Off-Season Priority #1: Find A Running Game - Page 2 - Dallas Cowboys Forum

Risen Star · 01-01-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venger

You get a line that can effectively block, and the re-animated corpse of Walter Payton can get you 4.2 yards per carry.

We don't need to lead the league but we MUST get consistent yardage on a running down. We don't need to pop for huge yardage but we cannot have the kind of game where we have an enormous number of runs of 1 yard or less. Even three yards on a carry make an enormous difference in makeability on your next play. This also translates into effective short yardage running - if we need one yard, we need to be able to run for one yard. Don't need five, just one. And that almost always comes back to blocking.

As noted, Murray has health issues, but I still believe the key is not the runner per se but consistent blocking at the line.

It's definitely the blocking. We haven't had a real quality OL in nearly two decades. Our short yardage and red zone offense has always been a joke because of it. Just putting a hat on a hat situations aren't winnable for the Cowboys.

I don't care what back you have, he's not going to excel with that many stiffs blocking. No offensive coordinator and/or play caller is going to overcome that either.

**Idgit** · 01-01-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocolate Lab

I don't think he was mad at you, I think he was appalled that it's been that long.

I still think we should crucify him, just to be on the safe side.

xwalker · 01-01-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheFinisher

All is not lost and we do not have to blow things up, but we absolutely MUST develop a good running game to give ourselves a chance. It's going to help the QB by slowing down the pass rush AND the defense by keeping them off the field.

I completely agree.

The Cowboys have a lot of passing yards; however, they can't get it done in critical situations due to a sub-standard running game. Without a running game, especially in the Garrett type of offense, the QB must play a very high risk game.

Cowboys Rankings:
31st total yards rushing
30th rushing average

3rd total yards passing
9th passing average

xwalker · 01-01-2013

I don't think the Cowboys are that far away from having a much better running game. Even adding just one really good run-blocking Interior OLineman would do wonders, IMO.

They will have some options on the roster at OC, with Costa, Kowalski, and Bernadeau coming into Training Camp healthy. At OG, I just don't see the required talent for 2013. I like the idea of getting one of the Jets OGs that have experience with Callahan. Neither one is a great player at this point; however, either would be a big upgrade over Bernadeau and their knowledge of the scheme would be helpful to the other players.

Add a draft pick that could take over at either Center or the other Guard spot at some point.

They need to draft another RB. There appear to be a lot of talented RBs in the mid-rounds of the 2013 draft.

UncFelix28 · 01-01-2013

Andy Levitre is the best guard in FA, while Warmack looks to be a very good run blocker... Both play on the left side of the center, so I am guessing trying to add both would be out of the equation unless Warmack could easily slide over to the right side.. Not sure how much of a transition that would be for Warmack... It would do so much good for this offense though if you could add 2 beasts this offseason

bracey · 01-01-2013

We have a running game. A decent one. It just doesn't work on short yardage and that requires an offensive line that can get a push.

UncFelix28 · 01-01-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by bracey

We have a running game. A decent one. It just doesn't work on short yardage and that requires an offensive line that can get a push.

lol the stats don't lie man... 31st in rushing with a 3.6 YPA . Don't ignore the facts man. It's not just short yardage, they get killed on 1st & 2nd down

Venger · 01-01-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by bracey

We have a running game. A decent one.

We have a decent running BACK. We have a very substandard running game...

AdamJT13 · 01-01-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by bracey

We have a running game. A decent one. It just doesn't work on short yardage and that requires an offensive line that can get a push.

We were one of the best short-yardage running teams in the league this season. We actually led the league in first-down conversions on running plays on second or third downs and 2 yard or less to go. We ran the ball 44 times in those situations and picked up the first down 33 times -- 75 percent, tied with the Jets for No. 1 in the league. The worst rushing team in those situations? Minnesota, which converted on only 16 of 32 runs. Also below the NFL average of 66.8 percent were teams such as Houston (65.6 percent), San Francisco (62.9) and Washington (62.8).

If you include fourth downs, we finished second at 74.5 percent, barely behind Denver (74.6). Minnesota (51.4) jumps to 31st, barely ahead of Atlanta (51.2).

"Finding a running game" should not be our No. 1 offseason priority. It should not even be among our top 10 priorities.

Yoshimitsu · 01-01-2013

Number one priority needs to be defensive line. New DE's and NT's. guys like Spears, Coleman, and Ratliff ain't gonna cut it anymore.

dogberry · 01-01-2013

Is Levitre the best pass blocking fa guard, and how much will he cost?

zack · 01-01-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheFinisher

Yea I forgot Jones did it once, but its still a troubling stat.

We need a run game.

Agree with you brother! See what I had to say about it. A good running game would do wonders for the entire team. But it starts up front and we need a lot of help on the oline.

Not many QB's can get away without a running game.

UncFelix28 · 01-01-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamJT13

"Finding a running game" should not be our No. 1 offseason priority. It should not even be among our top 10 priorities.

It shouldn't be #1 I agree, but you do have to improve this offensive line & try your best to balance the run/pass.. We all saw the Giants win their rings by having a great defensive line that could get to the QB.. Maybe, just maybe we should try to develop the same kind of plan & build a young core of guys on the d-line who can bring havoc on qb's

Venger · 01-01-2013

Adam - can you toss some red zone short yardage stats at us? I need to see why your stat doesn't jive with general observation, and perhaps we are keying heavily on red zone situations... or is it 4th down? I want to make sure we haven't done a little specification searching with those numbers...

CaptainMorgan · 01-01-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamJT13

We were one of the best short-yardage running teams in the league this season. We actually led the league in first-down conversions on running plays on second or third downs and 2 yard or less to go. We ran the ball 44 times in those situations and picked up the first down 33 times -- 75 percent, tied with the Jets for No. 1 in the league. The worst rushing team in those situations? Minnesota, which converted on only 16 of 32 runs. Also below the NFL average of 66.8 percent were teams such as Houston (65.6 percent), San Francisco (62.9) and Washington (62.8).

If you include fourth downs, we finished second at 74.5 percent, barely behind Denver (74.6). Minnesota (51.4) jumps to 31st, barely ahead of Atlanta (51.2).

"Finding a running game" should not be our No. 1 offseason priority. It should not even be among our top 10 priorities.

Perhaps Garrett just needs to call a more balanced game.