The 2017 Dallas Cowboys are dead.
After a third straight blowout loss, this time to a sub .500 team at home, the Cowboys are 5-6 and staring up at multiple teams in the NFC playoff race. Though mathematically alive, no one who has watched this team the last three games would give the Cowboys any chance to make the postseason.
At this point, they are simply a really bad football team, and changes need to be made at an organizational level.
If you were looking for any bright spot after that destructive loss on Thanksgiving, however, I have one for you. This player got into the end zone for the first time this season, and rushed for 41 yards on just 9 carries.
That player is running back Rod Smith.
While the Cowboys offense was nonexistent throughout the game, Rod Smith was consistently productive on each of his touches Thursday afternoon. Being used mostly in short yardage situations, Smith provided the offense with those extra tough yards which Alfred Morris hadn’t been getting.
Morris had a solid game on the ground as well, but Rod Smith showed why I believe he has RB2 potential in Dallas. If I were the Cowboys, I’d continue to utilize Smith over Morris during the remainder of the Ezekiel Elliott suspension for a couple of reasons.
First, he is the far superior pass blocker to Morris. When asked to chip the opposing team’s defensive ends, Rod Smith has done a fairly good job, and has even stuck a few free rushers from time to time.
Second, the season is already most likely lost. I’m not saying Dallas should throw in the towel, but allowing their young running back to shoulder most of the load will help the Cowboys make future personnel decisions. We already know what Alfred Morris is, but maybe Rod Smith is a player the organization will want to keep around long term.
The only way to find out is to play him. Something I hope the Cowboys do more of down the stretch.
Are you serious..The only bright spot the last three games have been Alfred.You guys give him no credit that’s why I can’t wait until he leaves next year and hopefully get to come back to dallas and remind what happened for four years. Alfred could have ran in that touchdown also and he’s a better zone runner. I’ve looked at film and know several nfl players including a nfl probowl running back that said the same. As far as tough yards if you look at his ppf from yards after contact then that proves that statement wrong. But yeah hopefully he can be the RB2 in Dallas while Alf is RB1 some where else.
Mac, the Cowboys went to Rod Smith on short yardage plays multiple times. Alfred Morris has been good the last two weeks, in fact I even said that in the post. But Alfred’s ceiling has been reached, we still don’t know how good Smith can be. I’d rather find out during this “meaningless” games.
I am predicting Garrett is gone if there is another game next Thursday like the last 3. It will be comparable to when the team quit on Wade Phillips and Jones had to act in-season to axe him.
You can trace all of this back to 2005, when Jones let Sean Payton be hired away by New Orleans while he renewed Parcells. Who was out after his 2006 team collapsed down the stretch. Brilliant.
What would the Cowboys be right now with Payton as the coach? He is still only 53 after 12 years in New Orleans.
Somebody on staff consider this column: If you are starting a team and can take 1 Cowboy, who is it?
For me it’s easy – Prescott. Not Elliott. Full confidence in a Dak who has no help right now, except his RB’s.