DMN: Taylor: Jason Garrett's sudden attraction to running game huge reason for Cowboy

[BrAinPaiNt]

Jean Jacques Taylor

It's interesting that Jason Garrett has found comfort with the running game as a head coach that he never did as the Cowboys' offensive coordinator.

In the four games he's been the head coach, the Cowboys have run the ball an average of 34 times per game for 148.7 yards. In the eight games before he ascended to the throne, the Cowboys ran the ball an average of 21 times for 75.6 yards per game.

Hmmmm.

Now, Garrett would tell you that it's the result of not playing from behind like the Cowboys did during their 1-7 start. They trailed by at least 10 points in all but one of their losses.

During their 3-1 stretch under Garrett, they've trailed only one game by 10 points – 17-0 to New Orleans – and they nearly came back to win it because Garrett didn't give up on the running game.

Read More http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/cowboys/stories/120910dnspocowlettertop.16a10f8b.html

[Idgit]

Yeah, they don't try to drum up non-existent controversies in Dallas.

It's a lot easier to imply the head coach just learned something you knew all along, or to insinuate the OC-turned HC might have been sandbagging than it is to, you know, actually figure out what's changed in when and how effectively we're running the ball.

My guess is that the difference comes from game circumstances (ie, not playing while being blown out), more effective run blocking (relating directly to other changes Garrett made upon taking over), and sustaining more drives because of similar improvements to the passing game. None of those things should be difficult to check out for a sports journalist who specializes in the NFL.

But then, this was so much easier to write and stirs up more questions about the Cowboys, doesn't it?