I don't care if they throw 5 times or 50 times as long as they win.

[dragon_mikal]

Fact is that this team is never going to utilize the running game the way some (including myself) want them to. Whether they can do so or not is irrelevant; Garrett and Callahan's philosophy won't allow it. Garrett abandons the run as soon as he is able and Callahan wouldn't run it at all if it came down to it.

But not running the ball isn't the reason this offense looks so anemic IMHO. It is the way the passing game is designed that keeps this offense from realizing its potential. Dez Bryant is never put in motion to find favorable match ups. The middle of the field is ignored in favor of attacking the sidelines. The coaches call slants one week and ignore the route during the next three. They refuse to move Romo around in the pocket depending on where the defense brings pressure. Many of the routes take forever to develop regardless of the weak Oline. They run play action after running the ball all of 8 times an entire game. They call an empty backfield at the goal line.

The team needs a less static approach when it comes to the passing game of they want to go anywhere because let's face it...they're not going to run a balanced attack. Not with this coaching staff.

Just my opinion.

 

[Rockport]

If we don't utilize the run more, we're 8-8 and aren't going anywhere. You can't pass the ball 51 times and run it 9 times and win playoff games.

 

[texbumthelife]

If we don't utilize the run more, we're 8-8 and aren't going anywhere. You can't pass the ball 51 times and run it 9 times and win playoff games.

Let's hope we get to find out.

 

[Rockport]

Let's hope we get to find out.

You can bet the farm on it.

 

[dragon_mikal]

If we don't utilize the run more, we're 8-8 and aren't going anywhere. You can't pass the ball 51 times and run it 9 times and win playoff games.

I agree that you can't go far without keeping a defense honest but I also think that this team is going to live or die by the passing game. Just seems that the way it's designed now seems to becoming less effective each week...though they did leave points on the field against the Vikings with all the drops.

 

[links18]

I agree that you can't go far without keeping a defense honest but I also think that this team is going to live or die by the passing game. Just seems that the way it's designed now seems to becoming less effective each week...though they did leave points on the field against the Vikings with all the drops.

If they do what they did last week the rest of the season, they will surely die.

 

[Zekeats]

Fact is you don't win if your throwing 50+ times. You either lose, or you barely beat a team you where supposed to destroy by a couple of points at home. I would love if someone could find Romos win loss record when he throws 50+.........hell, I would like to know 40+

 

[5Stars]

Fact is you don't win if your throwing 50+ times. You either lose, or you barely beat a team you where supposed to destroy by a couple of points at home. I would love if someone could find Romos win loss record when he throws 50+.........hell, I would like to know 40+

And the thing is, if Romo has to throw 50+ times and he throws an INT...he sucks golf balls through a garden hose!

Go figure....

 

[waving monkey]

who cares just win baby

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Fact is that this team is never going to utilize the running game the way some (including myself) want them to. Whether they can do so or not is irrelevant; Garrett and Callahan's philosophy won't allow it. Garrett abandons the run as soon as he is able and Callahan wouldn't run it at all if it came down to it.

But not running the ball isn't the reason this offense looks so anemic IMHO. It is the way the passing game is designed that keeps this offense from realizing its potential. Dez Bryant is never put in motion to find favorable match ups. The middle of the field is ignored in favor of attacking the sidelines. The coaches call slants one week and ignore the route during the next three. They refuse to move Romo around in the pocket depending on where the defense brings pressure. Many of the routes take forever to develop regardless of the weak Oline. They run play action after running the ball all of 8 times an entire game. They call an empty backfield at the goal line.

The team needs a less static approach when it comes to the passing game of they want to go anywhere because let's face it...they're not going to run a balanced attack. Not with this coaching staff.

Just my opinion.

I agree with this.

I'm well beyond thinking this is ever going to be a 60% pass/40% run team.

It's just not. It's not going to be "balanced".

And in lieu of the that I say let the passing game be both the passing game and the running game... and quit worrying about it.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

Doesn’t have to be perfectly balanced but it needs to be MORE balanced. Putting everything on Romo’s shoulders will never lead to a championship. There are a million reasons to why the Cowboys need to run the ball more effectively.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

If we don't utilize the run more, we're 8-8 and aren't going anywhere. You can't pass the ball 51 times and run it 9 times and win playoff games.

The Packers won the Super Bowl a couple years ago and had 13 rushing attempts in the game; and two of those were Aaron Rodgers kneeldowns. I agree with the theme of this post. Running doesn't always equal winning. The Colts and Giants won Super Bowls this past decade ranked dead last in rushing. The same year Indy won it all, the Browns were the 5th best rushing team and were 5-11.

If you move the ball and score, that's all that matters. The "you have to have balance" theme is repeated so often by "experts" on television we just accept it as fact. In reality, throughout NFL history, there is very little evidence to back it up.

The two quotes that do have merit are "Points come from the passing game" and "defense wins championships".

