FRISCO — Through two games, the Dallas Cowboys have gotten very minimal production out of the backfield. Altogether, the team's offense has not realized the same potency of the 2023 campaign.
Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are still rekindling their connection and the Cowboys continue to evaluate the progress of other receivers, namely Jake Ferguson and Jalen Tolbert, in this offense. But the running game remains the primary issue.
Last week's 44-19 loss certainly provided no assistance over the course of that beatdown. The New Orleans Saints essentially forced Dallas into heavy pass situations in attempt to keep up with an explosive output from the visitors.
However, the early returns remain enough evidence to realize this group as currently constructed and operating will not give the lift this offense needs. Most spectators of the Cowboys realize that, but not Jerry Jones.
“This is a little bit of a first for me,” he told the K&C Masterpiece show on Friday, “because I’ve never seen such made of our position and what we’re doing at that position- running back- this year and not having done this or not having done that at running back.”
Jones added that the media urging a running back move in the spring, and repeating that now, is just reporters “covering your you-know-what.”
In defense of the Cowboys' owner, one cannot draw cemented final conclusions through a two-game sample size. But the eye test certainly does not help his case.
Neither Ezekiel Elliott or Rico Dowdle have popped in any moment through two games. Elliott has proven a serviceable blocker in pass protection, but Dowdle, the younger of the two, still remains an unknown.
A productive run offense also needs its line to provide the opportunities for the backs, but it seems that would not change matters much either. Between Elliott and Dowdle, the Cowboys average 3.7 yards per carry and have one rush of 10 yards. There is no "pop" or reason for defenses to respect this unit.
We can offer running back trade ideas (see below), but …
Here Jones finds himself in a bind. The general manager stands accused of having overseen complete mismanagement of resources and ignorance of key issues not only in the backfield, but around the roster. How can the owner hold the general manager accountable when they are the same person?
