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Every NFL expert as well as every Dallas Cowboys fan out there fully expected the Cowboys to draft a running back in the early rounds of this year’s draft. But what they all failed to realize is that in the eyes of the coaches and scouts associated with the team, they truly believe they have already found their running back of the future in Joseph Randle.
The 6-foot-0, 210-pound back has the vision and straight line speed that’s necessary to be successful in this league. While he hasn’t gotten a lot of opportunities, he has been productive when the ball has been put in his hands. This wasn’t always the case as in his rookie season, he only averaged three yards per carry. However, he put in the work in the offseason, came back better adjusted to the NFL game in his sophomore year, and the results spoke for themselves as he averaged 6.5 yards per carry and had several long touchdown runs to help close out games.
Now having one of the better offensive lines in the league definitely helps, but there is a reason why the team hasn’t cut ties with him after all of his off-the-field issues that popped up last season. Sure he was only a fifth-round pick out of Baylor, but if you look at some of the more successful running backs in the league like Alfred Morris, Joique Bell, Arian Foster, Jamaal Charles, and even Demarco Murray, they were all drafted in the third round or later. Some weren’t even drafted at all.
Just like Randle, Murray was once buried on the depth chart when he was playing behind the likes of Felix Jones, Phillip Tanner, and Tashard Choice. That was until injuries finally gave him his opportunity to shine. He responded with one of the biggest rushing days in the history of the Dallas Cowboys as well as the league against the St. Louis Rams, and he hasn’t looked back since.
I truly believe that once Randle is finally given the opportunity, he too will make his case to be the lead back for the Dallas Cowboys. Darren McFadden is a tremendous talent and he can be a dangerous weapon on this team, but don’t be surprised if Joseph Randle eventually becomes the starter by midseason.
Kelly Anderson is a blogger for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @bgipp01 or add him to your network on Google.
