I want to run the ball vs the 49ers, but we can beat them by passing

Redsfan_83

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Agree. We have to take what the D gives us. This means we need to be able to run vs a light box!
except we haven't been able to do this for years...I have no confidence being able to do this unless unless we wear down their D
 
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CowboyRoy

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Can we beat them just passing? Yes. Is that the best way to get it done? Absolutely not. We really need to establish at least a decent running attack. We can’t just let their D ignore the run and rush Dak all game. We need balance.

the D pretty much ignores the run now
 
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CWR

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the D pretty much ignores the run now

Yeah which is why I hope Pollard gets more carries. Hes a threat to take it all the way, Zeke isn't. If TP busts one early it will force them to honor our run game. Zeke can get some dirty yards but I think they'll accept that. We need to make them worry about our run game. It feels dirty saying that, but 2016 was a long time ago.
 

DuncanIso

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The Rams only had 6 yards rushing, vs the Whiners, in the 1st half, but moved the ball passing and scored 17 points. The Tennessee Titans struggled to run the ball, vs the Whiners, and still beat them with 1 healthy receiver.

We moved the ball up and down the field mostly passing the ball vs an excellent NE defense. Vs a healthy and talented Tampa Bay defense, we didn’t even try to run the ball, and moved the ball up and down the field with the pass. Offense definitely did enough to win that game!

My point: Though I would really like to be able to run the ball down SF’s throat. That may not happen with our run blocking vs their run defense. Moore would need to come up with some new, and improved, run schemes to help us run the ball. That is a possibility!

More likely though is for us to be able to pass the ball successfully vs the Niners D. The Niners D, in general, likes to play zone, and rush the passer with 4 lineman. Sometimes, of course they blitz. Their D line is excellent vs the run, but just good vs the pass. We need to take advantage of this and pass the ball a lot! Like Tennessee we might need to keep in extra blockers to slow down their pass rush. Tennessee was very successful keeping in extra blockers to give Tannehill extra time to pass the ball.

We may struggle to run the ball vs the Whiners, but if the O line gives Dak a clean pocket, with the help of Moore’s blocking schemes( Max protect and just send out 3 receivers at times ), we have the potential to move the ball consistently through the air and score a lot of points( 30 or more ).

There are many ways to win a football game. This may be the way for our offense.

If we pass more than run, we will lose.
 

jazzcat22

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The offense was successful the first 7 games because the run game was a massive threat They had balance. Does anyone need a reminder what happened when the run game wasn't as dominant?

If this game is put into Dak's hands they will get their butts handed to them.

Does anyone remember that we were also missing multiple players after those 1st 7 games up until now.
 

RonnieT24

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The passing game needs to abuse SF.

Yes it does.. but it won't do it if we got 50 passes and 10 runs.. If we just drop back down after down and invite the defensive line to come after Dak with impunity while they drop 7 into coverage we're royally hosed. We have to keep it to no worse than 60/40 pass run so that the backers have to honor the run and thus cannot clog the middle passing lanes. Being able to find Jarwin in the deep seam will also keep the safeties away from the outsides which means Coop and Lamb get to absolutely abuse that secondary..
 

Verdict

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I may be in the minority here, but SF would get a healthy dose of Dak passes all day long if I was OC. Our running game has been pathetic. I would run Pollard occasionally to keep them honest but that’s about it.

If Cowboys get two scores or more up on them that’s when Zeke gets a few carries to keep them honest.

If we insist on trying to establish the run in this game and piss off three possessions early by running Zeke inside, then we lose this game.

We need to experience success early on offense in this game. That wouldn’t include many Zeke runs early if I was OC.

The first play of the game for me might be a Dak bootleg off a fake to Zeke inside. They should bite on that hard. That would only be to keep the defense honest.
 

Verdict

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This game will be like the Tampa game, and if we force the run we are dead in the water. If we establish the pass right away and the 9ers don't adjust keep at it. If they adjust, then we run. It's all pretty simple really and who cares if Dak throws for 500 and Zeke runs for 50 if we win. By the looks of it if we try to run Zeken and Tony early on and they do squat, good chance we are down big and will have no choice but to throw. At that stage, don't like Dak in that situation at all
If we force the run in this game, we lose.
 

RonnieT24

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I may be in the minority here, but SF would get a healthy dose of Dak passes all day long if I was OC. Our running game has been pathetic. I would run Pollard occasionally to keep them honest but that’s about it.

If Cowboys get two scores or more up on them that’s when Zeke gets a few carries to keep them honest.

If we insist on trying to establish the run in this game and piss off three possessions early by running Zeke inside, then we lose this game.

We need to experience success early on offense in this game. That wouldn’t include many Zeke runs early if I was OC.

The first play of the game for me might be a Dak bootleg off a fake to Zeke inside. They should bite on that hard. That would only be to keep the defense honest.

