The Cowboys problem is not that Complicated

[AMERICAS_FAN]

So, in conclusion...

You say the problem is "The Cowboys can’t consistently RUN the Ball". I can't fault Murray because he's injured - when he's not we can run the ball.

So it falls on Felix Jones,

and one of the resons you posted?

Felix is an idiot.

[Doomsday101]

I see the problem as this team finds ways to beat themselves. Early in the game guys (not always the same guy) will make big mistakes that put us in a hole and we spend the rest of the game trying to dig our way out of it.

Turnovers have been a big killer and we don't just turn the ball over we turn it over deep in our own territory leaving the opponent with at least a chance to put 3 on the board.

Team really needs to work on protecting the ball better than they have.

Games are not just won by the team who makes the most plays it is often determined by which team makes the most mistakes.

[xwalker]

Originally Posted by Clove

Dallas is 30th in rushing offense, and Atlanta is 27th. They're 7 and oh. Washington is 2nd in rushing offense in the league, they are 3 & 5. Kansas City is 4th, they are 1 & 6.

Of the division leading teams, the Falcons have played the most games against teams with losing records. The 49ers have played the least games against teams with losing records.

Percentage of Games against teams with losing records:
Falcons 86%
49ers 25%

Rushing Yards Ranking:
Falcons 24th
49ers 1st

[Seven]

Originally Posted by xwalker

I have seen all types of reasoning about the Cowboys problems this season both on CowboysZone and in the media. Some are very detailed like Dez’s route running and some are repeats forever (It’s Jerry). A partial list:

Romo has lost it.
Dez ran the wrong route.
Austin has issues.
Ogletree is an idiot.
Garrett – Play calling, time management, leadership, turnovers, etc..
Fumbles
Interceptions
Defense does not create turnovers.
Felix is an idiot.
Witten slowing down.
It’s Jerry, Jerrah, Jerra, Jethro.
No home team advantage.
Nepotism with the Jones and Garrett families.
Rob Ryan’s haircut.
Trainers suck because of too many hamstring issues.
Special teams are terrible.

While all the above may be true to some extent or another, the primary problem is:

[View Full Quote]The Cowboys can’t consistently RUN the Ball.

If you listen to Defensive Coordinators, Defensive Players and Defensive coaches, you always hear “we have to stop the run 1st”. Rob Ryan says, if we stop the run, then we can play defense “our way”.

If you can’t run the ball, then you have these issues:

QB’s have to throw into much tighter windows.
WR’s have to operate in much tigher spaces. Routes have to be much more precise.
Playcaller’s are severely hampered.
Safeties don’t bite on play action.
You score field-goals when you were in position to score touchdowns.
You give the other offense more time on the field.
Players and coaches start “pressing” because they feel desperate. Turnovers increase.
Playing from behind allows the other defense to “tee-off ” on the QB.
Playing with a “weak hand” causes coaches to take risks like Dez on Punts returns.

Possible Solutions for 2013:

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showth...80#post4816580

You can run for 200+ yards. With 4-6 turnovers a game....add in the stupid penalties......YOU AIN'T WINNING.

Very simple.

[xwalker]

Originally Posted by Seven

You can run for 200+ yards. With 4-6 turnovers a game......YOU AIN'T WINNING.

Very simple.

One of the primary points of the post is that the lack of a running game creates more turnovers. This is due to tighter coverage windows, more pass rush pressure due to playing from behind and lack of respect for the running game, RBs getting hit in the backfield, etc..

[D29Murray]

Originally Posted by AMERICAS_FAN

So, in conclusion...

You say the problem is "The Cowboys can’t consistently RUN the Ball". I can't fault Murray because he's injured - when he's not we can run the ball.

So it falls on Felix Jones,

and one of the resons you posted?

Felix is an idiot.

Right. Cause the numbers below are spectacular.

NYG / 20 - 131
SEA / 12 - 44
TB / 18 - 38
CHI / 11 - 24
BAL / 14 - 93

[Doomsday101]

Originally Posted by xwalker

One of the primary points of the post is that the lack of a running game creates more turnovers. This is due to tighter coverage windows, more pass rush pressure due to playing from behind and lack of respect for the running game, RBs getting hit in the backfield, etc..

It can but then one of the big turnovers came off the run when Felix had the ball knocked out. I'm all for running the ball and I know the importance of the pass especially when you are down in a game trying to get back into the game.

Dallas did not run a lot? of course not we were trailing from the get go at that point running only accomplishes a team to run the clock out on themselves.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by xwalker

One of the primary points of the post is that the lack of a running game creates more turnovers. .

Not necessarily.


You run the ball more there's a chance of a fumble.

You throw the ball more there's a chance of a pick.

They're turnovers. Which we have a ton of. Can't have that, period.

[Kangaroo]

Originally Posted by Seven

Not necessarily.


You run the ball more there's a chance of a fumble.

You throw the ball more there's a chance of a pick.

They're turnovers. Which we have a ton of. Can't have that, period.

-11 is the stat that matters.

Until this team stops giving the ball away like Pez candy then they are not going to make the playoffs and they are not going on a 6-2 run.

Until ball security is taken serious by the players on this team they are not going on any big winning streak.

