Can we really stop the eagles run game?

[Swagger]

They will lose two out of three TEN NY and DAL.

I don't see New York having the quality to beat the Eagles but the Bears have a strong running game and given how the Eagles just gave up 5.5 yards a rush to the Packers then the Bears could run them close. I think the Cowboys beat the Eagles as we have the stronger overall roster except QB which is pretty much a wash or at this point people might take Hurts given his rushing ability and bar injury he will be an All-Pro this season.

I agree the Titans game is huge. I think if the Eagles win they hold on to the #1 seed and if they lose the Cowboys can win the #1 seed by having a better divisional record. Key game coming up.

 

[tromofan]

It will definitely be a different game this time. If I were the Eagles, I'd be just as concerned about stopping our run game.

 

[Whirlwin]

I don’t see it. We can still win but we have to score a lot.

You mean can we stop the quarterback from running , yes

 

[Whirlwin]

Don't have a lot of confidence in our run defense against anybody.

We seemed to have adjusted. What that actually means we’ll have to wait and see.

 

[cowboybish]

Last time Dallas played the Eagles their run game was very average. I think Dallas and Philly are very similar teams and any game between them will be a tossup. I don't know why everyone is panicking after the Eagles beat the Pack by 7. They had looked very average the last few weeks.

Over 300 yards on the ground! That’s not easy to stop.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I don’t see it. We can still win but we have to score a lot.

in run defense you have to have discipline and some intuition. you have to carry your assignments in covering the gaps and need LBs that can have some range covering the outside and hitting the holes....we need to spy Hurts and keep someone on him and limit his running (can't stop it fully) and thus have him run instead of pass his way down field but limit the damage.

 

[charron]

The cowboys have the ability to stop it but im not sold on the disciplin to execute that ability consistantly.

 

[CowboyoWales]

Stopping a run option team is about discipline. Dan Quinn has 4 weeks to hammer that into the heads of his defenders. .

What the Eagles did was use our strength (pass-rush) against us.

 

[Rayman70]

I cant see us beating them. They are elite and we make silly mistakes in discipline.

 

[Sydla]

Maybe they can.. but I think you're wrong about our DTs. They have been solid against the run most of the year. The real damage has generally been done on the edges. But I do agree with you that the Eagles are a good team.. but we've seen what happens to their offense when a defense CAN stop them from running.. The Commandos put them in a meat grinder. We know they are good and what they are good at. Stopping them isn't easy .. but it can be done. The good news for the Cowboys is that they now have a QB who can get them more than 180 yards passing and who isn't likely to turn it over 3 times given that he's only had 4 or 5 three turnover games in his career. Pair Dak with a strong running game and the Cowboys are going to be really hard to stop. Should be a fun game Christman Eve.. My only worry is Moore's tendency to come out pass happy in big games. I really hope he's learned his lesson or if he hasn't that McCarthy keeps screaming "run the ball" into the headset the entire first quarter.

They have not been solid against the run. They are 22nd in total rush yards allowed, 25th in ypc. They are pretty mediocre against the run. The talent at DT is middling, at best. Gallimore has been a disappointment. Watkins is a JAG. Hankins looks OK for what he is, but he's not the same player from 3-4 years ago.

The Cowboys continue to short change the position with JAGs and cast offs and it's gonna hurt them.

 

[RonnieT24]

They have not been solid against the run. They are 22nd in total rush yards allowed, 25th in ypc. They are pretty mediocre against the run. The talent at DT is middling, at best. Gallimore has been a disappointment. Watkins is a JAG. Hankins looks OK for what he is, but he's not the same player from 3-4 years ago.

The Cowboys continue to short change the position with JAGs and cast offs and it's gonna hurt them.

I'm talking about the DTs not the run defense in total. Obviously the overall run defense has been poor... but as I said, most of the damage has been done off the edges and outside. The interior has been fine. However 72 yards rushing to the Vikings and 90 to the Giants signals that they may have just figured some of this out after their come to Jesus meeting where they probably cussed each other out for not staying assignment sound. If they continue to play assignment football they will be fine against any offense. Especially now that our offense can put stress on the opponent by scoring in bunches again.

 

[DuceizBak]

Yes. Even if we don't, we don't have to stop it the whole game, just at opportune times.

The Eagles put up 350+ yards rushing....and only won by 7.

Against the Eagles or 49ers Cowboys should take the ball and essentially do whatever it takes to score first. Also if you run a reverse, put in a pass option so if there is nothing there the pass can be thrown away for no negative yards. Eagles/49ers are hiding their QB's from passing.


Also, Eagles are not consistently good at pass blocking...especially their LT

 

[nhcowboysfan]

Yes. Even if we don't, we don't have to stop it the whole game, just at opportune times.

The Eagles put up 350+ yards rushing....and only won by 7.

Against the Eagles or 49ers Cowboys should take the ball and essentially do whatever it takes to score first. Also if you run a reverse, put in a pass option so if there is nothing there the pass can be thrown away for no negative yards. Eagles/49ers are hiding their QB's from passing.


Also, Eagles are not consistently good at pass blocking...especially their LT

To your point of throwing the ball away, I am surprised that this doesn't happen more often. All the RBs and WRs should have it drilled into them that if you get handed the ball on a sweep or reverse and you know you can't get around the edge because the defense didn't bite or played it well, just throw the ball out of bounds. At this point, the same rules apply as the QB when they are outside of the tackles.

 

[RonnieT24]

To your point of throwing the ball away, I am surprised that this doesn't happen more often. All the RBs and WRs should have it drilled into them that if you get handed the ball on a sweep or reverse and you know you can't get around the edge because the defense didn't bite or played it well, just throw the ball out of bounds. At this point, the same rules apply as the QB when they are outside of the tackles.

Yes including the part where you can't throw the ball if a lineman is more than 1-2 yards downfield. If you do it's a penalty. If they don't go downfield and you don't throw the ball back to the line scrimmage it's intentional grounding which carries a spot penalty and a loss of down. So no.. let's not go drilling that into anybody's head. However there is one scenario when a ballcarrier SHOULD try to ..er.. fumble the ball out of bounds. Late in a game when the clock is running down and you have no timeouts and the defenders have you corralled fumble the ball out of bounds. Just make damn sure it gets there and make it look good.. Drop the inside shoulder into the defender and have the ball somehow jump out of your hands and 5-6 yards out of bounds.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I don’t see it. We can still win but we have to score a lot.

We already did. Held it in check.

 

[Sydla]

We already did. Held it in check.

Until we got to 20-17 and then Philly basically ground us into the turf on that game deciding drive.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

We did well against it last time, Packers have probably the worst run defense I’ve ever seen. I think our issues were focus, not ability.

Losing to Green Bay in the fashion we did is one of this team's most epic failures,,, and that's a high bar.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Until we got to 20-17 and then Philly basically ground us into the turf on that game deciding drive.

dont recall. Was that the RB doing it or Hurts running?

 

[TheCritic]

I agree with the OP. Run D has improved but it is not a strength. Plus the Eagles and 49ers are already beating up the rest of the league with their run game and physicality.

 

[john van brocklin]

We seemed to have adjusted. What that actually means we’ll have to wait and see.

So true!
The search for consistency....