Cowboys 2012 Rushing Attack

[03EBZ06]

As per ESPN D, Calvin Watkins blog...

"The Cowboys' rushing attack finished 31st in the NFL last season with only 79.1 yards per game and 3.6 yards per attempt. Their 1,265 yards on the ground totaled 144 less than the previous Cowboys low in a 16-game season and represents a drop-off of 542 yards from the 2011 season."

Those Rushing stats in 2012 is just horrible and forced more passing plays, more than what we would like to see. As we all know whenever one component of offense (rushing) is not working at all, then the defense can key on passing plays and blitz frequently, which in turn cause more sacks and forces more turnovers.

So I really hope Murray stays healthy, Randle can provide some rushing help and OL do a better job of run blocking.

 

[Idgit]

Better C play in run blocking will do a lot to improve that rushing line. More of the 12 set will help, too. We'll still probably be a bottom-third rushing team.

As long as we're effective in short yardage and goal line, I can live with that just fine if we pass the ball well.

 

[Phoenix]

Utterly ridiculous when I stop to remember what greatness our running game was going to be with Murray running behind Vickers.

And to think, last year's running game was even WORSE than the Troy Hambrick debacle, the Julius Jones disaster, even probably the pre-Dorsett years with the mighty lead backs of Laidlaw and Dennison.

Wow. Talk about stinking up the place! Phew!

 

[sureletsrace]

Take away the Baltimore game and the Cowboys managed only a little more than 1,000 yards rushing in the other 15 games.

That's obnoxious.

 

[rash]

Take away the Baltimore game and the Cowboys managed only a little more than 1,000 yards rushing in the other 15 games.

That's obnoxious.

Great post. Well said sir...

 

[pancakeman]

Utterly ridiculous when I stop to remember what greatness our running game was going to be with Murray running behind Vickers.

Yup, I remember a pre-season thread here about what are you most excited about the upcoming 2012 season, and the clear answer to me was the rejuvenated running game.
Whoops.

 

[Galian Beast]

Better C play in run blocking will do a lot to improve that rushing line. More of the 12 set will help, too. We'll still probably be a bottom-third rushing team.

As long as we're effective in short yardage and goal line, I can live with that just fine if we pass the ball well.

We were 18th in the league in 2011. On top of that we were 9th in yards per attempt.

That was with

Free - Holland - Costa - Kosier - Smith

I think that

Smith - Livings - Frederick - Not Bernadeau - Free/Parnell

Should be able to significantly improve from last year.

 

[CF74]

Multiple injuries along the o-line is funny like that...

 

[Apollo Creed]

Even in today's pass happy flag football league - you still must be able to run to close games, convert short yardage, sustain drives, give your defense a breather, etc. So many advantages to being able to pound the rock.

Oh yeah, also takes the pressure off your 100 million dollar investment and opens up his throwing windows when the defense at least has to respect a semblance of a running game.

 

[Lodeus]

Some teams need to run the ball to win. Dallas is one of those teams. It's all on Murray.

 

[Aven8]

If we could only get our OC this information maybe that will change this year.

 

[TheFinisher]

Even in today's pass happy flag football league - you still must be able to run to close games, convert short yardage, sustain drives, give your defense a breather, etc. So many advantages to being able to pound the rock.

Oh yeah, also takes the pressure off your 100 million dollar investment and opens up his throwing windows when the defense at least has to respect a semblance of a running game.

More importantly, it keeps edge rushers honest. If you become 1-dimensional in this league it puts your OL at a significant disadvantage in pass protection, it allows pass rushers to pin their ears back and fly upfield for the QB... 100% of OL in the NFL struggle in that situation.

And when you combine that with running the playclock down to 1 second before scrambling to snap the ball it makes matters worse. The play clock is displayed in both endzones, pass rushers pay attention to that... we essentially give away the snap count when we run the play clock down.

So we make ourselves 1-dimensional while giving away when the ball is going to be snapped. Not saying this is the reason for ALL the quick pressures and QB knockdowns, but it's responsible for a lot of them. Extremely frustrating to watch as a fan because it's essentially self-inflicted, and there's no reason for this to be happening as often as it is.

Upgrading personnel along the OL will certainly help the unit, but eliminating those 2 situations will help a lot too.

 

[Kristen82]

The middle and right side of the OL were problems. Murray only ran for 2.9 ypc up the middle last year and only 3.2 ypc to the right compared to 4.8 ypc to the left behind T. Smith. Should be better up the middle this year with Frederick, but the right side still seems problematic.

 

[CyberB0b]

Utterly ridiculous when I stop to remember what greatness our running game was going to be with Murray running behind Vickers.

And to think, last year's running game was even WORSE than the Troy Hambrick debacle, the Julius Jones disaster, even probably the pre-Dorsett years with the mighty lead backs of Laidlaw and Dennison.

Wow. Talk about stinking up the place! Phew!

Vickers was TERRIBLE last year. Seems like a good guy, but he is probably gone this offseason.

 

[Risen Star]

You're not going to have even a respectable running game with 4 stiffs on your offensive line. I don't care who the running back is.

This year it's looking like we've got 3 stiffs. So it should be a little better. Maybe Parnell can emerge and it can improve more than that.

 

[Risen Star]

Multiple injuries along the o-line is funny like that...

Our starting line was horrid. Injuries had nothing to do with it.

 

[CaptainMorgan]

Utterly ridiculous when I stop to remember what greatness our running game was going to be with Murray running behind Vickers.

Vickers = major dissapointment

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

Multiple injuries along the o-line is funny like that...

What multiple injuries? Everyone was healthy for every game except for Costa. And if you think Phil Costa is the pro-bowl all-pro that this line hinges on you're crazy!

At 4/5 offensive line positions they had exactly who they wanted for every game. At center they might have even upgraded with Cook from Costa. Normally I'd say every football team gets injuries but that doesn't even apply here, this line was healthy!

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

I've been saying it for years, but Tony Romo was inadvertently responsible for our front office not realizing just how poorly our O-Line was performing. If not for his jukemaster basketball spins, Romo would be the most sacked QB in the league every year because our O-Lines have been so awful. So when it's time to run the ball it just doesn't work, because Romo can't bail out the O-Line on running plays.

Drafting Smith was the first right step, and hopefully Frederick is another. With an o-line that was in the top half of the league Romo, Murray, Bryant, Austin, and Witten would put up 07 offensive numbers all over again, or even more.