Who is your starter at RB?

[KJJ]

Contend to win the NFC East. Otay. If that gets you excited to lose in the 1st round of the playoffs. And to be close to that 2014 team, where Romo had a career year, and Murray ran for 1,800 yds. Our d was what, top 5 in turnovers created.

You wouldn't get excited to contend to win the East even if winning it resulted in a one and out in the playoffs? You would actually prefer another miserable season like we had last year where the team was virtually done after the first 8 games than make the playoffs? You're taking negativity to another level if you're going to count the team out and mark down a loss in the first round. Did you mark down a loss in the first round of the playoffs in 2014? I would much rather make the playoffs giving us at least a chance and get pasted in the first round than suffer through a 4-12 season where half the fan base is pulling for the team to lose out so we can get a top 5 pick. Anytime you make the playoffs regardless how you end up it gives you some hope the following year. Any playoff season for the Cowboys is a positive because they've only made the playoffs 7 times the past 20 years and have only 3 playoff wins during that period. For Romo to even have a chance to be as efficient as he was in 2014 and to stay healthy he needs a solid, consistent running game led by a runner he can lean on.

The key to his career season in 2014 was the performance of Murray who took a lot of pressure off him. The prolific running game we had led to a career low in passing attempts for Romo which contributed to him tying a career low in INT's. His consistency went way up (led the entire league in passer rating) and his mistakes came way down. The main reason our defense was top 5 in turnovers in 2014 was due to our offense being so efficient in the passing and running game. We were able to control the clock in a number of games which helped keep the defense off the field and fresh. We were getting opponents behind which led to them making mistakes. The main reason the Cowboys were so poor forcing turnovers last season was the offense was a mess due to our QB situation. We lacked consistency in the passing and running game the two areas we excelled at during the 2014 season. We weren't able to control the ball like we did in 2014 and when we weren't behind we found ourselves in a lot of very tight games.

The defense spent more time on the field and clearly got worn down in some games. We had a play not to lose approach offensively and defensively in 2015 because we were in so many tight games and feared making mistakes. We had our QBs playing conservatively throwing short high percentage passes to try and limit mistakes rather than taking some shots down the field. Defensively we were weren't playing aggressive fearing giving up big plays. Go back and review the closing minutes of the Seattle game and watch the lack of aggression as we allowed the Seahawks to waltz into FG range to beat us in the closing minutes. Claiborne made damn sure he wasn't going to get beat deep by playing way off his receiver apparently forgetting we were protecting a 2 point lead and that a FG would beat us.

 

[KJJ]

Contend for what?

Contend for the NFL Least you don't even think that's possible? Even as poor a team as we had last season we were able to stay within a game or two most of the year because of how bad the rest of the division was. The division the Cowboys play in give them an opportunity to have some success next season. Of the Cowboys 4 wins in 2015 3 of them came against division opponents.

 

[CCBoy]

Question: What's the most interesting (and plausible) scenario that could unfold with picks Nos. 1, 2 and 3 before the Cowboys' pick at No. 4?

Jon Machota: To me, the most interesting would be both QBs and Tunsil still being on the board at No. 4. I don't believe the Cowboys want to take a QB. I think they have their eyes on improving the defense with that pick. So the most interesting scenario for me would be Jalen Ramsey, Joey Bosa and DeForest Buckner going 1, 2, 3. Would the Cowboys then take Myles Jack? Would they try to trade back? Would they end up taking one of the QBs? Would they end up taking Tunsil? An offensive line of Tyron Smith, La'el Collins, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin and Laremy Tunsil is just incredible. I'll run behind that line.


https://www.yahoo.com/

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

Contend for the NFL Least you don't even think that's possible? Even as poor a team as we had last season we were able to stay within a game or two most of the year because of how bad the rest of the division was. The division the Cowboys play in give them an opportunity to have some success next season. Of the teams 4 wins in 2015 3 of them came against division opponents.

Winning the NFC East, of course we will contend for that. Contending for the NFC Championship or a SB, I don't even want to go there.

