NFL Dallas Cowboys

History Should Come Into Play When Jerry Jones Looks at Running Back Options for Dallas Cowboys

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Demarco Murray Dallas Cowboys

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Jerry Jones has already said that he will more than likely look at returning to a two-back system if the Dallas Cowboys are unable to sign Demarco Murray to a long-term deal. This would also mean that they would look to pick a running back pretty high in this April’s draft, and would rely on either Lance Dunbar or Joseph Randle to be their change-of-pace back.

However, if Jones decides to employ this system again, the team will simply be taking a step backwards by reverting to a flawed philosophy that has already come and gone in the NFL. The last time the Cowboys ran a two-back system, they had mixed results at best. Julius Jones, Marion Barber and Felix Jones all had their chance in this system, and none of them were able to thrive in it. The Cowboys eventually lost all faith in their running game and subsequently became a pass-first offense, which put too pressure on Tony Romo’s shoulders.

Now, even if the two-back system had proved to be somewhat effective, Randle has already shown that he cannot be relied upon with all of his off-field issues. Can the Cowboys really go into a season, one in which they believe they can reach the Super Bowl in, having to rely on someone who was arrested twice in a four-month span? I think Jones knows the answer to that, so clearly he must be saying these things to try and gain some leverage in the negotiations with Murray’s team.

The league, as a whole, realizes that you need a stud running back in the backfield; one who can wear defenses down and run out the clock at the end of the game for you. The Seattle Seahawks have one in Marshawn Lynch, the Pittsburgh Steelers have one in LeVeon Bell and the Dallas Cowboys have one as well in Demarco Murray.

Jones, of all people, knows that Emmitt Smith was the key to his teams winning all of those championships in the 90s. His tough and grinding style helped sustain long drives, controlled the flow of the game and effectively killed the will of their opponents. So if the Cowboys have any chance of winning another championship, while at the same time keeping Romo healthy for the next four or five years, they will need a consistent running game.

So if there was ever a time for Jones to open up his pocketbook, it’s definitely now because the last thing he wants to happen is to have history repeat itself.

Kelly Anderson is a blogger for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @bgipp01 or add him to your network on Google.

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