Dallas

Cowboys Shouldn't Be Teased By Elliott in Draft

Some folks just don’t get it. Call them Cowboys fans.

With their team having the 4th overall pick in next month’s NFL Draft, first they cried for the drafting of a quarterback. Now come the calls for a running back.

No. No. And absolutely no.

Why? Name the Broncos’ defensive stars from their Super Bowl team. Pretty easy, right? Von Miller was the MVP, DeMarcus Ware caused havoc, etc. Now, quick, name their running back?

Unless you’re a Fantasy Football geek, it took a second to remember Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson. As I wrote a couple weeks ago, the Cowboys’ biggest hole must be filled. And it’s not backup quarterback, nor an additional running back. It’s a pass rusher. Or two.

Maybe Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott will be a Pro Bowl runner some day. But, unless we were watching different teams last season, didn’t the Cowboys strike gold with Darren McFadden? Where Joseph Randle goofballed himself out of football and Lance Dunbar suffered a season-ending injury, McFadden more than took up the slack with a surprisingly successful season.

The Rams’ Todd Gurley drew all sorts of accolades for his rookie season, while McFadden began the season as merely part of a committee on a 4-12 team. In the end, Gurley rushed for only 17 more yards than McFadden.

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Running backs don’t last long in the NFL. And the three-down back has been all but phased out of offenses. No runners were taken in the first round in 2013 or 2014. And anyone heard lately from Trent Richardson, the 3rd overall pick in 2012?

Elliott may prove to be a good player. But with the potential departures of Greg Hardy and, for at least four games, Randy Gregory, the Cowboys’ pass rush needs much more imminent help than their running game.

A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.

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