Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has revealed that he is hopeful that opposing teams will be forced to "respect" his side's running game in the 2015 season.
The Cowboys boasted one of the best ground games in the NFL last season, featuring DeMarco Murray who led the league in rushing yards, totalling 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns.
However, Murray left the club in the off-season to join the Philadelphia Eagles, leaving the NFC East side with Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden to carry the load for the campaign.
"Even if we're in that game, even if they've done a good job of taking it away from us a little bit, even if we're having to throw more, the word is respect," Jones told KRLD-FM.
"If we can get defenses to compromise what they do their best to have to work on something that we can do because we have a running game, then we've accomplished something going into the game."
The Cowboys were ranked second in the NFL in rushing offense last season.