Establishing the Run

[28 Joker]

Just to be clear, Joyner's "win %" on running plays breaks down the "success" of the run blocking. Again, Dallas was 21st in "win %" (44.2%) in 2010. When your run blocking is breaking down over half the time, you have offensive line issues. Again, Dallas has replaced 4 offensive line positions this season.

On the other hand, according to Football Outsiders, Felix Jones rated 10th in DYAR, and Jones rated 10th in DVOA despite very poor run blocking in 2010. That says a whole lot about the caliber of player that Felix Jones gives the Cowboys at tailback.

Give Felix Jones Nate Newton and Larry Allen and let's see what happens.

However, they are not here, and they are not coming through that door.

The interior of Dallas' line has to step up, and I think they will get better as the year goes on. LG will be key, imo, because Kosier has the athleticism, but he lacks power on that right side. I think Costa can do it. We will see.

The athleticism is there in the young interior, but they need to get stronger.

 

[Nav22]

not much to be said about this outside of someone needing to take off homer glasses as regardss KO or Holley

We scare NO one with those guys playing

:laugh2: Well, I hope teams take us as lightly as you do if we have to play those guys.

Run the right routes and #9 will get you the rock.

 

[TheCoolFan]

It doesn't look too good right now and I'm still not sold on our OLine. However, SF and NYJ do a great job of stopping the run. Both are top-10 so far in 2011 and they were top-10 in 2010. Unfortunately, this doesn't help that Washington's defense is pretty good at stopping the run too. It's gonna be a long evening :bang2: Literally, with all the passes that we'll have to throw.

 

[Zman5]

We need to be able to run in the red zone. One of the reasons we always have top 10 offense in total yardage but are ranked mid to low in scoring is because we haven't been able to run well in the red zone.

 

[28 Joker]

Kevin Kowalski played very good in this game, so if he has to play, I think he will get the job done. I saw one running play (in the 4th quarter) where Kowalski and the LG had a good push up the middle. It was a rare push, very rare, too. Dallas wasn't running the ball in the 4th quarter much, because they were behind by 10 points.

Again, don't panic. It's still early. Again, Dallas' old, slow, and no pop offensive line had the team ranked 32nd in rush offense (after 8 games) last year. However, Dallas finished 16th in rush offense despite a horrendous right side of that line. Tyron Smith is playing like a beast, and if he was an offensive weapon, he could win rookie of the year.

We have seen this young offensive line zone block very good in the pre-season and training camp. Both of Felix Jones' big runs came at home (in the pre-season). The young Cowboys offensive line was able to get a hat on a hat and control linemen and work off double teams and get to the second level. Jones just needs a crack if he gets that second level blocking. The screens to Jones were effective at home, too.

When the Cowboys start run blocking like they did in the pre-season, the rushing attack will take off. However, again, the Jets and 49ers (both defensive fronts and the way they played the Cowboys) had a whole lot to do with Dallas struggling to run the ball.

Wells, from Arizona, had a good rushing game against the Commanders. The Commanders don't have the CBs like the Jets do, so if they want to stack 8 and 9 men in the box, Romo will hang almost 400 yards on them, too. We will find out if the Commanders have the guts of the 49ers, too. The 49ers stacked the box and paid, too. However, the 49ers don't have Revis and Cromartie.

Felix Jones tallied 181 total yards on the Washington Commanders last year (24 touches). Jones rushed 20 times for 108 yards last year against them.

The Commanders have some new players on their front, and it will be interesting to see how they play Dallas, because Larry Fitzgerald burned them last week. Dallas needs Dez Bryant to play in this game for sure and Tony Romo. Dallas will not win this game without Romo.

Finally, I just watched the 49ers game, again. There was hardly any running room at all for the running backs. However, DeMarco Murray clearly outplayed Tashard Choice. I think the rushing stats show you that, too.

Hightower is going to have to deal with the 2nd ranked rush defense.

 

[CCBoy]

:laugh2: Well, I hope teams take us as lightly as you do if we have to play those guys.

Run the right routes and #9 will get you the rock.

Homer is reaching the limits now...as all the world came knocking on the doors of all of the remaining receivers: Harris....check; Kevin Olgetree was exactly where on everyone's draft board?....check; and then there is the now world famous receiver, Holley, who is on the absolute verge of dethroning Jerry Rice himself. Oh, I see your true brilliance shining...as you obviously were saving the savory glory for the newly elevated (drum roll) Laurent Robinson to devour the Commanders. Yep, he jumped in full knowledge of Dallas routes with both feet, two hands, and an arsenal of spoons.

