Dallas Cowboys: Joseph Randle deserves lead role

ByKevin Parvizi|

At one point, it looked like the Dallas Cowboys would have a hard time finding a lead back on a depth chart that consists of the unproven Joseph Randle, change-of-pace guy Lance Dunbar, injury-prone Ryan Williams, and the perpetually injured and ineffective Darren McFadden. Although Williams generated some buzz due to his intriguing skill-set and second-round pedigree, continued knee issue have made him a candidate for release.

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Instead, someone has emerged from the pile as the best candidate to lead the Cowboys three-man (or four) committee at the position, and they didn’t have to go out and sign a veteran like Chris Johnson to find him.

According to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News, Randle “regularly worked” with the first-team at practice and “led most” of the team’s individual drills. In Machota’s words, it’s Randle’s “job to lose”, and while the Cowboys can’t fully trust him due to his off-field incidents and the fact that he’s a third-year pro with just 105 career carries, he is their best option.

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Randle had a rookie season to forget, averaging just three yards per carry on 54 attempts, but, per Pro Football Focus, he did at least manage to average 2.24 yards after contact per carry. That number jumped all the way up to a ridiculous and unrepeatable 4.2 last season, and it explains why his total yards per carry more than doubled to a whopping 6.7 in 2014 in 51 carries.

His promising stats last season, including three touchdowns and four long runs of at least 15 yards, have made him a possible breakout candidate in some people’s eyes. After all, he’s playing on a stacked offensive line that has the likes of Zack Martin, Tyron Smith, and elite run blocker Travis Frederick playing on it, and it just got even better after the team signed polished LSU product La’el Collins, who can immediately step in and start at guard.

While Randle’s “meat on the bone” comment was misguided, it generated such a reaction because his larger point his valid; Randle has a big opportunity and could put up nice numbers if he doesn’t screw it up. He might be just an average back with sub-4.6 speed, but even that can make him productive behind the Cowboys offensive line.

Of course, Randle could just as easily prove to be the unquestioned answer at the tailback position for the Cowboys offense, and I’d rather trust him with the lead back than the other guys on the roster. Dunbar is also intriguing, but I’d rather see him as the change-of-pace guy.

McFadden once looked like a star, but how can they trust an injury-prone player who has averaged less than 3.5 yards per carry in each of his past three seasons? He has the physical tools, but McFadden has tread on his tires. The Cowboys elite line could allow the indecisive rusher’s physical talents to shine, but he’s turned in three straight terrible seasons. As for Williams, we, sadly, may never get to see his talent at work due to his knee issues.

Nov 9, 2014; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Dallas Cowboys running back Joseph Randle (21) makes a run during the second half of the game Dallas Cowboys and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports

Nobody can be sure that Joseph Randle is the answer, but I’ll trust a guy who is strong enough to keep going at first contact, has above-average vision, some explosiveness, and slightly above-average agility.

Randle doesn’t stand out in any one category (yet, at least, since it’s hard to make any bold declarations in a career sample-size of 105 carries), even if he did lead all RB prospects in the 2013 draft in the broad jump, but the Oklahoma State product is a well-rounded back overall.

His blend of toughness and explosiveness makes him a better bet to produce than any of the backs on the roster, and when you throw in his nine missed tackles, 4.20 yards after contact per carry, and 6.7 yards per carry last season, you get a guy who has to be given the first crack at starting.

Yes, McFadden’s speed sounds great and paper and probably looks great in practice, but, again, I’d rather go with a 23-year-old who is coming off of the better season.

It’s not a surprise to see that the Dallas Cowboys are giving Randle every chance to lead this rotation, and his rushing style makes him a better fit to be lead back than either McFadden or Dunbar.

Both of those guys should have key roles in the committee and deserve to get some touches, particularly Dunbar, but Randle, who was a decent pass-catcher for the other Cowboys in college, deserves to have the better shot at starting.

I mean, his numbers last year show that he could easily be a better playmaker than McFadden, who, again, is hard to trust after all of those injuries and sub-3.5 YPC seasons.

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