We all know how bad the Cowboys' running game was last season. Uglier than Sam Cassell's head atop Montrae Holland's body.
In 2012 the Cowboys set a feeble franchise record with only 1,265 yards rushing. That's right, as a
team they rushed for 832 yards less than Adrian Peterson. The total was 542 yards fewer than the previous season and DeMarco Murray's team-leading 663 was the lowest for a No. 1 back since Paul Palmer's 446 back in the 1-15 campaign of 1989.
Emmitt Smith had seven better seasons, by himself.
Despite the increased commitment to run by new play-caller Bill Callahan and the 170 yards amassed in the pre-season opener against the Dolphins, there are ominous signs entering 2013.
The Cowboys are so depleted along the offensive line that they reached out to 33-year-old veteran Brandon Moore. But the Jet - a supporting actor in the infamous Butt Fumble play from last Thanksgiving - never got on a plane for Oxnard and instead this morning retired, declining Dallas' $2 million job offer.
Now - two years too late - the Cowboys will reach out to Brian Waters.
I suggested him in 2011 when concerns over Holland's physical limitations mandated reinforcement. But the Cowboys passed, and Waters eventually made the Pro Bowl with the Patriots.
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When Tony Romo makes his '13 debut Friday against the Raiders, he'll do it behind a patchwork line that threatens his health and the futility of '12.
Left tackle Tyron Smith is solid. Doug Free is, um, improving toward adequate at right tackle. Travis Frederick is a rookie at center. And that's the high points.
Projected left guard Nate Livings, who started every game last season, is sidelined with his second knee surgery in six months. For now he's replaced by Ron Leary, who spent last year on the practice squad and didn't play a snap in a game.
Projected right guard Mackenzy Bernardeau was only recently cleared for practice after missing two weeks with a strained hamstring. He, too, is returning from off-season knee surgery.
Backup tackle Jeremy Parnell, whom most fans wanted to unseat Free, has missed most of camp with a hamstring. Center/Guard Ryan Cook has a bad back. Guard Kevin Kowalski is out with a bruised knee. Demetress Bell hasn't practiced because of a lack of conditioning and .... whew, the Cowboys signed camp fodder named James Nelson and Jeff Olson last week just to make it through practices.
After his superb '11, Waters didn't play football last year. But at this point on the Cowboys' offensive line, he can't hurt.
