2006 = running game is imperative

[Mike 1967]

IMO

The reason that the Commanders went 5-0 at the end of the season ....and the Cowboys went 1-4 is/was the running game.

The Commanders were able to run the ball. And they did not allow the opposing defense to dictate wether they passed or ran. They simply manned up and ran the ball with great success. Something that the cowboys were only able to do in the 1 win against Carolina.

IMO....Brunell's success....and Bledsoes lack of success.....was mostly due to the success (and lack thereof) in the respective running games.

And I think that the success of the running games had to do with 3 things. And I have listed them in order of importance.

(1) The OL. The Commanders offensive line is heads and tails above the talent level of our OL at the end of the season.
(2) Scheme - I believe that Gibbs offensive scheme is more sound than Parcells....especially when it comes to running the ball. It is no coincidence that Gibbs is now having the same success running the ball, with the same scheme, that he did in the past.
(3) Portis is a better back than JJ at this point in time. I do believe that JJ was dealing with some mental issues this season...especially following the ankle injury. Parcells stated that JJ had been running in practice the same way we saw him run against Carolina. But for some reason he was not running like that in the games prior to Carolina.

We obviously need to upgrade our OL unit next year. IMO...none of the guys who started in the last game are keepers....including Allen. The entire line needs to be revamped.

I reserve total judgement on the "scheme" until I see a running game that has a respectable offensive line.

I also believe that next year, with an upgraded line, we would mostly see the JJ that we saw against Carolina

 

[Eddie]

We did more with less with Tyson Walters at Center, Gurode at Guard, and Kurt Vollers at OT.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Speed at WR would change things a great deal IMO. Obviously, we need to be able to get effective line play but our passing game really doesn't scare anybody. Glenn is the only guy you fear going deep on you. We need more speed at WR to balance the offense as well.

 

[conner01]

the key is fixing the oline, but to replace everyone is virually impossible and would do more harm than good. the key to rebuilding the line is the draft. you just can't go out and buy a new oline.and rookies have to be developed. get a vet ot, flo will be back, get some depth in the draft and mid level f.a.'s and if someone like rivera stryuggles you have another option. blow it up and start over puts us back at 5-11

 

[wileedog]

Speed at WR would change things a great deal IMO. Obviously, we need to be able to get effective line play but our passing game really doesn't scare anybody. Glenn is the only guy you fear going deep on you. We need more speed at WR to balance the offense as well.

The running game fixes that. If safeties have to cheat up into the box then Glenn can still beat anyone 1 on 1.

Nobody played us 8 in the box all year.

 

[Clove]

Speed at WR would change things a great deal IMO. Obviously, we need to be able to get effective line play but our passing game really doesn't scare anybody. Glenn is the only guy you fear going deep on you. We need more speed at WR to balance the offense as well.

Completely agree. That's why teams like the Rams could still be great if they had any kind of coach that would install any kind of a defense. They have speed!!!

 

[Portland Fanatic]

Sparano needs to get fired!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I refuse to think that Rivera (Pro-bowler) can drop his play to be so average, we were talking Big Al Johnson to be a pro-bowler a year ago and now we all want his head...and to get such poor prodution out of OT's...

Don't get me wrong we need some upgrades, but Rivera and Al are shocking to me. We were not nearly this bad in past years!

We need a real oline coach and a few upgrades at OT, and young promising OG.

 

[wileedog]

Sparano needs to get fired!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I refuse to think that Rivera (Pro-bowl) can drop his play to be so average, we were talking Bi Al Johnson to be a pro-bowler a year ago and now we all want his head...and to get such poor prodution out of OT's...

Don't get me wrong we need some upgrades, but Rivera and Al are shocking to me. We were not nearly this bad in past years!

We need a real oline coach and a few upgrades at OT, and young promising OG.

I'd like to see us make a run at Tice. Ex Oline coach, and the Vikes always had very good lines up there.

 

[Mike 1967]

Yes..Moss is a great receiver.

But...I believe much of his success has stemmed directly off of the success of the running game.

When you can have the kind of success running the ball that the Commanders have had...then....you can execute the deep pass off of play action thereby freezing the safeties who are already cheating up to support the run.

As a kid....what I remember most about the Gibbs run Commanders was the power running game and the deep passing game.

These two things work hand in hand....but the pass only works if the running game is working. Gibbs offensive system stops and starts with the running game.

And what I like about his power running game is that it basically removes the blitz as a weapon. Because if you are running a 1 wide set with double tight ends...then the defense is going to have to bring at least 10 men up in support of the run anyway.

 

[Kilyin]

The running game fixes that. If safeties have to cheat up into the box then Glenn can still beat anyone 1 on 1.

Nobody played us 8 in the box all year.

The heck they didn't. Even the Rams loaded up the box on us. The Rams... I can give you some more examples too if that's not good enough.

 

[aznhalf]

Yes..Moss is a great receiver.

But...I believe much of his success has stemmed directly off of the success of the running game.

When you can have the kind of success running the ball that the Commanders have had...then....you can execute the deep pass off of play action thereby freezing the safeties who are already cheating up to support the run.

As a kid....what I remember most about the Gibbs run Commanders was the power running game and the deep passing game.

These two things work hand in hand....but the pass only works if the running game is working. Gibbs offensive system stops and starts with the running game.

And what I like about his power running game is that it basically removes the blitz as a weapon. Because if you are running a 1 wide set with double tight ends...then the defense is going to have to bring at least 10 men up in support of the run anyway.

Gibbs has dramatically changed his running scheme from his old days and last year.

Many more stretch plays, and plays designed for cutbacks which suits CP very well. Only thing similar is that counter that he is known for.

 

[demdcowboys#1]

I say we keep Allen. He played by far the best out of the entire OL this season. We keep Allen and bring back a healthy Flozell, and maybe Gurode(he showed spark in the final few weeks)

Keepers= Allen, Flo,maybe Gurode
Goners= Tucker, Pettiti, Johnson, a few more names that im too lazy to list

We need to get a couple SOLID OL FA pickups this offseason. There are people availablle that we could most definetly use to revamp this line, we MUST hop on em first before anyone else does.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Good post.

No question about it, the Skins turned the corner this year once they got the running game going. The difference in their team between this year and last is obvious.

Brunnell is playing better, (probably due in part to being healthier this year), but also their running game is much, much better which affects everything for Gibbs' offense.

 

[Mike 1967]

Gibbs has dramatically changed his running scheme from his old days and last year.

Many more stretch plays, and plays designed for cutbacks which suits CP very well. Only thing similar is that counter that he is known for.

I can't argue with you. And now that you mention it, I am not seeing a lot of counter Tre's

However, the core of the original point still stands.

Gibbs team is basically able to run at will...even in the face of 8 man fronts and run blitzes.

His Oline is overpowering opposing defenses just like in the days of the "Hogs".

 

[CactusCowboy]

Running game will be strong point if we get OL help. We have 3 good young runners.