Graziano: Cowboys, Giants have a similar problem

[WoodysGirl]

an 7
11:55
AM ET

By Dan Graziano | ESPN.com

So I was sitting here on Redskins playoff detox, catching up on the division's other teams, and I got to reading this Calvin Watkins item on the Dallas Cowboys' running game. And it got me thinking about the New York Giants' running game, which has a similar problem at its core -- namely, a starting running back who can't be relied on to stay healthy.

In discussing the state of the Cowboys' running game, Calvin quotes coach Jason Garrett saying this:

"We have to do a better job running the football, and you’ve heard me say this a lot, that balance is critical," coach Jason Garrett said when the season was over. "You want to be able to attack defenses a lot of different ways. DeMarco Murray was out for a large portion of this season, but having said that, you have to put the next guy in there and you have to be effective running it."

In theory, that makes sense. But if Calvin's point is that many of the teams having success in the playoffs are strong in the running game, I submit that they're strong around a reliable central figure who takes all of the snaps and the hits and keeps on grinding. Marshawn Lynch in Seattle. Ray Rice in Baltimore. Arian Foster in Houston. Denver got lucky, when Willis McGahee went down in the second half, it was able to turn to a former first-round pick in Knowshon Moreno and keep going.

The problem in Dallas is Murray has an injury history that starts in college and has drastically impacted both of his pro seasons. And as a result, the Cowboys don't know for certain that they can count on him going forward.

Read the rest: http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post...imilar-problem

[Future]

Without clicking the link, I'm not sure what his point is.

The one big similarity between the Cowboys and Giants is inconsistency. Both teams have been wildly inconsistent over the last 5-7 years. The big difference is that the Giants have managed to get hot at the end of the season.

[Bigdog24]

I find it Pointless to compare the GIANTS to the Cowboys..+.... Giants have 2 Recent championship rings while the Cowboys have been home watching superbowls for 16plus years now

Reality has finally set in..... the best days are in the History books

[CowboysYanksLakers]

If you can't stay on the field what good are you to a team? I think injury history has to be more strongly factored in by the Cowboys scouting department going forward...