Yea, I also caught the view at half-time against San Francisco, where Carlos Rogers, Dante Whitner, CJ Spillman, Reggie Smith, Tarell Brown, Tramain Brock, and Chris Culliver were all standing at the door struggling to decide if they were even going to go out to the field from the terror of having to face the likes of Olgetree, Jesse Holley, and Dwayne Harris...Championship! You aced that call for sure.

Oh, and ANY tight end who matches up against real corners and maxes out those match-ups as a real #1 receiver. Hey, bring us the VERY FIRST film ever of that sight...even if Jason Witten, and I'll kiss your baby backside here and now....Jason can handle most linebackers, and even most safeties, but the category you mention doesn't exist for tight ends.

As a tight end, Jason will eventually hit the Hall of Fame, but as long as your lips are moving here, we know you are lying about the facts.

Good thing you are too young for a full bottle of Ripple, as there probably is still room around the burn barrell.

I have an idea, Nav...get on the Washington started thread and tell them that Harris, Ogletree, and Holley are going to spit their corners out as if a bad fish bone....

 

[CCBoy]

Some of you don't know what you are talking about. There is nothing wrong with Felix Jones, but go ahead with some of your agendas. Jones sure looked like a feature back, in the pre-season, when he only had a little crack (15-99-1). Jones was the talk of pre-season in this new running scheme. After 8 games last year, Dallas was ranked dead last in rushing offense, and it had nothing to do with the running backs, especially Felix Jones. The same applies here. Brian Broaddus has stated the following. I'll summarize. Plus, you can just watch the games.

The Jets' (3rd against the run in 2010) entire game plan was centered around stopping the run and daring Dallas to pass. They played the 46 (Bear front) and put 8 and 9 people in the box and dared Romo to beat their outstanding CBs. The second level blocking against the Jets was no where to be seen either, because linemen were getting tied up at the line of scrimmage. That allowed linebackers and other defenders to run free to the ball, after Jones found and ran through a hole. That is why Felix didn't have a big run against the Jets. The Cowboys were not able to get to the second level like they did in the pre-season. Linebackers have been slashing in untouched, because linemen are losing battles up front. This happened against the Jets and 49ers. Murray and Choice found that out, too, against the 49ers. Against the Jets, the Cowboys couldn't block the Jets on the edge, and they should have been able to do that, imo. Nagy had a really bad game against the Jets. Martellus Bennett was out, and there was no fullback against the Jets.

The 49ers stacked the box with 8 men on Sunday. The run blocking was even worse than against the Jets. There were hardly any holes or lanes to run through. The 49ers (6th against the run) have not given up a 100 yard rusher in 22 games.

Teams are simply daring Romo to beat them, and he is hanging big numbers on them.

Also, Dallas is starting a new center, new LG, new RG, and a stud RT. Growing pains should have been expected, however, the edge blocking against the Jets was disappointing, imo.

However, Felix Jones should have 2 rushing TDs, and Dallas would most likely be 2-0 if he did. Jones scored one rushing TD against the Jets and ran for two yards on 1st and goal from the 3. The official closest to the ball marked the ball at the 1, but the other official ran in and moved the ball back one full yard. Al Micheals stated "Jones to the 1" on the play. Jones never touched the ball again, on that sequence.

Oh, you did get the office memo that described Felix Jones getting a dislocated shoulder and having to have it put back in place.....and pounding doesn't do anything but make it hurt very badly and throb. Yea, he saw plenty of carries following that this last game. On this scent, you should just throw blinders out and apply for head hound dog and leader of the pack...


As some of those you say were green in views already surmized that a spreading out of roles might be in order if Felix has any problems come game time. And Murray already has superior blocking skills to Tashard Choice. And Tanner is able to pound and change direction very well. That, you know, sets up blocks...if there was a touch of sluggishness in the run blocking game. You know, as the first two games indicated somewhat. Not fatally mind you, but those assets might actually work as well....even if viewed through a half filled Ripple glass.

 

[Avenging Hayseed]

If in the VERY near future IF we want to end up with a league where playoff games are decided by third string QB's,..........lets keep promoting this passing league stuff. What we are seeing in the Ryan defense is something that is only going to grow as teams continue to pass the ball at unhealthy rates. Defenses arent going to just sit around and let that happen.........THEY NEVER DO.

