JJT: Cowboys don't have running back to match their philosophy

[DandyDon52]

Well according to big dog dallas did not talk to phil about Murray.
I couldnt find anything one way or the other.
So if they didnt even try, then that is why it didnt get done.

Murray has a chance in Tenn now to show he was worth the money.
The HC there indicated he was going to give murray a lot of touches, and he would be the work horse, but not
to the extent he got in 2014.
I dont know about their OL, but with Mariota and now Murray I am sure they will look to improve their OL.
Could be interesting to see Tenn games this season.

Here is a conspiracy theory, what if lurie planned on getting rid of chip, and told chip to get murray,
which hurts dallas, then next year they fire chip & trade Murray to AFC team, so they took Dallas star RB away and then
sent him to AFC.

 

[Idgit]

Well according to big dog dallas did not talk to phil about Murray.
I couldnt find anything one way or the other.
So if they didnt even try, then that is why it didnt get done.

Murray has a chance in Tenn now to show he was worth the money.
The HC there indicated he was going to give murray a lot of touches, and he would be the work horse, but not
to the extent he got in 2014.
I dont know about their OL, but with Mariota and now Murray I am sure they will look to improve their OL.
Could be interesting to see Tenn games this season.

Here is a conspiracy theory, what if lurie planned on getting rid of chip, and told chip to get murray,
which hurts dallas, then next year they fire chip & trade Murray to AFC team, so they took Dallas star RB away and then
sent him to AFC.

It was fairly widely-reported that we did have discussions with the Eagles about Murray. I believe we were interested. But between the salary requirements and the trade requirements, it was still more expensive than we were willing to pay for a veteran RB. We thought there was better value elsewhere, and that's the direction we went in. Pretty straightforward.

 

[Plankton]

I think it has more to do with JJT is an Ohio State Alumni, than it has to do with riling up the fan base.

Look, I know JJT has had some weight issues, but even though there's that and his huge ego, he's still only an alumnus, not an alumni.

 

[mattjames2010]

And why was our QB healthy and had one his best seasons ever? Oh yeah. A running back.

Aren't you a sports writer now? Do you even have anything to connect this "Romo broke his collarbone? It was because of not having a RB"

You had your stance (Yeah, I remember you clamoring for AP last year) about how not having a solid RB would ruin our season, and now every problem we had you're trying to link it back to the RB position. That's incredible bias.

 

[Idgit]

Look, I know JJT has had some weight issues, but even though there's that and his huge ego, he's still only an alumnus, not an alumni.

It's all those wings he's buying.

 

[percyhoward]

You can't compare this team to the others either. The running game plays a key part in this offenses success.

Explain how it plays more of a key part for the Cowboys than for those teams.

 

[jobberone]

You can't compare this team to the others either. The running game plays a key part in this offenses success . Keep down playing the importance though. The FO has and it has really went so well.

1) the run game must be effective (google it for context)
2) it is important to keep down and distance manageable in order to achieve 3rd down success affecting SC%.

Every team wants to do this although you aren't going to see it every game depending on what the defense is trying to take away. Teams are going to take what the defense gives them even if they attempt to dictate at times for obvious reasons.

We run the ball on first down more often because we can. Teams know we are going to run on first down and try to load up AMAP for it knowing they must also watch out for the pass and esp play action. This is why Romo (and any good QB) is so important. Because he gives you that threat. We're successful running it anyway.

If you look at the stats you'll find success rates for each down and distance. Keep in mind this is in general and not specific for each team just an average. But it all boils down to having a 3rd and 4 or less although we do well in longer downs as well just with Romo.

You want teams to play you balanced on third down and not necessarily load up for the run or the pass. IOWs you don't want to pass into rushing DL, cover LBs, and nickel/dime packages. You don't always want to run into stacked defenses with 9 stuffers in the box either.

There are other reasons to run esp up the middle in controlling DL rush, LB depth and cover techniques/schemes, and DB coverage like forcing safeties to pause long enough to insure no delays etc. This all helps your passing game.