 

[KJJ]

McFadden had a ton of receptions and was the 4th leading NFC rusher with not starting six games. As to Morris, he is second only to Peterson as to total yards over the past four seasons...yea, a huge upgrade is needed for right now.

I wouldn't call 40 receptions a "ton" Murray had 57 receptions in 2014 along with his almost 400 carries. Lance Dunbar had 21 receptions in the first 4 games last season because we threw to the backs a lot. Everyone is making a big deal about McFadden being the 4th leading rusher but his yards weren't leading to TD's and we were losing games. Over 400 of McFadden's 1089 yards came in the last 4 games when the Cowboys were done and most of their opponents were done. Not one of those games did the Cowboys win.

Despite having a career high in carries and playing behind arguably the best OL in football he had fewer yards and 4 fewer TD's than he did in Oakland in 2010 playing behind a much lesser OL. McFadden had a Julius Jones 2006 type season and even Jones scored one more TD than McFadden that year and wasn't playing behind near as good an OL.

Put a great back behind our OL and they would have had 1500+ yards and 10+ rushing TD's. If our running game is going to be more consistent and we're going to put more TD's on the board and not have to settle for so many FG attempts we need a better back and Morris could end up being a better back.

 

[KJJ]

Winning the NFC East, of course we will contend for that. Contending for the NFC Championship or a SB, I don't even want to go there.

Most of us thought we didn't have a shot at contending in 2014 many who get paid to talk football weren't giving us a chance with some picking the Cowboys to be the worst team in the league that season. Sure, the odds aren't in the Cowboys favor of contending for an NFC championship or SB but in the NFL you can never rule anything out. I know from analyzing the team as much as I do that a strong, CONSISTENT running game would make the Cowboys a much better team. The running game was the big difference maker in 2014 we fed off it and it clearly helped the defense from being exposed as much.

Go back and watch the Seattle game it was like watching our great 90's teams. Seattle had us down and by the throat but we hung in and eventually wore the Legion of Boom down. Although Murray didn't have a huge yardage game or any long runs he sucked the life out of that defense and the one TD run he had in the redone was a thing of beauty. That game solidified the Cowboys as a bonafide contender in 2014.

 

[CCBoy]

Winning the NFC East, of course we will contend for that. Contending for the NFC Championship or a SB, I don't even want to go there.

Why not? The team has been right at that door twice, in the last eight seasons. First time they should have beaten the Giants. Last time, it took a change in officiating to keep Dez Bryant out of the end zone and Dallas in the NFC Championship game...Naw, too much venting for a reasonable look.

 

[TX Cowboy]

Normally I'd say Mcfadden due to the fact he rushed for a thousand yards last season, despite
the fact that it totally meant nothing when your record is? 4-12, So I am not going to say either
at this point. Let them duke it out in mini and training camp and may the better player earn his
role as starter

 

[CCBoy]

I wouldn't call 40 receptions a "ton" Murray had 57 receptions in 2014 along with his almost 400 carries. Lance Dunbar had 21 receptions in the first 4 games last season because we threw to the backs a lot. Everyone is making a big deal about McFadden being the 4th leading rusher but his yards weren't leading to TD's and we were losing games. Over 400 of McFadden's 1089 yards came in the last 4 games when the Cowboys were done and most of their opponents were done. Not one of those games did the Cowboys win.

Despite having a career high in carries and playing behind arguably the best OL in football he had fewer yards and 4 fewer TD's than he did in Oakland in 2010 playing behind a much lesser OL. McFadden had a Julius Jones 2006 type season and even Jones scored one more TD than McFadden that year and wasn't playing behind near as good an OL.

Put a great back behind our OL and they would have had 1500+ yards and 10+ rushing TD's. If our running game is going to be more consistent and we're going to put more TD's on the board and not have to settle for so many FG attempts we need a better back and Morris could end up being a better back.

Fact, what you issue as disclaimer info is rarely beyond a select view. Six games as a starter could have easily achieved the 17 receptions that your 'superior' Murray had. You argue for personal bias and for the sake of argument alone.

Throw in additional burn barrel hype, and that's off to the races on perspective...or so it's presented. No thanks.

