The Dallas Cowboys have one of the best offensive lines in all of football, but as of right now, who is going to be running behind that line is a question mark. DeMarco Murray is a Philadelphia Eagle now, and the Cowboys are left with a bunch of question marks in their back field. Earlier in the offseason, it was assumed that Joseph Randle would take over the starting role for the Cowboys with Murray gone, but now it is being reported that Darren McFadden is the likely starter in week one, according to Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram.
While Hill did say that McFadden is the starter, he also said that Randle and Lance Dunbar figure to also see time in the backfield. McFadden may be on the field for the first play of the game, but that doesn't mean he will get the most touches, carries, or even snaps. While he is not guaranteed to get the most snaps, the Cowboys have said that McFadden is not going to be limited, so if he is effective early on, they will ride him through the entire game.
The Cowboys signed McFadden this offseason with the hopes that he could somehow rejuvenate his career after a disappointing seven year run with the Oakland Raiders. Running behind Dallas' offensive line should certainly help, and this season will be a great barometer for how much he has left in the tank.
McFadden was the fourth overall pick by the Raiders back in 2008, and he was expected to be the next star running back, but it just never happened. McFadden rushed for more than 1,000 yards one time in 2010 but otherwise has never rushed for more than 750 in a season. McFadden has dealt with injuries throughout his career and more recently a lack of production that has made his career a disappointment. In his last three seasons with the Raiders, the former Arkansas Razorback averaged just 3.3 yards per carry.
Now 28 years old, McFadden has a second chance with a new team to prove he can still play. The Cowboys are likely to go with a committee in the backfield, but McFadden looks like he will get the first shot at taking the job and running with it, so we will find out quickly if he still has it in him or if his career is truly on its last legs.
