DMN: Three things suggest Cowboys will run more, but pardon DeMarco Murray's skepticism

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Murray is awesome, no doubt, but I won't lie, every time he touches the ball, I tense up a bit thinking he may get injured.

That's the only thing I don't like about Murray. The problem is that none of our backups have proven to be any good when he's not in there. We need a two-headed monster. lol

 

[Section446]

That's the only thing I don't like about Murray. The problem is that none of our backups have proven to be any good when he's not in there. We need a two-headed monster. lol

Which is why I was really hoping we'd invest a decent pick in an RB. Dunbar is good at what he does, but he's definitely not an every down player. Ryan Williams had potential at one time, but he's got the same issue Murray has, and I wouldn't be shocked if he doesn't make the 53.

 

[jobberone]

"Oh, my God. It's the best zone scheme in the league," Pickett continued. "The last four weeks, nobody could stop it -- their zone scheme. And they gave up on it. We're just happy they did. We were, like, 'OK, we'll take it.'"

Pickett wasn't the only Green Bay player to express astonishment at Dallas' refusal to lean on Murray with a commanding lead.

"That's just who they are," cornerback Tramon Williams said. "They run the ball really well against everybody they play, but they just never stick with it."

This is myoptic. I've already said we run the ball well on first and second downs. We don't run the ball well in short yardage. Let me say it again: WE don't RUN the ball well in short yardage particularly third downs and around the GL. This is what I'm talking about running the ball effectively. We need to convert on 3rd and 3-4 and in short yardage situations.

And I'll be very very disappointed if we don't run the ball well in those situations. Having said that you are correct in pointing out we have stopped running the ball altogether at times. There's still the problem of running the ball and taking 7 minutes or more off the clock then allowing the other team to score in 00:45-3:00 though.

You can't look at the last two years and think they won't run the ball IMO. There are legitimate reasons not too even if you and I don't agree with them. And before that we haven't had the OL to really run behind.

So if they don't run the damn ball effectively this year then I'll pick up the pom poms and join you. That's assuming we don't loose 40-60% of our OL.

 

[itsaboat]

See the post above yours. This team is pass happy. If Tony's back holds out one has to worry about his arm falling off. Hopefully they do run more as coach Stephen Jones said they would.

We know the team likes to pass the ball.... around 65% of the time last season. That's why I want to see them run the ball more. They've got the line to do it. They've got the back (barring injury) to do it. They have a defense that needs all the help it can get. Do it.

 

[BoysFan4ever]

We know the team likes to pass the ball.... around 65% of the time last season. That's why I want to see them run the ball more. They've got the line to do it. They've got the back (barring injury) to do it. They have a defense that needs all the help it can get. Do it.

I hope they do too.

Sure no argument on the defense needs all the help it can get.

 

[jobberone]

This is one reason I would love Dallas to have a bruiser RB in the rotation,,, someone like that jerk that played for the Giants,,, that brief amount of time Sammy Morris ran for us was a site for sore eyes. They need that short yardage guy IMO.

I'd rather have huge holes I could run thru but you ain't gettin' that all the time or even most of the time. I agree. We need at least one guy who can get short yardage. I don't care how he gets it. Just do it.

 

[jobberone]

You don't ALWAYS run effectively. But you STILL HAVE TO run. Otherwise defenses pin their ears back and it's open season on Romo.

I agree with this up to a point. Defenses are sophisticated enough to wear that out though. And you're only going to get so many offensive possessions. You must get your Sc% up around 40% and better is mo' better. So you can't throw away possessions to try to get the defense to buy into the fact you will run the ball when you know you can't. You actually need to be able to run the ball and force them to play honestly. Not going to reiterate the message about winning the TOP and losing the game due to a defense that allows scores in record time.

This equation is not a simple one.

 

[starfrombirth]

They were great on first and second downs. They weren't so much in short yardage and converting thirds as well as around the GL. That is where you will see this offense start tearing it up. I'll be disappointed if we don't score more than 30ppg this year. And a lot of that increased production (should it actually happen) is going to be in large part because of the ability to run the ball on 3rd and 3-4.

I just hope the offenses goaline showing Saturday isn't indicative of how they will actually perform. I really hope that after all the hype of the preseason, they do better than that.

 

[jobberone]

I just hope the offenses goaline showing Saturday isn't indicative of how they will actually perform. I really hope that after all the hype of the preseason, they do better than that.

