Greg Webb
sports@weatherforddemocrat.com
May 12, 2008 04:13 pm
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Having already laid down my semi-weekly pearls of opinion-dom in the last column before the NFL draft took place, I am compelled to weigh in on the missed opportunity, or not, of the Dallas Cowboys when it came time to choose between the fleet-footed, ‘wow-factor’ Felix Jones and the now Pittsburgh-bound bruiser-style runner, Rashard Mendenhall.
An exceptional running back, when the Cowboys are riding high, as they were in the 70s and 90s, has historically been associated with the boys in silver and blue. Perhaps ingrained into the philosophy of the times, it was the exception, rather than the rule that, even with a third-down back, there was a “main man” tasked with carrying the load. The two-back, platoon thing just didn’t occur that often in the league, as it so often does nowadays.
Emmit Smith ran into the record books during his tenure, noted for his ability to break the first, often the second and with enough frequency to mention, the third tackler to rack up yardage and another first down. Smith was very good at seeing the hole behind the zone blocking, not only when it opened, but also seeing the hole that was about to open and adjusting his arrival at the line accordingly. If there was a rap on Emmit, it was that when he got into the open field, he did not have the speed to burn the defensive backs. It’s tough to argue this point with bottom-line colleagues because they tend to be, well, bottom-line colleagues. Still, ‘tis a fact that Smith was often caught from behind inside the twenty and also a fact that getting the ‘Boys there was good enough. Troy-boy and crew would, much more often than not, and usually with Smith’s legs spanning the last few yards, punch it in. Success, and super bowls.
Tony Dorsett, in the 70s, was the much-anticipated draftee out of Pitt that, also the exception rather than the rule, lived up to his reputation. Dorsett was quick to the hole and had a few dance moves in his repitoire when the hole wasn’t there. While not as adept as Smith at sluffing off a line backer, Dorsett was by defensive backs in a big hurry, and stayed that way. A speed burner to the max, Tony would settle into his sprinter’s stride in the secondary, with the running talent to juke and evade if a DB had an angle on him. Success, and super bowls.
Dorsett caught some flack late in his career with the Cowboys because, it was purported, he had lost a step and could not get past the line with the frequency he had enjoyed in the past. Some forget that, even though the long runs were not a fixture as they had been, that “TD” still attained 1000-yard seasons, before shipping off to Denver, by doing a fair amount of scratching and clawing for every yard. Smith, also a Cowboys’ star that did not retire in Dallas, went to the Cardinals when the hard-nosed runs he was noted for went the way of the Cowboys’ season records, which brings us to the point.
There are, no doubt, running backs that have achieved “greatness” (and that word is so overused in the sports media that it often makes one ill) despite the supporting cast around them. Detroit’s Barry Sanders is the first that comes to mind. In another era, the Bears’ Gayle Sayers, with a career shortened by technology-lacking knee surgeries, is another. Back in time even further, Jim Brown. I could go on, but I think you get the point. These guys did not have what Smith and Dorsett did have in their respective primes... an absolutely, bone-crunching big-and-quick offensive line in front of them. Not taking anything away from the Cowboy greats (yes, greats I say), but the quick path to big numbers, big notoriety and big bucks by running backs are the Nate Newtons, Flozell Adams (even with the false starts), Rayfield Wrights and Mark Tuineis of the trench-world. Again, this list could go on, but suffice to say that “da Boyz” have had their fair share of men up front who had the awesome ability to deter a defensive tackle, shield a linebacker or bury a d-back, opening up a hole big enough to “drive a truck through, “ whether the truck be a speedy Arkansas grad or a bruising Illinois product.
As for the picks, I’m OK with Felix Jones to compliment Marion Barber’s running prowess. Barber is a joy to watch because he’s one of those few runners who just “refuses” to be tackled without a great deal of defensive follow-through. Ironically, if the Dallas line gets better, Barber’s highlight reels may be fewer in coming seasons as the lanes are opened with more efficiency. What a great dilemma.
Besides, Mendenhall just looks like he was born to be a Steeler and fits the mold of their past runners wearing black and gold. Jones, along with another Jones (of the “Pacman” genre) waiting to be cleared to play for the Cowboys, will no doubt provide some excitement on special teams and the like, but to be able to use his speed to become another Dallas running back destined for the books, Felix will need the offensive line to avoid just a series of “truck stops” on the path to mediocrity. Here’s hoping...
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