Moore: Subtraction of Ryan Williams doesn’t mean Cowboys are adding Ray Rice, Chris Johnson
David Moore Follow @DavidMooreDMN Email
dmoore@dallasnews.com
Published: July 28, 2015 1:19 pm
Those who doubt the Cowboys can get through the season with their current core of running backs — and that list outside of the organization is substantial – continue to insist the club will pursue Chris Johnson or Ray Rice.
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The release of Ryan Williams before the club departs for training camp has done nothing to quiet that talk.
That doesn’t mean anything is about to happen.
The Cowboys believe that a combination of Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar can fill the void left by DeMarco Murray’s departure. You might not believe that, but it doesn’t matter at this point. The Cowboys do, and they are committed to letting this competition play out in training camp.
Williams’ knee issues didn’t sneak up on the Cowboys. He had two scopes on his left knee this offseason, the second after the end of the June mini-camp. Injuries compromised his ability to compete for a spot to the point where the club had plenty of time to sign Johnson, Rice or some other veteran to compete at the start of camp if that’s what they wanted.
The truth is the Cowboys coaches and personnel department don’t believe that Johnson and/or Rice is better than who they have on the roster right now.
Can that change? Sure. If Randle, McFadden and Dunbar don’t rise to the occasion, the club will seek options. If one of those three are hurt and out for an extended period, it will force the club’s hand.
The Cowboys running back by committee approach — and who forms that committee – is subject to change. But Williams’ release won’t force any change at the moment.
Important dates
July 28: Team charter arrives in California
July 30: First team practice
Aug. 9: Blue/White scrimmage
Aug. 13: Dallas at San Diego, 9 p.m. (preseason)
Aug. 23: Dallas at San Francisco, 7 p.m. (preseason)
Aug. 28: Head back to Dallas
Aug. 29: Dallas vs. Minnesota, 6 p.m. (preseason)
Sept. 3: Dallas vs. Houston, 7 p.m. (preseason)
Sept. 13: Dallas vs. New York Giants, 7:30 p.m. (Week 1)