I didn't watch yet but I guess it wasn't too good, huh. I've tried to be cautious about touting Fred and Martin too much. One's a rookie and the other run blocks well but sometimes they have a sophomore slump. I think both will do well run blocking though. I know Mack can run block well and so can Smith. Free is so so.

 

[starfrombirth]

I didn't watch yet but I guess it wasn't too good, huh. I've tried to be cautious about touting Fred and Martin too much. One's a rookie and the other run blocks well but sometimes they have a sophomore slump. I think both will do well run blocking though. I know Mack can run block well and so can Smith. Free is so so.

Yeah, the first play was a run up the gut that turned into a touchdown but outside of that the oline couldn't generate push, create lane, and allowed alot of penetration by the dline. Take it for what it's worth but with the number 1 priority being able to run in short yardage situations, it wasn't a real good showing. What I'm hoping is that the offense wanted to try some other things and didn't concentrate, necessarily, on short yardage. :fingers crossed:

 

[texbumthelife]

I have seen a change in Murray's style that helped him get through last season and I think will help limit his injuries going forward.

He has stopped "looking for contact" on every run and instead picks and chooses his battles. He runs out of bounds now, instead of lowering his head into a crowd of defenders and know that going for that extra yard on first and 10 isnt quite as important as on 3rd and 3.

It's something Emmitt has preached about for decades, while still playing even. You have to limit the wear and tear on your body as a runningback. I can see Murray making those decision on the field and I think that, along with Linehan really preferring a runningback by committee approach, will make Murray more effective and help him have fresher legs when we need him--in the 4th quarter in December.

 

[CyberB0b]

I'd like to see them run the ball some more but I'd really like to see them run more effectively. And run the ball when it's necessary.

They ran the ball 0/8 times on 3rd and 2 last year.

 

[Craig]

The Emmitt Smith days were the days when they had a top 5 o-line all time. They look like their o-line is once again their best group, so they are now again at the point where they should be doing a lot of running.

 

[jobberone]

They ran the ball 0/8 times on 3rd and 2 last year.

Where are you seeing that stat? How about 3rd and inches or 3rd and 1 or 3 or 4?

 

[BoysFan4ever]

I have seen a change in Murray's style that helped him get through last season and I think will help limit his injuries going forward.

He has stopped "looking for contact" on every run and instead picks and chooses his battles. He runs out of bounds now, instead of lowering his head into a crowd of defenders and know that going for that extra yard on first and 10 isnt quite as important as on 3rd and 3.

It's something Emmitt has preached about for decades, while still playing even. You have to limit the wear and tear on your body as a runningback. I can see Murray making those decision on the field and I think that, along with Linehan really preferring a runningback by committee approach, will make Murray more effective and help him have fresher legs when we need him--in the 4th quarter in December.

Isn't there some rule about lowering your head? A penalty?

 

[dstovall5]

Perhaps the answer is to not audible into passing plays as much. Find out who is responsible for this and limit their ability to do so.

I know last year there was many who said Romo was the reason we were throwing the ball so much, though when Orton played we threw the ball 51 times. I think it's obvious who is mainly responsible for our pass happy ways. I think this year we will see Romo throw around the same pass attempts, but he'll also have a lot more dump off passes to the RB, which Linehan was known for in DET.

 

[dstovall5]

Where are you seeing that stat? How about 3rd and inches or 3rd and 1 or 3 or 4?

Last year on 3rd down with 6 yards to go or less, Murray averaged 1.8 yards on 12 rushing attempts, which is terrible and it's a legit complaint. We should run the ball more, but Murray dang well better be more effective than last year on 3rd downs.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/24858/situational/

 

[jobberone]

Isn't there some rule about lowering your head? A penalty?

Yes but it's not called much if at all. You cannot lead with purpose with the crown of the helmet.

 

[Big D]

At one point we had 4 rbs on the roster and only ran the ball 12-15 per game. I don't think it's about any rbs durability, they just don't want to run the ball.

 

[burmafrd]

I agree with this up to a point. Defenses are sophisticated enough to wear that out though. And you're only going to get so many offensive possessions. You must get your Sc% up around 40% and better is mo' better. So you can't throw away possessions to try to get the defense to buy into the fact you will run the ball when you know you can't. You actually need to be able to run the ball and force them to play honestly. Not going to reiterate the message about winning the TOP and losing the game due to a defense that allows scores in record time.

This equation is not a simple one.

you run the ball more; you eat the clock more; the D is on the field less-and so is the opposing O. Amazing how many cannot get those SIMPLE FACTS.