And if I were the Pope, I wouldn't be a Baptist.

Deficiencies was there because of NO passing game last season...unless writer's block is the true cause of limited vision.

By the way, discussing real elements, and not opinion, the return of Dunbar probably has a lot to do with numbers of running back receptions for this season...as well. Just to be unbiased and discuss more actual facts. Not another group of conjectures to arrive at an already determined stance.

But Dunbar removes some of the need for Morris to catch a ton of passes as well. Then, there is the point that McFadden is still the starter, for receptions discussion.

 

[KJJ]

Fact, what you issue as disclaimer info is rarely beyond a select view. Six games as a starter could have easily achieved the 17 receptions that your 'superior' Murray had. You argue for personal bias and for the sake of argument alone.

Throw in additional burn barrel hype, and that's off to the races on perspective...or so it's presented. No thanks.

And if I were the Pope, I wouldn't be a Baptist.

Deficiencies was there because of NO passing game last season...unless writer's block is the true cause of limited vision.

By the way, discussing real elements, and not opinion, the return of Dunbar probably has a lot to do with numbers of running back receptions for this season...as well. Just to be unbiased and discuss more actual facts. Not another group of conjectures to arrive at an already determined stance.

But Dunbar removes some of the need for Morris to catch a ton of passes as well. Then, there is the point that McFadden is still the starter, for receptions discussion.

Everyone talks about the lack of a passing game hindering our running game but in 3 of Romo's 4 starts we had trouble running the ball consistently. Despite over 350 yards passing in the opener and 3 TD's by Romo, Randle and McFadden combined for only 3.5 a carry. This resulted in Dunbar catching 8 passes, Randle 3 passes and McFadden one as the Cowboys used the pass as an extended handoff to try and give our backs some space. Romo put the ball up 45 times in the opener which were more attempts than he had in any game in 2014. In week 2 he was on pace for another 40 attempt game when he was injured. Once again Randle and McFadden averaged under 4.0 a carry despite efficient passing numbers by Romo. This put us in a lot of long down situations that we weren't finding ourselves in during the 2014 season.

Against Carolina in Romo's last start McFadden had 3 negative carries in his first 7 rushing attempts which led to him averaging only 1.1 a carry vs Carolina. This put us in long down situations forcing Romo to have to put the ball up. Both times he was injured last season came in long down situations where the defense was able to pin their ears back and come after him. McFadden had 2 games in a span of 3 weeks where he averaged under 2.0 a carry contributing to the Cowboys losing both games. The Tampa loss was a killer McFadden had 17 rushing attempts only averaging 1.9 a carry. It's a MUST that we have a more consistent running game in 2016 and are much better in short yardage situations or Romo's chances of staying healthy and the Cowboys rebounding from last season won't be very good.

 

[CCBoy]

Everyone talks about the lack of a passing game hindering our running game but in 3 of Romo's 4 starts we had trouble running the ball consistently. Despite over 350 yards passing in the opener and 3 TD's by Romo, Randle and McFadden combined for only 3.5 a carry. This resulted in Dunbar catching 8 passes, Randle 3 passes and McFadden one as the Cowboys used the pass as an extended handoff to try and give our backs some space. Romo put the ball up 45 times in the opener which were more attempts than he had in any game in 2014. In week 2 he was on pace for another 40 attempt game when he was injured. Once again Randle and McFadden averaged under 4.0 a carry despite efficient passing numbers by Romo. This put us in a lot of long down situations that we weren't finding ourselves in during the 2014 season.

Against Carolina in Romo's last start McFadden had 3 negative carries in his first 7 rushing attempts which led to him averaging only 1.1 a carry vs Carolina. This put us in long down situations forcing Romo to have to put the ball up. Both times he was injured last season came in long down situations where the defense was able to pin their ears back and come after him. McFadden had 2 games in a span of 3 weeks where he averaged under 2.0 a carry contributing to the Cowboys losing both games. The Tampa loss was a killer McFadden had 17 rushing attempts only averaging 1.9 a carry. It's a MUST that we have a more consistent running game in 2016 and are much better in short yardage situations or Romo's chances of staying healthy and the Cowboys rebounding from last season won't be very good.

