A Golden Age of Cowboys Rushing Game Came During 2022

[DandyDon52]

But dallas statistically are a top 5 run team and pass blocking is bottom 5 so that doesnt make sense

yes but it doesnt mean it is the OL , there are many factors involved.

 

[DandyDon52]

teams Jerry has built after Jimmy he costed himself atleast 2 more trophies because the coaching was trash.

yes probably more like 5

 

[T-RO]

Something he said about Steele...how he gets off the ball?

We have an answer! But it was more than just that. Zack said:

"Terence Steele is the best run blocker I've ever played next to"​

And Martin's work alongside Steele was noticed by keen football eyes around the country.

 

[T-RO]

Here is the stretch of games

Game 5, vs Rams
Game 6, vs Eagles
Game 7, vs Lions
Game 8, vs Bears
Game 9, vs Packers
Game 10, vs Vikings
Game 11, vs Giants
Game 12, vs Colts

Tony Pollard 111 carries, 689 yards.
6.2 YPC!

Now, let's think why it started at game 5 and ended after game 12?

 

[T-RO]

You will have to go back to rookie Zeke,Emmitt Smith,a couple of DeMarco Murray seasons and Tony Dorsett to see the Golden age of Cowboys rushing.

DeMarco did have one brilliant abbreviated season where he ran at a 5.5 YPC clip.
Emmitt's best season featured a a 5.3 yard per carry pace
Dorsett's finest year? 4.8 yards per run

Here we are speaking of something well beyond. An 8 game stretch averaging:
Tony @6.2 Yards Per Carry

 

[T-RO]

Well my first thought was like... better put away that pipe my man... doesn't do you any good.

Streifenkarl...sorry for being a little harsh in my reply when you posted this previously. I was just about to go to bed and your post pissed me off.

 

[T-RO]

Next up to discuss:
Why less success the first four games in 2022?

 

[T-RO]

This will be a debate all season long.

Yes it will. The Moore vs. Big Mac OC debate won't die anytime soon.

2014 with DeMarco Murray was one of the most dominant in recent memory. Zeke’s rookie year was also a great year for the run game. Calvin Hill and Duane Thomas in the early 70s, followed by Tony Dorset’s ’77-82 were dominant. Emmitt’s early to mid 90s years were certainly golden. In 2022? Compared to the past…not so much.

I already posted Dorsett's best year and Emitt's best. Calvin Hill? 4.6 YPC. Duane Thomas? 5.3

Pollard had 8 game stretch of 6.2. And T-Po's career yard-per-carry exceeds that of any big-time Cowboys great of the past.

 

[starfan1]

yes but it doesnt mean it is the OL , there are many factors

Sure there are WR , QB can play a role but the line is clearly better run blocking than pass blocking

The line needed upgrading and I’m not sure they did. Part of why I was so upset they passed on Torrence for a TE they could have gotten a round later most likely but it is what it is

 

[TexasBoys2288]

Golden age, lol, that's funny. Calvin Hill, Tony Dorsett, Emmit Smith. Those guys were golden.

 

[xwalker]

A Golden Age of the Cowboys Run-Game Came During 2022...and I suspect you might have missed it. Or failed to appreciate its epic grandeur.

There was an 8 game stretch in 2022 where a certain Dallas running back averaged 6.2 yards per carry over 111 carries. That my friends is King Arthur's Camelot. High Valyria. Elvish Rivendale. The promised land of a promised people. Oh yes, it was forty-burger time on the scoreboards. Running backs don't do that in today's NFL. Maulers up-front don't maul so viciously, play after play. Runners don't dart and dance with such results.

Yet it did happen.

Before I continue with details of this mini "golden age" and describe my view of the vital elements, I'm curious to hear your thoughts:
-What was the stretch of games?
-Who was the running back? (softball question)
-What were the key ingredients and how can it happen again?

Games 5 to 12...

​	Carries​	Yards​	Avg​
Games 5 to 12​	112​	690​	6.2​
Games 4 to 11​	108​	605​	5.6​
Games 3 to 10​	103​	650​	6.3​
Games 2 to 9​	97​	613​	6.3​

 

[T-RO]

If we review the start of the season, games 1-4, where TP "only" averaged 4.5 yards per carry:

-Tyler Smith was getting his baptism as an NFL rookie. First month of big time football.
-Matt Farniok was forced to play 90% of the offensive downs in games 1-3
-Dak was missing in action for all but 53 snaps, so with backup QB at reigns...defenses stacked the box.

