No matter who starts, the one thing Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wants the run game to do is give opponents one more thing to respect.
"I think we need to really have a running game that the other team respects," Jones told KRLD-FM on Tuesday. "And even if we're in that game and they've done a good job of taking it away from us a little bit, even if we're having to throw more a little bit, the word is respect. And if we can get defenses to compromise what they do their best to have to work on something that we can do because we have a running game, then we've accomplished something going into the game."
Last year, it was easy for opponents to identify who to respect in the Cowboys rushing attack with DeMarco Murray as the feature back. Departed for Philadelphia in the off-season, Dallas has filled the void with a committee of running backs with third-year Joseph Randle, fourth-year Lance Dunbar, and eight-year Darren McFadden, a free agent signing from Oakland. The only issue is even among this committee there is no clear chairman.
For Jones, that is not a problem. The goal for training camp from his vantage was to get to Opening Night on Sept. 13 against the New York Giants with his running back stable healthy and in tact.
"Our primary goal for our team coming into camp from my perspective was to basically be healthy when we left and take our players that we just make a list of players that we think we know what kind of players they are in a competitive situation, what kind of players they are or will be against the Giants," said Jones. "Now, I'm not taking anything away from reps or honing your game or getting better. But basically what I am saying that we know a lot about what a lot of players can do. Well, the number one goal was to get them there healthy."
