Blogging The Boys
The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys is here.
Dallas has to figure out their running back situation immediately.
The upcoming draft
Dowdle entered the offseason as a free agent, and while open to a return, his representatives were expecting an average salary of $6 million.
Dowdle signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers worth $2.75 million with nearly $3.5 million in incentives.
Elliott remains on the free agent market.
Meanwhile, Dallas signed running backs Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams in free agency.
The Cowboys held in-person visits with 10 running backs this spring in preparation for the draft. Frisco Lone Star product Ashton Jeanty from Boise State and North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, projected first-round picks, were among the visitors to The Star.
Stephen Jones, the team’s co-owner and COO, said his team’s philosophy is simply to fix what ails them, “not try, we are going to improve our football team.”
So next week, the goal is again to find a Week 1 starter at running back who provides the team with long-term security.
And what do the Cowboys want from the running back position? Schottenheimer explains:
“You want a guy that’s got vision and has contact balance,” he said. “The fronts that we’re seeing, the fronts that we’re facing require guys to be able to make hidden yards. Whether it’s a free safety in the hole or there’s a linebacker or defensive lineman coming off the point of attack, you got to have a guy that’s willing to run through arm tackles. I do believe you have to have the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.”
Dallas could add more on the edge in the draft, and it could come come early.
What’s Up: If there was a section for “What Didn’t Happen” that’s where Micah Parsons and his contract situation might fall. Parsons and the Cowboys are still negotiating a new contract but nothing materialized so far this year, something Micah suggested he wanted to occur to help the Cowboys in free agency. But there is no deal right now and the Cowboys could always put the franchise tag on Parsons at the end of the year if a deal isn’t made before next year’s free agency.
Parsons, however, is entering his fifth year and remains the most important cog not only on the D-line but the entire defense, which is now being run by DC Matt Eberflus.
Let’s not forget the expected return of Sam Williams, who had an ACL injury in training camp last summer and missed the entire season.
What’s Next: With the Cowboys, never rule out a pass-rusher to be...