[coogrfan]

Originally Posted by ufcrules1

The OL is blown out of proportion big time. I don't have the stats but if I had to guess I would say our OL is middle of the pack in the NFL.

PFF's OL rankings as of 10/24/12:

In a rather crude way we’re adding together the cumulative grades for every offensive linemen on a team to give a score for every team. With teams having played different numbers of games this number has been divided by how many games they’ve played to give an average score per game in each area.
Let’s start with the worst shall we?
(PB = Pass Block rank, RB = Run & Screen Block rank, PEN = Penalty rank)


25. Dallas Cowboys
PB = 24th, RB = 13th, PEN = 31st
The Cowboys’ offensive tackles were able to match the 17 penalties of the Seahawks, while also giving up 40 combined sacks, hits and hurries between them. They have been getting better as the weeks have gone on though.


Note that these rankings were compiled prior to last Sunday's game, we may well have dropped a couple notches since then.

Full article here: https://www.profootballfocus.com/blo...line-rankings/

[xwalker]

Originally Posted by Seven

Not necessarily.


You run the ball more there's a chance of a fumble.

You throw the ball more there's a chance of a pick.

They're turnovers. Which we have a ton of. Can't have that, period.

For the Giants in 2011,

On run plays they had:
4 Fumbles by RBs

On pass plays they had:
16 ints
2 fumbles by Eli
2 fumbles by WRs

That's 5x more turnovers on passing plays vs running plays.


For the Patriots in 2011,

On run plays they had:
1 Fumble by a RB

On pass plays they had:
12 ints
2 fumbles by Brady
1 fumble by a WR

That's 15x more turnovers on passing plays vs running plays.

[utrunner07]

Originally Posted by xwalker

I have seen all types of reasoning about the Cowboys problems this season both on CowboysZone and in the media. Some are very detailed like Dez’s route running and some are repeats forever (It’s Jerry). A partial list:

Romo has lost it.
Dez ran the wrong route.
Austin has issues.
Ogletree is an idiot.
Garrett – Play calling, time management, leadership, turnovers, etc..
Fumbles
Interceptions
Defense does not create turnovers.
Felix is an idiot.
Witten slowing down.
It’s Jerry, Jerrah, Jerra, Jethro.
No home team advantage.
Nepotism with the Jones and Garrett families.
Rob Ryan’s haircut.
Trainers suck because of too many hamstring issues.
Special teams are terrible.

While all the above may be true to some extent or another, the primary problem is:

The Cowboys can’t consistently RUN the Ball.
[View Full Quote]
If you listen to Defensive Coordinators, Defensive Players and Defensive coaches, you always hear “we have to stop the run 1st”. Rob Ryan says, if we stop the run, then we can play defense “our way”.

If you can’t run the ball, then you have these issues:

QB’s have to throw into much tighter windows.
WR’s have to operate in much tigher spaces. Routes have to be much more precise.
Playcaller’s are severely hampered.
Safeties don’t bite on play action.
You score field-goals when you were in position to score touchdowns.
You give the other offense more time on the field.
Players and coaches start “pressing” because they feel desperate. Turnovers increase.
Playing from behind allows the other defense to “tee-off ” on the QB.
Playing with a “weak hand” causes coaches to take risks like Dez on Punts returns.

Possible Solutions for 2013:

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showth...80#post4816580

For something that is not all that complicated you sure took a lot of space to explain it.
The real problem is.......


STUPID.

[AdamJT13]

Originally Posted by xwalker

One of the primary points of the post is that the lack of a running game creates more turnovers.

Which is absolutely false.

From 2009-2011, there were five teams that averaged more than 5.0 yards per rush for a season. They averaged 28.6 turnovers per season. There were eight teams that averaged less than 3.7 yards per rush. They averaged 24.8 turnovers per season.

There were 14 teams that averaged at least 4.7 yards per rush. They averaged 25.1 turnovers per season. There were 18 that averaged less than 3.9 per rush. They also averaged 25.1 turnovers per season.

The median rushing average for those seasons was 4.17 yards per carry. Teams that ran the ball better than that averaged 27.1 turnovers per season. Teams that ran it worse that that averaged 25.8 turnovers per season.

There's absolutely no correlation between being able to run the ball better and limiting your turnovers.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by xwalker

For the Giants in 2011,

On run plays they had:
4 Fumbles by RBs

On pass plays they had:
16 ints
2 fumbles by Eli
2 fumbles by WRs

That's 5x more turnovers on passing plays vs running plays.


For the Patriots in 2011,

On run plays they had:
1 Fumble by a RB

On pass plays they had:
12 ints
2 fumbles by Brady
1 fumble by a WR

That's 15x more turnovers on passing plays vs running plays.

1 RB.

Up to 5 receivers.

Your math is flawed. The percentages go UP.

Who'd they play? A great run defense or a good secondary? Good day? Bad day? Coaching?


STATS SUCK.

[Doomsday101]

No matter how you look at it there is no question be it Punt return, kick return, passing or running the ball Cowboys have to stop handing out gifts. Right now we are the Santa Clause of the NFL and it is not even December yet.

Start taking care of the ball and the wins will come