Back To The Future? How The Cowboys May Be Exploiting NFL Trends With The Running Game

[JoeBoBBY]

priority number one for the coaches, team, staff.......#cowboyszone

Is to Keep Romo upright. Keep him as healthy as he can be......

So when those LBs and DBs creep closer and closer.....Romo can make them pay......

Let the big boys upfront and the ultra talented RB , win the game....... only put Romo in danger when necessary......that should be a really hard criteria to meet too.....to put him in harms way.

I want to see Romo go untouched........................I know its not realistic....but that should be the goal...


that's how were going to win.

 

[plasticman]

This was my argument before the draft as to why we should value the RB position if all other teams are devaluing it. If the position is being devalued, so then is defensive strategies to stop the running game.

When you consider that the Cowboy O-line is built to maximize the running game then it becomes a matchup nightmare.

It's one thing to feature an elite RB in your offense. And it another to build an elite offensive line.

But when you have accomplished both? In an NFL environment built to feature and defend the passing game?

You know all those quick smaller DE's that harrass quarterbacks and make things difficult for big OT's?

They are going to have very uncomfortable Sundays against the Cowboys.

Do you suppose that these Cowboy O-linemen have built up just a little resentment, having to get into a defensive mode to protect the quarterback against all kinds of blitz packages?

.....I hope these defensive players like pancakes.

 

[AdamJT13]

And The way Defenses GAMEPLANNED to stop Emmitt have a direct EFFECT on our passing game. No matter how many yards you gain.

You think every team GAMEPLANNED the same?

So you're saying teams gameplanned to stop Emmitt and succeeded, but that didn't stop us from passing effectively and winning.

Isn't that exactly what I've been saying all along?

 

[Hoofbite]

Sure. Nobody in the NFL is running the ball.

 

[Scandri100]

Running the ball only works well in the regular season ..in the playoffs it's the qb that wins you games.

 

[Gaede]

I've been saying this for the longest time. Awesome that I wasn't just making **** up

 

[Scandri100]

Running the ball only works well in the regular season ..in the playoffs it's the qb that wins you games.

I think Romo has the tools to be that qb.

 

[VACowboy]

Football is the ultimate team game, so it's hard for me to look at stats and draw black and white causational conclusions. It's hard to look at the numbers Adam and some others post, though, and not believe that passing the ball is the key to winning in the NFL. My question is, how many people think the 0-2 start was a coincidence in 1993? I don't see how anyone could watch those games and come away thinking that running the ball was less important than passing it to that team, regardless of the stats. I think it said a lot about the importance of the ground game to those Cowboys that Emmitt won League and Super Bowl MVP.

Now, that's the all-time leading rusher and a mighty small sample size, but I think it's the perfect case to demonstrate that stats don't always accurately depict cause and effect in football. There really is more than one way to skin a cat. There are no stats that explain the obvious business decisions being made by Richard Sherman and his buddies up at their place in 2014 when they saw Demarco Murray stomping into the secondary in the fourth quarter. That's the most beautiful kind of football to me, power football, and you don't get that without a great OL, a great RB and a steadfast commitment to the running game. What that says about the relative values of running and passing to winning football, I dunno, but THAT is the kind of football I want my team to play.

 

[TheHerd]

Garrett and crew just stick with game plan they developed during the week. Just "Ride the Storm" and hope that you Romo can win the game somehow.

Fixed it for you

 

[Rogerthat12]

I think they are putting way too much thought into this. Garrett was on those 90s teams and has said all along, the reason those teams were so successful on offense had to do with a having a great offensive line and a solid running game. When he got a chance to see that in action in 2014, the results were exactly what he expected and if there were still any doubters on the Cowboys staff or front office, they likely changed their minds after that season.

Garrett has always preached execution being the key, which is really what it comes down to in professional sports .. well, that and player health. The quality of players is so close that new schemes and tactics only provide you with a temporary advantage at best. What separates you from your competitors is execution and consistency. The running game provides an easier path to achieving those goals over the long term. Of course if you have a great quarterback and/or a great defense, the need for higher execution decreases a little.

