As the 2015 NFL season approaches, the Dallas Cowboys have some question marks in their roster. One question is whether or not Joseph Randle is the starting running back. It certainly is going to have a major impact on what kind of season they have and whether or not they can replace the impressive production that star running back DeMarco Murray brought to the field for them last year.
According to Jason Fletcher of Rant Sports, Randle is still the top running back to beat in Dallas heading into the 2015 season. Now the question becomes, is that really the case with the aggressiveness that Jerry Jones showed trying to acquire a running back before finally bringing Christine Michael in from Seattle?
There is no question that he was originally viewed as the ideal candidate to replace Murray, but he has yet to take control of the starting job throughout training camp and preseason action.
Last season in limited playing time, Randle ended up carrying the football 51 times for 343 yards and three touchdowns. He has big play potential, but he hasn't been able to prove himself to this point in his career. Another big issue is the problems that he has faced away from football, especially last season when he got into trouble for shoplifting.
That doesn't necessarily mean that he hasn't learned from the issues, but it does bring up some questions. Jones has been fairly comfortable with Randle and has been supportive of him as a starter this offseason, but acquiring Michael shows a bit of concern in whether or not the running backs on the roster were capable of starting.
Michael is a very talented young running back, but may not end up starting. He was unable to make much noise in Seattle, but that doesn't mean that he can't make a big leap forward with a fresh start in Dallas.
At 23 years old, Randle is still learning the NFL game and is trying to figure out exactly what he needs to work on. He has had an entire offseason to prepare himself to be the starter, but he hasn't even reached his prime yet either. Heading into his third NFL season, there is no question that he should take a big leap forward at some point in the year.
Dallas has one of the best offensive lines in the NFL and will help whoever gets the starting nod in a big way. There is no doubt that Randle's speed will make him a huge threat to break off big gains at any given moment, but consistency each and every carry is more important in the Dallas offense than a big play here and there.
All of that being said, it will be a very intriguing season for the Cowboys at the running back position.
Randle has a slight edge on McFadden at this point in time, but his longevity as a starter will all depend on whether or not he can put up big numbers through the first couple of weeks of the season. Michael is going to be given the chance to prove himself as well, which could unseat Randle as the starter as well.
Expect to see Dallas go with the big play potential to start the season, but don't be surprised if they give multiple running backs carries in Week 1. Randle needs to step up in a big way and have a big first couple of weeks if he wants to keep his starting job throughout the regular season.
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