After paying market cap numbers for Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard in previous years, Dallas has now changed direction at the position
FRISCO — Last season, the running backs of the Dallas Cowboys They totaled 1,425 yards and nine touchdowns on 370 carries.
Tony Pollard he took his 252 carries with 1,005 yards and six touchdowns to the Tennessee Titans as an unrestricted free agent.
Rico Dowdlewho has just been renewed for one year, is the main runner among those returning to the Cowboys, after adding 361 yards and two touchdowns with 89 carries. And the rest? Deuce Vaughn He had 23 carries with 40 yards. Hunter Luepke, a fullback, had six carries with 19 yards and a score. That’s all. Malik Davis spent most of the season on the practice squad and had no carries in the last tournament; However, he had 38 with 161 yards and a touchdown in 2022.
The Cowboys’ returning running backs from last year’s roster combine for extremely modest production. AP Photo/LM Otero
“We are not done with the group [de corredores] in no way, whether he is a veteran or if there is a draft selection,” commented the head coach. Mike McCarthy to reporters during the league’s latest annual meeting. “Renew to Rico It was important. He was part of the one-two rotation last year and because of that, we have a good feeling about him.”
Los Cowboys they wanted to keep Pollardbut they were not willing to go up to three years and 21.75 million dollars with a maximum of 24 million that he received from the Titans. The free agent Derrick Henry It was not an option. Neither were they Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs in D’Andre Swift.
After paying market cap figures for brokers for Ezekiel Elliott y Pollardlos Cowboys they changed direction.
Now, they hope to show that teams can get riders through other means.
Los Cowboys They have the fifth-worst rushing yardage record in 2023 for running backs returning for 2024, but the four teams that were worst have addressed the position. The New York Giants (70 yards) lost to Barkleybut they signed Devin Singletary. Los Angeles Chargers (102 yards) lost to Austin Thank you but they signed Gus Edwards. Los Cincinnati Bengals (260 yards) crossed Joe Mixon but they signed Zack Moss. Los Eagles (364 yards) lost to Swift but they added to Barkley.
Los Cowboys They have not made their first addition at the running back position.
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The path that the Cowboys is practically the same as what happened in 2003, after they released Emmitt Smith after the arrival of Bill Parcells. His primary runner was Troy Hambrickbut even this one had more carries than the Cowboys from today. A year later, the Cowboys they hired Eddie George as a free agent and they took Julius Jones in the second round of the draft.
“I think we are having to make some difficult decisions right now,” said the executive vice president. Stephen Jones. “This is an organization built with great runners; well be it Tony Dorsett, Herschel Walker, Emmitt Smith, Ezekiel Elliott o Tony Pollard. We believe a lot in runners. They contribute a lot. “Unfortunately, we are at a point where we have to make some decisions as to where we allocate dollars.”
One of the great objectives of the Cowboys for 2024 is to improve his running game. They were ranked No. 14 in the NFL with 112.9 yards per game, his second worst ranking in the last 11 seasons. If they want to improve this season, they will have to do it without the presence of the left tackle Tyron Smithcenter Tyler Biadasz in Pollard, who departed during the free agent market. And at the same time, they will have to work — for now — with an inexperienced backfield.
Los Cowboys They could still look to free agency for veterans such as Dalvin Cookwhich had a disappointing cycle with the New York Jets last season, before reaching the Baltimore Ravens last January, or J.K. Dobbins, who has played nine games in the last three years due to knee and Achilles tendon injuries. And several sources indicated this weekend to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN that the Cowboys y Elliott They have mutual interest in a meeting. Perhaps one of them can match what was done by Darren McFadden in 2015.
In that year, the Cowboys They initially thought of Joseph Randle as owner after the departure of DeMarco Murray as a free agent, after a campaign in which he led the NFL in carries and set a franchise record with 1,845 rushing yards. Randle proved to be unreliable and McFaddenthe fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft, rushed for 1,089 yards.
Los Cowboys They finished with a 4-12 record that season and were left with the fourth overall pick in the draft, which they invested to take Elliott.
Elliott set a record for rookies in the Cowboys and rushed for 1,631 yards in his first season to lead the category in the NFL. After serving a six-game suspension in 2017, Elliott He once again led the league in the running game in 2018 (1,434 yards). He signed a $90 million extension in 2019 and had 1,357 yards, but couldn’t keep up that pace and was released after the 2022 season. Back then, Pollard had demonstrated his ability as an explosive runner, and increased his playing time between 2019 and 2021 before reaching his first season of at least 1,000 yards in 2022, when he was invited to the Pro Bowl.
Pollard He was taken in the fourth round of the draft and was allowed to work more in the rotation. The last time a player not chosen in the first round was the leader of the Cowboys in the running game in his rookie year was in 2011 when Murray He totaled 897 yards. The three best running backs in team history —Smith, Dorsett y Elliott— were chosen in the first round.
Considering how the Cowboys have tapped the free agent market, they could need a rookie to be their primary running back in 2024. Jonathon Brooks of Texas He is considered the best running back in the draft, but has just suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury last November. Although he is expected to be ready for Week 1, will he be fully fit, and will he require time to adjust to the speed of the game? NFL?
Can Trey Benson, Jaylen Wright, Bucky Irving, Blake Choir or any other running back become RB1 in his rookie year? In the last season, Sesame Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons He was taken with the No. 8 overall pick and led all rookies with 976 rushing yards.
McCarthy He believes that the second year with him in charge of the offensive plays, Jeff Blasko as running game coordinator and Mike Solari as the offensive line coach, they will match the running game better with the rest of the attack than they did a year ago.
“Right now we have a very young runner, [pero] I think it is obvious that we will continue looking to add, but yes, it is about the opportunity,” he indicated. McCarthy. “Last year, we demanded more from them [a los corredores] than in previous years. I think they responded very well. Tony Pollard he led them, so now it will be important for someone to step forward in that position to take on the leadership, and hopefully all the young people will take on a part of that.”
2024-04-04 03:39:00
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