The Cowboys are not run by geniuses, and that's not meant to be an insult. It's not like they arrived at this point through an elevated means of thought. The Cowboys have tried copying several successful team's blueprints over the years since the 90s, but none of them have worked. They basically tried everything else and it failed, so with Garrett's ties to the 90s teams, it made sense for them to now try rebuilding what they had back then and that all started with the offensive line. They drafted well in that area which greatly improved the running game and also showed them they can still emulate a lot of the 90s success in that area. However, Romo's age and, as a result, health are X factors now which is why they wasted 2015 when he was injured.

You nailed it...

 

[Rogerthat12]

We don't have a Bill Bellichick with Tom Brady or some super offensive genius running everything, so where we will find success is like in 2014 by having a simple, but powerful run game which takes the pressure off of Romo and frees up Dez.

Garrett said specifically that having the type of running game as in 2014 allows Romo to have less pressure and chances of turnovers while helping the passing attack by allowing for more favorable looks on the outside and inside because of how the defense reacts, thus improving the opportunities in the passing game.

Further, he said that he thinks this assists in TOP which keeps the opponents offense off the field, ideally increases offensive plays, decreases defensive plays and thus impacts every facet of the team.

In addition, he thinks Zeke has the ability to impact the actual passing game directly speaking as well, as he has great hands.

It is no surprise that Garrett and Scott are utilizing 11 personnel and the Power Blocking "22" jumbo schemes because in 2013 nine of the top twelve teams in terms of rushing attempts made the postseason and Jason has a history of shaping and success with this formula.

We started seeing Dallas continue to put resources into the line and in 2014 start to use this approach with great success and a winning 12-4 regular season record.

There is no doubt in my mind Garrett plans to do this again in 2016 this time with a back that can catch and go the distance on any given play.

 

[Rogerthat12]

Good old Mickey on DC.COM..."Cowboys have never had a winning season when rushing for no more than 10 touchdowns. Never, ever, oh-for-13 now".


http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...wers-beauty-double-e-certainly-buried-paydirt

 

[plasticman]

Many of you are misinterpreting this.

This isn't saying that the Cowboys now become a run first offense with Romo throwing 15 to 20 passes to break the monotany.

It simply means that the Cowboys will have a far more balanced offense versus the typical pass heavy NFL of today.

Last season the NFL passed 57.6% of the time.

Teams that passed 60% or more resulted in a combined 41.7% wins. They averagwed a season of 6.7-9.3

Teams that passed 55% or less ended with an average record of 99-6.1

The Cowboys will force defenses to pick their poisen. If the opponenet wants to key on the run, they pass against a thinner secondary in the 2nd and 3rd levels. If they try to attack Romo, he hands of to Elliott behind this line, or even deadlier, allow Elliot in the open with some big blockers in front and throw a high percentage pass that puts the entired efense on thier heals.

Tony Romo is 57-16 when passing 34 or less times in a game, winning 78.1%.

He is 21-32 when passing 35 or more times in a game, 39.6% wins.

Which would you choose?

 

[AdamJT13]

Many of you are misinterpreting this.

This isn't saying that the Cowboys now become a run first offense with Romo throwing 15 to 20 passes to break the monotany.

It simply means that the Cowboys will have a far more balanced offense versus the typical pass heavy NFL of today.

Last season the NFL passed 57.6% of the time.

Teams that passed 60% or more resulted in a combined 41.7% wins. They averagwed a season of 6.7-9.3

Teams that passed 55% or less ended with an average record of 99-6.1

The Cowboys will force defenses to pick their poisen. If the opponenet wants to key on the run, they pass against a thinner secondary in the 2nd and 3rd levels. If they try to attack Romo, he hands of to Elliott behind this line, or even deadlier, allow Elliot in the open with some big blockers in front and throw a high percentage pass that puts the entired efense on thier heals.

Tony Romo is 57-16 when passing 34 or less times in a game, winning 78.1%.

He is 21-32 when passing 35 or more times in a game, 39.6% wins.

Which would you choose?

Teams that are already losing usually have to pass more to try to catch up, especially late in the game. Teams that are already winning usually get conservative and run more, especially late in the game. That's what those stats are really saying, not that you win games by trying to run more or by trying not to pass a lot.

