Bob Sturm’s Decoding Linehan: Cowboys offense is ready for what’s ahead

[waving monkey]

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) scrambles as they played the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of their NFL football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA on Dec,14, 2014.
Fifteen games into the regular season, the Dallas Cowboys have earned their ticket to the postseason, and they are starting to gain recognition for the exceptional offensive year they have put together. Six members of their offense has been selected for the Pro Bowl, including all three of the first-round picks on the OL, plus Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, and the man who has set the tone for the entire season, DeMarco Murray.

The reason it is so difficult to have a conversation about whether Tony Romo should win the NFL MVP is because it is a bit tricky to identify the MVP of his own offense. Romo, by the way, has put together the type of season that should get him in those conversations with Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady (and JJ Watt), but it is fair to ask if DeMarco Murray should, too. And, if Murray does lead the NFL in nearly every rushing statistic — some by a very healthy margin such as the rushing title itself by 400-plus yards — then we must ask how much of it is Murray and how much of it is the fantastic offensive line that has been assembled.

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[Picksix]

I like how he points out that it's taken until now to have an OL that can dominate up front, and that in the past, they didn't feel they could commit to the run because they didn't have that. I do disagree with his take on running so much on first down. Yes, it does help control the clock, but with teams seemingly stacking the box to stop the run, and with the first down yardage being down the last couple of weeks, I think it's time to start throwing a bit more on first downs. Who knows? Maybe they're just trying to keep Romo from having to do too much. Maybe they're planning on throwing more on first downs once we get into the playoffs.

I will note that, even though the first down rushing yardage is down recently, it hasn't kept us from scoring, so things are still working regardless.

 

[waving monkey]

sometimes first down runs are advance moves for later down throws like chess

 

[romothesavior]

If by valuable, one means "most productive," then yes, it is difficult to pick the Most Valuable Player on the offensive unit.

If by valuable, one means "most irreplaceable," then clearly Romo is MVP. You take Murray or Bryant or one of our linemen out, we get worse, but we still go .500 or better. You take Romo out, and we are a 4-5 win team.

 

[romothesavior]

And re: playcalling, I do hope they become a bit less predictable in the postseason, especially on first down.

 

[windjc]

I don't know. Logically one might say that. But in reality they are play calling like they don't think anyone can stop them. It's very very similar to the early 1990s. Dallas had plays no one could stop so they just did the same thing over and over because it couldn't be stopped. I think it's amazing that in the last 3 offensively dominant weeks that our play calling has been the most obvious so far.

If this offense continues to perform this way, it just won't matter if teams know what we are going to do.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

It does start with the OL, they have allowed us to be this predictable. But changing anything at this point wouldn't be the answer, we have to do what got us here and that's behind that line and Murray, with splash plays from Romo.

One thing though, Romo has been great all year on 3rd down, but I hate to see us continue to put so much pressure on him on 3rd down especially if Murray is decreasing his 1st down effectiveness. Keep running but make sure you test teams more come playoff time if they are stacking the line.

 

[Fredd]

The OL has been built, ride that horse as far as it will take you