NewsBot
New Member
- Messages
- 111,281
- Reaction score
- 2,947
True love. True commitment. True character.
They aren't revealed during good times—only during adversity.
As Boys II Men sung years ago, “Everybody loves sunny days but can you stand the rain.”
That moment of truth came early for the Dallas Cowboys in Sunday's 34-31 victory against the St. Louis Rams
They were down 21-0 in the second quarter. DeMarco Murray, the league's leading rusher, had lost another fumble, his third in as many games.
The Cowboys had talked about a new commitment to the running game in training camp and through the first two games of the season.
But the question is what would they do now? Would they remain true to their new identity or revert back to their pass-happy ways—their pass first mentality which has been such a big part of the DNA since coach Jason Garrett took over as head coach midway through the 2008 season?
Well, consider that on the ensuing drive following the 21-0 deficit, the Cowboys marched 80 yards on nine plays. Five of the plays were rushes, capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Murray, beginning what was a team-record-tying comeback victory.
It was truly a “boys to men” moment for this Cowboys offense and their new philosophy.
“We're committed to running the football. Everybody's waiting for that to break, and it's not," tight end Jason Witten said. “There's a complete commitment to running the football, and we'll continue to run the football. It's a little different than what we've been in the past. But we have to just stay with it. We knew today it was a matter of one possession at a time, one possession at time, and it says a lot about our football team to be able to do that and then make those plays.”
Murray ended the game with 24 carries for 100 yards. The team ran 29 times for 123 yards. It was Murray’s third straight game with at least 100 yards rushing—a career first for him as he joined Tony Dorsett, Emmitt Smith and Julius Jones as the only other backs in team history to do so.
It also marked the second straight game in which the Cowboys ran more than they passed. That they did after being down 21-0 is mind-boggling based on past history.
But quarterback Tony Romo, who completed 18-of-23 passes for 217 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, was nonplussed.
He readily acknowledges the team's new identity and how it sets up things for the passing game.
“We are who we are,” Romo said. “I think that's the way you want to be. You want to continue to do what you do well, and then advance off that with some stuff that can be beneficial.”
But the Cowboys are still pinching themselves that this is who they are now.
Owner Jerry Jones even admits that this is a road the Cowboys and Garrett had to go down kicking and screaming.
“Make no mistake about it: Jason [Garrett] is acquiescing to what we are doing out here,” Jones said. “…I think when you are down 21-0, and you are sitting out there, and you run the ball twice, and it’s 3rd-and-7, 3rd-and-6, then everyone starts realizing we are committed to the run.”
Garrett credits the play-calling of new offensive coordinator Scott Linehan for staying patient and disciplined to the team’s new philosophy despite the early adversity.
“I just think [Linehan’s] patience and persistence running the football was an important part of it,” Garrett said. “We wanted to stay downhill at them, and they made a lot of good plays defending our run. There were tackles for loss. There were zero [runs]. There were 1-yard gains. But I thought we just kept hammering away, kept chipping away at it. I thought the adjustments that we made in the running game as the game went on were good to give us some chances to make some big plays out in space.”
That in itself may be a surprise to some considering Linehan’s reputation as a pass-happy play-caller himself. But he is more legitimately characterized as a coach who leans on what his team does best.
And in Dallas that’s featuring the run with three first-round picks up front—tackle Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick and guard Zack Martin—and Murray in the backfield.
But Garrett says this is a new-found philosophy that has been years in the making. The Cowboys are only now ready to make the full transition because all the pieces are finally in place.
“I think we’re stronger than we’ve been in a long, long time,” Garrett said. “I think part of the identity of this football team will come from where we allocated those resources – three first-round picks on the offensive line, two other players that we think are good and developing a mentality and an identity for that group, for the offense, and really throughout our team. I think we’re growing in that regard every week.”
All quotations obtained firsthand, unless otherwise noted.
Read more Dallas Cowboys news on BleacherReport.com
Continue reading...
They aren't revealed during good times—only during adversity.
As Boys II Men sung years ago, “Everybody loves sunny days but can you stand the rain.”
That moment of truth came early for the Dallas Cowboys in Sunday's 34-31 victory against the St. Louis Rams
They were down 21-0 in the second quarter. DeMarco Murray, the league's leading rusher, had lost another fumble, his third in as many games.
The Cowboys had talked about a new commitment to the running game in training camp and through the first two games of the season.
But the question is what would they do now? Would they remain true to their new identity or revert back to their pass-happy ways—their pass first mentality which has been such a big part of the DNA since coach Jason Garrett took over as head coach midway through the 2008 season?
Well, consider that on the ensuing drive following the 21-0 deficit, the Cowboys marched 80 yards on nine plays. Five of the plays were rushes, capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Murray, beginning what was a team-record-tying comeback victory.
It was truly a “boys to men” moment for this Cowboys offense and their new philosophy.
“We're committed to running the football. Everybody's waiting for that to break, and it's not," tight end Jason Witten said. “There's a complete commitment to running the football, and we'll continue to run the football. It's a little different than what we've been in the past. But we have to just stay with it. We knew today it was a matter of one possession at a time, one possession at time, and it says a lot about our football team to be able to do that and then make those plays.”
Murray ended the game with 24 carries for 100 yards. The team ran 29 times for 123 yards. It was Murray’s third straight game with at least 100 yards rushing—a career first for him as he joined Tony Dorsett, Emmitt Smith and Julius Jones as the only other backs in team history to do so.
It also marked the second straight game in which the Cowboys ran more than they passed. That they did after being down 21-0 is mind-boggling based on past history.
But quarterback Tony Romo, who completed 18-of-23 passes for 217 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, was nonplussed.
He readily acknowledges the team's new identity and how it sets up things for the passing game.
“We are who we are,” Romo said. “I think that's the way you want to be. You want to continue to do what you do well, and then advance off that with some stuff that can be beneficial.”
But the Cowboys are still pinching themselves that this is who they are now.
Owner Jerry Jones even admits that this is a road the Cowboys and Garrett had to go down kicking and screaming.
“Make no mistake about it: Jason [Garrett] is acquiescing to what we are doing out here,” Jones said. “…I think when you are down 21-0, and you are sitting out there, and you run the ball twice, and it’s 3rd-and-7, 3rd-and-6, then everyone starts realizing we are committed to the run.”
Garrett credits the play-calling of new offensive coordinator Scott Linehan for staying patient and disciplined to the team’s new philosophy despite the early adversity.
“I just think [Linehan’s] patience and persistence running the football was an important part of it,” Garrett said. “We wanted to stay downhill at them, and they made a lot of good plays defending our run. There were tackles for loss. There were zero [runs]. There were 1-yard gains. But I thought we just kept hammering away, kept chipping away at it. I thought the adjustments that we made in the running game as the game went on were good to give us some chances to make some big plays out in space.”
That in itself may be a surprise to some considering Linehan’s reputation as a pass-happy play-caller himself. But he is more legitimately characterized as a coach who leans on what his team does best.
And in Dallas that’s featuring the run with three first-round picks up front—tackle Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick and guard Zack Martin—and Murray in the backfield.
But Garrett says this is a new-found philosophy that has been years in the making. The Cowboys are only now ready to make the full transition because all the pieces are finally in place.
“I think we’re stronger than we’ve been in a long, long time,” Garrett said. “I think part of the identity of this football team will come from where we allocated those resources – three first-round picks on the offensive line, two other players that we think are good and developing a mentality and an identity for that group, for the offense, and really throughout our team. I think we’re growing in that regard every week.”
All quotations obtained firsthand, unless otherwise noted.
Read more Dallas Cowboys news on BleacherReport.com
Continue reading...