Is our O-line up to the task of emphasizing the run?

[Boyzmamacita]

I've seen some complaints on here that if our run blocking doesn't improve, we will struggle if we go to a three-headed-monster running attack next season. If I recall correctly, Felix did quite well behind this O-line and Choice was very impressive. Barber is the one who struggled due to injury and being used improperly. If our running backs are used to their strengths, the O-line will do just fine. It is the pass blocking that scares the hell out of me. What do you guys think?

 

[THUMPER]

We need to keep the starting 5 healthy. Losing Kosier last year really hurt us.

 

[Rampage]

I've seen some complaints on here that if our run blocking doesn't improve, we will struggle if we go to a three-headed-monster running attack next season. If I recall correctly, Felix did quite well behind this O-line and Choice was very impressive. Barber is the one who struggled due to injury and being used improperly. If our running backs are used to their strengths, the O-line will do just fine. It is the pass blocking that scares the hell out of me. What do you guys think?

I agree. the o-line will block even better when they know the rb can make plays and all 3 of our backs can make plays. the pass blocking must improve and I think it will due to more of a commitment to the running game.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

If our starting 5 can stay relatively healthy I do believe they'll be just fine with running the ball more. This in turn will, hopefully, make their pass blocking better as well.

 

[Vinnie2u]

They better be or its going to be a looong season..

 

[Canadian BoyzFan]

This is a great topic.

I really think our right side of the line has gotten better results from a YPC point of view. Flo and the various open gates at LG hurt our ability to run a balanced directional attack.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

I saw Warren Sapp on NFL Network talking about how we are going to struggle next season. He has no faith in our proposed commitment to the run. I don't see why not. One strength the Cowboys have is talent at running back. They showed last year that they can run block quite effectively.

 

[Apollo Creed]

I saw Warren Sapp on NFL Network talking about how we are going to struggle next season. He has no faith in our proposed commitment to the run. I don't see why not. One strength the Cowboys have is talent at running back. They showed last year that they can run block quite effectively.

I dunno, Choice had to fight very hard for the yards he earned. Granted they were top 5 defenses, we just weren't controlling the line of scrimmage. They just looked tired IMHO.

 

[khiladi]

Part of establishing continuity in the run game is by having the commitment to run. We always felt the need, when games were tight to simply abandon to run and try an score quickly. Patience and consistent approach needs to start at the top.

 

[JakeCamp12]

Some of the improvement in being able to run is the ability to contain the backside of the play and also clear a hole when the other team run blitzes. In my opinion we need to have our weakside TE contain better and our OLine also do a better jog of clearing out space when a team run blitzes. We also have to stop getting penalties for holding and motion on plays we pick up big yardage. We kill ourselves with the dumbest holding, offside and illegal motion penalties. We need focus for 4 quarters.....

 

[CATCH17]

Dallas is very capable of making teams tap out with our run game.

We've done it before just not consistently and a lot of that is on Garretts panic style of offense + a defense that likes to never get off the field on 3rd downs.

I expect Holland to start @ LG and i've seen Hostile predict us taking Duke Robinson in the 2nd if he is there and I don't think he would be a bad pick at all.


1 thing is for sure though. We can't hardly count on Flozell. He is just to unmotivated.

He is a great player at times but hopefully he was as hurt as everyone claims last year because he was just awful.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

It makes an amazing difference in an O-line when they know they're going to get to fire out and pound on people most of the game rather than backing up and playing defense all the time. That along would make a big difference IMO.

And I didn't remember Sapp even taking into account our increased emphasis on the run. They had to focus on The Player, of course. You have to actually pay attention like we do to realize we want to run it more.

 

[cowboyjoe]

i think the cowboys do need to take a stud offensive linemen in the draft, and i wouldnt mind duke robinson with our first pick

 

[Boyzmamacita]

It makes an amazing difference in an O-line when they know they're going to get to fire out and pound on people most of the game rather than backing up and playing defense all the time. That along would make a big difference IMO.

And I didn't remember Sapp even taking into account our increased emphasis on the run. They had to focus on The Player, of course. You have to actually pay attention like we do to realize we want to run it more.

Sapp in fact mentioned our running game in relation to The Player. He said good luck with that without TO there or something to that effect.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Sapp in fact mentioned our running game in relation to The Player. He said good luck with that without TO there or something to that effect.

Well then he's an idiot.

How were the Titans the #1 seed in the AFC with a middling QB and a bunch of nobodies at WR (and TE)? They ran it and played good defense.

 

[Iago33]

If I recall correctly, Felix did quite well behind this O-line and Choice was very impressive. Barber is the one who struggled due to injury and being used improperly.

I don't recall very many times when Felix ran well "behind" the O-line. He ran well when he was able to get outside on counter plays and didn't have to rely on the interior blocking.

Choice was able to slip past the first level and do some damage.

Barber didn't do well because he relies on the big boys up front to do their work so that he can get started. He tried to cut too many things outside because there weren't holes in the middle (and also because he sometimes thinks he has speed that he doesn't).

I really was not impressed with the guard and center play this year. The tackles could play well in run-blocking.

 

[RoadRunner]

There wasn't a game last year that the line blocked well for the run up the middle. Not one.

This oline will NOT get the job done if they continue to play like last year. We can't afford Flozell leading the league in penalties again this next season if we want to have any kind of offense at all.

 

[khiladi]

It makes an amazing difference in an O-line when they know they're going to get to fire out and pound on people most of the game rather than backing up and playing defense all the time. That along would make a big difference IMO.

And I didn't remember Sapp even taking into account our increased emphasis on the run. They had to focus on The Player, of course. You have to actually pay attention like we do to realize we want to run it more.

Ah OK... It wasn't Garrett's fault, though the year before, his whole involvement in the offense had to do with the passing game. Maybe it just so happened that Garrett was horrible at it or just totally inexperienced with it. Was it TOs fault the OL couldn't sustain any protection? TO didn't take over the game-plan that involved the OL, but Garrett did. Didn't they try and bring in Dan Reeves to help him out? If Garrett was capable, then why even indulge in it. Further, Dan Reeves said TO helped the running game. TO was known as a good run-blocker, wasn't he?

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Ah OK... It wasn't Garrett's fault, though the year before, his whole involvement in the offense had to do with the passing game. Maybe it just so happened that Garrett was horrible at it or just totally inexperienced with it. Was it TOs fault the OL couldn't sustain any protection? TO didn't take over the game-plan that involved the OL, but Garrett did. Didn't they try and bring in Dan Reeves to help him out? If Garrett was capable, then why even indulge in it. Further, Dan Reeves said TO helped the running game. TO was known as a good run-blocker, wasn't he?

How did you get out of this that I was defending Garrett? I'm the one who had the sig poking fun at him for months.

And what does TO have to do with this?

 

[aikemirv]

I've seen some complaints on here that if our run blocking doesn't improve, we will struggle if we go to a three-headed-monster running attack next season. If I recall correctly, Felix did quite well behind this O-line and Choice was very impressive. Barber is the one who struggled due to injury and being used improperly. If our running backs are used to their strengths, the O-line will do just fine. It is the pass blocking that scares the hell out of me. What do you guys think?

If you look at what we did to the Skins in the second game when Romo came back from the injury, I think the answer was yes. We were determined to run, made up our mind that we were going to and we ran over them all day long.

It is all attitude!