The Dallas Cowboys allowed the NFL's leading rusher in 2014, DeMarco Murray, to walk away in free agency leaving a huge hole in the ground game. The run game was the x-factor for Dallas last season and has been the main area of focus this year. The Cowboys were linked to every possible running back option including a trade for Adrian Peterson or a contract for Ray Rice, but instead they opted to sign Darren McFadden to pair with Joseph Randle and will now operate a run game by committee in 2015.
McFadden made his training camp debut for the Cowboys following a stint on the PUP list for a hamstring injury. At the moment he is one of the only healthy backs with Randle, Lance Dunbar and Gus Johnson dealing with issues. While this could give McFadden a leg up on earning the starting spot for the Cowboys, the veteran admits he will be splitting carries with Randle instead of being the main workhorse.
"You know the competitor in me definitely wants to be the No. 1 guy that goes out there. But at the same time, it's like, man, you know we're going to split carries," McFadden said, via KRLD-FM with the Dallas Morning News. "So whoever goes out there or goes out there second -- I just know whenever I do get a chance to get the ball in my hands, I'm going to go out there and go 110 percent."
McFadden has heard the criticism about him. The veteran has struggled to stay healthy as he has never played a complete season in the league. He is not as versatile as Randle is in terms of the passing game, but could run well behind the offensive line of the Cowboys. Owner Jerry Jones has denied any and all free agent signings for Dallas which means McFadden and Randle must step up.
Meanwhile Dallas is dealing with training camp fights that left Dez Bryant to get punched in the face. The leading wide receiver has been dealing with a strained left hamstring and could miss another preseason game. The team is hopeful he will be back for the Aug. 23 game against the 49ers, but if now other receivers will get a chance to prove themselves. The Cowboys need a clear-cut No.2 guy and Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley are competing for the job. Head coach Jason Garrett downplayed Bryant's hamstring as being something that would linger into the season.
"The worst thing you can do is get a guy coming back, working hard in his rehab, but then you put him out there too early and then he falls back for a couple weeks and he's on the shelf," Garrett said, via TulsaWorld.com. "You want to make sure they're ready to go, and then when they get out there, you ease them into it a little bit and then you let them go. I think we've had good success with that in the past."
