Dallas Cowboys: An Old Friend in New Surroundings
The Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys have combined to form one of the great rivalries in NFL history. So it’s always interesting when a member of one team joins the other club.
Keyed by a young and talented offensive line, the 2014 Dallas Cowboys finished 12-4 and produced the NFL’s leading rusher in DeMarco Murray.
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There were those who felt that any running back could pile up big numbers with the likes of Pro Bowlers Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin leading the way. Murray set a franchise record with 1,845 yards on the ground and was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year.
As it turned out, the Cowboys found themselves having to make a choice last offseason on whether to franchise Murray or wide receiver Dez Bryant and we all know what the team opted to do. That opened the door for the four-year running back to sign with the divisional rival Philadelphia Eagles.
Dallas’ contingency plan was the free-agent addition of veteran Darren McFadden, who actually ran for 1,089 yards and three scores. But from troubled Joseph Randle to Robert Turning to Lance Dunbar to Christine Michael, it was a who’s who in the backfield for the team.
Not having quarterback Tony Romo for the vast majority of the year didn’t help. But the bottom line was that the Cowboys as a team ran for 1,890 yards this past season, just 45 yards more than Murray managed by himself in 2014.
However, help is apparently on the way courtesy of a former divisional rival. On Tuesday (courtesy of John Keim of ESPN), the Cowboys signed two-time Pro Bowl running back Alfred Morris. Via Spotrac, the deal was for two years and just $3.5 million, not the kind of numbers you would expect a four-year pro to get on his second contract.
However, the 2012 sixth-round pick from Florida Atlantic has seen his carries and yards decrease since his rookie debut. That season, 335 attempts resulted in 1,613 yards and 13 scores. Two more 1,000-plus yard seasons would follow but in 2015 he totaled just 202 carries for 751 yards and one touchdown.
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Yes, Morris has started every game in his brief four-year career. He has never been much of a receiving threat out of the backfield, totaling a mere 47 catches in 64 regular-season outings. It’s almost hard to believe that the 27-year-old runner is out of gas already.
And that’s where the Dallas offensive line comes in. This past year, it was proven that Murray was a far better running back than he was given credit for. His marriage that season with Dallas’ front made for a magical performance.
Morris is a downhill runner that may not be as down as some believe. He could form a solid 1-2 punch with McFadden and don’t be shocked if the former Redskins workhorse is the team’s leading rusher in 2016.
As far as those receiving skills, McFadden and Dunbar (who Dallas recently re-signed) can handle those duties out of the backfield. Romo also has ample targets in Byrant, Terrence Williams, Cole Beasley and ageless tight end Jason Witten.
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And the Cowboys are no doubt happy about picking up Morris for entirely different reasons. In eight meetings vs. Dallas, the former Redskins runner rushed for 710 yards and seven scores during in his career encounters in this stories series.
Which reminds us of the modern-day adage: If you can’t stop him, sign him.