A Myth About our Running Game

[Kevinicus]

https://www.footballoutsiders.com/index.php?p=254&cat=11

Success Rate (running backs): A measure of running back consistency based on the percentage of carries where the player gains 40% of needed yards on first down, 60% of needed yards on second down, or 100% of needed yards on third or fourth down. Small adjustment in fourth quarter based on whether team is more than a touchdown behind or running out the clock. A running back above 50% is very consistent; below 40% is very inconsistent.

Not sure I agree with their critetia. A 2 yard run on 2nd and 3 from midfield is successful, but an 11 yard run on 2nd and 20 is not? Seems very arbitrary.

 

[conner01]

Our run game hasn’t been as good because the oline has one players who’s started every game
The run game is still very effective because we can afford to stick to it. We can stick to it because we are converting 3rd downs

 

[HanD]

no complaints here with the running game considering the injuries to the OL but i am a bit surprised that his YPC avg didn't go up since amari has been here.

 

[aikemirv]

4.7 is a great average. That is dominant when you can pretty much average a 1st down in 2 carries.

Riggins is in the Hall of Fame at 3.9 ypc

 

[hopemsu]

A lot of fans here assume because Zeke has the most rushing yards in the NFL that the Cowboys must be an elite dominant running team.

We aren't...at least not in the way most people think.

If you take the top rushers...and rank them by YARDS PER CARRY...Zeke is only 14th, with an average of 4.7 yards per carry. Lots of guys have better production per carry.

As a team we are 6th in total rushing, and 10th in average per carry.

Our o-line has lacked good health, and at times it is neutralized. With that limitation we are a good rushing team--not a great rushing team.

Said it before, the proof is in the pudding.. Zeke is a great runner in spite of the 0-line alot of the time. Part of the reasons our red zone is soo bad, example, if we have it 1st and goal at the 5: we are unlikely to be able to run it in this year vs 2016.

 

[atlantacowboy]

A lot of fans here assume because Zeke has the most rushing yards in the NFL that the Cowboys must be an elite dominant running team.

We aren't...at least not in the way most people think.

If you take the top rushers...and rank them by YARDS PER CARRY...Zeke is only 14th, with an average of 4.7 yards per carry. Lots of guys have better production per carry.

As a team we are 6th in total rushing, and 10th in average per carry.

Our o-line has lacked good health, and at times it is neutralized. With that limitation we are a good rushing team--not a great rushing team.

Emmit Smith's career average is 4.2 and he only went over 4.7 twice in his career. Zeke is just fine and there isn't a better rb.

 

[Future]

No he's not. In order to get him to 14th you have to count guys with about half the carries he has.

Your thread is silly. Stop watching football if you think this running game isn't highly effective.

He's 15th amongst guys with 100 or more carries. He's 3rd of 6 with more than 200.

 

[Doomsday101]

Dallas running game is the center piece of the offense I think what has hampered Zeke especially early in the year was defense sold out on the run not worried too much about passing game of Dallas. Now for the Cooper effect, since he has came to Dallas and has made defenses account for him Zeke has benefited from it. 1st 7 games of the season Zeke rushed for 619 avg 88 yards a game 4.6 a carry over the last 6 games with Cooper in the lineup Zeke has rushed for 643 107 avg 4.8 a carry.

 

[Aviano90]

Imagine what his YPC would be if he could hit a couple home runs.

 

[TheHerd]

What you argue for is better expressed as median yards per carry.

Still a crap measure.

When a back gets you a yard and an inch when you need a yard on 4th down, that's worth a ton

This. Backs who run on 3rd and 4th and short will have lower YPC. If you too away all Zeke's one yard first downs (and every other back's), which are a successful run, I wonder what it looks like.

I like that successful run stat. That send like a great measure.

 

[percyhoward]

Not sure I agree with their critetia. A 2 yard run on 2nd and 3 from midfield is successful, but an 11 yard run on 2nd and 20 is not? Seems very arbitrary.

It's based on the history of teams converting on that down series or not. An 11-yard run on 2nd and 20 leaves you with 3rd and 9, so it's not surprising that most teams have ended up punting after such a play.

 

[TwentyOne]

A lot of fans here assume because Zeke has the most rushing yards in the NFL that the Cowboys must be an elite dominant running team.

We aren't...at least not in the way most people think.

If you take the top rushers...and rank them by YARDS PER CARRY...Zeke is only 14th, with an average of 4.7 yards per carry. Lots of guys have better production per carry.

