News: Foxsports: Inefficient run game has made Cowboys one-dimensional. Will it be their downfall?

[CCBoy]

What this team lacks the most is a decent front office. Tyron Smith has not played a full season for awhile now. What did the front office do to address this? The running game with Elliot gone and Pollard coming off an injury - what was done? You can't ignore important positions and claim that we are going to "coach up" sub par guys and expect everything to be a-ok.

When he is playing, he more than holds his slot both in passing and rushing.

His replacement isn't even in the zip code nor is the right tackle as well. Wonder where the offense is taken advantage of?

 

[Praxit]

...so ONCE in lifetime GL fumble.

Now, they are one dimensional?

Confirmation bias much? Something to talk about?

To much time on my hands?

 

[D4KADON]

I was told that the running back doesn’t matter and anyone could find success behind our line

Instead of drafting Mazi, we should’ve had a suitable replacement for Zeke, and not relying on pollard

This was so obvious that this was gonna happen. When it DID happen, they refused to be bold during the trade deadline. I don’t know what’s worse: being cheap or being hard headed

 

[75boyz]

This article is so spot on that I basically piggybacked it in my response to Bob's difference is in the details thread.

Just such a massive run game coaching fail as to make us one dimensional.

On the heels of an offseason of "Run the damn ball and rest the defense" this is where we're at with regards to running the football.

Pathetic.

jmo

 

[Rockport]

Ralph Vacchiano

NFC East Reporter

The Dallas Cowboys made a statement on their first drive in Miami on Christmas Eve, after marching down the field with ease. They were at the Dolphins' 1 when they ran an option pitch to running back Tony Pollard, who ended up getting helicoptered inches short of the goal line.



On the next play, they dusted off rookie fullback Hunter Luepke and tried plowing him up the middle, only to see him and quarterback Dak Prescott somehow fumble the ball.

So, yes, the statement was made, even though it wasn't the one they thought they were making: The Dallas Cowboys are still a one-dimensional team because they just can't effectively run the ball.

That has been the story with them all season long...

Read more: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/inefficient-run-game-has-made-cowboys-one-dimensional

Been saying it all year.

 

[DuncanIso]

Remember when fans said we dont need an elite RB?

That any scrub RB could do the job?

that aged well.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Losing was not Pollard's fault but man that play....lightweight sheesh!

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

I was told that the running back doesn’t matter and anyone could find success behind our line

Instead of drafting Mazi, we should’ve had a suitable replacement for Zeke, and not relying on pollard

This was so obvious that this was gonna happen. When it DID happen, they refused to be bold during the trade deadline. I don’t know what’s worse: being cheap or being hard headed

When you are both...

 

[DuncanIso]

I was told that the running back doesn’t matter and anyone could find success behind our line

Instead of drafting Mazi, we should’ve had a suitable replacement for Zeke, and not relying on pollard

This was so obvious that this was gonna happen. When it DID happen, they refused to be bold during the trade deadline. I don’t know what’s worse: being cheap or being hard headed

Truth.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Remember when fans said we dont need an elite RB?

That any scrub RB could do the job?

that aged well.

Too bad they won;t come forward. Most of them are the same ones who ridicule others for not knowing football.

 

[Creeper]

I think Pollard saw Ferguson lose his block and thought the Miami guy was going to beat him to the outside. He cut back inside hoping to catch the guy with his momentum going in the other direction, which he did, but the second guy was their to get him. Ferguson could have done a better job of blocking there, but if Pollard cut outside and turn on the juts I think he scores untouched.

As for the run game, something is way off. The OL is not getting to the 2nd level and executing good blocks. They don't hold their blocks when they get there. The TEs and WRs are not all getting it done. There is always one or two guys losing their blocks that cause the play to fail. What is really disturbing is when they pull offensive linemen, the play still goes nowhere. The linemen are missing their blocks allowing penetration to the ball carrier. I watch Steele pull to his left into the hole and he hits the DT like a marshmallow instead of driving him out of the hole.

But I also see our RBs run into the pile when there are cutback lanes to their right. If we had a good cutback runner with some speed, our running game would open up.

 

[blueblood70]

After watching this a couple of times, I also give Pollard a bit of a break.

He mostly ran into Ferg to stop his momentum and then the defender cleaned up the rest.

No he ran with his pads up he runs too high at the goal line and short yardage it's pretty even if you look at it he would not have been turned if he went underneath got his pads lower or just try to stretch the field towards the pylon but you can't turn up field at the goal line and not put your head down get your pad level low he would have never been able to be turned you're acting like a little garbage in traffic at the goal line it's like something new you're giving him an excuse who cares if Ferguson was there if your pads are lower all you needed was an inch you can fall over the goal line if your pads were lower so the guy couldn't grab your shoulders and turn you Ezekiel Elliott scores almost on every single goal line play that looks like that because his pad level is low he runs like a power back Pollard runs like a scatback and the problem with that is he didn't try to SCAT, he tried to power he ran wrong... There's an art to short yardage and for the guys who get a lot of touchdowns inside the five yard line and it's because they know how to run low and they know how to use their power to their advantage he doesn't have a lot of power but if he ran lower he sure would go over that goal line a lot easier...

