By Massimo Russo
There’s more negative reaction than positive from outsiders on the Joneses letting DeMarco Murray walk, but sometimes using an addition by subtraction approach can make up for one big loss.
Let’s take a look at the Saints, for example. GM Mickey Loomis trading elite tight end Jimmy Graham to the Seahawks was a head scratcher to many, but he knew the team was facing salary cap issues and needed room to address needs. They got Max Unger, a Pro Bowl center in return from Seattle to improve the interior of the O-line and selected rookie standout left tackle Andrus Peat with their first round pick in hopes to improve quarterback Drew Brees’ blind side. The needed cap space was primarily used for Loomis to address the Saints’ defense that’s been putrid, adding physical CB Brandon Browner, DT Kevin Williams, OLB Anthony Spencer and LB Danelle Ellerbe. Loomis made other trades and cut throat decisions to clean out some locker room headaches, proving that the organization has their foot down, letting everyone know that nobody is bigger than the team.
Anyone remember the Cowboys releasing Terrell Owens after the ’08 season and wondering where the passing game was heading? Miles Austin was the next man up to fill Owens’ shoes and he made the best of it, putting up Owens-like numbers, catching 81 balls for 1,320 yards and hauling in 11 scores in ‘09. Austin earned Pro Bowl honors for two straight seasons and became quarterback Tony Romo’s playmaker in the post Owens era. The former Cowboy showed flashes prior to getting the chance to start as sub-package receiver and when he returned kicks, but it was hard to think his production would quickly jump out as a game breaker.
Now the Cowboys are in another transition state, but at running back, with Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden looking to achieve what DeMarco Murray did in ’14. Having road-grading blockers can always impact a running game to give a runner massive holes to run behind, but the runner still needs to have good vision on reading the backside before he hits the hole. Murray used the maximum abilities of his Bell Cow, one cut style of running to punish defenses with his physical prowess last season, earning him a well-deserved contract to join rival Philadelphia.
There’s lots of doubt out in the sea of gossipers and large media networks, analyzing Dallas’ backfield without Murray’s presence, but what’s been forgotten is that a team can always add new wrinkles. The Cowboys still have WR Dez Bryant drawing double teams on the perimeter and TE Jason Witten and slot WR Cole Beasley getting attention in the middle. Terrance Williams is also capable of stifling defensive backs.
Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan has a track record of getting the best out of his personnel, and he can use the passing game to dictate the running game. Linehan can deploy a variety of spread formations with Romo in shotgun to keep defenses in nickel packages with McFadden, Randle or Dunbar offset. When defenses are playing backed off the line of scrimmage because of respecting the pass, the speedier backs Linehan has can strike defenses on draws and screen game concepts, especially McFadden, who can be used on swing passes and wheel routes to get matched up with a linebacker (vintage McFadden) and to draw a safety down.
Back to the addition by subtraction factor: The Saints losing Graham was big – the same with Dallas losing Murray, but the Cowboys and Saints’ subtractions were added by needs on defense. This could sound like I’m getting ahead of myself, but there’s no doubt in my mind that the additions of DE Greg Hardy and DE Randy Gregory will improve Dallas’ pass rush. A better pass rush generates more opportunities for the back seven to make plays, and if you look at the history of Super Bowl winners, the teams that win in the trenches usually come out on top.
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