A whole lot was created in the Cowboys' backfield over the course of last season. You had your starters, LeSean McCoy jersey, Marion Barber, your speed guy, Felix Jones, Aaron Rodgers jersey, and your all-around utility player, Tashard Choice. In many ways, the running game was the centerpiece of the offense. It seemed as though the Cowboys thrived as their running game progressed. It felt like every week a different back emerged. Ultimately, the Cowboys rushed for 2,103 yards last season, averaging 131.4 yards per game. Those numbers were good for seventh in the league with an impressive 4.9 yards per carry.
With the backs that the Cowboys currently have, it's unlikely they will be looking to bolster the position through free agency or the draft. However, let's take a look:
Starter: Marion Barber
There has been a lot of debate this offseason as to whether Marion Barber should retain his starting role heading into next season. It seems that Barber is more effective coming off the bench. Barber's best season came in 2007/08 when he came off the bench for Julius Jones. Barber averaged 3.7 yards per carry that year, the highest of his career so far. Barber has a style that is punishing but it seems as though as the season wore on, his ability to punish opponents waned throughout the year. It may be possible that for Barber to return to his 'barbarian' self, he needs to be kept fresh throughout the season. When Barber came off the bench, his average yards per carry increased, yet his number of carries per game wasn't much different. Barber only had 8 more carries in 2009 than when he was coming off the bench, which might discredit some of these ideas. The main question is whether Barber can maintain that punishing style of play in the long run. The average lifespan of a running back in the NFL is around 5 years. With Barber's punishing style, one would have to assume that he is more susceptible to wear and tear than the average back. That being said, it appears that the Cowboys are content with Barber in their backfield and will continue to use him as a utility player, regardless of whether he starts the game or not.
Felix Jones
Jones finally had an opportunity to play without having to worry about injuries. After being limited to just seven games in his rookie season, Jones played in all sixteen games last season. He also had a restful offseason. Jackson was a great complement to Barber in the backfield. 'The Cat' brought real speed and athleticism to the table and was able to establish why he was a highly regarded draft pick. Felix averaged 6.9 yards per carry and tallied up 685 yards in just 116 attempts. Williams was also a threat out of the backfield in passing situations. Many argue that Jones should start the game and Barber should come in later. It's hard to argue with his ability and speed, which might be how the Cowboys choose to proceed. Direction-wise, Felix will get the carries and the Cowboys' offensive line will have a big smile on their faces every time he does. The one downside of Williams is the apparent injury concerns. More missed games in his young career (8 & 2). The nature of his position is such that it's rare for a running back to go a season without getting injured. Jones did prove last year that he can remain relatively healthy.
Tashard Choice
If Smith and Barber weren't enough, the Cowboys have an excellent third piece added to their puzzle with 3rd-down back Tashard Choice. Choice was used primarily on 3rd downs and proved to be a fantastic goal-line runner. After Choice burst onto the scene, fans wondered what he could do for an encore this upcoming season, with both Jones and Barber excelling. Despite Choice being used primarily as a third-down back, he managed to control the primary goal-line role in the 'Razorback' formation (Cowboys' Wildcat). His average per carry improved last year to .5, an increase from his rookie year. Choice is the perfect mix between Jones and Barber. He is best utilized as a change-of-pace back and is very good out of the backfield in growing situations. Choice is entering a contract year and will be interested in more playing time or he could move to a team that gets him more touches. It isn't hard to imagine Choice deserving more playing time, but it's tough to see how that would manifest with several other very good backs ahead of him.
Draft Needs:
The Cowboys seem set at the position for this year at least. Here are some potential late-round options that could be available to the Cowboys. This isn't an especially deep draft for running backs, but there are some hidden gems:
1. G.T. Spiller (Clemson) - It's unlikely that Spiller will be available at pick Twenty-seven for the Cowboys, but he is the most skilled back in the draft. Spiller is a speedy back, much like Felix Jones. He lacks size, but makes up for it with explosiveness. Expect Spiller to go in the top half of the first round.
2. Charles Scott (LSU) - Scott is also extremely unlikely to be available for the Cowboys. Scott is only 5'12" but weighs 230 pounds. He is a downhill runner that can hit people in the hole. He is a bruiser with some speed. However, he isn't great out of the backfield in pass protection.
Backs that the Cowboys might have a shot at drafting around the third or fourth round where they will likely pick are:
1. LeGarrette Blount (Name Change) - At 5'10", 248 lbs, Blount is a large back. He lacks elite speed but is surprisingly quick for such a big man. He is likely to be a third or fourth round pick and could be someone the Cowboys find intriguing. Blount was suspended for most of the year after hitting a Boise State player following their first game. Blount has talent and is a steal if available.
2. Anthony Dixon (Miss. E.) - Dixon is another large back with some great potential and outstanding speed. Dixon breaks tackles for extra yardage and can deliver punishing blows to defensive shells and traffic. He does well in making himself a small target and presents some great opportunities to defenders. Like Blount, Dixon has some character issues. He was charged with a DUI, and teams will certainly be aware of that.
Other notable mentions: Jahvid Best (Cal, 2nd or 3rd Round), Candice Gerhart (Stanford, 2nd/3rd), Stafon Johnson (USC, 4th/5th).