 

[cowboys1732]

In my humble opinion, you have to be able to run the ball and stop the run in the playoffs. The Cowboys do not do either of them very well. It’s one of the reasons their road record is atrocious. In terms of them not running well…maybe it’s scheme, maybe they don’t have the line, maybe it’s the backs. Personally, I think it’s a combination of all three. And lastly, I blame the GM.

 

[blueblood70]

...so ONCE in lifetime GL fumble.

Now, they are one dimensional?

Confirmation bias much? Something to talk about?

To much time on my hands?

Correct I think people are making too big a deal out of a play that's probably not gonna happen again...

so I wanna see more of that give hunter the ball more practice that a lot more....

I want to see a lot of what we did in the first half many many more games between now and the playoffs because I believe it's goanna help us become playoff ready in the run game...

gotta use your full back ,not only as a runner and short yardage but as a lead blocker as well we need some jumbo packages, we need to find our version of the tush push but using our full back a lot

 

[jblaze2004]

The team found ways to lose.

Run game has been an issue the entire season.
Pollad admits he felt off for most of the year. Blocking seemed to have regressed. No real effort was done to bring in competition/churn depth at RB

This about sums up the run game and how we approached it this off season. Tony was struggling all season. We should of made a move. Especially when you have close to superbowl team. No running game will be our down fall. When the weather turns to crap you have to be able to run the ball and stop the run. We suck at doing both of those things.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Ralph Vacchiano

NFC East Reporter

The Dallas Cowboys made a statement on their first drive in Miami on Christmas Eve, after marching down the field with ease. They were at the Dolphins' 1 when they ran an option pitch to running back Tony Pollard, who ended up getting helicoptered inches short of the goal line.



On the next play, they dusted off rookie fullback Hunter Luepke and tried plowing him up the middle, only to see him and quarterback Dak Prescott somehow fumble the ball.

So, yes, the statement was made, even though it wasn't the one they thought they were making: The Dallas Cowboys are still a one-dimensional team because they just can't effectively run the ball.

That has been the story with them all season long...

Read more: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/inefficient-run-game-has-made-cowboys-one-dimensional

This was one of my areas of concern prior to the season. It's why I wanted Derrick Henry.

 

[Brax]

But I read here the RBs are everywhere no reason to pay for one just draft some in the 6th round or grab one from the street

 

[Stash]

I wish Pollard had just put his head down and run through contact instead of trying to cutback inside.

Yes, Fergy should have blocked it up better, but this is still supposed to be a TD.

That’s the truly shocking part. A $10 million running back can’t put his head down, lower his shoulder, and pick up six inches and a goal line touchdown.

 

[Sydla]

But I read here the RBs are everywhere no reason to pay for one just draft some in the 6th round or grab one from the street

They are.

I mean take the team we just played - Miami. 5th in the league in rushing. Their top back is Raheem Mostert, a journeyman FA who was a UDFA. Their 2nd TB is Achane, who was a 3rd round pick.

The idea that you NEED a top level TB to run the ball is a misnomer. You can build run games with solid OLs, good QB play and a great scheme. McDaniel, the Miami coach, is a disciple of Shanahan, who many consider one of the best run game schemers in football.

Look at the Bills the previous week. They ground us to death with their run game. Did they invest a ton in the position? Nope. But they schemed the **** out of us and took advantage.

Now having said that, I am not sure we have the right mix of TBs here. Pollard, coming off injury, has clearly been off. Dowdle is what he is. But that doesn't mean we had to have Henry here to succeed. Our run game issues are also tied to inefficient/inconsistent OL play and play calling as well as what we are getting out of the TBs on the roster.

 

[Brax]

They are.

I mean take the team we just played - Miami. 5th in the league in rushing. Their top back is Raheem Mostert, a journeyman FA who was a UDFA. Their 2nd TB is Achane, who was a 3rd round pick.

The idea that you NEED a top level TB to run the ball is a misnomer. You can build run games with solid OLs, good QB play and a great scheme. McDaniel, the Miami coach, is a disciple of Shanahan, who many consider one of the best run game schemers in football.

Look at the Bills the previous week. They ground us to death with their run game. Did they invest a ton in the position? Nope. But they schemed the **** out of us and took advantage.

Now having said that, I am not sure we have the right mix of TBs here. Pollard, coming off injury, has clearly been off. Dowdle is what he is. But that doesn't mean we had to have Henry here to succeed. Our run game issues are also tied to inefficient/inconsistent OL play and play calling as well as what we are getting out of the TBs on the roster.

I guess Dallas just has trouble finding the right ones.