I Cannot Prove This

[TwoDeep3]

Since 2010, we've been in need of one or the other. I think we'd be saying the same thing about the defense though, if the defense were as good as the OL is right now.

In light of recent developments, I invite everyone to revisit the great "running game doesn't matter" megathread...

http://cowboyszone.com/threads/off-season-priority-1-find-a-running-game.250430/

I have always thought people suggestying the running game doesn't matter were those either too young to remember what the Triplets were about - each significant cog making the others better in trio - or they didn't truly appreciate the idea of a balanced attack. Good call, Percy.

 

[TwoDeep3]

A great O-Line does one helluva lot more than open up holes and running lanes for a RB. It keeps defenses on their heels in every aspect and opens up a hornets nest with Dallas' talent. (I know you know this.)

Tony no longer has to win solo, which will erase many mistakes. I'm willing to bet he had friggin' blast last night.

This could be his best year with Dallas........ever.

Keep it up Dallas Cowboys.

Mash that gas pedal and don't look back!

I want to be careful saying this, because I don't want to get too high off this win.

But with this talent and line play, does this offense stay up with Seattle in their house?

Defense might be the weak spot for us. But can this line hang with the Seattle's.

 

[maxdallasfan]

I want to be careful saying this, because I don't want to get too high off this win.

But with this talent and line play, does this offense stay up with Seattle in their house?

Defense might be the weak spot for us. But can this line hang with the Seattle's.

I think our OL can. But, the problem will be if the D can keep the game close long enough for the O to try their mettle?

With a team like St. Louis, being down 21 was big, but not enough to panic. Being down 14 to Seattle will be time to panic, and i'm afraid the gunslinger might come out.

I team like Seattle feasts on making their opponent 1 dimensional.

I'd rather be down 14-0 and keep running, then be down 14-0 and sling it around for the high probability of a INT.

 

[Seven]

I want to be careful saying this, because I don't want to get too high off this win.

But with this talent and line play, does this offense stay up with Seattle in their house?

Defense might be the weak spot for us. But can this line hang with the Seattle's.

Hell yeah. Print it.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Hell yeah. Print it.

I just wish you were a little more enthusiastic. ;C)

 

[tyke1doe]

Oline play is crucial. Not only that, but Garrett doesn't call the plays anymore, so no one knows what's coming with Lenihan. Offensive line has always been what makes a great offense run smoothly. It took our GM 15 years to figure it out.

Sad but true. The one time we tried to establish the running prominently was in the playoffs against the Giants. Marion Barber almost got 100 yards in the first half. The problem with that strategy, though, was we were a passing team and had conditioned our offensive linemen on a passing offense. As a result, we tired too quickly in the second half, or at least that's my theory.

We never really were committed to the run, for whatever reason. Maybe we didn't have the players in front. I know we had the backs in Felix, Marion and Choice.

Now we're seeing the benefits of featuring the run. Work the clock. Make the teams respect your run game (which the Saints did in abundance). Take what the defense gives you. Turn the ball over to your defense. Watch the other team panick and start throwing the ball around the field, like we used to do. Tee off on the quarterback. Get turnovers because teams are pressing to make big plays.

We have the quarterback. We have the running back. We have the receivers. We have the offensive line. We just needed someone who could make the run philosophy work. And now everyone - including the defense - benefits. Why it took us this long to learn this (remember when all those teams were saying they knew EXACTLY what plays we were going to run?) is beyond me. But ... better late than never.

 

[tyke1doe]

It's a valid point Mamcita. And if Dallas throws out a horrible performance against the Houstons, the joy and accolades being toasted to the cowboys now will fade into just a blip on the screen.

But we'll know it has more to do with coaching than anything. You don't get rid of meanness and physicality. The Cowboys offensive line is mean and nasty, yet intelligent. I like that.

These guys have the attitude "We're coming to fight and knock you around. So bring your lunch buckets because there will be no breaks."

I've been one of the biggest critics about this team being soft. But I like what I saw Sunday, something I haven't seen from this bunch in a long time.

Even if the Cowboys start losing, I don't think this bunch (at least the offensive line) is going to be laying down waiting for the defense to rub its belly. And that's, really, what has most of us giddy. We didn't just "luck" a win because the Saints were bad. We MADE them look bad, looked them in the face and said, "Bring it" and sent their high-powered offensive, and blitz-crazy defensive tails wimpering back home to NAWLINS!

 

[Seven]

I just wish you were a little more enthusiastic. ;C)

I'm telling ya, TwoDeep...........this line is special.

Throw in Rolando, too.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think defense deserves a lot of credit for this as well. NO was unable to do much they were 4 of 10 on 3rd down. Much of what they did in terms of moving the ball took place late in the game as Dallas was using a lot of 3 man rushes. They also forced 3 turnover in the game. This is a young group whom I think will only get better as they continue to play together and become more confident in what Rod Marinelli wants from them.

 

[TwoDeep3]

But we'll know it has more to do with coaching than anything. You don't get rid of meanness and physicality. The Cowboys offensive line is mean and nasty, yet intelligent. I like that.

These guys have the attitude "We're coming to fight and knock you around. So bring your lunch buckets because there will be no breaks."

I've been one of the biggest critics about this team being soft. But I like what I saw Sunday, something I haven't seen from this bunch in a long time.

Even if the Cowboys start losing, I don't think this bunch (at least the offensive line) is going to be laying down waiting for the defense to rub its belly. And that's, really, what has most of us giddy. We didn't just "luck" a win because the Saints were bad. We MADE them look bad, looked them in the face and said, "Bring it" and sent their high-powered offensive, and blitz-crazy defensive tails wimpering back home to NAWLINS!

