Sturm - Decoding Garrett - Are we in survival mode? - Page 2 - Dallas Cowboys Forum

**Idgit** · 11-29-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by 28 Joker

I'm glad Bob Sturm channeled some objectivity and some courage in order to point out what is killing Dallas' running game. Felix Jones is the "convenient", "easy" scape-goat for many in the DFW media and for some. However, Jones averaged 4.5 YPC in 2011; and his numbers were close to Murray's that year. The Rams game really helped Murray last year.

[View Full Quote]I watched the Baltimore game, and I saw Jones and Murray combine for 185 yards rushing and 1 TD and 32 attempts. That was Dallas' best offensive game of the season, imo. Those rushing lanes have been a distant memory for a good while. Moreover, I'm still shocked by that loss. The Cowboys lost Phil Costa's run blocking in the first half of the Carolina game. That really hurt the running game, because Costa was excellent against Haloti Ngata. The Cowboys destroyed Baltimore by running inside. Costa is a good run blocker, and he played in 2 games. The Cowboys need to address the center position in the off-season, imo. Losing Martellus Bennett's edge run blocking has hurt big, too. I can recall one run in the Carolina game where I think Bennett's size and strength against a defensive lineman could have helped spring a 40 yard TD for Jones. It was just a small crack, but the field was wide open. If Jones gets through, he's gone.

Would anyone argue against re-placing any of offensive linemen not named Tyron Smith? I sure wouldn't. I don't know how you do that. Dallas' offensive line has been broken since before the start of the 2010 season, and Felix Jones put up 800 rushing yards (185 rushes) and a 4.3 YPC that year. The 2012 run blocking makes the 2010 unit look great.

This year, DeMarco Murray had that rough 3 game stretch or the 3/5 below 50 yards rushing that Sturm references in support of his position. Also, Murray had 13 negative runs during his first 4 games. Murray averaged 2.6 YPC during that three game stretch against Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Chicago. After week 4, the Cowboys ranked 30th in rush offense. Felix Jones had 3 rushes. The Cowboys did open some inside holes for Murray against the Giants during the second half. Murray went 12-111 in the second half of that game, but his 48 yard run was crazy.

After the 2010 season, Bob Sturm called Felix Jones a "foundation piece". You can see it here. He talks about "fixing the offensive line", too.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dal...ion-piece1.ece

Some people want to point the finger at Felix Jones, however, the run blocking has failed him miserably this season. This year Jones has quality, good games against Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. Not getting Jones the football nearly enough in Atlanta (9-39 / 4.3 YPC) helped prove fatal in that game. However, no one really cared to report it or hold the coaches accountable for that fact. The next week, Jones gets it 16 times and averages 4.4 YPC and rushes for 71 yards. However, the Cowboys got away from Jones in that game and lost control of the game. They didn't go back to him at the start of the 2nd half, either. I think the Carolina game will serve Jones very well, because he really showed his toughness in that game. Felix was at 4.8 YPC in the second half of the Cleveland game, but that 2nd half mark was killed by the 3 goal-line carries (at his own end). Also, Dallas went back to running what worked in the Philadelphia and Atlanta games (during the second half of the Cleveland game). Why couldn't they just do that in the first half?

If you put Felix Jones behind Denver's line, he's gong off. He just might get his chance, too. I look for Felix to end up in Denver, Green Bay, or Atlanta next year. I think Jones will get a great chance to start despite the tough numbers this year, and he will not cost a fortune for the team that signs him. I can see Jones running, catching and running, and blocking for Peyton Manning next year. If not, I see Green Bay and Atlanta as good fits. Green Bay needs a running back who can do all three things. I think they would be interested in Felix, and I'd be interested in seeing what their coaching staff could do with him. However, Denver's offensive line is one of the best run blocking lines in the NFL.

Maybe, the Cowboys can fix the offensive line/run blocking before DeMarco Murray's rookie deal is up. Some better coaching wouldn't hurt, either. Jones has battled very poor run blocking and the coaches during his time in Dallas.

You might be the most interesting cat I've ever come across on a message board.

