The Dallas Cowboys will not make it to the SuperBowl this season. Write it down, carve it in stone, cast it in bronze, whatever. But understand it, let it sink in, and get ready for next season. They won't make it to the SuperBowl because they do not have a running back that can consistently make a difference in ball games.
Oh yeah, they get some production out of this running back by committee thing they've had going for several years, but let's look at history. I'll put a few names out on the table to look at:
Emmitt Smith
Barry Sanders
Walter Peyton
Thurman Thomas
Franco Harris
Tony Dorsett
Marcus Allen
Earl Campbell
Ricky Watters
Larry Czonka
Corey Dillon
First of all, most of those running backs have a SuperBowl ring. Some have three. All of them played for playoff contenders. A couple of them, Sanders and Peyton, played for really lousy teams and still became great running backs. And who can say how much more lousy those teams would have been without that great running back. Earl Campbell immediately elevated the play of the Houston Oilers by just showing up.'
You can go look at the stats of all the SuperBowl winners throughout history and find that almost certainly, there was a top grade running back lined up for that team. Not some guy that might get you the yards you need, but a guy that the other team had to change their defense because he was in the game. I don't care how bad the Detroit Lions were, teams had to account for Barry Sanders. Or he'd burn them. Same for Emmitt Smith. And Franco Harris.
I contend that to get to the big game, a team must have a top 3 running back. Not a top 3 committee. There has to be one guy that the opposing team simply fears. Yes, there has to be a decent offensive line in front of him and all the other supporting cast, but bad running backs don't always do well even if they have all that. Good running backs, really good running backs, make a difference in almost every game they play. Even if it's just a matter of making the defense account for him on every play.
Emmitt Smith has 3 SuperBowl rings, the NFL record for yards gained and God knows how many other records. Barry Sanders allowed the Lions, who weren't good at all without him, compete. Walter Peyton was just Walter Peyton. Sweetness. For his team. Danger to opposing teams. The Chicago Bears would have been looking up to see the basement without Walter. Thurman Thomas only took his team to 4 SuperBowls. They lost them, but he got them there, which is more than all but one other running back could say each year. Franco Harris has the SuperBowl rings to prove he did his job. So do Tony Dorsett and Marcus Allen. Earl Campbell never made it to the SuperBowl, but he was a huge part of the Houston Oiler offense and got them into the playoffs when they would have never made it without him. The Forty Niners of the early 90's wouldn't have been what they were without Ricky Watters. No one played them without having to account for Ricky. Larry Czonka is the only one of those listed above that can claim a perfect regular season. 14-0, and a SuperBowl ring after winning out in the playoffs. Corey Dillon is the current guy that's making his mark in history with the Patriots. Tomlinson looks to be the real thing out in San Diego.
To get to the Promised Land, you have to run. Walking won't get you there. What these guys brought to games was heart. These guys came in, did their jobs and made differences in ball games. Consistently.
That's the difference in what the Dallas Cowboys have had for several years now. Consistency. Julius Jones has proven to be average, at best. Barber has scored touchdowns all season, but nothing shows he's capable of being an every down back.
There are several problems with the Cowboys team right now. Defense, of course, particularly safeties and pass rushers. The offensive line is a problem that has not been properly addressed. But Jerry Jones knows what it took last time to get the Cowboys to the big game. A good quarterback. Tony Romo has the potential of being that. No doubt he needs some more experience. Good wide receivers, with one being a game changer. Dallas isn't in too bad of a shape at wide receiver right now. And a top grade running back. Dallas does not have that currently.
Add to that a defense that can just shut down the other team, regardless of whether it's passing or running and the Cowboys can add to their trophy case. Fiddle farting around with these half-assed running backs and trying to fix a position for one year by bringing in someone like TO hasn't worked. This running back by committee thing might get things done early in the season, but it hasn't worked late in the season and I don't see it working well in the postseason with current personnel.
If you'll spend $5 million on a kicker, Mr. Jones, surely you will consider spending some real money on a running back. Especially since you have the privilege of being able to look at the results of spending good money on one in the past by just glancing up at your trophy case.
You can't walk to the promised land these days. You have to run.
