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Matt Cassel Won’t Solve Dallas Cowboys Biggest Problem

By Erik Lambert

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Aug 29, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Matt Cassel (16) calls a play against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The logic behind the move makes plenty of sense.  Lose the starting quarterback to injury?  Bring in a veteran with lots of good experience to stabilize the depth and perhaps start if the backup isn’t equal to the task.  That is what the Dallas Cowboys have done, at least in principle with their trade to acquire Matt Cassel.

Their goal was both to improve their depth at the position but also have insurance in place in case Brandon Weeden either played poorly or got hurt as well.  In that they succeeded at least, but truthfully Cassel’s arrival does nothing to solve the overall problem facing the Cowboys offense.

They still don’t have a running back they can rely on.

Former NFL players often call them “stallions.”  Dallas had one last season in DeMarco Murray but for whatever reason the two sides couldn’t work out a deal to keep the Pro Bowl back in place.  Without him the team hasn’t been able to get anything going on the ground.  Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden have combined to average just 3.15 yards per carry.  That was with the threat of Tony Romo at quarterback.

Without him?  It’s a virtual certainty teams are going to load the box to stop them on the ground, daring Weeden to beat them throwing despite having no Dez Bryant as well.  If Randle or McFadden couldn’t handle lighter fronts before, why should anyone believe they can attack heavy ones moving forward?

Worse still a number of their upcoming opponents feature strong run defenses:

  • New York Giants (3rd)
  • Washington Redskins (4th)
  • Carolina Panthers (7th)
  • Atlanta Falcons (10th)
  • Seattle Seahawks (15th)

That means they won’t even have to load the box and can devote even more defenders to making life hard on the passing game.  Dallas isn’t going to stay afloat in that conference or that division for long unless they find somebody who gives them credibility as a ground threat.

Maybe there is move still out there to be made, but as of right now the Cowboys haven’t made it and therefore remains saddled with the same problem.

Next: 2016 NFL Mock Draft: Huge Trades Strike Early

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