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Promises, promises.
In the offseason, Dallas promised to have a greater commitment to the run in 2014 in terms of running it more and running it better.
But after one game, it appears the Cowboys' approach to the running game is more like chicken at breakfast than a pig.
The Cowboys just laid the egg and walked away, rather than being fully committed to being fried in the pan in a 28-17 season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
From a numbers standpoint, the Cowboys were true to their word. DeMarco Murray rushed 22 times for 118 yards and a touchdown.
But the details matter.
And when it mattered most in the red zone, the Cowboys reverted to their pass-happy ways of the past.
Certainly, the team’s four turnovers, including three interceptions by quarterback Tony Romo and a Murray fumble that was returned 35 yards for a touchdown, were the difference in the game.
But the Cowboys had the chance to turn the tide a couple of times if they stayed committed to the run, but alas, that’s not their nature.
The first real turning point of the game came on the right after cornerback Chris Culliver returned Murray’s fumble for six.
Romo then engineered a drive that had the Cowboys set up with a second-and-1 at the 2. Instead of running the ball with Murray behind an offensive line that featured three first-round picks, the Cowboys called a pass. Or rather, Romo checked out of a run to pass and was sacked by defensive tackle Justin Smith, forcing the Cowboys to settle for a field goal.
The 49ers then scored a touchdown in three plays in the ensuing series, making the score 14-3 and the rout seemingly on.
“I always want it, especially in those situations," said Murray, who recorded his eighth career 100-yard rushing game, per the Star-Telegram. “I have confidence in the O-line, and I definitely have confidence in myself that we can get it.
“But [passing game coordinator] Scott [Linehan] is calling the plays. He knows what’s best for the offense, so whatever it is, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability."
Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said he needed to look at the film to see what happened. But owner Jerry Jones readily acknowledged that Romo checked from a run to a pass:
I bet [the 49ers were] in the gaps and they got it loaded up, so he obviously thought he had a better chance to get it in there by throwing it. I’m guessing right now to some degree, but I know that will be born out that what he saw was a pretty stiff defense to try to get the ball in for a couple of yards and thought he could throw the ball in.
We quite easily could have had a lineman not hear the check off, and that’s why you got the sack very easily. The issue there was not getting in on that call, to get in there with the sack, that really got us compromised.
Even more disheartening was a drive that began late in the first quarter that ended in the second.
Down 21-3, the Cowboys began to feed Murray, who had carries of 7, 15, 6, 6, 6, 2 and 18 to power a drive that eventually set the Cowboys up with a first and goal at the 5.
But on first down the Cowboys called a pass and Romo was intercepted following an ill-advised throw to to Jason Witten.
Romo acknowledged checking out of the run on the first play but said the defense dictated the decision. He also said run decisions were far down the list of regrets that were topped by his three interceptions:
We ran the ball real well all game. But we also at different times, it’s hard to explain, threw well but also had the turnovers. That’s on me obviously. It doesn’t look as good, but you want it balanced. A little bit of it is dictated off what the defense is doing. If you have a run called when they have a free hitter in the hole, it’s not going to turn out well.
I know it sounds easy to say just run the ball. If we have six blockers on the play and they have seven people, one of them is going to be free, and if it’s near the spot where you’re running the ball, not very good things happen from that. You also know you can come back and pound the ball if needed on the next down or two. I think there are a lot of plays in the game you want back. I’d put that lower compared to the interceptions.
Still, it’s also about having an identity. Running it more is one thing. But if the Cowboys really want to have true running-game identity, they need to show a run-oriented mentally.
Consider that the Cowboys ran eight plays in the red zone before Murray got his first red-zone carry.
And that was on fourth and 1 from the 2 after the Cowboys threw it three straight times after getting a first and 10 at the 11. Murray turned it into a touchdown.
The question is, why did it take so long?
Because the Cowboys reverted to their pass-happy nature. They simply can't help themselves.
Read more Dallas Cowboys news on BleacherReport.com
Continue reading...