 

[cannonball44]

Even if allow myself to go that far, im not ready to concede things like well run screen plays, RB flares, bunch formations, i mean if youre going to be an All Air, All the Time offense thats fine. But push it to the next level in terms of effectiveness and creativity and strategy.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Doesn’t have to be perfectly balanced but it needs to be MORE balanced. Putting everything on Romo’s shoulders will never lead to a championship. There are a million reasons to why the Cowboys need to run the ball more effectively.

Yeah, they need to run the ball more effectively... But they won't.

Not this season.

The only chance this particular team has at getting far in the playoffs this year is to hope Romo and the receivers get hot...hot... hot... And keep ahead of the scores the defense gives up. Murray getting 15 carries for 70 yards? Not going to do it.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

Yeah, they need to run the ball more effectively... But they won't.

Not this season.

The only chance this particular team has at getting far in the playoffs this year is to hope Romo and the receivers get hot...hot... hot... And keep ahead of the scores the defense gives up. Murray getting 15 carries for 70 yards? Not going to do it.

Why this team will not get very far in the playoffs. Assuming they can keep playing .500 football and win the divsion.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Why this team will not get very far in the playoffs. Assuming they can keep playing .500 football and win the divsion.

I guess I don't follow if you're making a statement or asking a question... LOL!

 

[kramskoi]

Fact is that this team is never going to utilize the running game the way some (including myself) want them to. Whether they can do so or not is irrelevant; Garrett and Callahan's philosophy won't allow it. Garrett abandons the run as soon as he is able and Callahan wouldn't run it at all if it came down to it.

But not running the ball isn't the reason this offense looks so anemic IMHO. It is the way the passing game is designed that keeps this offense from realizing its potential. Dez Bryant is never put in motion to find favorable match ups. The middle of the field is ignored in favor of attacking the sidelines. The coaches call slants one week and ignore the route during the next three. They refuse to move Romo around in the pocket depending on where the defense brings pressure. Many of the routes take forever to develop regardless of the weak Oline. They run play action after running the ball all of 8 times an entire game. They call an empty backfield at the goal line.

The team needs a less static approach when it comes to the passing game of they want to go anywhere because let's face it...they're not going to run a balanced attack. Not with this coaching staff.

Just my opinion.

1200 yard rushing seasons just ain't going to cut it. The only way out of the stale Garrett offense is to dismantle it!

 

[Lonestar94]

I'm tired of people saying run the ball. We will not win games by running the ball. We will only lose valuable yards.

Jason Garrett and crew know this.

 

[Kristen82]

The Packers won the Super Bowl a couple years ago and had 13 rushing attempts in the game; and two of those were Aaron Rodgers kneeldowns. I agree with the theme of this post. Running doesn't always equal winning. The Colts and Giants won Super Bowls this past decade ranked dead last in rushing. The same year Indy won it all, the Browns were the 5th best rushing team and were 5-11.

If you move the ball and score, that's all that matters. The "you have to have balance" theme is repeated so often by "experts" on television we just accept it as fact. In reality, throughout NFL history, there is very little evidence to back it up.

The two quotes that do have merit are "Points come from the passing game" and "defense wins championships".

Good points. I don't get why people are obsessed with "balance" on O. Give or take the odd score or two by their D, DET's 6th in scoring but only 21st in rushing, NO is 7th and 26th respectively, we're 5th and 27th. People have grabbed hold of the "balanced attack" meme and run it into the ground already.

 

[kramskoi]

The Packers won the Super Bowl a couple years ago and had 13 rushing attempts in the game; and two of those were Aaron Rodgers kneeldowns. I agree with the theme of this post. Running doesn't always equal winning. The Colts and Giants won Super Bowls this past decade ranked dead last in rushing. The same year Indy won it all, the Browns were the 5th best rushing team and were 5-11.

If you move the ball and score, that's all that matters. The "you have to have balance" theme is repeated so often by "experts" on television we just accept it as fact. In reality, throughout NFL history, there is very little evidence to back it up.

The two quotes that do have merit are "Points come from the passing game" and "defense wins championships".

Indy 2006 Superbowl: 42 for 191 [4.54 yds/carry]
Giants 2007 Superbowl: 26 for 91 [3.5 yds/carry]
Giants 2011 Superbowl: 28 for 114 [4.0 yds/carry]
Green Bay 2010 Superbowl: (minus 2 kneel downs) 11 for 50 [4.54 yds/carry] + 3 turnover differential

Green Bay is the statistical anomaly...they get a quick 2-3 possession lead in the first half, which they nurse until the fourth quarter. Rodgers was off the wall with 7.4 yds/att and no picks. He played very clean, with good but not great efficency. When they did run, they were pretty robust at 4.5 yds/ carry [minus the knee downs]. Rodgers also stayed under 40 attempts...who knows, another 10 - 15 attempts might have caused bad things to happen. The Green Bay offense was never really put under duress with a +3 turnover margin and a healthy lead, so Rodgers never really needed to press. Finally, the man has excellent skills and the hardware to prove it. Godspeed to him with his injury.

The bottom line with Romo is that he has only won one game when he throws in excess of 50 attempts...it happened last Sunday. If this is not an indication that the Cowboys must run then I don't know what is.