Cowboys vs Eagles since Romo

[ScipioCowboy]

The Eagles were playing the best football in the NFC East at the end of last season, and should be the favorite to win the NFC East next season. And goodness knows, the Cowboys have struggled mightily against McNabb, Reid, Johnson, and Co. over the past decade.

In hopes of gaining some insight, I perused the box scores of all Cowboys/Eagles games since Romo assumed the starting role -- a period that encompasses five games. The Cowboys fared thusly:

Loss
Win
Loss
Win
Loss

The Cowboys offense could be aptly described as feast or famine; it scored 38 and 41 points in the two wins, and 7, 6, and 6 points in the three losses.

However, the most notable point was how poorly the Cowboys ran the ball -- even in victory. They averaged a meager 80.2 yards per game with a paltry 3.7 yard average per rush. They exceeded the 90 yard mark only once: a 110 yard outing in which they averaged only 3.4 yards per carry. And it's not as if the Cowboys are forcing the issue; they have only one game against the Eagles with more than 25 rushing attempts.

It's very possible the Cowboys are taking the wrong approach here. The success of the Eagle's defense is predicated almost entirely on its ability to pressure the passer. Yet, the Cowboys seem intent on beating Philly through the air; they have only one game with less 29 pass attempts and three games with more than 30. It seems to me that, if a team relies more heavily on the run, it can limit the opportunity for sacks and interceptions.

Back in the very early 90s, the Cowboys had a similar set of struggles with yet another ferocious Eagles' pass rush; however, they overcame it when they began to use Emmit Smith and a behemoth offensive line to wear down the Eagle front seven. The games were not always pretty -- for instance, the 92 playoff games was a 7-3 affair until a flurry of Eagle turnovers made it a blowout -- but they were wins more often than not.

Bottom line: The Cowboys need to run more. They have a bevy of talented backs, and a huge offensive line. Of course, improved play from the defense would help as well.

 

[LowTech]

I don't think anyone will argue this point. All of us would like to see more of a ground attack. We need the ball in Barber, Jones and Choice's hands more.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

That is a good point, we do need to run more but ever since Romo took over in 2006, we have been of a passing team.

We seem so afraid when we play the Piggles.

 

[elcowboi]

I just think we need to run the ball more period. Not only against the Eagles but all the teams we play. You make a very good point though.

 

[Idgit]

We take what the other team gives us, which, with the Eagles, means we usually pass the ball because they practically beg us to.

I don't agree that we play them scared. The first Eagle game last season was a straight-up great game where we ended up taking it to their defense. You know within the first 5 minutes how a game against the Eagles is going to go, and while I agree that I'd like to see us beat them with an effective running game, I'm not convinced we're capable of doing that just because we've got 3 very good RBs. Our running game has a way to go when it counts before I'm comfortable with the plan of building our offense around it.

 

[Aikbach]

We blow them out early in the year and fizzle against them in the December slump of recent years.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

We blow them out early in the year and fizzle against them in the December slump of recent years.

One team adapts as the season progresses. The other team does not.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

I don’t agree that the solution is...just run the ball. Run the ball into a brick wall and put Romo in third and long situations is the solution? The Cowboys have to make them pay when they blitz. Use more screens, reverses, short passes, RBs out of the backfield, wheelroutes or have Witten abuse the safeties. They did all these in the first game. In the second game...first 3rd down and short situation, Romo misses a wide open Crayton...miscommunication. That crap is what killed the boys last season. But to run the ball into 9 man fronts just for the sake of running the ball is not the solution.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

I don’t agree that the solution is...just run the ball. Run the ball into a brick wall and put Romo in third and long situations is the solution? The Cowboys have to make them pay when they blitz. Use more screens, reverses, short passes, RBs out of the backfield, wheelroutes or have Witten abuse the safeties. They did all these in the first game. In the second game...first 3rd down and short situation, Romo misses a wide open Crayton...miscommunication. That crap is what killed the boys last season. But to run the ball into 9 man fronts just for the sake of running the ball is not the solution.

I never proposed such a solution. I asserted that the Cowboys need to run the ball more.

Furthermore, an offense cannot allow a defense to dictate what plays are called all the time -- this is the very mistake Dallas made during the first Washington game.

A blitz can beaten by both the pass and the run.

 

[Alexander]

I don’t agree that the solution is...just run the ball. Run the ball into a brick wall and put Romo in third and long situations is the solution? The Cowboys have to make them pay when they blitz. Use more screens, reverses, short passes, RBs out of the backfield, wheelroutes or have Witten abuse the safeties. They did all these in the first game. In the second game...first 3rd down and short situation, Romo misses a wide open Crayton...miscommunication. That crap is what killed the boys last season. But to run the ball into 9 man fronts just for the sake of running the ball is not the solution.

