If the Cowboys are going to make any noise this season they need major improvements from their running game. A balanced attack on offense will take the pressure off Tony Romo and the passing game and will keep defenses guessing. But do the Cowboys as they stand today have enough as far as a dependable running game that can can get the job done?
The Cowboys rushing offense in 2012 was ranked 31st in the NFL and they averaged only 79.1 yards a game. DeMarco Murray led the way with 663 yards rushing in 2012, but also missed six games due to injury. There is no doubting that Murray is the Cowboys feature back and can do great things when he is on the field and healthy. But Murray's durability has come into question due to his injuries. In Murray's rookie season in 2011 he rushed for 897 yards, but missed three games with an injury as well. Murray has said he plans on playing all 16 games for the Cowboys in 2013, which is great news, but injuries cannot be controlled.
What exactly do the Cowboys have behind DeMarco Murray? They have Phillip Tanner who has really done nothing in his two seasons with the Cowboys. He has rushed for only 137 yards combined in '11 and '12. There is Lance Dunbar who carried the ball only 21 times for 75 yards in 2012. Let's face it; Tanner and Dunbar don't exactly make opposing defenses fear them. The Cowboys also have rookie Kendial Lawrence on the roster. who may be an improvement over both Tanner and Dunbar even though he is unproven. Gone from the Cowboys is Felix Jones after five seasons. Although that decision made the majority of Cowboys fans happy, let's not forget that Jones rushed for 402 yards and three touchdowns in 2012 to go along with 25 receptions for 262 yards and two touchdowns.
The Cowboys drafted Joseph Randle out of Oklahoma St. in the 5th round of the 2013 draft. Although unproven in the NFL, Randle did rush for 1,417 yards and scored 14 touchdowns for Oklahoma St. in 2012. Back in 2011 he rushed for 1,216 yards and scored 24 touchdowns. If Randle can even produce half of those numbers for the Cowboys in 2013 the running game will be much improved. But Randle is still a rookie and unproven at the next level. Time will tell what the Cowboys have in Randle.
So outside of DeMarco Murray who has flashed what he can do on the field at times along with a history of injuries what do the Cowboys have to offer with their running game?
Well, not much!
What the Cowboys need to do is bring in Peyton Hillis to bolster their rushing attack. With Hillis the Cowboys would get the experience, quickness, toughness, speed and the kind of diverse player that they need. Hillis has been in the league five seasons. He has rushed for 2,470 yards and 21 touchdowns in his career. His biggest season was in 2010 with the Browns when he rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns. Hillis is not a feature back and that is why I think he would work so well with the Cowboys. I understand that Hillis didn't have his best season last year with the Chiefs, but when someone like Jamaal Charles is rushing for over 1,500 yards it's going to take away from the other runners on the team.
Hillis has that fullback mentality that would benefit the Cowboys at the goal line. He also has the quickness to hit the holes when they are there and to make his own holes when they are not there. He has the speed to get to the outside as well. He is an effective blocker and can be an added threat when he gets out into the passing lanes. From what I've seen of Hillis I believe he would be a tremendous asset to the Cowboys offense. The three headed monster of Murray, Hillis and Randle would transform the Cowboys running game into something that they have not had in quite a while.
The Cowboys need to end their experiment with Tanner and Dunbar. They gave it a try and it didn't work out. Now it's time to move on and get the Cowboys running game out of the NFL basement. Peyton Hillis can help the Cowboys now, which is what they need desperately.
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