NFC East: Who Is Replacing DeMarco Murray In Dallas?

Dallas Cowboys running back coach Gary Brown talked to the Dallas Morning News and he has no idea, who is going to be their starting running back.  They’ve got Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden, Lance Dunbar and Tyler Clutts all listed possibles.

“We’re very confident in what we have,” Brown said. “We got some very good football players. With the addition of Darren it’s going to be a nice group.  I can’t say who is going to be the lead dog right now, but those guys are going to compete and we’re going to do what’s necessary to win games. I think we have three capable guys who can go out and do what we need to do. I’m not concerned about it at all.”

Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan sees things differently from Brown.

“I just think that we have a complementary backfield.  They’re going to spread out the carries. Some games are going to be different than others. Maybe one guy is going to have more in one game than the other or maybe sometimes two guys are going to split the carries, sometimes it’s going to be three. Again, it’s to be determined. It is a bit rare to have the one guy carry all the load. I tip my hat to DeMarco for being able to do it. But these other guys have different roles now that he’s gone. We’re going to have someone step up, and I know they’re excited about it.”

McFadden and Randle are considered to be the leading candidates. McFadden has been injury-plagued throughout his career in Oakland and Randle is talented, but hasn’t proven he can carry the load as the number one back.

Last year’s dominant Cowboys running game, took the pressure off of a banged up Tony Romo and he had one of the best years in his career.  Romo only had to throw the football 25 to 30 times a game and he was kept out of must passing situations.  Romo is healthier this year, but will he have that same dominant running game to lean on this year without Murray on the roster.

The dominant Dallas running game also kept the pressure of the Cowboys defense.  With the Cowboys dominating ball possession with Murray and the offensive line, the defense wasn’t on the field a great deal and it helped their quality of play.  If the ball possession isn’t there this time around, their defense, especially their secondary may get exposed.

The key to the success of the 2014 Cowboys was their running game.

That brings us to the question regarding a successful running game.  What is the key to having an outstanding running game in the NFL?

Is it the quality of the offensive line or is it the abilities of the running backs?  We know that both have something to do with it, but what is more important.   The Cowboys offensive line which was outstanding last year, may be better in 2015, than they were a year ago.  They’ll be adding top quality LSU rookie tackle La’el Collins to the lineup.

The Cowboys brain trust feels the quality of the running back isn’t nearly as important, as the big fellas upfront.  Clearly by making the decision to let DeMarco Murray walk. they’re taking that thinking to the extreme.

Eagles head coach Chip Kelly doesn’t seem to agree with the front office in Dallas.  He seems to believe that success in the running game is more about the running backs and the style of the running game than just the offensive line.  Of course Murray will be wearing midnight green in 2015.

Which running game is going to be best in 2015?  Will it be the Eagles or the Cowboys and why?