Michael Irvin Has Some Concerns About the Running Back Position

Irvin doesn't like the idea of the Cowboys using a pure platoon approach to the position

Hall of Fame receiver and NFL Network analyst Michael Irvin makes no secret of the fact that he still loves the Dallas Cowboys after all these years. But he’s finding it hard to drink the Kool-Aid where the running back position is concerned.

“I’m their No. 1 guy when it comes to sometimes allowing my heart to control my head in assessing the Dallas Cowboys,” Irvin said, per ESPN Dallas. “But right now there’s a nervous anticipation about the season and that’s just the truth of it.”

The nervousness likely comes from the fact that last year, when the team broke through after three straight 8-8 seasons and no playoff appearances, they had the NFL’s best running back. That running back left in free agency, and the team never appeared all that worried about replacing him. They signed Darren McFadden, who has all of one 1,000-yard season in his career, and will put him with the exciting but relatively inexperienced Joseph Randle, and Lance Dunbar in the backfield in 2015.

Maybe one of those guys will emerge as the lead dog, but Irvin doesn’t like the idea of using a committee approach to the position, as he made clear in remembering something the voice of the Cowboys, Brad Sham, said about the position recently.

“He said, ‘OK, one guy had 1,800 yards, but if three guys get 600 yards, does that work?’ To be honest with you, no, because what it doesn’t do is tell the defense to come in and try to stop the run so we can just filet you like a fish and leave you in the alley,” Irvin said. “You see what I mean? That’s the difference. So you would have to establish that you are a great running game and a great running team and three backs at 600 yards won’t establish that. I’m just giving you the reality.”

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