It is a false narrative the Cowboys don't want to run the ball

[RonnieT24]

Feeling on the zone suggest our biggest weak spot is OL....our OC likes to run basic "Blow your man off the ball" run plays....these 2 things will not work well together.

If you think this is the blocking scheme we run you have not been watching the Cowboys. The Cowboys run almost exclusively a zone blocking scheme which asks the linemen to slide step to an area and try to influence the defenders in one direction or the other. They very seldom just line up and try to knock people off the ball. I wish they WOULD do that more.. especially behind Martin and Steele.. who are both well suited for mauling. I think Smith is as well.. I just don't know about McGovern and Biadasz. They seem to be less so.. but I am here for them to prove me wrong and start road grading this season.

 

[RonnieT24]

If you want to win the game you can’t lead the league in penalties and start games off slow and think the running game will save you. You just can’t.

Ironically back when the team was run heavy it nearly always started games off fast and committed a lot fewer penalties. Coincidence?

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

ya too often we get behind the chains because were a undisciplined team.

Yep. You want to be a run team? Gotta stop the penalties. They go hand in hand.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Ironically back when the team was run heavy it nearly always started games off fast and committed a lot fewer penalties. Coincidence?

It must be because I’ve seen Pollard break off for a big run just to get called back. Zeke too.

 

[RonnieT24]

It must be because I’ve seen Pollard break off for a big run just to get called back. Zeke too.

There is no doubt that this team has been flagged for too many penalties the last 2-3 years.. But I wonder how many of them have been "reputation calls" with Connor Williams or the outright flop calls they started giving guys who Tyron pancaked ... Watching Tyron pile drive a fool into the ground and then have that guy flail his arms to draw the flag has been one of the most frustrating things I've watched with this team in decades.

 

[CowboyFrog]

If you think this is the blocking scheme we run you have not been watching the Cowboys. The Cowboys run almost exclusively a zone blocking scheme which asks the linemen to slide step to an area and try to influence the defenders in one direction or the other. They very seldom just line up and try to knock people off the ball. I wish they WOULD do that more.. especially behind Martin and Steele.. who are both well suited for mauling. I think Smith is as well.. I just don't know about McGovern and Biadasz. They seem to be less so.. but I am here for them to prove me wrong and start road grading this season.

Its more about the plays than zone vs man..what I mean is our run plays are extremely basic and mostly out of Shotgun...we dont really use anything to set them up at all...again KM for all the "New great mind" hype has shown very little change in scheme from team to team he plays.

 

[RonnieT24]

Its more about the plays than zone vs man..what I mean is our run plays are extremely basic and mostly out of Shotgun...we dont really use anything to set them up at all...again KM for all the "New great mind" hype has shown very little change in scheme from team to team he plays.

Almost every wannabe offensive genius hangs his hat on passing. The Shanahans and Norv are really the only ones I can think of who took the "I can beat you running" approach to their accolades.. And even Norv's runs weren't exactly creative.. He just lined 'em up and said "hit 'em in the mouth!" ... But his approach was also always balanced and could eat defenses alive if they overcommitted to run or pass. He made sure no matter which choice they made it was wrong.

 

[JayFord]

its not running the ball

its the creativity and when they run it.......slamming it up the gut with Elliott or handing it off out of the gun up the gut arent the only plays

the same creativity thats bought in the passing game should be in the running game

 

[CowboyFrog]

Yep. You want to be a run team? Gotta stop the penalties. They go hand in hand.

yes hard to run the ball affectivly when you start 1st and 20 alot,

 

[CowboyFrog]

its not running the ball

its the creativity and when they run it.......slamming it up the gut with Elliott or handing it off out of the gun up the gut arent the only plays

the same creativity thats bought in the passing game should be in the running game

Exactly and maybe even shceme them to work off each other to that specific defense.

 

[Toro9]

Almost every successful NFL team (especially in the last 15 years) passes a lot more than they run. Even the rules have changed to make it a more passing league.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

There is no doubt that this team has been flagged for too many penalties the last 2-3 years.. But I wonder how many of them have been "reputation calls" with Connor Williams or the outright flop calls they started giving guys who Tyron pancaked ... Watching Tyron pile drive a fool into the ground and then have that guy flail his arms to draw the flag has been one of the most frustrating things I've watched with this team in decades.

I don’t disagree. People can call it being a homer but I watch other teams play and I’ve never seen a team get worse calls at the most crucial times.

 

[jnday]

There have been a few false narratives this off-season amongst fans but this one is one of the more annoying ones. The Cowboys want to be a passing team.......

The Cowboys would love to win games running the football.....but make no mistake if the Cowboys go into this season leading the league in penalties and starting games off slow like they did last season? They will once again be airing it out all game.

If the Cowboys was serious about being a great running team, the oline wouldn’t be in such bad shape.

 

[Blast From The Past]

I can't wait till the Tampa game to arrive. Then and only then can we collectively here get a feel on what type of team both offensively and defensively we are in store for. Since few starters if any have played in the preseason it is unknown what strategy will be employed in 2022 on both sides of the pigskin.

 

[Blast From The Past]

I don’t disagree. People can call it being a homer but I watch other teams play and I’ve never seen a team get worse calls at the most crucial times.

Like Pollard rips off a long gain and what do ya know a late flag comes out and it's holding, illegal formation, someone didn't get set, something and it's against the Cowboys. Yea, I feel ya.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

If the Cowboys was serious about being a great running team, the oline wouldn’t be in such bad shape.

Are we sure it’s in bad shape?

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Like Pollard rips off a long gain and what do ya know a late flag comes out and it's holding, illegal formation, someone didn't get set, something and it's against the Cowboys. Yea, I feel ya.

Happens every time. So annoying.

 

[Hardline]

Yes, you did make that up.

Fans around here have accused the Cowboys of not being dedicated to running the ball, but there isn’t a single franchise that doesn’t *want* to.

The Cowboys just have more success in their current iteration as a passing team. Or have in recent history at least. That’s what happens when you have three elite WRs and a good QB.

Who are these three elite WRs?

 

[SexyDexy52]

This is just the same as when they wanted to make the offense more Romo-friendly. They wanted to run the ball more and take some of the pressure off Tony, that tuned out to be the catch/ no catch season, iirc. Then the next season he got hurt and Dak stepped in and it was again another high win season of more running and less QB-centered offense because Dak was a rookie. So they are trying to get back to that but without the best Oline in FB and with much older players….and an unproven WR corp….I’m not saying it’s a great idea just what I think they mean when JJ says they want to be a running team.

 

[shabazz]

I don’t disagree. People can call it being a homer but I watch other teams play and I’ve never seen a team get worse calls at the most crucial times.

That is a fact. Total penalties never tells the story. I’ve seen both Dak and Romo have to pass for 120 yards just to move the ball 80 yards in a game winning drive because of penalties at crucial times


With the exception of just a handful of forum members, I think the officiating is one thing we may all agree on.