Best WR corps?...Perhaps!...But can we run the ball?

[AMERICAS_FAN]

I'm reading several reports that rank Dallas as potentially having hte best WR corps this season. I don't know about the best but we're defenitely among the very best with TO, Glenn and Witten - with Bledsoe throwing to them; and in a passing-oriented league such as the NFL, potentially being among the veery best passing teams is good company to be in.

But I don't just want playoff-success for this team; I want us to win a Super Bowl. And to do that in the NFL you still have to be able to run it down peoples' throuats. Can we do that with the one-2 punch of Julius Jones (still a question mark in my opinion) and Marion Barber (a solid backup but no more, due to his below-average speed for the RB position)?

In the end, how our RBs perform this season - and related to that, how well our OL blocks for the running game - will be the deciding factor on how far this team goes IMHO. The passing game is right there, and the defense IMHO will be right there to keep teams from ramming it down our throats. Now the question remains: Will the runnung game be there to help win us a Super Bowl?

**

 

[COWBOYFAN]

Obviously, this years team will go as far as the O-Line can take us... but I think Barber is more than just a 'back-up'. Remember, all that productivity he gave us last year was his ROOKIE YEAR. With a whole off-season of training I expect even more from his this year.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I'm reading several reports that rank Dallas as potentially having hte best WR corps this season. I don't know about the best but we're defenitely among the very best with TO, Glenn and Witten - with Bledsoe throwing to them; and in a passing-oriented league such as the NFL, potentially being among the veery best passing teams is good company to be in.

But I don't just want playoff-success for this team; I want us to win a Super Bowl. And to do that in the NFL you still have to be able to run it down peoples' throuats. Can we do that with the one-2 punch of Julius Jones (still a question mark in my opinion) and Marion Barber (a solid backup but no more, due to his below-average speed for the RB position)?

In the end, how our RBs perform this season - and related to that, how well our OL blocks for the running game - will be the deciding factor on how far this team goes IMHO. The passing game is right there, and the defense IMHO will be right there to keep teams from ramming it down our throats. Now the question remains: Will the runnung game be there to help win us a Super Bowl?

**

I question how important the running game is. Someone on this board has nicely pointed out that Parcells led teams aren't as efficient at running the football as what we as fans imagine. Typically his teams average less than 4 ypc, which is sometimes difficult for old-time Cowboy fans to accept.

We just might have to live with a 3.7 or 3.8 ypc average.

Parcells seems to stress ball control (time management) with the running game rather than churning out tons of yards via a high ypc average.

I'm just looking for points. To me it's the passing game that puts up points and we have the receivers to do that. If we can cut our sack per attempt number by 25% I think we can put up an average of 25 points per game-- that would mean 400 points this season. It's been a while since we put up 400 points for a season.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

I think we've forgotten all the excitement and promise that JJ presented after his rookie year. I had to go to youtube to remind me of his quickness and explosiveness. He has alot to prove but I'm confident that he finally puts together a full season this year.

 

[MONT17]

the one thing about Parcells is that he will stick to the run... even if JULES is running at 3 ypc he will keep giving it to him!!! I hope the Boys sign a VET RB before the season starts. I think BILL is playing with FIRE... with zero deth at OG and young RBs who have not proven much!!! it could be a long year!!!


The passing game will take some time to jell and the main reason I say that is not MeO or the 2 TE sets that includes a rookie TE but who is designing and calling these pass plays? Haley? BILL? I think BILL (along with assistant coach Palmer for other reasons) is still shell shocked from the 04 season when he was ripped by 20+ points almost every week!!! I hope Haley has as much responsibility as Coach Payton did... I'm confident he can do the job no matter how many times he gets slapped around by the HEAD COACH!!!

 

[MichaelWinicki]

the one thing about Parcells is that he will stick to the run... even if JULES is running at 3 ypc he will keep giving it to him!!! I hope the Boys sign a VET RB before the season starts.

The chances of this happening are between slim & none unless there is an injury to JJ to MBIII during the preseason.

I think BILL is playing with FIRE... with zero deth at OG and young RBs who have not proven much!!! it could be a long year!!!

At some point you just need to see if the young guys can play. I don't see our depth at guard being any worse than last year. As a matter of fact I think it's a tad better than last year with Peterman gaining another year and some reknewed confidence in Gurode.

 

[Bizwah]

Up until game six last year, we actually ran the ball quite often.

I just rewatched the first Eagle game. The announcers said that despite us not having a 100 yard game by a single rusher, we were among the league leaders in running offense....and TOP.

We'll run the ball......we may average 3 ypc....but we'll run the ball.

 

[lspain1]

Obviously, this years team will go as far as the O-Line can take us... but I think Barber is more than just a 'back-up'. Remember, all that productivity he gave us last year was his ROOKIE YEAR. With a whole off-season of training I expect even more from his this year.

