DMN: Blog: Running game should get Cowboys into playoffs

[Cbz40]

Running game should get Cowboys into playoffs

10:21 AM Mon, May 11, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon


That's the opinion of Sports Illustrated's Peter King, who ranked the 32 teams in this morning's edition of Monday Morning Quarterback.

He has the Cowboys ninth -- third in the NFC East, but good enough to get a wild card berth.

Maybe this is the year the Cowboys start putting the round peg in round hole. They have 25-, 24- and 22-year-old running backs -- Marion Barber, Tashard Choice and Felix Jones, respectively -- who last year rushed the ball 360 times for 1,623 yards (4.5-yard average) and 12 touchdowns. Meanwhile, their quarterbacks dropped back to pass 578 times. When your backs are that good, they shouldn't be handed the ball on 37 percent of the offense snaps. I'm counting on Jason Garrett to make the run game much more of a presence this year. If he does, it's not a very distant limb to walk out on and say the Cowboys should win their first playoff game since 1996. But I've got to see it to believe it.

Wade Phillips has made it clear that he's counting on the running game to be a bigger factor for the Cowboys this season, too.

How can Garrett best utiltize the three backs? We've had that discussion (here and here) already this off-season, but feel free to go at it again.

 

[NextGenBoys]

Make no mistake though, the passing game is still going to be vital. I expect to see Felix very involved in the passing game, and more short passes to backs and TE's.

You can use a short passing game as a running game, and there are times that our offensive line does not run block well. When that happens I expect that instead of banging our head against a wall we will come out using the short passing game.

 

[Alexander]

Make no mistake though, the passing game is still going to be vital. I expect to see Felix very involved in the passing game, and more short passes to backs and TE's.

You can use a short passing game as a running game, and there are times that our offensive line does not run block well. When that happens I expect that instead of banging our head against a wall we will come out using the short passing game.

I think it will take a few weeks of futility before we start throwing it again, only this time, we are a lot less explosive or potentially explosive. The running game has to click and above all the offensive line has to do a better job than they did last year. If not, our offense will take a real step down and it will probably shock some people.

 

[Apollo Creed]

I think it will take a few weeks of futility before we start throwing it again, only this time, we are a lot less explosive or potentially explosive. The running game has to click and above all the offensive line has to do a better job than they did last year. If not, our offense will take a real step down and it will probably shock some people.

Especially if one of our WRs goes down with injury, like one does every year.

 

[thor_01]

I'm a little amazed at how many people think T.O. was our entire passing game, and that we have nothing without him, even before the first preseason game has been played, I would bet money that our offense is just as explosive, and maybe even more so than last year, and that it will be a completely balanced attack utilizing both the running game and passing game equally effective.

 

[fortdick]

Especially if one of our WRs goes down with injury, like one does every year.

Stanback doesn't count

 

[Ren]

I'm a little amazed at how many people think T.O. was our entire passing game, and that we have nothing without him, even before the first preseason game has been played, I would bet money that our offense is just as explosive, and maybe even more so than last year, and that it will be a completely balanced attack utilizing both the running game and passing game equally effective.

Like him or not TO forced defenses to account for him we're not only losing his production but also that.
We can't just "run more" to solve that we need to redesign the whole offense something i see no reason to have any faith in Garrett's ability to do

 

[thor_01]

I agree with you 100% and think it would be in your best interest to pick another team that will bring you less anxiety,more confidence in its players and coaching staff, and that you know one player missing won't wipe out all their future chances of ever being a real offense again. Friend Dallas was and had an offense long before TO and will long after TO, just as effective if not more so, no one player has ever had as much impact as you and others give credit to one 35 year old wide reciever lol

 

[tunahelper]

Running game should get Cowboys into playoffs

10:21 AM Mon, May 11, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon


That's the opinion of Sports Illustrated's Peter King, who ranked the 32 teams in this morning's edition of Monday Morning Quarterback.

He has the Cowboys ninth -- third in the NFC East, but good enough to get a wild card berth.