Teams don't run the ball down the field anymore in general unless running out the clock etc. We don't run anything really special either although that seems a perpetuated myth around here. Sure we have our own playbook but most teams have the same plays. The game evolved and teams have added what is available. There are just so many formations and plays from each. There are only so many routes in a tree. We run plays Romo is good at with the personnel on the field and ultimately available to us. Hence, the real equalizers in football is more talent on the field and execution more so than any playbook. Not saying coaching and playcalling and schemes aren't important. They are just secondary to talent and execution.

The whole point of this is to debunk this notion we have a special need to run the ball and to have a special RB.

 

[percyhoward]

Teams know we are going to run on first down and try to load up AMAP for it knowing they must also watch out for the pass and esp play action. This is why Romo (and any good QB) is so important. Because he gives you that threat.

Sí, señor.

Defense tries to take away what offense does best. Offense tries to keep defense honest.

The key to the offense's success in 2014 was its ability to keep defenses honest. That was primarily because of Romo, and to a lesser extent the improved OL that allowed us to commit to the run.

 

[jnday]

1) the run game must be effective (google it for context)
2) it is important to keep down and distance manageable in order to achieve 3rd down success affecting SC%.

Every team wants to do this although you aren't going to see it every game depending on what the defense is trying to take away. Teams are going to take what the defense gives them even if they attempt to dictate at times for obvious reasons.

We run the ball on first down more often because we can. Teams know we are going to run on first down and try to load up AMAP for it knowing they must also watch out for the pass and esp play action. This is why Romo (and any good QB) is so important. Because he gives you that threat. We're successful running it anyway.

If you look at the stats you'll find success rates for each down and distance. Keep in mind this is in general and not specific for each team just an average. But it all boils down to having a 3rd and 4 or less although we do well in longer downs as well just with Romo.

You want teams to play you balanced on third down and not necessarily load up for the run or the pass. IOWs you don't want to pass into rushing DL, cover LBs, and nickel/dime packages. You don't always want to run into stacked defenses with 9 stuffers in the box either.

There are other reasons to run esp up the middle in controlling DL rush, LB depth and cover techniques/schemes, and DB coverage like forcing safeties to pause long enough to insure no delays etc. This all helps your passing game.

Teams don't run the ball down the field anymore in general unless running out the clock etc. We don't run anything really special either although that seems a perpetuated myth around here. Sure we have our own playbook but most teams have the same plays. The game evolved and teams have added what is available. There are just so many formations and plays from each. There are only so many routes in a tree. We run plays Romo is good at with the personnel on the field and ultimately available to us. Hence, the real equalizers in football is more talent on the field and execution more so than any playbook. Not saying coaching and playcalling and schemes aren't important. They are just secondary to talent and execution.

The whole point of this is to debunk this notion we have a special need to run the ball and to have a special RB.

The 12-4 season kinda blows that out of the water when they followed the options that where available with a top RB. I agree with much of what you are saying, but to undervalue the importance of a great RB in this offense is overlooking the obvious. This team was much better when they could ground and pound the ball, eat up the clock and keep the defense fresh. Why waste top picks on the oline if they are not going to take advantage of them. It is not the cool thing to do , but running the ball and enforcing your will on a team will lead to more wins. A bunch of scrub RBs are not taking advantage of the strongest area of the team. Maybe I just believe in old school, smash mouth football and that is not the popular thing these days, but it works. Add the fact that it wears the defense down and it makes it hard to stop.