I am right there with you, Mr. Miyagi.

 

[Craig]

A good offense kept the mediocre defense rested so it could perform. Seems pretty consistent with what common opinion is.

 

[TwoDeep3]

I'm telling ya, TwoDeep...........this line is special.

Throw in Rolando, too.

If you look at the trail of events that got the team to where they are, it makes sense how this unfurled.

TSmith, FredBeard were both solid picks. FredBeard may have been the one which required the most insight. A truly inspired pick, now that we can see what was purchased.

But the Martin pick was actually selected for Dallas because of the defenders who went before. Now this doesn't discount the selection one iota. But if one of those defenders dropped, this line would be different, and much different. Bernadeax would have been in place of THE MARTINATOR and there is a huge drop off there. I cannot express how I was screaming at the TV for Jerry to take this guy and pass on Johnny Ego. (Although, tpo be truthful I did hesitate just a smidgen when he fell to Dallas.

But the right selection all along was Martin.

So any speculation of what if has to include the mysterious working of fate that caused Dallas to be in position, and in a way forced to take Martin.

In keeping with this theme, if Lee wasn't hurt, would Jerry have picked up the phone and called RoMac?

Fate and destiny play a game and their capricious nature sometimes screws this team blind.

But on rare occasions, they have sympathy for Dallas.

After reading this post, I am assured the drugs have kicked in now.

 

[Seven]

If you look at the trail of events that got the team to where they are, it makes sense how this unfurled.

TSmith, FredBeard were both solid picks. FredBeard may have been the one which required the most insight. A truly inspired pick, now that we can see what was purchased.

But the Martin pick was actually selected for Dallas because of the defenders who went before. Now this doesn't discount the selection one iota. But if one of those defenders dropped, this line would be different, and much different. Bernadeax would have been in place of THE MARTINATOR and there is a huge drop off there. I cannot express how I was screaming at the TV for Jerry to take this guy and pass on Johnny Ego. (Although, tpo be truthful I did hesitate just a smidgen when he fell to Dallas.

But the right selection all along was Martin.

So any speculation of what if has to include the mysterious working of fate that caused Dallas to be in position, and in a way forced to take Martin.

In keeping with this theme, if Lee wasn't hurt, would Jerry have picked up the phone and called RoMac?

Fate and destiny play a game and their capricious nature sometimes screws this team blind.

But on rare occasions, they have sympathy for Dallas.

After reading this post, I am assured the drugs have kicked in now.

Well said and a sound observation.

 

[DFWJC]

Last year's line was better than the year before and this year's version is far and away better that anything we've had in many years.
Even if they didn't add a new piece, they have so much youth that they'd be improving (hopefully) just by normal development.

The defense is not the same as last year...period.
A second year in the system
Marinelli running the show
Less injuries and more depth...though the quality is still a bit thin.

It all adds up to a better team.

We'll have to see just how much better. 12 games to go still.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

Ive said for years and years it was the offensive line that was the BIGGEST hole for the entire team.

 

[Doomsday]

Everybody keeps saying a good offense is the best defense so maybe you can prove it after all.

It is hard to put up 400 yards when your offense is on the sidelines watching Murray gash your defense.

 

[TwoDeep3]

It is hard to put up 400 yards when your offense is on the sidelines watching Murray gash your defense.

Ain't dat da truth.

 

[Doomsday101]

A good offense kept the mediocre defense rested so it could perform. Seems pretty consistent with what common opinion is.

True but the defense has to help themselves as well. NO was 4 of 10 on 3rd downs those battles won by the defense allows them to get off the field. Same with the 3 turnover in this game.
Currently Dallas is 10th in points allowed and 5th in ints. Long way to go for the defense but I'm seeing steady improvement and seeing guys like Carter who many fans gave up on starting to come into his own. A game like last night can be a big boost to a young defense as they start believing in what they are doing. Leads to guys seeing and reacting as opposed to uncertainty and being slow to react.

 

[50cent]

No doubt the addition of Martin has improved the line but this team had an above average line last year and simply neglected the run. Had they committed to the run last year and stopped lying to.the fans about wanting to run it more we would have made the playoffs easily. Just running more vs KC, DET & GB would have won 2 of the 3 if not all of em. It's frustrating thinking about how last season was essentially wasted. This same game plan would have worked wonders for.the 2013 squad and that OLine plus Murray would have carried us just like this year.

 

[TwoDeep3]

No doubt the addition of Martin has improved the line but this team had an above average line last year and simply neglected the run. Had they committed to the run last year and stopped lying to.the fans about wanting to run it more we would have made the playoffs easily. Just running more vs KC, DET & GB would have won 2 of the 3 if not all of em. It's frustrating thinking about how last season was essentially wasted. This same game plan would have worked wonders for.the 2013 squad and that OLine plus Murray would have carried us just like this year.

I so want to agree, but I saw too many times the line could not open holes for Murray and the run was abandoned.

I agree about Murray, but Bernie is not in the same class as Martin. And a year under FredBeard's belt and the addition of Martin and Leary al;l playing together makes this a line of an incredible ceiling.

Romo got pushed at the end of a play, and had to scramble out of two others. But I don't think he even got his jersey dirty last night.

They had that clock on him when he scrambled and fired that pass to Witten when he got shoved down. It was like seven seconds.

But think back to when he passed and there were times he was waiting for the receiver to uncover and he was in a perfect pocket. The first TD to TWill, he stood there stomping his feet like he was putting out cigarettes and had no rush on him at all.

Fitty, I'd like to agree about last year but this is black and white. This line is awesome.