Great point.

Everyone seems think if we just run more that it will be a success. We all know Garrett was too reliant on the pass, but the answer is not to swing too far into the other direction thinking that alone will fix the offense. It needs to be balanced, not lopsided one way or the other. Yes, we have three excellent backs. The good thing here is that they are also quality receivers and that needs to be utilized just as much as handing them the ball. A touch is a touch, whether it is in their gut, pitched to them or released on a short flare.

The question then becomes what if they take away the run? We aren't that solid in run blocking that I think we simply need to do it more. We need to do it more effectively regardless. If that doesn't work out, then we need to be prepared to pass if necessary.

The passing game needs to be shortened. It needed to be last year, but I can understand that midseason is no time to adjust what you spent an entire offseason and camp installing.

Garrett needs to understand we can't be the Patriots. Romo can't stand in the pocket and heave it downfield. We simply aren't that polished in pass protection. It is even more crucial this year as I believe without Owens being the downfield threat (and no, I am not sold on Austin being that threat) that there needs to be a better concentration on intermediate routes by the WRs. It fits what most of them do the best. Back in the 1990s, how often did we see a simple dink to Johnston or Emmitt Smith? It wasn't pretty but it moved the chains.

If Romo is moved around more, linebackers and safeties will creep up and that will leave targets open if coverages aren't disciplined. Romo can run the ball and we can't be afraid to put him in a situation where he has that option.

Also, the backs need to catch the ball more. I know people hate the WCO, but short passes to the backs can function just as well as a run. Five yards is five yards. Felix Jones in particular needs to be featured as he can take a dump off to the endzone.

 

[Doomsday101]

I don’t agree that the solution is...just run the ball. Run the ball into a brick wall and put Romo in third and long situations is the solution? The Cowboys have to make them pay when they blitz. Use more screens, reverses, short passes, RBs out of the backfield, wheelroutes or have Witten abuse the safeties. They did all these in the first game. In the second game...first 3rd down and short situation, Romo misses a wide open Crayton...miscommunication. That crap is what killed the boys last season. But to run the ball into 9 man fronts just for the sake of running the ball is not the solution.

No doubt Dallas has to mix it up but a simple fact is Dallas was 25th ranked in rushing attempts we do not run the ball often enough that does not mean you just run into 9 man fronts but if you are passing most of the time the defense knows that just as well which leads to sacks, fumbles and int. I don't think anyone is saying abandon the passing game but Dallas has been far from balanced between running and passing, given the talent Dallas does have at RB to not use it more than we have is foolish.

 

[DallasDomination]

The Eagles were playing the best football in the NFC East at the end of last season, and should be the favorite to win the NFC East next season. And goodness knows, the Cowboys have struggled mightily against McNabb, Reid, Johnson, and Co. over the past decade.

In hopes of gaining some insight, I perused the box scores of all Cowboys/Eagles games since Romo assumed the starting role -- a period that encompasses five games. The Cowboys fared thusly:

Loss
Win
Loss
Win
Loss

The Cowboys offense could be aptly described as feast or famine; it scored 38 and 41 points in the two wins, and 7, 6, and 6 points in the three losses.

However, the most notable point was how poorly the Cowboys ran the ball -- even in victory. They averaged a meager 80.2 yards per game with a paltry 3.7 yard average per rush. They exceeded the 90 yard mark only once: a 110 yard outing in which they averaged only 3.4 yards per carry. And it's not as if the Cowboys are forcing the issue; they have only one game against the Eagles with more than 25 rushing attempts.

It's very possible the Cowboys are taking the wrong approach here. The success of the Eagle's defense is predicated almost entirely on its ability to pressure the passer. Yet, the Cowboys seem intent on beating Philly through the air; they have only one game with less 29 pass attempts and three games with more than 30. It seems to me that, if a team relies more heavily on the run, it can limit the opportunity for sacks and interceptions.

Back in the very early 90s, the Cowboys had a similar set of struggles with yet another ferocious Eagles' pass rush; however, they overcame it when they began to use Emmit Smith and a behemoth offensive line to wear down the Eagle front seven. The games were not always pretty -- for instance, the 92 playoff games was a 7-3 affair until a flurry of Eagle turnovers made it a blowout -- but they were wins more often than not.

Bottom line: The Cowboys need to run more. They have a bevy of talented backs, and a huge offensive line. Of course, improved play from the defense would help as well.

Maybe somebody should of slipped this info into garrets office. Sometimes His game plans are just straight out terrible!.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

A better, more committed, running game will help with all those situations, quite a bit.

 

[THUMPER]

Great point.