Nobody is biting on that early in games any more. They've seen it too many times.. The running game does not have to be dominant, though obviously it would be nice if it was, it just has to be complementary and just enough of a threat to keep the linebackers from taking away the middle of the field from the passing game and to keep the d-line from teeing off on Dak. 25-30 carries even if it's only for 3.5 ypc should do it.. If we get more than that, we win going away..
 

lqmac1

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The run game doesn’t even have to go off in order for us to win by any means, it just needs to be there.

Just don’t neglect it if it’s not working early on. Keep their defense honest and Dak will shred that secondary into pieces.
 

Danny White

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Go back and watch last weekend's Rams/49ers game. The Rams screwed themselves over by continuing to try to run the ball. Meanwhile, they had receivers running wide open all first half. In the second half, they put themselves into bad situations by running on first and second down and getting into obvious passing situations, and they got to Stafford and it clearly got into his head. If they'd have focused on the pass they'd have put up 40+ points and won easily.

Keep Zeke and Pollard active by throwing them short passes, but don't try to run into a brick wall. This game will be won on Dak's arm.
 

jnday

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Can we beat them just passing? Yes. Is that the best way to get it done? Absolutely not. We really need to establish at least a decent running attack. We can’t just let their D ignore the run and rush Dak all game. We need balance.
The 49ers will shut the running game down and force Dak and the passing game to beat them. That has been the blueprint for beating the Cowboys . Dallas has got to run the ball or they will lose this game easily.
 

Verdict

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You do know this team was 1-5 when rushing for 100 yards but 11-0 when getting more than that?

Every game is different. Stats also can be misleading.

I view this game a little but like our game against Tampa Bay. This team does not have the effective OL it once had. We can’t bully very strong front anymore.

We came out passing the ball and sprinkled in a little bit of running here and there in that game just to keep TB honest.

We can’t be “wasting” downs (and a series) stubbornly running the ball. It’s ok to run it but we are probably not going to “impose our will” on the defense running the ball stubbornly between the tackles with Zeke.

Dak bootlegs, Pollard off tackle, end arounds etc may end up being the most effective against this front. Play action will help as well.

If Dak stands back there in the shotgun and predictably hands the ball off to Zeke could make for a very long day.
 

RonnieT24

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Every game is different. Stats also can be misleading.

I view this game a little but like our game against Tampa Bay. This team does not have the effective OL it once had. We can’t bully very strong front anymore.

We came out passing the ball and sprinkled in a little bit of running here and there in that game just to keep TB honest.

We can’t be “wasting” downs (and a series) stubbornly running the ball. It’s ok to run it but we are probably not going to “impose our will” on the defense running the ball stubbornly between the tackles with Zeke.

Dak bootlegs, Pollard off tackle, end arounds etc may end up being the most effective against this front. Play action will help as well.

If Dak stands back there in the shotgun and predictably hands the ball off to Zeke could make for a very long day.

Nobody is advocating any such thing. Moore absolutely must be more creative in how he runs the ball than just shotgun delay handoff. And just out of curiosity.. if running the ball is "wasting" a down then what is an incomplete pass? A sack? A strip sack? A Connor Williams (holding #52)? An interception? There are many many more negative outcomes on pass plays than run plays. Yes it's true that we can no longer impose our will on defenses.. Just not good enough up front anymore.. But every time you drop back to pass you are allowing the defensive front to be the hitter and your line (and maybe your QB) to be the hittee. If the line is not good enough to run block what makes you think they are so much better at pass blocking, which is far and away the more difficult skill. Run the ball enough to hold the linebackers so you can exploit the soft spot in the zone behind them and in front of the safeties. That's all you need.. If you abandon the run then the front four will tee off, Dak will be running for his life trying to find 3 receivers against 7 guys in coverage.. Good luck with that..
 

SteveTheCowboy

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Nobody is advocating any such thing. Moore absolutely must be more creative in how he runs the ball than just shotgun delay handoff. And just out of curiosity.. if running the ball is "wasting" a down then what is an incomplete pass? A sack? A strip sack? A Connor Williams (holding #52)? An interception? There are many many more negative outcomes on pass plays than run plays. Yes it's true that we can no longer impose our will on defenses.. Just not good enough up front anymore.. But every time you drop back to pass you are allowing the defensive front to be the hitter and your line (and maybe your QB) to be the hittee. If the line is not good enough to run block what makes you think they are so much better at pass blocking, which is far and away the more difficult skill. Run the ball enough to hold the linebackers so you can exploit the soft spot in the zone behind them and in front of the safeties. That's all you need.. If you abandon the run then the front four will tee off, Dak will be running for his life trying to find 3 receivers against 7 guys in coverage.. Good luck with that..


I can't remember what game it was.....I was watching The Bucs and Brady had a minute and some change to drive down the field for game winning score. Even Brady....GOAT....ran the ball with that little time.

The announcers said "Bucs know they MUST run the ball to keep the defense honest".

And we CAN'T just run a delay handoff up the gut where the D is already tee-ing off.

Come on Moore....try to use SOME creativity and surprise about it.
 
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