80 yards rushing (and 131 yards receiving) by the RBs

[bayeslife]

Been saying this all along. Now we are in the thick of it and the results will begin to bolster my stance. We can only hope that they will activate Christine Michael and begin to work him in asap. We cannot revert to the high pass low run offense of yesteryear. While Romo is supernatural, it's unfair to assume that we can just ride his arm to 10 plus wins. We need balance. That's what got us to 12-4 last year and we need to rediscover it this week. Great win though.

The Cowboys were going with a very good run ratio early in the game until the receivers coughed it up and got the Cowboys behind.

 

[CowboyRoy]

That's got to improve. 3.5 yards per carry. Not good enough.

I am not making any guesses as to the outcome being more comfortable but for one game, it's clear Murray was a big factor in our run game and you can't ham and egg it with what we got.

Note, I was all for letting Murray walk so don't count me as one of those screaming to resign him.

This is exactly what some talked about on here. The RB's would be very effective, but in a different way. They certainly did some things in the passing game that Murray couldnt do with the big plays in the passing game. But there was certainly no power running game or attitude in the run game like last year with Murray. The Giants clearly came out stacking to stop the run. I would hope the run game can do a better job actually running the football going forward.

 

[CowboyRoy]

More importantly the coaching staff showed you they don't believe in the run game by their playcalling in 3rd and short and in the red zone

I agree that they showed their cards there.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

This is exactly what some talked about on here. The RB's would be very effective, but in a different way. They certainly did some things in the passing game that Murray couldnt do with the big plays in the passing game. But there was certainly no power running game or attitude in the run game like last year with Murray. The Giants clearly came out stacking to stop the run. I would hope the run game can do a better job actually running the football going forward.

Through RB stats out the window.

We were very effective. We broke off chunks. Backs catching the ball.


No one should be talking about running game. It wasnt our problem yesterday. At all.

The RB unit saved the day.

DMC = burst!

 

[visionary]

I agree that they showed their cards there.

And this was against a very mediocre front 7

 

[CATCH17]

O, to hear the praise off a average idit player. You are a nice mans.

If he would've sucked I would say he was terrible.

The guy played good and would've had a huge day had he got the ball at the goal line and we wouldn't have fallen behind.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Through RB stats out the window.

We were very effective. We broke off chunks. Backs catching the ball.


No one should be talking about running game. It wasnt our problem yesterday. At all.

The RB unit saved the day.

DMC = burst!

Passing game for the backs was incredible. Running game for the backs was mediocre at best. There will be games where we need them to run the ball when everyone knows its coming and do it dominantly with the dirty yards. By looking at yesterdays game, I am in no way convinced at this time they can do that. Look no further than the Giants at the goal line at the end of the game. They run the ball into the endzone on those first two carries and its game over. Instead they were forced to pass the ball which gave us the chance to win.

You can turn a blind eye and gloss over that all you want if you so choose.

 

[CowboyRoy]

And this was against a very mediocre front 7

Very mediocre. But, it was a unit designed to stop the run all day long. They were run blitzing a lot.

Personally I was disappointed with the run game yesterday. However, you cant overlook the incredible job the backs did in the passing game. Clearly an element that wasnt there with Murray. He caught the ball, but no like that.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Passing game for the backs was incredible. Running game for the backs was mediocre at best. There will be games where we need them to run the ball when everyone knows its coming and do it dominantly with the dirty yards. By looking at yesterdays game, I am in no way convinced at this time they can do that. Look no further than the Giants at the goal line at the end of the game. They run the ball into the endzone on those first two carries and its game over. Instead they were forced to pass the ball which gave us the chance to win.

You can turn a blind eye and gloss over that all you want if you so choose.

It was. That one handed. Arch by randle was sweet!

The running backs were better than mediocre. If we had gone ahead early like we should have and taken care of ball. We break 100 yards easily.

I though randle and dmc did well.

 

[Eddie]

Keeping Murray was not an option.

We should have taken a RB in the 3rd round.

 

[JoeBoBBY]

1st and goal from the 2 yard line...

and we pass the ball.

spin it however you want. It looked like the 2013 Dallas Cowboys. Even had Romo taking the play clock down to the 1 second mark, pretty much the entire first half. It looks frazzled and seems to be always teetering on a "bad play". Which is what we got, bad plays.

oops, bad bounce on that play. The Defense preys on it. "Go ahead throw that 4 yard pass 5 times uncontested. Next time I'm going to be there!"

This style of offense is prone to have more big play mistakes; And thats what we got;

Someone tell Romo to just trot off the field after an INT, please.

 

[CowboyRoy]

It was. That one handed. Arch by randle was sweet!