It's no wonder the "golden age" was delayed

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Here is the stretch of games

Game 5, vs Rams
Game 6, vs Eagles
Game 7, vs Lions
Game 8, vs Bears
Game 9, vs Packers
Game 10, vs Vikings
Game 11, vs Giants
Game 12, vs Colts

Tony Pollard 111 carries, 689 yards.
6.2 YPC!

Now, let's think why it started at game 5 and ended after game 12?

You should start this at game 7, vs. the Lions. Idk what exactly your reasoning is, but Pollard only averaged 4.4 ypc against Philly - in a game where they were largely conceding the run with a big lead - and 4.14 against LAR if you take out the long run.

 

[T-RO]

You should start this at game 7, vs. the Lions. Idk what exactly your reasoning is, but Pollard only averaged 4.4 ypc against Philly - in a game where they were largely conceding the run with a big lead - and 4.14 against LAR if you take out the long run.

I wanted a larger, more valid 8 game sample. And, for fairness, I wanted to include more good defenses. Props to X for finding good sample stretches.

Don't be silly by saying "4.14 if you take out the long run". If you are going to start with that nonsense you have to do that to all other backs and their averages.

 

[T-RO]

At the beginning of game 13, vs Houston, Pollard ripped off two 11 yard runs.

In the second quarter Terence (Man of) Steele went down. The 2022 golden era of Cowboys rushing closed. At least temporarily.

In games 13-17 Pollard averaged a good, but mortal 4.44 yards per carry. (Zeke averaged only 2.44 yards per carry in the same stretch).

 

[T-RO]

Simple. It wasn't the playoffs.

Steele wasn't suited up in the playoffs. And Tony Pollard was only allotted six carries before the injury.

 

[T-RO]

Question:
Since 1970 how many times has an NFL qualifying running backs enjoyed 6.2 yards per carry (or better) in a season:

Answer:
Three times.

Yet that 6.2 yard pace was the power and production of the Cowboys offense with Pollard spearheading things, during the eight games the line was intact and permitting a few games for Tyler Smith to settle in.

 

[T-RO]

Golden age, lol, that's funny. Calvin Hill, Tony Dorsett, Emmit Smith. Those guys were golden.

Everyone has their sentimental favorites. And some of those guys of the past were special.

But the reality? None of them produced as much per-play as Pollard.

2021...on receiving/rushing touches...6.2 (1,056 yards)
2022...on receiving/rushing touches...5.9 (1,378 yards)

Best Cowboys season, Yard Per Touch:
Dorsett: 5.4
Calvin Hill: 5.7
Zeke: 5.6
Emmitt: 5.6 (Smith only had one season exceeding 5.0)

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

I wanted a larger, more valid 8 game sample. And, for fairness, I wanted to include more good defenses. Props to X for finding good sample stretches.

Don't be silly by saying "4.14 if you take out the long run". If you are going to start with that nonsense you have to do that to all other backs and their averages.

You absolutely take out the long runs in a small sample. You would take out a -10-yard run as well. Over the course of a whole season, taking out outliers is less important, but outliers drastically skew the perception in small samples.

If a player had 5 carries for 100 yards, but had a 99-yard run and 4 fumbles, saying he averaged 20 ypc is ridiculous.

 

[buybuydandavis]

A Golden Age of the Cowboys Run-Game Came During 2022...and I suspect you might have missed it. Or failed to appreciate its epic grandeur.

There was an 8 game stretch in 2022 where a certain Dallas running back averaged 6.2 yards per carry over 111 carries. That my friends is King Arthur's Camelot. High Valyria. Elvish Rivendale. The promised land of a promised people. Oh yes, it was forty-burger time on the scoreboards. Running backs don't do that in today's NFL. Maulers up-front don't maul so viciously, play after play. Runners don't dart and dance with such results.

Yet it did happen.

Before I continue with details of this mini "golden age" and describe my view of the vital elements, I'm curious to hear your thoughts:
-What was the stretch of games?
-Who was the running back? (softball question)
-What were the key ingredients and how can it happen again?

I remember the run game rolling for a while.
And then, not.

We were a funny team last year. Extremely up and down, on both offense and defense.

Just look at the two playoff games. Night and day.