Last season, teams that went on to win games passed 57 percent of the time when the score was tied. Teams that went on to lose games passed 56.3 percent of the time when the score was tied. The run/pass strategy didn't determine which team took the lead and went on to win. But as the game goes on and one team gets the lead while the other falls behind, that's when the strategies begin to diverge. And by the fourth quarter, the team that's behind is passing it 79 percent of the time, and the team that is ahead is running it 64 percent of the time.

As for Romo, in his 78 wins, he has averaged 18.2 pass attempts in the first half and 25.6 pass attempts through the first three quarters. In his 49 losses, he has averaged 16.6 attempts in the first half and 24.6 attempts through three quarters. Obviously, it's not limiting his passes that leads to winning. It's already being ahead that leads to not having to pass as much in the fourth quarter.

 

[big dog cowboy]

..in the playoffs it's the qb that wins you games.

In the playoffs it's the defense that wins you games.

 

[BAT]

We don't have a Bill Bellichick with Tom Brady or some super offensive genius running everything, so where we will find success is like in 2014 by having a simple, but powerful run game which takes the pressure off of Romo and frees up Dez.

True. But even with that dominant running attack, in the post season the games hinge on elite D play, or lack thereof.

 

[BAT]

This was my argument before the draft as to why we should value the RB position if all other teams are devaluing it. If the position is being devalued, so then is defensive strategies to stop the running game.

When you consider that the Cowboy O-line is built to maximize the running game then it becomes a matchup nightmare.

It's one thing to feature an elite RB in your offense. And it another to build an elite offensive line.

But when you have accomplished both? In an NFL environment built to feature and defend the passing game?

You know all those quick smaller DE's that harrass quarterbacks and make things difficult for big OT's?

They are going to have very uncomfortable Sundays against the Cowboys.

Do you suppose that these Cowboy O-linemen have built up just a little resentment, having to get into a defensive mode to protect the quarterback against all kinds of blitz packages?

.....I hope these defensive players like pancakes.

Priority number one in 2016 was get the running game to same level of dominance like 2014. This improves passing game and protects Romo. Mission accomplished with draft of EZ Elliott.

Priority 1b is to improve pass rush and takeaways so Cowboys can actually progress in postseason. Trade for Muhammad Wilkerson, like Pack did with Reggie White, Cowboys did with Charles Haley and Broncos did signing Ware and Talib.

Mission pending.

 

[DandyDon52]

It takes both passing and running good to = a good team.
Neither can do it alone.

The 90's cowboys had both, and a good defense , and good coaching.
Thats why they not only won 2 SB in a row, but dominated each one.

 

[bsheeern]

So you're saying teams gameplanned to stop Emmitt and succeeded, but that didn't stop us from passing effectively and winning.

Isn't that exactly what I've been saying all along?

No it isn't what you've been saying. Your statements are based solely on stats. As if there is no cause & effect between the two.

You've said countless times how well you run the ball has little to no effect on winning in the NFL.

 

[bsheeern]

Teams that are already losing usually have to pass more to try to catch up, especially late in the game. Teams that are already winning usually get conservative and run more, especially late in the game. That's what those stats are really saying, not that you win games by trying to run more or by trying not to pass a lot.

Last season, teams that went on to win games passed 57 percent of the time when the score was tied. Teams that went on to lose games passed 56.3 percent of the time when the score was tied. The run/pass strategy didn't determine which team took the lead and went on to win. But as the game goes on and one team gets the lead while the other falls behind, that's when the strategies begin to diverge. And by the fourth quarter, the team that's behind is passing it 79 percent of the time, and the team that is ahead is running it 64 percent of the time.

As for Romo, in his 78 wins, he has averaged 18.2 pass attempts in the first half and 25.6 pass attempts through the first three quarters. In his 49 losses, he has averaged 16.6 attempts in the first half and 24.6 attempts through three quarters. Obviously, it's not limiting his passes that leads to winning. It's already being ahead that leads to not having to pass as much in the fourth quarter.

Lol, well if don't have a GOOD & EFRECTIVE running game you won't be able to Close those games out now will you? Which CAUSES you to lose or give up the lead.