Of course, this will be read by fans, not by anyone on the team. So It won't make one iota of a difference. But damned if I don't feel better after writing it.
Oh yeah, they get some production out of this running back by committee thing they've had going for several years, but let's look at history. I'll put a few names out on the table to look at:
Emmitt Smith
Barry Sanders
Walter Peyton
Thurman Thomas
Franco Harris
Tony Dorsett
Marcus Allen
Earl Campbell
Ricky Watters
Larry Czonka
Corey Dillon
First of all, most of those running backs have a SuperBowl ring. Some have three. All of them played for playoff contenders. A couple of them, Sanders and Peyton, played for really lousy teams and still became great running backs. And who can say how much more lousy those teams would have been without that great running back. Earl Campbell immediately elevated the play of the Houston Oilers by just showing up.'
You can go look at the stats of all the SuperBowl winners throughout history and find that almost certainly, there was a top grade running back lined up for that team. Not some guy that might get you the yards you need, but a guy that the other team had to change their defense because he was in the game. I don't care how bad the Detroit Lions were, teams had to account for Barry Sanders. Or he'd burn them. Same for Emmitt Smith. And Franco Harris.
I contend that to get to the big game, a team must have a top 3 running back. Not a top 3 committee. There has to be one guy that the opposing team simply fears. Yes, there has to be a decent offensive line in front of him and all the other supporting cast, but bad running backs don't always do well even if they have all that. Good running backs, really good running backs, make a difference in almost every game they play. Even if it's just a matter of making the defense account for him on every play.
Emmitt Smith has 3 SuperBowl rings, the NFL record for yards gained and God knows how many other records. Barry Sanders allowed the Lions, who weren't good at all without him, compete. Walter Peyton was just Walter Peyton. Sweetness. For his team. Danger to opposing teams. The Chicago Bears would have been looking up to see the basement without Walter. Thurman Thomas only took his team to 4 SuperBowls. They lost them, but he got them there, which is more than all but one other running back could say each year. Franco Harris has the SuperBowl rings to prove he did his job. So do Tony Dorsett and Marcus Allen. Earl Campbell never made it to the SuperBowl, but he was a huge part of the Houston Oiler offense and got them into the playoffs when they would have never made it without him. The Forty Niners of the early 90's wouldn't have been what they were without Ricky Watters. No one played them without having to account for Ricky. Larry Czonka is the only one of those listed above that can claim a perfect regular season. 14-0, and a SuperBowl ring after winning out in the playoffs. Corey Dillon is the current guy that's making his mark in history with the Patriots. Tomlinson looks to be the real thing out in San Diego.
To get to the Promised Land, you have to run. Walking won't get you there. What these guys brought to games was heart. These guys came in, did their jobs and made differences in ball games. Consistently.
That's the difference in what the Dallas Cowboys have had for several years now. Consistency. Julius Jones has proven to be average, at best. Barber has scored touchdowns all season, but nothing shows he's capable of being an every down back.
There are several problems with the Cowboys team right now. Defense, of course, particularly safeties and pass rushers. The offensive line is a problem that has not been properly addressed. But Jerry Jones knows what it took last time to get the Cowboys to the big game. A good quarterback. Tony Romo has the potential of being that. No doubt he needs some more experience. Good wide receivers, with one being a game changer. Dallas isn't in too bad of a shape at wide receiver right now. And a top grade running back. Dallas does not have that currently.
Add to that a defense that can just shut down the other team, regardless of whether it's passing or running and the Cowboys can add to their trophy case. Fiddle farting around with these half-assed running backs and trying to fix a position for one year by bringing in someone like TO hasn't worked. This running back by committee thing might get things done early in the season, but it hasn't worked late in the season and I don't see it working well in the postseason with current personnel.
If you'll spend $5 million on a kicker, Mr. Jones, surely you will consider spending some real money on a running back. Especially since you have the privilege of being able to look at the results of spending good money on one in the past by just glancing up at your trophy case.
You can't walk to the promised land these days. You have to run.
Of course, this will be read by fans, not by anyone on the team. So It won't make one iota of a difference. But damned if I don't feel better after writing it.
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