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Cowboys position breakdown: The complementary backfield
Jon Machota Email jmachota@dallasnews.com
Published: June 28, 2015 9:49 am
To give you an idea of what the Cowboys roster looks like with training camp a month away, we’re breaking it down position by position.
Here’s the situation at running back.
Players predicted to make the 53-man roster:
1.) Joseph Randle, RB.
2.) Darren McFadden, RB.
3.) Lance Dunbar, RB.
4.) Tyler Clutts, FB.
Outlook for the 2015 season:
It’s tough to keep four running backs and a fullback on the roster, so Ryan Williams is facing an uphill battle. Jason Garrett loves having a fullback. There will be one on the 53-man roster.
Here’s the situation if the Cowboys don’t add another proven back. Randle appears to be the lead dog heading into camp. If McFadden is healthy, he could also fill the starting role. Dunbar will likely see more carries, but his biggest impact should come during passing downs.
“We’re very confident in what we have,” Cowboys running backs coach Gary Brown said. “We got some very good football players. With the addition of Darren it’s going to be a nice group. I can’t say who is going to be the lead dog right now, but those guys are going to compete and we’re going to do what’s necessary to win games.
“I think we have three capable guys who can go out and do what we need to do. I’m not concerned about it at all.”
Of course, all eyes have been on the position since the NFL’s leading rusher, DeMarco Murray, signed with Philadelphia in March. Since then, the Cowboys have had their eyes open for potential replacements. They signed McFadden in March and worked out several of the top backs in this year’s draft class. However, the Cowboys did not select a back with any of their eight picks. They signed undrafted rookie free agent Synjyn Days, but released him earlier this month and added former Baylor back Lache Seastrunk.
“I just think that we have a complementary backfield,” Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. “They’re going to spread out the carries. Some games are going to be different than others. Maybe one guy is going to have more in one game than the other or maybe sometimes two guys are going to split the carries, sometimes it’s going to be three. Again, it’s to be determined. It is a bit rare to have the one guy carry all the load. I tip my hat to DeMarco for being able to do it. But these other guys have different roles now that he’s gone. We’re going to have someone step up, and I know they’re excited about it.”
Future at the position:
At this point, the future at running back belongs to Randle and Dunbar. If Randle, 23, can stay out of trouble off the field, he has a good chance to lead the team in carries. The 2013 fifth-round pick averaged 6.7 yards per rushing attempt last season and had several highlight runs. Dunbar, 25, may never be a 20-carry per game player but his ability in the open field makes him a valuable piece going forward.
“We’re all confident,” Dunbar said of the team’s running backs. “We all feel like we can be starters in this league and play in this league.”
If the McFadden experiment doesn’t work out, expect to see the Cowboys draft a running back in the first few rounds next year.
Jon Machota Email jmachota@dallasnews.com
Published: June 28, 2015 9:49 am
To give you an idea of what the Cowboys roster looks like with training camp a month away, we’re breaking it down position by position.
Here’s the situation at running back.
Players predicted to make the 53-man roster:
1.) Joseph Randle, RB.
2.) Darren McFadden, RB.
3.) Lance Dunbar, RB.
4.) Tyler Clutts, FB.
Outlook for the 2015 season:
It’s tough to keep four running backs and a fullback on the roster, so Ryan Williams is facing an uphill battle. Jason Garrett loves having a fullback. There will be one on the 53-man roster.
Here’s the situation if the Cowboys don’t add another proven back. Randle appears to be the lead dog heading into camp. If McFadden is healthy, he could also fill the starting role. Dunbar will likely see more carries, but his biggest impact should come during passing downs.
“We’re very confident in what we have,” Cowboys running backs coach Gary Brown said. “We got some very good football players. With the addition of Darren it’s going to be a nice group. I can’t say who is going to be the lead dog right now, but those guys are going to compete and we’re going to do what’s necessary to win games.
“I think we have three capable guys who can go out and do what we need to do. I’m not concerned about it at all.”
Of course, all eyes have been on the position since the NFL’s leading rusher, DeMarco Murray, signed with Philadelphia in March. Since then, the Cowboys have had their eyes open for potential replacements. They signed McFadden in March and worked out several of the top backs in this year’s draft class. However, the Cowboys did not select a back with any of their eight picks. They signed undrafted rookie free agent Synjyn Days, but released him earlier this month and added former Baylor back Lache Seastrunk.
“I just think that we have a complementary backfield,” Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. “They’re going to spread out the carries. Some games are going to be different than others. Maybe one guy is going to have more in one game than the other or maybe sometimes two guys are going to split the carries, sometimes it’s going to be three. Again, it’s to be determined. It is a bit rare to have the one guy carry all the load. I tip my hat to DeMarco for being able to do it. But these other guys have different roles now that he’s gone. We’re going to have someone step up, and I know they’re excited about it.”
Future at the position:
At this point, the future at running back belongs to Randle and Dunbar. If Randle, 23, can stay out of trouble off the field, he has a good chance to lead the team in carries. The 2013 fifth-round pick averaged 6.7 yards per rushing attempt last season and had several highlight runs. Dunbar, 25, may never be a 20-carry per game player but his ability in the open field makes him a valuable piece going forward.
“We’re all confident,” Dunbar said of the team’s running backs. “We all feel like we can be starters in this league and play in this league.”
If the McFadden experiment doesn’t work out, expect to see the Cowboys draft a running back in the first few rounds next year.