Maybe this is the year the Cowboys start putting the round peg in round hole. They have 25-, 24- and 22-year-old running backs -- Marion Barber, Tashard Choice and Felix Jones, respectively -- who last year rushed the ball 360 times for 1,623 yards (4.5-yard average) and 12 touchdowns. Meanwhile, their quarterbacks dropped back to pass 578 times. When your backs are that good, they shouldn't be handed the ball on 37 percent of the offense snaps. I'm counting on Jason Garrett to make the run game much more of a presence this year. If he does, it's not a very distant limb to walk out on and say the Cowboys should win their first playoff game since 1996. But I've got to see it to believe it.

Wade Phillips has made it clear that he's counting on the running game to be a bigger factor for the Cowboys this season, too.

How can Garrett best utiltize the three backs? We've had that discussion (here and here) already this off-season, but feel free to go at it again.

Talk about double talk and sitting on the fence.

 

[big dog cowboy]

We can't just "run more" to solve that we need to redesign the whole offense something i see no reason to have any faith in Garrett's ability to do

Isn't what he did before out 13-3 season?

 

[NeonNinja]

Like him or not TO forced defenses to account for him we're not only losing his production but also that.
We can't just "run more" to solve that we need to redesign the whole offense something i see no reason to have any faith in Garrett's ability to do

Why can't you just run more?

 

[Ren]

Isn't what he did before out 13-3 season?

Yeah we got a few wins out of it to bad people figured it out which was obvious to anyone but red Jesus.
I'm sorry if i don't see any reason to have faith in his ability to change the entire offense but this is the same guy that couldn't even change the game plan from one week to the next
and who's idea of running game is 1 shotgun draw over and over again

 

[Ren]

Why can't you just run more?

you can, but that doesn't automatically mean it will be successful

 

[Alexander]

Why can't you just run more?

You can but it has to be successful. But whether it is successful is what will ultimately matter. It is not just so simple to just "run more". Not many teams can shift philosophical gears just like that nor are they prepared to do either equally well. I don't quite get the criticisms of Garrett last year when people thought we should just "run more" when honestly it wasn't a consistent factor he could count on.

Infrequently have we have been able to impose our will on anyone running the ball the last few years. The team isn't built that way and especially the line isn't. Our best success in 2007 was passing to set up the run late and it seemed to fit the OL well. Eventually they would lean on a tired team late and wear them out. Then we tried to change up the Giants and they simply had more stamina than we did and brutalized Romo when we tried to pass late.

The line might be big, but they haven't shown they can take over games that often. It is a mindset and I question whether we have it. It will take some time and some patience. The defense will have to come up rock solid early until that can be established.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Make no mistake though, the passing game is still going to be vital. I expect to see Felix very involved in the passing game, and more short passes to backs and TE's.

You can use a short passing game as a running game, and there are times that our offensive line does not run block well. When that happens I expect that instead of banging our head against a wall we will come out using the short passing game.

play-action pass

 

[jwhardin]

We need to give Garrett a break, he's been OC for two years and the boys are 22-10. I think the biggest problem, is the players are not in hitting shape, you play likeyou practice and the boys spend too much time in camp not hitting.

 

[Alexander]

play-action pass

If your running game is averaging 3.5 yards a pop, play action isn't going to be respected.

 

[DallasDomination]

I agree with King on the running game and also with the poster above me. We need these guys ready to play.


give romo the least amount of pressure possible. have a great running attack and a good defense. How do you think eli won a ring?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

If your running game is averaging 3.5 yards a pop, play action isn't going to be respected.

we didn't average 3.5 yards per carry last year, and that was not having a strong passing game for about half the year

I see no reason why we should this year

 

[DallasDomination]

If your running game is averaging 3.5 yards a pop, play action isn't going to be respected.

A healthy barber and felix we will not average 3.5 a pop. You think a defense is going to not worry about felix in the backfield? A quick pitch or counter and he's gone if they dont watch him.

Playaction should be huge this season.