Everyone seems think if we just run more that it will be a success. We all know Garrett was too reliant on the pass, but the answer is not to swing too far into the other direction thinking that alone will fix the offense. It needs to be balanced, not lopsided one way or the other. Yes, we have three excellent backs. The good thing here is that they are also quality receivers and that needs to be utilized just as much as handing them the ball. A touch is a touch, whether it is in their gut, pitched to them or released on a short flare.

The question then becomes what if they take away the run? We aren't that solid in run blocking that I think we simply need to do it more. We need to do it more effectively regardless. If that doesn't work out, then we need to be prepared to pass if necessary.

The passing game needs to be shortened. It needed to be last year, but I can understand that midseason is no time to adjust what you spent an entire offseason and camp installing.

Garrett needs to understand we can't be the Patriots. Romo can't stand in the pocket and heave it downfield. We simply aren't that polished in pass protection. It is even more crucial this year as I believe without Owens being the downfield threat (and no, I am not sold on Austin being that threat) that there needs to be a better concentration on intermediate routes by the WRs. It fits what most of them do the best. Back in the 1990s, how often did we see a simple dink to Johnston or Emmitt Smith? It wasn't pretty but it moved the chains.

If Romo is moved around more, linebackers and safeties will creep up and that will leave targets open if coverages aren't disciplined. Romo can run the ball and we can't be afraid to put him in a situation where he has that option.

Also, the backs need to catch the ball more. I know people hate the WCO, but short passes to the backs can function just as well as a run. Five yards is five yards. Felix Jones in particular needs to be featured as he can take a dump off to the endzone.

I agree, great points.

You beat the blitz with quicker pass plays, screens, sweeps, pitchouts, etc. With our RBs & TEs we should be able to get a lot of stuff going on the outsides or over the short middle. Romo needs to get the ball out quickly, which is very capable of doing, and then we will start to see the blitz lighten up and we can start to hit some deeper passes.

These plays that take forever to develop are what was killing us. NOT having Owens will free up/force the offense to be more creative and not focus on trying to get the ball to one player. His absence will no doubt cost us in the big-play department but should really open it up for the other players ad shorter, quicker hitting plays.

Another key point I'd like to see addressed is Romo running the ball more often, not just scrambling to find an open guy. Not every time of course but a lot more often than he did last year.

 

[Alexander]

Maybe somebody should of slipped this info into garrets office. Sometimes His game plans are just straight out terrible!.

Everyone makes a huge deal about Garrett and call him Tecmo or whatever. The fact is, changing a design of an offense isn't something you can do on the fly in the middle of a season. Certainly, you can tweak things, but it you are built to be a passing offense, you are going to pass more. It is just that simple. Some of his game to game adjustments needed to be worked, and I am sure Phillips' hints that Felix Jones' injury hurt are accurate and it should be expected that Garrett learned from the experience last year. Let's be clear it really was his first season going solo. He had Sparano around in 2007. I wouldn't downplay that influence at all.

In regards to personnel, I don't think anyone was prepared for Owens to struggle as much with press coverage and the long routes our receivers were running added to the pain. It was a clear miscalculation. Throwing Williams in added another complication.

I say give Garrett the chance to use this offseason to get a more balanced attack installed and rolled out in camp.

Then if he struggles, then he's the overrated dunce quite a few people seem to think he is.

 

[Joe Realist]

One team adapts as the season progresses. The other team does not.

one team peaks too early, the other peaks at the right time.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

No doubt Dallas has to mix it up but a simple fact is Dallas was 25th ranked in rushing attempts we do not run the ball often enough that does not mean you just run into 9 man fronts but if you are passing most of the time the defense knows that just as well which leads to sacks, fumbles and int. I don't think anyone is saying abandon the passing game but Dallas has been far from balanced between running and passing, given the talent Dallas does have at RB to not use it more than we have is foolish.

Precisely.

In reality, I'm would like a more balanced offense -- more runs and fewer seven and five step drops.

 

[Phoenix-Talon]

It's probably best to leave this alone. Dallas will always play Philly well (with the exception of that last encounter), because we seem to be so evenly matched and we play each other 2 or 3 times a season. Generally speaking, that actually applies to all NFC-East teams.

It will be a dog fight; whatever happens!

Phoenix Talon

 

[CactusCowboy]

Eagles are the class of the East, barring injuries, should battle the Giants for the division.

 

[Doomsday101]

Eagles are the class of the East, barring injuries, should battle the Giants for the division.

They were 9-6-1 how did they become the class of the East? I do think the Eagles are a team who will be competing I also think Dallas will make a run at it as well. Giants are the defending NFC East champ and fully expect them to be in the running.