DC: Mailbag: What Can Dallas Learn From The NFL’s Final Four?

[jobberone]

Mailbag: What Can Dallas Learn From The NFL’s Final Four?
Posted 26 minutes ago

BRYANT SORIANO
MIAMI, FL
It's hard to ignore how the teams moving on in the playoffs this week used their power running game to take them to the conference championship games. Do you think the Cowboys will ever make their commitment to the running game more than just coachspeak?

Rowan: I haven’t seen it and won’t believe it until I do with the current staff in place. The Cowboys ran more than they passed just twice this year, despite boasting a starting running back that finished fourth in the league in average per rush. Their struggling defense may play a role in their unwillingness to run and let clock go and keep scores low, but even with an elite defense I’m not sure this staff would count on the run. I still don’t expect they’ll admit that, even if it’s what they believe.

David: If the team is molded the way Jason Garrett wants it, with Tony Romo playing quarterback andDez Bryant playing receiver, then I doubt it. The Cowboys seem firmly entrenched in the ideology that the NFL is a passing league. To tell the truth, I agree with that sentiment. But there’s still a place for a dependable ground game, as some of the league’s most successful teams have proven. The mindset of the people in charge, not to mention the skillset of the players on the offense, seem to lean toward a preference to the pass, though.

http://cowboyszone.com/threads/dc-mailbag-what-can-dallas-learn-from-the-nfl’s-final-four.281121/

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

This team is never going to do anything until it gets a more balanced attack.

 

[Stash]

This team is never going to do anything until it gets a more balanced attack.

I agree completely.

Nobody is suggesting 'three yards and a cloud of dust', but this coaching staff continues to fail in managing the running game and it costs them games.

 

[IrishAnto]

This team is never going to do anything until it gets a more balanced attack.

It needs balance period.

For everything it does well it will do something to negate it.

You don’t have to be top 10 in everything but you do need to be at least adequate at everything so you don’t kibosh what you do well.

 

[Sifillest]

It also needs consistency in the playcalling, and a lack of fear.

 

[Sasquatch]

Not mentioned in the article is the fact that both teams have more talent across the board than the Cowboys.

 

[TonyS]

It doesn't take a rocket scientist and it shouldn't take a coach in training long to figure out if your run game is working (meaning it is eating up yardage, taking time off the clock and putting you in position to score points), that you don't abandon it, ESPECIALLY with a large lead! The driving reason behind two or three of our losses this season was the total abandonment of the run. Having the same coaching staff return that continued to admit AFTER games that it probably should have run the ball more in situations and then, in the next game, make the same mistake gives me little hope of change in this mindset, which is a losing mindset.

 

[Direwolf63]

To run the ball 30 to 40 times a game like we all want, you need at least an adequate defense to keep games close. It's pretty tough to run when your offense is trying to keep up with a team that goes through your defense like a chainsaw through melted butter.

That being said, there were games where the running game was abandoned when it should have been featured. The Green Bay game comes to mind. There was no excuse to only run the ball 7 times in the 2nd half when you had a 23 point halftime lead.

 

[Future]

Not mentioned in the article is the fact that both teams have more talent across the board than the Cowboys.

Not at the skill positions.

 

[Redball Express]

This team is never going to do anything until it gets a more balanced attack.

This team is never going to do anything until they get a HC who has won at another level.

..or as a position coach that is so talented he must be promoted due to his results as a coach..

Garrett has never understood that.

While other guys spend parts of their careers in the NCAA and proving they can coach..

Garrett merely spends two seasons on the Dolphins where he met Nick Saban...

..who bolts for Alabama after one losing season..

and that's his idol? That's his claim to success?

As they say at ESPN..

Come On Man. !!

 

[remdak]

Not at the skill positions.

That's the problem. Cowboys are weak in the trenches. Jerry likes all flash. At least the OL has improved.

 

[Direwolf63]

This team is never going to do anything until they get a HC who has won at another level.

..or as a position coach that is so talented he must be promoted due to his results as a coach..

Garrett has never understood that.

While other guys spend parts of their careers in the NCAA and proving they can coach..

Garrett merely spends two seasons on the Dolphins where he met Nick Saban...

..who bolts for Alabama after one losing season..

and that's his idol? That's his claim to success?

As they say at ESPN..

Come On Man. !!

While Garrett has his flaws, especially game management, he's not the ultimate problem.

It's the guy who signs his checks. Until that changes, nothing else will.

 

[percyhoward]

Your defense has to be at least top 20.

 

[Redball Express]

While Garrett has his flaws, especially game management, he's not the ultimate problem.

It's the guy who signs his checks. Until that changes, nothing else will.

Jerrah has his problems..granted.

Hiring the Jimster and the UM staff was the biggest wild cat oil well he ever found.

But that well long ago dried up and Jerrah keeps trying to recreate the old magic but he hasn't got the coaches.

No decent coach will come here unless like Parcells he pays $8mil+ /yr to bring one in..

 

[Future]

That's the problem. Cowboys are weak in the trenches. Jerry likes all flash. At least the OL has improved.

Hard to make that judgement considering the injuries to the DL.

 

[DFWJC]

Your defense has to be at least top 20.

This.

I agree Dallas should be more balanced, but no team is going anywhere with a defense ranked dead last (or close) overall and also last in sacks per attempt.

Dallas averaged more points than both Seattle and San Francisco..and was barely behind New England.

But while Dallas gave up a whopping 27 ppg, Seattle and SF were giving up a meager 14 and 17 ppg. Giant difference.

 

[Sasquatch]

Not at the skill positions.

Perhaps I should clarify. By "across the board" I didn't mean they trump as every position but rather that they have more talent overall (across the board) than we do.

 

[Boys122]

What Can Dallas Learn From The NFL’s Final Four?

Well for starters none of the remaining teams owner is the GM.

 

[Venger]

All four have strong coaches that lead disciplined organizations. You know whose team the 49ers and Patriots are. The coaching staff is under the bridle and whip of one man and pull coherently like a wagon train.

 

[Redball Express]

This.

I agree Dallas should be more balanced, but no team is going anywhere with a defense ranked dead last (or close) overall and also last in sacks per attempt.

Dallas averaged more points than both Seattle and San Francisco..and was barely behind New England.

But while Dallas gave up a whopping 27 ppg, Seattle and SF were giving up a meager 14 and 17 ppg. Giant difference.

This for sure.

Its obvious to me the defense has been the problem on us not advancing the last 3 years.

So to me it is the players.

I just don't see any improvement regardless of who they are.

So I say start over completely, accept posting a couple of losing season and get some high picks and move on.

I look at it as an older car that constantly needs work.

You love the car but you have to invest in something that is reliable.

Its the same with this team.

Stop pretending and start shopping for what works.