How Bad is the Running Game?

[Big D]

I remember so well after the GB game, the off season mantra was simply fix the run game and run defense.

EPIC fail.

Guess what it will be again this off season!

It was the same in 2016 after Dak and Zeke's rookie seasons. We'll get to it at some point

 

[CATCH17]

Why on earth did they think Dak could carry this team from the pocket with his arm?

 

[tm1119]

The o-line isn’t THAT bad. Not saying it’s good, but it’s for sure not “historically bad run game” bad.
To me the blame should be spread around like this:
40% coaching
40% lack of talent at RB
20% o line

I’m just a fan watching at home and I feel like I can predict pre-snap when the Cowboys are going to run at around 85% accuracy. And when those runs happen they are almost always just a dive up the middle. Our offense is both predictable and uncreative, not a good combo.

And with all that said, you can’t make chicken salad out of chicken xxxx….I don’t think we have a RB on the roster that would be even a 2nd option on any other roster in the league. Only addressing the RB position with Zeke has to be 1 of the all time dumbest GM moves.

 

[Buzzbait]

How Bad is the Running Game?
What running game?

 

[Blast From The Past]

I agree 100% that the line is weak right now. How can they be a cohesive unit when two of their starters are rookies and completely unfamiliar with their teammates.

To be effective, an offensive line must have cohesion, the ability to perform in sync with each other. That takes more than a single season. The best offensive lines have a core of 3 or 4 guys that have played together for several seasons. They know what each other will do under certain circumstances.

However, no matter how effective an offensive line is, the RB must have the ability to know how to use the line to his advantage. He must have the vision, the escapability and the power to maximize the advantage of his blocking.

Despite having three All-Pro O-lineman in 2015, the same ones that helped DeMarco Murray set a new single season rushing record for the Cowboys in the previous season, Joseph Randle was completely ineffective.

However, the next season in 2016, those same O-linemen helped a 2nd Cowboys running back in three seasons to lead the league in rushing.

There are at least three aspects to the success of a running game. They are the ability of the RB, the ability of the O-line and the gameplan prepared by the coaches. All three of these aspects are not at an acceptable level for the Cowboys even before the season began.

The frustrating thing is, it didn't have to be this way.

I like your post. It is cohesive and very much in line as to the problems with our run game. Younger faster backs might be more effective but until this line jells and learns to work together, along with communicating with each other they might be a mute point as well. But I concede two rookies and a banged up Zach Martin with a Steele that is a shell of the guy he was this line is having trouble opening up lanes and certainly not gaping holes for really any of our backs thus far. The game plan should always play to your current teams strengths not against it. Round hole in a square peg sort of way around here sometimes. I think we as fans deserve better and so do the running backs. Frustrating to infinity it is this way. A good run game will benefit the QB and vice versa. We need this line fixed.

 

[raggedy]

Why on earth did they think Dak could carry this team from the pocket with his arm?

I know it's a rhetorical question, but isn't it incredulous that Jerruh thought if he threw enough money at Dak that Dak could elevate his play and be worth his 60mil contract?

Oh I paid him 60mil per year, so now he will be expected to perform like the best paid player in the NFL.

For all the money Jerruh has made in his lifetime, he sure seems to be a football IDIOT

 

[diamonddelts]

I honestly don't remember it being this bad ever.

Julius Jones has entered the chat.

 

[raggedy]

Julius Jones has entered the chat.

Julius was ok his rookie year.

My vote for one of the worst goes to Troy Hambrick. He would get touched on a shoelace and flop over.

 

[plasticman]

It starts with the O-Line… Zack isn’t getting the push he used to have and overall… no dominance…. Right now, the Lions have the best O-Line….

The Cowboys are going about it the right way in that they are building their new line with mostly premium draft picks. They are good at evaluating 1st round talent for the O-line but how many times have they been successful in the lower rounds?

Over the past 5 drafts, the Cowboys have taken 6 O-linemen below the 3rd round. Only one became a starter, the other 5 have barely seen the field.

 

[GINeric]

Worst in the league.

4 simple words.

Now with this said.... tell me what quarterback and running back who can succeed in this situation....

 

[Cowboys5217]

Now with this said.... tell me what quarterback and running back who can succeed in this situation....

Dak couldn't succeed with one seed and two seed playoff teams. I can list a lot of QBs who HAVE succeeded with that.

 

[diamonddelts]

Julius was ok his rookie year.

My vote for one of the worst goes to Troy Hambrick. He would get touched on a shoelace and flop over.

Troy Hambrick was bad. Derrick Lassic was worse.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

The o-line isn’t THAT bad. Not saying it’s good, but it’s for sure not “historically bad run game” bad.
To me the blame should be spread around like this:
40% coaching
40% lack of talent at RB
20% o line

I’m just a fan watching at home and I feel like I can predict pre-snap when the Cowboys are going to run at around 85% accuracy. And when those runs happen they are almost always just a dive up the middle. Our offense is both predictable and uncreative, not a good combo.

And with all that said, you can’t make chicken salad out of chicken xxxx….I don’t think we have a RB on the roster that would be even a 2nd option on any other roster in the league. Only addressing the RB position with Zeke has to be 1 of the all time dumbest GM moves.

The OL is bad.....I think everyone gets equal blame

 

[DuncanIso]

The OL is bad.....I think everyone gets equal blame

They need to burn Mikes playbook and blocking scheme after the season.

basic.

 

[RonnieT24]

They need to burn Mikes playbook and blocking scheme after the season.

basic.

Don't worry, he will take it with him when he gets canned.

 

[CowboyFrog]

You can thank Dak for wanting his buddy back instead of an actual contributor.

No matter how bad you want to you can't blame an employee for the employer's decisions...even if the employee had a say its still on the employer for being dumb enough to allow it...thats just a fact of business. In this case the Employer literally tells you he is in charge all the time...