Dallas Cowboys: 5 Questions Before Training Camp
Can the Cowboys overcome the loss of DeMarco Murray?
Jun 16, 2015; Irving, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden (20) runs with the ball during minicamp at Dallas Cowboys Headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
This is maybe the most important question of all training camp because the Cowboys have to replace a running back who rushed for over 1,800 yards (1,845) and 13 touchdowns to become the Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year.
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The Cowboys have to find a player or players to replace Murray’s 4.7 yards per carry in ’14, and we can’t forget the 115.3 yards per game he tallied in ’14.
Looking to take over that spot is most likely a group of running backs in Darren McFadden, Joseph Randle, Lance Dunbar and Lache Seastrunk. The Cowboys cut Ryan Williams this week, leaving those four to battle for the top running back spot, and most likely McFadden has the early lead to become the starter.
McFadden was brought in to replace Murray, but he’s never had that big season many felt he could achieve when he was a first-round pick by the Oakland Raiders.
Last season, he played in all 16 games for the first time in his NFL career (which started in 2008), averaging 9.7 carries per games and rushing for 3.4 yards per games in his final season in Oakland.
“Run DMC,” as McFadden has been known as, finished the ’14 season with 155 carries and 534 yards with two touchdowns. He averaged 33.4 yards per game, and his longest run was 25 yards.
On the plus side, McFadden had just one fumble.
For his career, the former Raider has tallied 4,247 yards on 1,038 carries and 25 touchdowns in 83 games played. He’s carried the ball no more than 223 times in a season.
If McFadden can get closer to the 1,000-yard mark this season with the Cowboys, and one of the others can gain around 800 or so yards (or vice-versa), the team will not skip a beat at the running back spot, as the o-line is one of the best in the NFL, and it got even better this offseason with the addition of La’el Collins.
I believe the team will be fine at the running back spot, but they’ll have be a bit more creative if they want to match the production they had last season.
Next: How good is the O-Line?