I hope you keep on chugging next season and find a third player/topic to post about, because I like your posts, and I think your devotion is fascinating.

burmafrd · 11-29-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by 28 Joker

I'm glad Bob Sturm channeled some objectivity and some courage in order to point out what is killing Dallas' running game. Felix Jones is the "convenient", "easy" scape-goat for many in the DFW media and for some. However, Jones averaged 4.5 YPC in 2011; and his numbers were close to Murray's that year. The Rams game really helped Murray last year.

[View Full Quote]I watched the Baltimore game, and I saw Jones and Murray combine for 185 yards rushing and 1 TD and 32 attempts. That was Dallas' best offensive game of the season, imo. Those rushing lanes have been a distant memory for a good while. Moreover, I'm still shocked by that loss. The Cowboys lost Phil Costa's run blocking in the first half of the Carolina game. That really hurt the running game, because Costa was excellent against Haloti Ngata. The Cowboys destroyed Baltimore by running inside. Costa is a good run blocker, and he played in 2 games. The Cowboys need to address the center position in the off-season, imo. Losing Martellus Bennett's edge run blocking has hurt big, too. I can recall one run in the Carolina game where I think Bennett's size and strength against a defensive lineman could have helped spring a 40 yard TD for Jones. It was just a small crack, but the field was wide open. If Jones gets through, he's gone.

Would anyone argue against re-placing any of offensive linemen not named Tyron Smith? I sure wouldn't. I don't know how you do that. Dallas' offensive line has been broken since before the start of the 2010 season, and Felix Jones put up 800 rushing yards (185 rushes) and a 4.3 YPC that year. The 2012 run blocking makes the 2010 unit look great.

This year, DeMarco Murray had that rough 3 game stretch or the 3/5 below 50 yards rushing that Sturm references in support of his position. Also, Murray had 13 negative runs during his first 4 games. Murray averaged 2.6 YPC during that three game stretch against Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Chicago. After week 4, the Cowboys ranked 30th in rush offense. Felix Jones had 3 rushes. The Cowboys did open some inside holes for Murray against the Giants during the second half. Murray went 12-111 in the second half of that game, but his 48 yard run was crazy.

After the 2010 season, Bob Sturm called Felix Jones a "foundation piece". You can see it here. He talks about "fixing the offensive line", too.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dal...ion-piece1.ece

Some people want to point the finger at Felix Jones, however, the run blocking has failed him miserably this season. This year Jones has quality, good games against Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. Not getting Jones the football nearly enough in Atlanta (9-39 / 4.3 YPC) helped prove fatal in that game. However, no one really cared to report it or hold the coaches accountable for that fact. The next week, Jones gets it 16 times and averages 4.4 YPC and rushes for 71 yards. However, the Cowboys got away from Jones in that game and lost control of the game. They didn't go back to him at the start of the 2nd half, either. I think the Carolina game will serve Jones very well, because he really showed his toughness in that game. Felix was at 4.8 YPC in the second half of the Cleveland game, but that 2nd half mark was killed by the 3 goal-line carries (at his own end). Also, Dallas went back to running what worked in the Philadelphia and Atlanta games (during the second half of the Cleveland game). Why couldn't they just do that in the first half?

If you put Felix Jones behind Denver's line, he's gong off. He just might get his chance, too. I look for Felix to end up in Denver, Green Bay, or Atlanta next year. I think Jones will get a great chance to start despite the tough numbers this year, and he will not cost a fortune for the team that signs him. I can see Jones running, catching and running, and blocking for Peyton Manning next year. If not, I see Green Bay and Atlanta as good fits. Green Bay needs a running back who can do all three things. I think they would be interested in Felix, and I'd be interested in seeing what their coaching staff could do with him. However, Denver's offensive line is one of the best run blocking lines in the NFL.

Maybe, the Cowboys can fix the offensive line/run blocking before DeMarco Murray's rookie deal is up. Some better coaching wouldn't hurt, either. Jones has battled very poor run blocking and the coaches during his time in Dallas.

Ngata injured his MCL early in that game; so giving costa cred is not correct

**MichaelWinicki** · 11-29-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by burmafrd

Ngata injured his MCL early in that game; so giving costa cred is not correct

Funny coming from the person who ripped Costa over his poor play at the beginning of last season– which was due in part to his injuries.