What productivity? Our YPC was poor last season. I'm not saying it was Barber's fault, but he was unable to overcome our OL deficiencies.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

What productivity? Our YPC was poor last season. I'm not saying it was Barber's fault, but he was unable to overcome our OL deficiencies.

True. Both he and JJ ended up at 3.9 ypc.

 

[Yeagermeister]

the one thing about Parcells is that he will stick to the run... even if JULES is running at 3 ypc he will keep giving it to him!!! I hope the Boys sign a VET RB before the season starts. I think BILL is playing with FIRE... with zero deth at OG and young RBs who have not proven much!!! it could be a long year!!!

The last time we did that we ended up with Eddie 2.7 George

 

[lspain1]

I question how important the running game is. Someone on this board has nicely pointed out that Parcells led teams aren't as efficient at running the football as what we as fans imagine. Typically his teams average less than 4 ypc, which is sometimes difficult for old-time Cowboy fans to accept.

We just might have to live with a 3.7 or 3.8 ypc average.

Parcells seems to stress ball control (time management) with the running game rather than churning out tons of yards via a high ypc average.

I'm just looking for points. To me it's the passing game that puts up points and we have the receivers to do that. If we can cut our sack per attempt number by 25% I think we can put up an average of 25 points per game-- that would mean 400 points this season. It's been a while since we put up 400 points for a season.

Michael, my problem with your above statements is in the red zone. Doesn't it become much more difficult to score using passing as you approach the goal line? Does anyone happen to have the stats on running vs passing TD's?

I felt like we were absolutely unable to generate any kind of push last season near the goal line and it really cost us as the season progressed. Parcells will use whatever he thinks will work best and the passing game was certainly better last year but I believe the best teams are either balanced or run heavy as they near the goal line. I'll admit to being influenced by my perception of the Cowboy teams of old and I have no stats to back up my assertion.

 

[scottsp]

The running game, at least at the NFL level, seems to have as much (or even more) to do with components other than the actual running back.

To me, it's more about the offense's ability to dictate certain things. Obviously weapons in the passing game go a long way towards that. It will be much tougher for a defense to sit constantly walk up a safety into the box with Owens onboard. Additional personnel like Fasano (perhaps) would give this offense greater ability to give different looks, move linebackers around, etc.

Now while those are wonderful assets for an offense to possess, the trenches must still be accounted for. This team can have Pro Bowl wideouts here and there, outstanding tight ends, and quality runners, but if we are consistently losing battles at the point of attack, the rest won't matter. This offense won't go far if opposing defensive tackles are allowed to reside in our backfield.

For the past four years, Dallas has not been able to run off tackle. Linebackers don't have to worry about it so much because our edge blocking basically gets stood up, particularly on the right side of the formation. It's made our running game quite predictable.

Run behind #73 and 76. Repeat.

Hopefully, that improves. We can hope, wish, predict, whatever... But we won't really know for several weeks.

 

[GoodOleDays]

what exactly is Bills plan to get julius back to his rookie year form? julius was slow to hit the hole last year, he looked to bulky and had trouble making defenders miss.

 

[Prossman]

Owens brings a pure number one wr to Dallas. When you draw it out on Paper with Owens, Whitten, & Glenn on the field at the same time, this creates Major problems for defenses. If you double Owens are you willing to go man to man on whitten or Glenn? People where willing to give up the short yardage to Keyshawn because he wasn't a threat to go to the house. Last year teams could throw 8 men in the box or linebacker blitz us to death. Our talent at our skills postions changes everything. Also with 2 tend sets , with 2 who can catch the linebackers will have to see what they are doing, plus the defensive ends have to chuck them, verses just attacking Bledsoe. Prossman

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I think Julius Jones will be a pretty good back for Dallas this year because teams won't be able to stack the box against them or it will be murderer's row facing...Glenn, T.O., Skyler Green (yes he can be a dangerous weapon in open field, check LSU hightlights), and of course Crayton ( probably has the best pair of hands on the team arguably)...

 

[Doomsday101]

I think the ability to run the ball will be a major key in how this offense does this season. I know the focus is on TO but I think how the running game goes is how the offense will go.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

The two TE base offense will make it easier to run, especially with Glenn and Owens out wide. They both can dominate single coverage, and teams will have to leave one of them one on one if they plan to put eight in the box.

I like our chances for some big plays if that occurs.

The difference between this year and last is that we have another playmaker instead of a slow, possession receiver.

Chances are, we are going to face a lot of situations with 7 men in the box. With two TE's tight on the line, there is going to be a blocker for each guy. It also means we are balanced, we won't necessarily have to run left all the time.

Everything we are doing on offense is designed to help the OL.

 

[the kid 05]

how does barber have sub par speed for a running back? he ran a 4.48 at his schools pro day

julius ran a a 4.30....yes barber is really slow