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Mike McCarthy has picked a new main running back for the Dallas Cowboys. After playing nine games and only winning three, he decided that Rico Dowdle will take the lead role in running the ball for the team.
Some folks think this change won’t really help the Cowboys’ rough season.
McCarthy’s announcement about Dowdle being the lead back isn’t seen as a game-changer. Many believe that bringing Ezekiel Elliott back was more about having a backup plan than making a big impact. Hopefully, this time around, they won’t make Zeke do something like snapping the ball again when he leaves. If Elliott’s time with the Cowboys is ending, it’s not exactly a grand farewell.
There is no more running back by committee in Dallas. Mike McCarthy said Rico Dowdle is the Cowboys lead back: “Definitely, you have to get him the ball. That’s my focus to continue to get him opportunities. He’s the lead back.”— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) November 14, 2024
This season might be his last with Dallas if they choose not to bring him back next year, which seems likely. His performance this year is on track to be one of his worst seasons ever, with projections showing just 323 rushing yards and four touchdowns according to ESPN. When he returned to Dallas after a stint with New England, it raised eyebrows since he wasn’t the explosive player he once was.
If Jerry Jones and McCarthy thought Elliott could significantly boost their run game, they’ve got some explaining to do. Dowdle taking over doesn’t seem like the magic fix either. Elliott’s stats this season show 374 yards and no touchdowns, with predictions pointing to 706 yards by season’s end.
It’s an improvement from last year when he was Tony Pollard’s backup, but still not enough. Only the Las Vegas Raiders have a worse rushing game than the Cowboys this season, and they’re tied with Cleveland Browns for the fewest rushing touchdowns, sitting at three. Neither Dowdle nor Elliott were poised to turn things around this season.
This should be a wake-up call for Jones to find a true feature back next year.
