Gosselin:Cowboys need to quickly figure out what they have in RB Christine Michael

[jsmith6919]

Gosselin: Cowboys need to quickly figure out what they have in new RB Christine Michael

SportsDay columnist Rick Gosselin hosted a chat Monday to talk everything sports. Here are some of the highlights:

Question: Do you anticipate any shakeup to the Cowboys RB rotation with the way the second half went against the Falcons?

Gosselin: I would expect to see Christine Michael very soon. The Cowboys needed a pounder between the tackles last weekend and that back isn't in the current stable of Randle, McFadden and Dunbar. They are all edge guys. Michael offers the Cowboys a chance to run between the tackles. That was DeMarco Murray's bread & butter last season. If the Cowboys can't run the ball better than they did in the second half against the Falcons, every quarterback the Cowboys trot out there will have problems -- including Tony Romo. The Cowboys need to find out what they have in Michael and they need to find out soon.

Question: Why do the Cowboys only rush four guys on every important third-down play? Matt Ryan just picked us apart -- like taking candy from a baby. Rod Marinelli got out coached. Thoughts?

Gosselin: This defense is built to rush the passer with a four-man front and then use the back seven players to flood zones and smother receivers. But the four-man front has to get to the quarterback and make him throw the ball before he wants to. If you can't pressure the quarterback, you might as well drop all 11 into coverage and take your chances. Right now, this front can't get to the quarterback. Greg Hardy and Randy Gregory are the team's two best pass rushers and neither is on the field. Jeremy Mincey, the third option at right defensive end, also was missing Sunday. That second half was painful to watch. It was Aaron Rodgers and that second half of the Green Bay playoff game all over again -- except no Tony Romo or Dez Bryant to give the Cowboys hope for a miracle comeback. The only sack of the game came in the first quarter on a rare linebacker blitz by Sean Lee. Without a pass rush, this defense -- and this team -- is in trouble.

Full transcript- http://embed.scribblelive.com/Embed/v7.aspx?Id=1509874&ThemeId=

 

[Genghis Khan]

YES.

 

[boozeman]

Feh. The OL needs to start blocking better before he makes any sort of difference.

 

[Cotton]

Feh. The OL needs to start blocking better before he makes any sort of difference.

I just don't get it. The line blocked very well in the first half. To the point where the chatter thread was riddled with "that's the line I remember" posts. So, what changed in the second half?

 

[boozeman]

I just don't get it. The line blocked very well in the first half. To the point where the chatter thread was riddled with "that's the line I remember" posts. So, what changed in the second half?

The Falcons adjusted. Durant specifically said they were aligned wrong.

This probably happened last year too, but then we had a passing game to counter.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I just don't get it. The line blocked very well in the first half. To the point where the chatter thread was riddled with "that's the line I remember" posts. So, what changed in the second half?

Their players were crashing the line of scrimmage at snap. Its amazing what a play action deep pass would have done but it seems to be beyond our coachimg staffs understanding.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Christine Michael should be active but it has little to do with the Falcons game. He needs to be active because he would bring another dimension to our offense that McFadden doesn't.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Christine Michael should be active but it has little to do with the Falcons game. He needs to be active because he would bring another dimension to our offense that McFadden doesn't.

Nor Randle.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Nor Randle.

Correct, but McFadden is the one who would be inactive since Randle is the most complete back we have right now.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Nor Randle.

Nor Dunbar for that matter.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Truth.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Correct, but McFadden is the one who would be inactive since Randle is the most complete back we have right now.

They clearly favor Randle so yeah McFadden presumably would sit. Though honestly they seem so obtuse on the matter I think they might prefer to activate all 4 rather than sit one them.

Me, I don't think it matters who they sit.

 

[Cotton]

They clearly favor Randle so yeah McFadden presumably would sit. Though honestly they seem so obtuse on the matter I think they might prefer to activate all 4 rather than sit one them.

Me, I don't think it matters who they sit.

I do think it matters. Randle is much more shifty. McFadden is a straight line runner. As much as they are the same they are different runners. I would rather have Randle in this scheme. He can actually make people miss. McFadden can't.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I do think it matters. Randle is much more shifty. McFadden is a straight line runner. As much as they are the same they are different runners. I would rather have Randle in this scheme. He can actually make people miss. McFadden can't.

Not only that but I don't want to waste an active roster spot on a fourth RB. There just isn't any reason to in my opinion. You won't be able to get each guy enough carries to justify it. When I see McFadden I see a back who does similar things to Randle except he has less wiggle and runs with less power. He has more break away speed but as we have seen time and time again, Randle has plenty of speed to break the long runs.

 

[Genghis Khan]

I do think it matters. Randle is much more shifty. McFadden is a straight line runner. As much as they are the same they are different runners. I would rather have Randle in this scheme. He can actually make people miss. McFadden can't.

They are different styles but the results are similar.

And in this system and with this line, we don't need a shifty runner trying to make people miss (i think that's a generous description of Randle but for the sake of argument, ok). Murray certainly is not shifty and he obviously excelled here. I think we should be instead looking for decisive, downhill runners. McFadden does that, but unfortunately his vision is poor.

This is why I want to see what Michael can do. I think he's that type of runner.

 

[Cotton]

They are different styles but the results are similar.

And in this system and with this line, we don't need a shifty runner trying to make people miss (i think that's a generous description of Randle but for the sake of argument, ok). Murray certainly is not shifty and he obviously excelled here. I think we should be instead looking for decisive, downhill runners. McFadden does that, but unfortunately his vision is poor.

This is why I want to see what Michael can do. I think he's that type of runner.

I would agree with this.

But, I think we need a shifty runner as well. The committee should consist of Randle running most of the snaps, Dunbar (maybe in the backfield with Randle) taking dump-offs, and Michael running short yardage/goalline stuff. I don't see a need for McFadden at all.

 

[Donpingon]

Why on earth doesn't McFadden return kicks for us at least?

 

[dallen]

Why on earth doesn't McFadden return kicks for us at least?

He was good at it in college.

If I take of my Hogs-tinted glasses and put on my Cowboys-tinted glasses, I have to say, I don't understand why our active RBs aren't Randle, Dunbar, and Michael. McFadden isn't bringing much other than giving Randle a breather, and Michael should be useful in short yardage. Maybe he is struggling in practice, but usually the thing RBs struggle with is pass protect and Dunbar is going to be our 3rd down back

 

[Rev]

Probably a case of Michael not fully understanding the offense. With Romo it wouldn't be that much of an issue. With Weeden you can't have that.

 

[townsend]

I think power running game would make a lot of difference. We struggle way too much in the red zone right now. On 1st and goal, handing it to the back 3 times should be a realistic option, especially with Dez injured.