As a team we are 6th in total rushing, and 10th in average per carry.

Our o-line has lacked good health, and at times it is neutralized. With that limitation we are a good rushing team--not a great rushing team.

You mix up team stats and personal ones to make a point.

Dallas is 6th in rushing yds per game. 10th in yds per rush.

Dominant rushing teams can run the ball when its needed. I think we are able to do that and showed it this season.

 

[percyhoward]

Dominant rushing teams can run the ball when its needed. I think we are able to do that and showed it this season.

Most of the unsuccessful runs are in the red zone, especially inside the 10. I haven't looked at it, but I'd be shocked if this year's success rate outside the opponent's 20-yard line wasn't about the same as (or only slightly below) the last two years'.

 

[CowboyRoy]

A lot of fans here assume because Zeke has the most rushing yards in the NFL that the Cowboys must be an elite dominant running team.

We aren't...at least not in the way most people think.

If you take the top rushers...and rank them by YARDS PER CARRY...Zeke is only 14th, with an average of 4.7 yards per carry. Lots of guys have better production per carry.

As a team we are 6th in total rushing, and 10th in average per carry.

Our o-line has lacked good health, and at times it is neutralized. With that limitation we are a good rushing team--not a great rushing team.

Oline is bad. But Zeke is just a beast so he gets the tough yards. Stacked boxes certainly dont help. Linehans, 10 yard and turn around route tree doesnt help either.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Most of the unsuccessful runs are in the red zone, especially inside the 10. I haven't looked at it, but I'd be shocked if this year's success rate outside the opponent's 20-yard line wasn't about the same as (or only slightly below) the last two years'.

I disagree. Especially in 2016 we were getting in the endzone regularly. Dak running in or Zeke running in. Dez and Witten both better targets down there.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Because the run selection and formation are too predictable. Everyone knows Dallas is running Zeke up the middle when they have a 2-3 tight end set. Therefore, the crowd the middle with a safety and linebackers.

Our offensive coaches are too stubborn to run Zeke outside the perimeter. Or use RPO more often. All they do is keep running Zeke up the middle all the time. Nothing changes with our offense. Its the main reason why we suck so bad and can't score. Because we only have one run play. That's Zeke up the middle - all the time, everytime.

This is true but there use to be times where you know we'd run and there was simply nothing you can do about it. That luxury is gone. The coaching staff needs to adapt but one problem I have with this staff is they keep the same gameplan regardless of personnel. That's why they usually struggle when guys are missing. That's why Adrian Clayborn has 6 sacks....they continue to pretend like Chaz Green is Tyron and let it keep happening. I don't know if its just stupidity or just overly confident.

 

[OmerV]

A lot of fans here assume because Zeke has the most rushing yards in the NFL that the Cowboys must be an elite dominant running team.

We aren't...at least not in the way most people think.

If you take the top rushers...and rank them by YARDS PER CARRY...Zeke is only 14th, with an average of 4.7 yards per carry. Lots of guys have better production per carry.

As a team we are 6th in total rushing, and 10th in average per carry.

Our o-line has lacked good health, and at times it is neutralized. With that limitation we are a good rushing team--not a great rushing team.

Look at the total rushes. Most of those guys that have a somewhat higher ypc average have carried the ball 100 fewer times, or more, than Zeke has. Make them the same kind of workhorse and see how it plays out. Zeke doesn't get to play as a decoy or secondary option like many RBs do, he's the guy defenses game plan for.

 

[percyhoward]

I disagree. Especially in 2016 we were getting in the endzone regularly. Dak running in or Zeke running in. Dez and Witten both better targets down there.

You must have misunderstood my post.

 

[Risen Star]

https://www.footballoutsiders.com/index.php?p=254&cat=11

Success Rate (running backs): A measure of running back consistency based on the percentage of carries where the player gains 40% of needed yards on first down, 60% of needed yards on second down, or 100% of needed yards on third or fourth down. Small adjustment in fourth quarter based on whether team is more than a touchdown behind or running out the clock. A running back above 50% is very consistent; below 40% is very inconsistent.

So a 5 yard run on 2nd and 10 is an unsuccessful play? I'm supposed to believe that?

 

[Risen Star]

I'd like to utilize Zeke more in the passing game. Gurley and Saquon are excellent in this. I think Zeke can be effective too, just utilize him.

He has over 60 catches this year.