I never read a post from you saying, "I wonder how much of Costa's bad play was due to his injuries?"

But when Costa totally dominates someone, you cry foul and it was all due to his opponent being injured.

Comical!

burmafrd · 11-29-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

Funny coming from the person who ripped Costa over his poor play at the beginning of last season– which was due in part to his injuries.

I never read a post from you saying, "I wonder how much of Costa's bad play was due to his injuries?"

But when Costa totally dominates someone, you cry foul and it was all due to his opponent being injured.

Comical!

hey ostrich- think about this:

The ONLY game that Costa looked really good in his main opponent had an injured Knee.

**MichaelWinicki** · 11-29-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by burmafrd

hey ostrich- think about this:

The ONLY game that Costa looked really good in his main opponent had an injured Knee.

And Costa's worse games was when he was injured.

So... What else you got?

DFWJC · 11-29-2012

Sturm is outstanding as always.

What infuriated me about that bomb to Aldridge is that Aikman litterally called it right before the play. He said Aldridge was a blazer and the Cowboys better be ready for the play action to deep route. BOOM.

It changed the game right then and there. So simple, yet our players and coaches didn't see it coming.

Yakuza Rich · 11-29-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

Funny coming from the person who ripped Costa over his poor play at the beginning of last season– which was due in part to his injuries.

I never read a post from you saying, "I wonder how much of Costa's bad play was due to his injuries?"

But when Costa totally dominates someone, you cry foul and it was all due to his opponent being injured.

Comical!

I would just argue that 1 game is not a big enough sample size.

I saw Chad Hutchinson look like a Pro Bowler against the Jaguars for 1 game. And the coaching staff loved him, too.

Guess how that turned out.

YR

Yakuza Rich · 11-29-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFWJC

Sturm is outstanding as always.

What infuriated me about that bomb to Aldridge is that Aikman litterally called it right before the play. He said Aldridge was a blazer and the Cowboys better be ready for the play action to deep route. BOOM.

It changed the game right then and there. So simple, yet our players and coaches didn't see it coming.

The coaches saw it coming. McCray didn't. He was not paying attention. I was ticked when it first happened, but once they showed the replay, McCray was in the right position to protect against it, he was just caught not thinking.

YR

Crown Royal · 11-29-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by burmafrd

Ngata injured his MCL early in that game; so giving costa cred is not correct

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

Funny coming from the person who ripped Costa over his poor play at the beginning of last season– which was due in part to his injuries.

I never read a post from you saying, "I wonder how much of Costa's bad play was due to his injuries?"

But when Costa totally dominates someone, you cry foul and it was all due to his opponent being injured.

Comical!

Quote:

Originally Posted by burmafrd

hey ostrich- think about this:

The ONLY game that Costa looked really good in his main opponent had an injured Knee.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

And Costa's worse games was when he was injured.

So... What else you got?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yakuza Rich

I would just argue that 1 game is not a big enough sample size.

I saw Chad Hutchinson look like a Pro Bowler against the Jaguars for 1 game. And the coaching staff loved him, too.

Guess how that turned out.

YR

Costa has been injured almost the entire season. He played one good game but it really doesn't matter for what reason. The only thing you can say is that Costa has not been a factor for us this year, good or bad for the most part.

Last year he was suspect and the entire interior line is having pretty major problems. Giving conjecture into what Costa is or isn't is tough for any fan at this point. The only evaluation that can be given as for 2013 is, is there a risk that he will remain injured? I would say yes so, even if he comes in as the starter, I sure hope that they have a backup plan that is better than Cook/Arkin/Bernadeau.

**MichaelWinicki** · 11-29-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yakuza Rich

I would just argue that 1 game is not a big enough sample size.

I saw Chad Hutchinson look like a Pro Bowler against the Jaguars for 1 game. And the coaching staff loved him, too.

Guess how that turned out.

YR

I agree with that and I've said the same.

Costa's one start this year was truly impressive, but I'm not suggesting he's the "savior" of the offensive line-- not hardly.

We want to see more.

I was simply pointing out that if you want to knock Costa for doing well against an injured oppenent then keep that in mind when evaluating Costa's short career and recognizing his worst games were when he was injured.