The running backs were better than mediocre. If we had gone ahead early like we should have and taken care of ball. We break 100 yards easily.

I though randle and dmc did well.

In my opinion they were mediocre in "the run game" portion. I was waiting for that break out run and it simply never came.

McFadden FYI cant make a move to save his life. He is a one cut runner. Cant make anyone miss. If the hole isnt there, its hard for him to change direction. One or two plays if he had just been able to stop and go backside he would have had a big play. Randle is the ONLY real back on this team. Unless this Michael cat can show something in the run game.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

You mean 3 turnovers that led to 17 points? Relax, we ran fine for the first half, it was the turnovers that got us out of the running game. We would have broke some big runs in the second half to get the yards per carry up, that's how it works and worked for Murray too. His average was always skewed up by a few big runs...As we will see going forward with our other backs,

Yeah, overcoming a -3 turnover differential was EASY! LOL!

 

[John813]

In my opinion they were mediocre in "the run game" portion. I was waiting for that break out run and it simply never came.

McFadden FYI cant make a move to save his life. He is a one cut runner. Cant make anyone miss. If the hole isnt there, its hard for him to change direction. One or two plays if he had just been able to stop and go backside he would have had a big play. Randle is the ONLY real back on this team. Unless this Michael cat can show something in the run game.

I was scared most times Randle ran the ball. Thought for sure that ball would pop out when he would get hit.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I was scared most times Randle ran the ball. Thought for sure that ball would pop out when he would get hit.

I was getting concerned a little bit as well. We are going to need to activate this Michaels guy and give him some carries as soon as he is up to speed. We need a hammer in the run game.

 

[BlindFaith]

Let's get some perspective here. This was the Giants we played. Most likely a bottom 5 defensive unit. So let's start there.

Our running game wasn't awful, pretty average. But is average good enough considering how dominant our offensive line is and considering we were playing the Giants? We saw exactly what I expected from Randle and McFadden. Randle put the ball on the ground. He got what the line gave him on runs, but nothing more. He lacks explosion. He also made a poor block at the goal line that got Romo hit.

McFadden gave us a good run and then very little. Very McFadden like. At least he didn't get hurt. He clearly has much more burst than Randle. But he lacks lateral agility. If he can hit a hole, then he looks good. But trying to move laterally isn't something he does very well.

Yes, we did run the ball. But it was a different feel. We clearly never established a dominant pattern of running. That could be due to the situation of the game. That probably had a lot to do with it. But I still get the feel that our coaching staff doesn't really trust our running backs. We saw a lot more dump offs and designed pass plays to the RB. We got very good production in that aspect, but let's not confuse passing to the running backs as a true substitute to a running game. I know those that don't put a lot of stock into the importance of a running game will disagree, but beating on a defense and imposing it's will by running the ball is what was missing, not the yardage.

We had a Dunbar sighting. And he showed well. Utilized as really a WR, it gave the Giants some fits.

Not being confident enough to run the ball inside the 10 is troubling. This has to be addressed. Michael would be a great choice here as long as he get's activated.

All in all, a very average rushing performance against a much less than average defense. The turnovers played a part in that, but I'm still not sold on the running game.

 

[DenCWBY]

Randle is not even NFL material. Maybe CFL.
I will take mein chances with McFadde such as he is.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

In my opinion they were mediocre in "the run game" portion. I was waiting for that break out run and it simply never came.

McFadden FYI cant make a move to save his life. He is a one cut runner. Cant make anyone miss. If the hole isnt there, its hard for him to change direction. One or two plays if he had just been able to stop and go backside he would have had a big play. Randle is the ONLY real back on this team. Unless this Michael cat can show something in the run game.

You are right. It's an opinion. Respected. Not agreed with.

The important thing is the backs were effective.

IMO McFadden is going to break some big runs for us. Something Murray never did. Wasn't capable of.

We will wear down defenses and send in the burner against tired defenses.

I can't wait.

 

[jrumann59]

Looking at in hindsight, we never had long through the air gains, which kept each CB close to the line. When all you are doing is defending 10 yard or less pass plays and not stretching the defense it is easy for the DBs to creep to the line and make it an 8-10 men within 10 yards of the LOS which is not very condusive to running. Randle may not have the bulk to him but he falls forward, DMC seemed very light and whne he got hit it showed. Dunbar if he can continue what he did last night could have an emergence like Beasley. All 3 RB have a burst when pass catching, DMC is the only with noticeable burst when running.

 

[casmith07]

Am I crazy or am I the only one who thought Randle looked pretty good out there?

He did enough to keep the defense honest which is all you can ask.