The Tribune

By INIGO 'NAUGHTY' ZENICAZELAYA

SLOW and steady is sometimes the best approach in the long NFL offseason.

And it seems the Dallas Cowboys have really bought into this philosophy.

With a series of small, smart signings that addressed their needs.

By doing that, the Cowboys free themselves up to make the smartest possible decisions in the NFL Draft, by simply taking the best player on the board, regardless of position.

However, there’s one obvious and very important spot remaining, where the Cowboys haven’t followed that game plan - the running back position.

Dallas still has one of the best running backs in football in the gold in the form of Ezekiel Elliott.

But the problem isn’t their two-time NFL rushing champ and two-time All-Pro, it’s with the depth behind him – it’s non-existent.

Speaking at the NFL’s annual meetings on Monday, Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones addressed that fact, and he said it’s something that’s still being looked at.

“We are still looking at that in free agency. That may even be done after the draft. But I would agree with you. The way we have structured our offence and the importance we have in our offence of using the running back -- Zeke in that case -- we need to make sure we can rest him when we want to, take some snaps off of him when we want to. Or in case we need to, have a really talented running back in there.”

The Cowboys’ depth issues were exposed at times last season.

Elliott took a pounding, carrying the ball 304 times and snagging another 77 receptions, and it was obvious he was playing banged up throughout last season.

Rod Smith, in his third year with the team, received just 44 carries on the year and averaged just 2.9 yards per touch.

Smith isn’t currently under contract, but there is a strong possibility he re-signs to stay close to his brother, Cowboys Pro Bowl linebacker Jaylon Smith.

The Cowboys’ only other options are Darius Jackson and Jordan Chunn, with six career carries between them and fullback Jamize Olawale, who re-signed earlier this month and has enough versatility for spot carries if needed.

This offseason, Jones was clear about what he’s looking for, and that’s a well-rounded backup more so than a change of pace, back. “We can’t and I don’t expect to have a substitute for Zeke, but someone who can do what Zeke does -- which is not necessarily a change of pace guy,” he said.

• Here’s two free agent running backs to keep an eye on. One could be in Dallas sooner rather than later.

T.J. YELDON

Yeldon would be a good fit with the Cowboys. He’s as much of a threat catching passing out of the backfield as he is as a ball carrier. The Cowboys could use a third down running back to spell Elliott on occasion.

Yeldon played behind Leonard Fournette in Jacksonville, so he’s used to coming in for a workhorse running back and producing. The 6-foot-1 Alabama product has 465 rushing attempts for 1,872 yards and 171 receptions for 1,302 receiving yards. He’s entered pay dirt 12 times in his career.

COREY GRANT

Grant was sidelined for most of 2018 with a Lisfranc injury.

In limited action he proved to be a quality player for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He’s carried the ball 81 times for 454 yards, averaging 5.6 yards a pop.

At 5-foot-11, 203 pounds, Grant has the speed and toughness to run outside the hashes or between the tackles.

• Naughty presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm, on KISS FM 96.1.