner.
Elusiveness was not Weber's game either, .nor can I remember him being the game breaker that Vaughn displayed in college.
I do agree that I am not for anointing Deuce as instant No.2 RB ..at this point. As I can see vet Ronald Jones making a case for the No.2 backup role
with his run instincts, elusiveness, knack for opening and holes, and his physicality.
I would not be surprised if Jones ends up being our designated goal line/short yd specialist.
plasticman
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The Cowboys are 27-1 when Dak throws the ball 28 times or less.
They are 34-34 when Dak throws the ball more than 28 times.
If the Cowboys are going to pass the ball 28 or less times then they must run the ball 30 or more times. McCarthy realizes this, hence his statement about emphasizing the running game.
Pollard ran the ball 193 times in 16 games last season. That is an average of 12 carries a game. The Cowboys must run the ball at least twice that much in 2023.
The most carries that Ronald Jones had in a season is one less than Pollard. He had 192 carries in 2020. For his career he has averaged less than 8 carries a game.
Where are those runs going to come from, an undrafted rookie FB and a 170 LB 5FT 5 inch 6th round draft pick?
They are going to depend on an undrafted rookie in the red zone? On 3rd and short plays? Is Pollard going to have enough at the end of a game to run out the clock? Is he going to get the dirty yards?
The assumption according to this thread , is that Vaughn is the answer. However, based on everything we have seen over the past several decades, the most unlikely scenario for a duo would be to match Pollard up with a rookie 6th round draft pick
The shortest RB in the NFL since World War II was 5'7. There have been three RB's that short, all 2 inches taller than Vaughn. All three weighed over 200 pounds. Running Vaughn more than 5 plays a game would be involuntary manslaughter.
Jerry's mentality has always been to get his money's worth. The more you get paid the harder you should work. He ran Barber into the ground after his contract, he will do the same to Pollard.
It was critical that the Cowboys acquire a RB in the draft with the potential to split carries with Pollard. It needed to be one of the top 3 in that class and the Cowboys blew it.
The only other recourse for this team is to resign Zeke or make a trade. We haven't even discussed the possibility of injuries, as if this is so highly improbable.
Aerolithe_Lion
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Expect is a strong word
Motorola
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Not itched in stone that Pollard and Vaughan are "the duo" for the 2023 season.
quickccc
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SMH... Here is lies exactly what I am talking about … some fans are so focused on “ running” the ball and “ carries” that they keep neglecting “ touches” .
Seems they cannot think any different than ground and pound days of old.
Touches persist of both rushing and receiving. That’s the makeup and measure of an all-purpose type RB,.. as opposed to a bell cow. A grind and pound back.
The Kamara’s …the McCaffrey’s .. those are thoroughbred backs that you do Not grind and pound with.
You schematic them through the well best design blend of rush/receive.
- If Pollard is carrying the ball an avg of 12 times,.. while catching the ball 5 times , especially in a way where it is designed for him to make a splash play- then I’m well fine with
12 carries, so long as it also involves him in pass game.
- And who says Pollard has to have all the carries per game ? .. instead of the total carries (and touches) being distributed well among the two or three top backs on the team ?
This is also the reason why you not only want certain quality back(s) but you want the types of backs to best fit and mesh with the RB schematics and designs of the offense.
That’s why you devise ‘stretch’ plays and edge plays that emphasizes quick cut back lanes, getting those type backs very quickly into the second level of defenders vs run,
while you also well design these splash types in pass game.
- And BTW, you’re too well stuck in the back in the way, way old school daze, that you’ve missing several RBs under 5’7 that have played in the NFL (way much after WW2).. heck including
often discussed/compared Sproles at 5’6. .. the late Lionel “train” James was 5’6… and then there was Jacqizz Rodgers.. also at 5’6
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quickccc
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SMH... Here is lies exactly what I am talking about … some fans are so focused on “ running” the ball and “ carries” that they keep neglecting “ touches” .
Seems they cannot think any different than ground and pound days of old.
Touches persist of both rushing and receiving. That’s the makeup and measure of an all-purpose type RB,.. as opposed to a bell cow. A grind and pound back.
The Kamara’s …the McCaffrey’s .. those are thoroughbred backs that you do Not grind and pound with.
You schematic them through the well best design blend of rush/receive.
- If Pollard is carrying the ball an avg of 12 times,.. while catching the ball 5 times , especially in a way where it is designed for him to make a splash play- then I’m well fine with
12 carries, so long as it also involves him in pass game.
- And who says Pollard has to have all the carries per game ? .. instead of the total carries (and touches) being distributed well among the two or three top backs on the team ?
This is also the reason why you not only want certain quality back(s) but you want the types of backs to best fit and mesh with the RB schematics and designs of the offense.
That’s why you devise ‘stretch’ plays and edge plays that emphasizes quick cut back lanes, getting those type backs very quickly into the second level of defenders vs run,
while you also well design these splash types in pass game.
- And BTW, you’re too well stuck in the back in the way, way old school daze, that you’ve missing several RBs under 5’7 that have played in the NFL (way much after WW2).. heck including
often discussed/compared Sproles at 5’6. .. the late Lionel “train” James was 5’6… and then there was Jacqizz Rodgers.. also at 5’6
Motorola
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Didn't know "Little Train" had past away over a year ago (Feb 2022).
Auburn has a number of outstandng running backs.
Lionel James was one of them.
plasticman
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Darren Sproles averaged 52 carries a season, a little over 3 carries a game. That was nowhere near being part of a duo. That is the number of carries I projected for Vaughn.
Lionel James had one season where carried the ball more than 51 times. he carried the ball 105 times, an average of 6.5 carries a game for that season. Notice that, although he only averaged 38 carries a season, his career lasted a total of six seasons.
Jacquiz Rodgers is another one that averaged 4 carries a game.
If a RB is part of a duo then he is carrying the ball at least 150 times a season, which is about 8-9 carries a game. Nobody 5'7 has been doing that which is why I didn't mention the players with just a few carries a game.
If a RB is catching the ball then it is part of the passing game, not the running game, and I already mentioned the stats relating to Dak passing the ball when the offense is not balanced.
So I ask again, if Pollard is only carrying the ball 12 times a game, where are the other 15 to 20 carries coming from? Hint: They won't be coming from Vaughn.