That is some good specifics, but doesn't take into account a final analysis, a true after action report. The totals still added up for McFadden, was the 4th leading rusher in the entire NFC. No exceptions or special cases denied. He did that.

As to pass receptions by the Dallas running backs, that developed over the entire season. At the start, Dunbar was the third down back and got the majority of conversion types of passes thrown to a back.

But the running scheme, had to be adjusted as the season progressed...and yes, for a reason. McFadden was a running back that excelled more in a man on man blocking scheme, and not the zone blocking strengths of this offensive line. Change schemes, and that alone requires adjustment time. This is still an offensive line that is learning each other, by NFL times for development. Not game to game. It takes a few years for a line to really jell.

Teams start off crawling, then walk, and then run...from the start of each season.

One doesn't just start out discussing the cyclical fire rate of a M-60, and ignore the effects of an attached tank that carries a .50 cal and two 7.62 machine guns as well. One coaxially mounted to the 120 mm main gun tube. There is just more to a more complex picture.

 

[KJJ]

That is some good specifics, but doesn't take into account a final analysis, a true after action report. The totals still added up for McFadden, was the 4th leading rusher in the entire NFC. No exceptions or special cases denied. He did that.

As to pass receptions by the Dallas running backs, that developed over the entire season. At the start, Dunbar was the third down back and got the majority of conversion types of passes thrown to a back.

But the running scheme, had to be adjusted as the season progressed...and yes, for a reason. McFadden was a running back that excelled more in a man on man blocking scheme, and not the zone blocking strengths of this offensive line. Change schemes, and that alone requires adjustment time. This is still an offensive line that is learning each other, by NFL times for development. Not game to game. It takes a few years for a line to really jell.

Teams start off crawling, then walk, and then run...from the start of each season.

One doesn't just start out discussing the cyclical fire rate of a M-60, and ignore the effects of an attached tank that carries a .50 cal and two 7.62 machine guns as well. One coaxially mounted to the 120 mm main gun tube. There is just more to a more complex picture.

I've spent a lot of time discussing this with a number of people and have said all that can be said and am not going to waste anymore time with it. The running game has to be more consistent next season if Romo is going to survive and the Cowboys are going to be a better team in 2016.

 

[CCBoy]

I've spent a lot of time discussing this with a number of people and have said all that can be said and am not going to waste anymore time with it. The running game has to be more consistent next season if Romo is going to survive and the Cowboys are going to be a better team in 2016.

That is your quarter, but this leaves things on the same accord as the team also needs more wins next season as well...

 

[KJJ]

That is your quarter, but this leaves things on the same accord as the team also needs more wins next season as well...

I've been explaining what they need to do to get more wins next season.

 

[jnday]

Which means...nothing. Especially since it's been 20 years now.

It means everything when this offense is designed to do much better with s great RB. When Murray was putting up big numbers and the team was winning , it was easy to see my point. Remember the difference? It doesn't matter if it was 20 years ago. A winning football team based the Oline and a great RB is hard to beat. Defenses today are not built to stop it because everybody wants this to be a passing league only. I find it odd that the best year that the team has had in recent memory makes your point useless.

 

[big dog cowboy]

It means everything

Something that happened over 20 years ago means nothing to todays team. No relevance at all.

 

[erod]

Before or after McFadden gets hurt?

 

[Nightman]

Something that happened over 20 years ago means nothing to todays team. No relevance at all.

 

[jnday]

Something that happened over 20 years ago means nothing to todays team. No relevance at all.

It must not have caught your eye that the 14-2 season was the direct result of pounding the football oldish defense's throats. Don't you realize that they drafted a top oline for a reason? That style of football produces wins now, just as it did 20 years ago. If you can't see the potential to excel at smash mouth football , there is just no hope for you.

 

[big dog cowboy]

It must not have caught your eye that the 14-2 season was the direct result of pounding the football oldish defense's throats.

Perhaps Romo and Dez staying healthy and the defense causing turnover had something to do with it also.