50 Years of Cowboys Rushing Attacks

[THUMPER]

We led the league in rushing attempts, and we also had the #1 defense.

Emmitt actually had a respectable 4.0 that year, but 100 carries split between Moose and Lincoln Coleman brought the average down.

Aikman had an 84.9 rating that year, btw

Yeah, I wonder how many people in here would be happy with Romo if he threw 13 TDs and 12 INTs.

 

[theogt]

I can't believe we only averaged 3.6 in 1994. How did the Cowboys ever make it to the NFC Championship game that year with such an effort?

Rushing yards per carry has one of the lowest correlations with winning percentage of all official stats. Winning team don't necessarily run the ball better. Rushing YPC has little impact on a team's success.

 

[percyhoward]

Rushing YPC has little impact on a team's success.

YPC itself is not what makes this a successful team, you're right. It's the guys who are responsible for the high YPC who are making the real impact.

 

[dbair1967]

Yeah, I wonder how many people in here would be happy with Romo if he threw 13 TDs and 12 INTs.

Most people forget but Aikman was actually having a really strong 1994 season until the days just before the SF regular season game (in fact it might have been the walk through practice that Friday). Aikman was at the top (or just below) the league leaders in QB rating and was playing very well, then knocked his hand/thumb on Brock Marion's helmet during a practice. There was some doubt Aikman would play that next game vs SF, but he did play and didnt have a good game. He never really looked the same the rest of the yr due to the injury. Later in the season he suffered a knee injury on a cheap shot from Commander DE Ken Harvey.

 

[Doomsday101]

What kind of idiot coordinator has the highest rushing average in team history and doesn't run it more? That's what I want to know.

One who has a top QB and plays in a league where the rules favor the pass. As Woodson said on a different topic last night the rules pretaining to the running game have pretty much remained the same but the rules in the passing game has made it easier for the offense to throw the ball. No longer can a db ride a WR down the field or the over protection of the QB has opened the door for easy 15 yard penalties. Yet Garrett still trys to find a good balance between the run and the pass it is not going to be 50/50 and yet despite that he overseas the 4th ranked offense in the NFL yet gets no credit for that, instead he gets jr coordinators questioning his ability as a coach

 

[THUMPER]

Most people forget but Aikman was actually having a really strong 1994 season until the days just before the SF regular season game (in fact it might have been the walk through practice that Friday). Aikman was at the top (or just below) the league leaders in QB rating and was playing very well, then knocked his hand/thumb on Brock Marion's helmet during a practice. There was some doubt Aikman would play that next game vs SF, but he did play and didnt have a good game. He never really looked the same the rest of the yr due to the injury. Later in the season he suffered a knee injury on a cheap shot from Commander DE Ken Harvey.

Through the NYG game in Week-9 we were 8-1 and Aikman's stats were:

231 att, 151 comp, 65.7%, 1825 yards, 7.90 avg, 12 TDs, 5.19 TD%, 5 INTs, 2.16 INT%, 97.77 passer rating.

After that game we went 2-3 and Troy's stats were:

130 att, 82 comp, 63.08%, 851 yards, 6.55 avg, 1 TD, 0.77 TD%, 7 INTs, 5.38 INT%, 62.05 passer rating.

Aikman missed weeks 13 & 14 after the injury in the Commanders game.

Interestingly enough, the SF game was Troy's only 300+ yard game of the regular season. It was also his lowest rated game as he threw 3 INTs and 0 TDs.