Five possible draft replacements for DeMarco Murray in Dallas

[Cowboysrock55]

One signing could change everything. If we got Hardy, all the sudden 3 DL starting spots are set with him, Lawrence and Crawford. Then we are just looking for a 1 technique (which the team admits they don't value highly) and depth. We could easily burn a first on Gurley or Ajayi (hopefully after a small trade down) and still get some solid DL later.

That's the thing about Hardy. He isn't a 31 year old stop gap on the D-line. He is the type of signing at 26 years old that could hold the team over at DE for a long time. That doesn't mean you should automatically just jump on a RB in the first, but it certainly opens up the possibilities. Also opens up positions like WLBer, O-line and safety (If god forbid the 1 first round prospect falls).

 

[VA Cowboy]

I prefer addressing the DL and then getting a back like Ajayi in the 2nd.

 

[Cujo]

Whodat at the 4:20 mark?

That was me. Oh you meant on the . video.

 

[jsmith6919]

 

[Bob Roberts]

Cowboys drafting for need, what could go wrong?

 

[p1_]

If Gordon or Gurley aren't there Coleman looks alot like Murray in his run style.

I'll take some of that.

 

[Cotton]

I'll take some of that.

 

[p1_]

just sayin...

 

[1bigfan13]

It'll be David Cobb...

Email it, put it on a postcard, place it on a billboard

I've been thinking Cobb as well.

I know his measurables don't leap out at you, especially his speed, but the guy is a good RB. I'd love to have him in Dallas. I think he'd fit right in and would be at least be an 1,100 yard back.

What I like about him is that he was productive against solid competition and he wasn't surrounded by elite talent. His game against Ohio St. really stands out to me.

 

[boozeman]

Jay Ajayi: Playing for Dallas Cowboys would be awesome

By Chase Goodbread
College Football 24/7 writer
Published: March 17, 2015 at 02:52 p.m.
Updated: March 17, 2015 at 03:44 p.m.

Boise State running back Jay Ajayi is among the top prospects at his position available in the 2015 NFL Draft, and NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein has ranked him as the draft's fourth-best back in the draft. College Football 24/7 caught up with Ajayi as he prepares for Boise State's pro day Wednesday:

1. Being from Plano, Texas, the Dallas Cowboys are a hometown team for you. Would you like the star on your helmet?
Ajayi: Growing up that was the team I watched all the time. The Cowboys were always on the TV in the house, but I'm excited to play for whoever. I'm blessed to play in the NFL, and whoever takes me will get a guy who will give his all. Playing at home would be awesome because my family would be able to see me play all the time. That would be cool, but at this point I'm just excited to see where I go.

2. What was your reaction to DeMarco Murray departing Dallas, and do you think they are more likely to take you because of it?
Ajayi: It's crazy to see him in Philadelphia. It will be interesting to see how that goes with Dallas playing them two times a year. But it looks like they will try to find a running back in the draft, and I'm just excited to see who they decide to choose.

3. You ran a 4.57 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Will you run that again or do any other combine drills at pro day?
Ajayi: I'm sticking on all my combine numbers. I sat down with my agents and talked to them about all that. I felt comfortable with my numbers to where I'm just going to do position drills (at pro day). In talking with a lot people that I did well for myself at the combine, I feel there's a little pressure off of pro day now. I feel like the position drills will just be second nature to me.

4. You carried the ball nearly 100 more times last year than you did the year before at Boise State. How did your body respond to such a rise in your workload?
Ajayi: Going through the offseason, I kind of knew my role was going to change. We got a new strength coach, and he put in a new program that pushed us to our limits. But that prepared me to have a great season. I shouldered that load every game and was able to come out of the season with no injuries. I played to the best of my ability at the end of games, and I made sure I was in the training room and stayed on top of things.

5. What is your relationship with former Boise State star DeMarcus Lawrence, who had a strong rookie year for the Cowboys?
Ajayi: He's one of my really good friends. Tank is a great guy -- that's my nickname for him -- and we were teammates for two years. He's a guy I can go to for advice because he's a really good dude, and he had a great year for the Cowboys last season. I was following everything he was doing. He's just told me to be prepared. I saw him late in the fall when he came to Boise, and he said to stay focused but enjoy the process if I came out.
==============

The Jay-train is coming, bitches.

 

[fortsbest]

The more I see of Coleman the more I'm wanting him in the 2nd. Dude ran for over 2000 yards last year and many of his TDs were long ones When he broke them, he seemed to break them pulling away. He made some brutal cuts going full speed too that were perty slick. I'm calling this the Brady Bottle lock for the draft!

 

[Cowboysrock55]

My pet cat of the RBs and the best player at the Senior Bowl.

 

[Clay_Allison]

My pet cat of the RBs and the best player at the Senior Bowl.

He cuts like a badass at full speed and has a second gear, I'm impressed.

 

[cmd34]

The Jay-train is coming, bitches.

He seems like a good fit but I really want a RB with that homerun threat ability. Maybe McFadden is that guy with Ajayi or a Tevin Coleman as the workhorse.

 

[ravidubey]

Of this group I still like Duke Johnson.

Gurley and Gordon won't last to the Cowboys, in fact with so many teams having success running the football last year I see runs on RB's in the same way the NFL overdrafted OL in 2013.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

He cuts like a badass at full speed and has a second gear, I'm impressed.

He isn't going to knock anyone over but he breaks a lot of tackles because of his low center of gravity and the fact that it's really difficult to get a clean shot on him. I've seen all of the Big Ten backs a ton and while I really like Gordon I actually think if you get Abdullah in the late second you're getting probably better value out of the pick. (Of course there is no way of knowing if he will last that late)

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Of this group I still like Duke Johnson.

Gurley and Gordon won't last to the Cowboys, in fact with so many teams having success running the football last year I see runs on RB's in the same way the NFL overdrafted OL in 2013.

I think Gurley ends up being a real mistake for someone. His injury history is no joke. But I guess Frank Gore looked like a serious injury risk out of college too, so you never know.

 

[Simpleton]

Abdullah fumbles alot and I don't think he's a guy you want to count on carrying it 20+ times a game but if he can learn to hold on to the ball he could be a real weapon. Ajayi is probably the most well-rounded, most likely to be a bell cow type of RB after Gurley and Gordon.

 

[Cotton]

Abdullah fumbles alot and I don't think he's a guy you want to count on carrying it 20+ times a game but if he can learn to hold on to the ball he could be a real weapon. Ajayi is probably the most well-rounded, most likely to be a bell cow type of RB after Gurley and Gordon.

I'm all about Ajayi.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Abdullah fumbles alot and I don't think he's a guy you want to count on carrying it 20+ times a game but if he can learn to hold on to the ball he could be a real weapon. Ajayi is probably the most well-rounded, most likely to be a bell cow type of RB after Gurley and Gordon.

I don't really get the "can't carry 20 times a game" part of that. Plenty of smaller NFL backs carry work loads. Look at guys like Jamaal Charles (Under 200 lbs) and LeSean McCoy. Abdullah will probably play in the 205 lb range in the NFL. He has had no problem shouldering the load in college football. This is a guy with back to back 1600+ yard seasons for the Huskers. So we aren't talking about a Felix Jones type situation where we are taking a part time player.

The fumbles are the issue though. He had 4 fumbles this past year and 5 the year before. Basically slightly better then Murray last year.

The other part of the equation is he is going to be a monster catching the ball out of the backfield. I know his numbers in this area at Nebraska don't show it but they will at the next level.