FRISCO - Want to hear some Dallas Cowboys good news in terms of a review out of Bristol? Or, better ... want to hear two doses of good news?
Marcus Spears, the former Cowboys standout, is offering up his prediction for the Dallas offense. And he's talking up the fifth-round rookie running back Jaydon Blue and how he might succeed in a "shocking'' way behind this rebuilt offensive line.
First, ESPN's Spears on the O-line ...
“I think the Dallas offensive line is going to be one of the more physical and athletic offensive lines when it comes to zone schemes and as far as getting running backs in lanes and allowing them to use speed,” Spears said.
Our three-pronged take? New coach Brian Schottenheimer has announced a commitment to the running game. His coaching staff now features gurus in that department, led by offensive coordinator Klayton Adams. And Dallas used its premium first-round pick on a blocker in "Day 1 starter'' Tyler Booker from Alabama.
So the right moves, on paper, are being made upfront.
And what about Blue?
Said Spears: “I’m looking forward to this rookie maybe shocking a lot of people. A lot of good stuff coming out on him when he was there for rookie minicamp and OTAs. The speed jumps off the page at 4.38. He could be an unsung guy that we could talk about a lot.”
"Unsung'' might be the wrong word choice here, but we get it.
And so does Blue, who is visualizing a plan and putting it into words.
"I'm trying to take my receiver game to the next level,'' Blue said, "so I can be the next great back to come out of Dallas.''
Pro Football Focus thinks Dallas has the worst collection of running backs in the NFL. So not everybody sees it the way Spears and Blue do.
But the truth? A more muscular O-line can really happen.
And something short of Blue immediately joining the greats Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett and Ezekiel Elliott to simply "shock'' as a rookie?
That can happen, too.
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