Cowboys Draft Chat: What will happen at RB?

Reid Hanson recently had a chat about the upcoming NFL Draft. Here are some highlights regarding the running game and how that situation should shake out.

In your opinion, what would make the draft successful for the Cowboys this year?

Reid: For the draft to be successful in my eyes, I would have to see them draft two immediate starters for the defensive line and a potential starting running back with three of the top four picks. I suppose one of the linemen can be rotational, but they need a heavy contribution at the very least.

Drafting best player available sounds like the smarter move

Reid: I’m paraphrasing here but Brian Billick famously said something like – We always drafted the best player available, that just always happened to be at the greatest position of need. In other words, best player available (BPA) is a tired statement. Team needs have to be factored in to the drafting process or we’d see some teams with back to back first round QBs and other teams with back to back first round RBs.

I don’t think the Cowboys should force the issue and draft a DE, DT, and RB (in rounds 1-4) at all costs. I just want those needs to carry a significant weight in the decision making process. I’ve done multiple mock drafts that departed from that outcome because the draft just didn’t fall that way and I didn’t want to “reach” for less-skilled players.

We should skip RB. Darren McFadden proved he’s good enough to hold it down.

Darren McFadden got yards last season but that doesn’t mean he did a very good job. His increased yards per carry is in direct relation to his yards before contact. Basically – the offensive line did good job.

I watched and graded his film last season and he consistently rated well as a runner in a man blocking scheme and consistently rated poorly in a zone blocking scheme (ZBS). Unfortunately for him, the Cowboys run primarily out of a ZBS so you can see that his strengths and weaknesses are problematic.

The Cowboys need a young RB with proven ZBS credentials. The draft offers plenty of them in the middle rounds so there’s no excuse skipping over the RB position again this season.

How do you see the RB depth chart in 2016?

Reid: It’s hard to say at this point. I think the Cowboys will be addressing the RB position in the draft but I don’t have a clue who. My guess is that whoever they pick will be the starter by the end of the season but if they only add undrafted free agents, that scenario would be unlikely.