Last night it was announced that Matt Cassel would be taking over for Brandon Weeden under center in Dallas. Apparently, those aren't the only changes the Cowboys had in mind.
Today comes word that the Cowboys are also considering changes at running back and left guard.
"Christine Michael, who was acquired via trade from the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 6, could supplant Joseph Randle in the Cowboys' backfield before next week's game against the New York Giants," ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder wrote. "Meanwhile, rookie La'El Collins is pushing Ronald Leary for the starting job at left guard, sources told ESPN."
The Cowboys are winless in three games without Tony Romo and clearly feel that they need to shake things up to remain afloat in the winnable NFC East. Fortunately for them, they have a bye this week which gives them extra time to work in these new players should they choose to.
Michael was inactive for the first three games after the trade and has just two carries for five yards all season. However, at 5-foot-10 and 221 pounds, he's a bit thicker than Randle and Darren McFadden. Still there's no denying that Michael never lived up to the hype in Seattle. As a second-round pick in 2013, he carried the ball just 52 times for 254 yards in scattered playing time, never convincing the Seahawks that he could be the heir apparent to Marshawn Lynch.
Collins, on the other hand, was a much hyped star at LSU and a first-round talent. He started in place for an injured Leary in Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons and held his own. Though he's been inactive the past two weeks, it sounds as if he may finally usurp the starting job from the decent-yet-unspectacular Leary.
Will these changes be enough to jumpstart Dallas's offense in the absence of Romo and Dez Bryant? We'll have to wait to find out.