In the offseason, Dallas promised to have a greater commitment to the run in 2014 in terms of running it more and running it better.
But after one game, it appears the Cowboys' approach to the running game is more like chicken at breakfast than a pig.
The Cowboys just laid the egg and walked away, rather than being fully committed to being fried in the pan in a 28-17 season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
From a numbers standpoint, the Cowboys were true to their word. DeMarco Murray rushed 22 times for 118 yards and a touchdown.
But the details matter.
And when it mattered most in the red zone, the Cowboys reverted to their pass-happy ways of the past.
Certainly, the team’s four turnovers, including three interceptions by quarterback Tony Romo and a Murray fumble that was returned 35 yards for a touchdown, were the difference in the game.
But the Cowboys had the chance to turn the tide a couple of times if they stayed committed to the run, but alas, that’s not their nature.
The first real turning point of the game came on the right after cornerback Chris Culliver returned Murray’s fumble for six.
Romo then engineered a drive that had the Cowboys set up with a second-and-1 at the 2. Instead of running the ball with Murray behind an offensive line that featured three first-round picks, the Cowboys called a pass. Or rather, Romo checked out of a run to pass and was sacked by defensive tackle Justin Smith, forcing the Cowboys to settle for a field goal.
The 49ers then scored a touchdown in three plays in the ensuing series, making the score 14-3 and the rout seemingly on.
“I always want it, especially in those situations," said Murray, who recorded his eighth career 100-yard rushing game, per the Star-Telegram. “I have confidence in the O-line, and I definitely have confidence in myself that we can get it.
“But [passing game coordinator] Scott [Linehan] is calling the plays. He knows what’s best for the offense, so whatever it is, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability."
Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said he needed to look at the film to see what happened. But owner Jerry Jones readily acknowledged that Romo checked from a run to a pass:
I bet [the 49ers were] in the gaps and they got it loaded up, so he obviously thought he had a better chance to get it in there by throwing it. I’m guessing right now to some degree, but I know that will be born out that what he saw was a pretty stiff defense to try to get the ball in for a couple of yards and thought he could throw the ball in.
We quite easily could have had a lineman not hear the check off, and that’s why you got the sack very easily. The issue there was not getting in on that call, to get in there with the sack, that really got us compromised.
Even more disheartening was a drive that began late in the first quarter that ended in the second.
Down 21-3, the Cowboys began to feed Murray, who had carries of 7, 15, 6, 6, 6, 2 and 18 to power a drive that eventually set the Cowboys up with a first and goal at the 5.
But on first down the Cowboys called a pass and Romo was intercepted following an ill-advised throw to to Jason Witten.
Romo acknowledged checking out of the run on the first play but said the defense dictated the decision. He also said run decisions were far down the list of regrets that were topped by his three interceptions:
We ran the ball real well all game. But we also at different times, it’s hard to explain, threw well but also had the turnovers. That’s on me obviously. It doesn’t look as good, but you want it balanced. A little bit of it is dictated off what the defense is doing. If you have a run called when they have a free hitter in the hole, it’s not going to turn out well.
I know it sounds easy to say just run the ball. If we have six blockers on the play and they have seven people, one of them is going to be free, and if it’s near the spot where you’re running the ball, not very good things happen from that. You also know you can come back and pound the ball if needed on the next down or two. I think there are a lot of plays in the game you want back. I’d put that lower compared to the interceptions.
Still, it’s also about having an identity. Running it more is one thing. But if the Cowboys really want to have true running-game identity, they need to show a run-oriented mentally.
Consider that the Cowboys ran eight plays in the red zone before Murray got his first red-zone carry.
And that was on fourth and 1 from the 2 after the Cowboys threw it three straight times after getting a first and 10 at the 11. Murray turned it into a touchdown.
The question is, why did it take so long?
Because the Cowboys reverted to their pass-happy nature. They simply can't help themselves.
Read more Dallas Cowboys news on BleacherReport.com
Continue reading...