Instead what they will do is find ways to shut an offense down at the source.....the quarterback. They will continue to bring the pressure until they put your QB in the lockeroom, or hospital.

Defenses will sell out to knock your qb out of games,...afterall,......what choice do they really have? Just sit there and be slowly picked apart and eaten alive?? Not hardly.

Or maybe the league will start MAKING defenses yell out......" One Mississippi...two Mississippi ....three Mississippi " Before they can bring the heat! LOL Yeah....thats exciting! : )


Mmmmmmmmm, not really the type of NFL im interested in, how bout you?


A 60/40 pass run ratio is far more preferable in my opinion. THAT would be actual " FOOTBALL" . Besides,.......as history tells us,......its one thing to devastate an opponent from the air, quite another to actually hold the ground,......to do so you MUST have ground troops. Oh..........and to not FOOLISHLY keep throwing the ball when you have 1st and goal at the 2 yard line! Tends to lead to field goals....

 

[Avenging Hayseed]

In the end,..........its always all about the money. Right now its working, but it wont last.....it cant. Defenses always adjust,.... The injuries to QB's will mount until we are down to watching scrubs. Believe me,....when the Peyton Mannings, Aaron Rogers, and Tony Romo's of the world all start finishing seasons on the disabled list,.........which in the end hurts the marketability of teams, " PROFITS" ........something tells me things will change. LOL Something tells me it will quickly become a PASSING fancy...... Because as Ive said,.........defenses WILL adapt, they always have. They will have no recourse other than to bring as much pain as possible. Like I say,......to shut the offense down at its source.

 

[Silverstar]

When J.Jones was the starter...Barber was making big runs.
When Barber was the starter...Felix was making big runs
Now that Felix is the starter....where's the big runs from Choice?

I know it's way early, but Choice has just 9 yards on 8 carries.

I know Murray's stats aren't much better, but he's a rookie and still learning the offense.

I say more Murray and get Tanner in there!

 

[Roadtrip635]

We definitely need to establish some type of running game, this young OL hasn't opened up holes big enough to slip a TicTac through. Yes we have played some very good defenses and our OL will get better, but it doesn't get easier in our very near future with Washington and Detroit. If we have to resort to a pass first team, Tony won't make it to the bye week much less the end of the season. I hope to see more 2 TE sets in the run and pass game, we have a trio of fairly talented TE's and is actually a strength of this team if utilized properly. JG has got to help keep Tony healthy with some semblance of a running game and more short quick passes. It may not be as exciting or sexy as the big bombs and home run plays, but I'll take an ugly win any day, after all there is no such thing as a pretty loss.

 

[Avenging Hayseed]

This whole discussion is a pet peeve of mine. And here is WHY.......

I consider football to be the PERFECT game. When something is perfect.........LEAVE IT ALONE! No need to reinvent the wheel.

Instead the NFL got greedy. By enforcing rules changes they have MADE the NFL into a passing league. Thats fine and well, but not to the extent we are seeing now. They did this because.........Passing the rock is very exciting,....which leads to more fans......which in the end means MORE MONEY!

But its not good for the game IMO.

Rules changes have basically left defensive backs...........DEFENSELESS. Think about that a second....a defenseless defender! WOW!

Case in point........does anyone here think that Roger Staubach was a horribly inaccurate passer? Having the pleasure of watching him play for many years I can tell you that he in fact was deadly accurate,........but by todays standards he would be considered inaccurate. One of the Reasons being........He had to throw against d.b's that were ACTUALLY ALLOWED to cover receivers.

Its also been said lately that there really arent any true shutdown cornerbacks anymore. Now........is that REALLY the case? Did every athlete in America capable of being a shutdown corner just suddenly all drop off the face of the Earth together? Has every position in football all gotten faster/stronger/ more athletic EXCEPT cornerbacks? LOL.......or could it just be that because of rules changes that d.b's are now totally hamstrung? As I said........for the most part they have become defenseless defenders.

So,..........think about it,......if defenses are unable to stop a passing game on the back end, what choice are they left with? Only one that I know of and it leads to things like broken ribs and punctured lungs. NOT GOOD. And surely not the NFL I wanna see.

 

[Avenging Hayseed]

LMAO!!! I put my comments in the wrong thread! :bang2: Meant to put them in the " Establishing the run overated thread" Ooops.....Sorry.

Moving them over now.......