 

[Satchel89]

I'm not saying that Morris is going to break records but I think he does fit good enough. JJT would cry because his ice cream's cold. He honestly complains about everything the Cowboys do. I don't have a problem with him saying or writing what he thinks but he is a great example of a Negative Nancy

 

[percyhoward]

The 12-4 season kinda blows that out of the water when they followed the options that where available with a top RB. I agree with much of what you are saying, but to undervalue the importance of a great RB in this offense is overlooking the obvious. This team was much better when they could ground and pound the ball, eat up the clock and keep the defense fresh. Why waste top picks on the oline if they are not going to take advantage of them. It is not the cool thing to do , but running the ball and enforcing your will on a team will lead to more wins. A bunch of scrub RBs are not taking advantage of the strongest area of the team. Maybe I just believe in old school, smash mouth football and that is not the popular thing these days, but it works. Add the fact that it wears the defense down and it makes it hard to stop.

If "old school smash mouth" is what works, then why have the teams that lead the league in rushing yards only won 5 playoff games in the last 10 years?

If the 2014 team was "much better" because they could "eat up clock," then why was there was virtually no difference in the length of the offense's average possession in 2015?

2014 3:02 (2nd in NFL)
2015 3:00 (3rd in NFL)

And you still haven't explained how the running game plays a bigger role in Dallas' offense than in those other teams' offenses. You ignored the question completely.

Last year, the other six teams (besides Dallas) that had a 1,000-yard rusher had QB who ranked 19th, 20th, 22nd, 24th, 28th, and 33rd in passer rating. Those sound like the kind of teams that need to depend on their running game. Romo's ranked in the top 10 every year that he's played, so why would anybody focus on Dallas as a team that especially needs to be able to run the ball?

 

[jobberone]

The 12-4 season kinda blows that out of the water when they followed the options that where available with a top RB. I agree with much of what you are saying, but to undervalue the importance of a great RB in this offense is overlooking the obvious. This team was much better when they could ground and pound the ball, eat up the clock and keep the defense fresh. Why waste top picks on the oline if they are not going to take advantage of them. It is not the cool thing to do , but running the ball and enforcing your will on a team will lead to more wins. A bunch of scrub RBs are not taking advantage of the strongest area of the team. Maybe I just believe in old school, smash mouth football and that is not the popular thing these days, but it works. Add the fact that it wears the defense down and it makes it hard to stop.

The 12-4 season in no way 'blows that outta the park'. You're assuming we went 12-4 because Murray had a great year and yeah that helped for sure. But that assumes the running game wasn't boosted by the passing game and that another back wouldn't have had a great year. Keep in mind Murray's YPA wasn't that great and went down as the year went by. Those aren't numbers of a tremendous year just a lot of carries by a pretty good back with a pretty good OL and passing game.

 

[phildadon86]

Aren't you a sports writer now? Do you even have anything to connect this "Romo broke his collarbone? It was because of not having a RB"

You had your stance (Yeah, I remember you clamoring for AP last year) about how not having a solid RB would ruin our season, and now every problem we had you're trying to link it back to the RB position. That's incredible bias.

I'm not saying romo broke his collarbone because we didon't have a rb. At all. I'm simply saying the winning formula from 2014 was a solid run game. And yes I was clamoring for AP. And many here said he was done. Tell me again. Who led the league in rushing yards last year? I'm not trying to argue. I'm just saying if we don't have a strong ground game Romo has to do more. Go look up the stats for when Romo has to throw over 30 times a game and get back to me.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Offenses need to get 1st downs and Red Zone scores, the rest is over-rated and over thinking.

 

[big dog cowboy]

1) the run game must be effective (google it for context)
2) it is important to keep down and distance manageable in order to achieve 3rd down success affecting SC%.

Every team wants to do this although you aren't going to see it every game depending on what the defense is trying to take away. Teams are going to take what the defense gives them even if they attempt to dictate at times for obvious reasons.

We run the ball on first down more often because we can. Teams know we are going to run on first down and try to load up AMAP for it knowing they must also watch out for the pass and esp play action. This is why Romo (and any good QB) is so important. Because he gives you that threat. We're successful running it anyway.

If you look at the stats you'll find success rates for each down and distance. Keep in mind this is in general and not specific for each team just an average. But it all boils down to having a 3rd and 4 or less although we do well in longer downs as well just with Romo.

You want teams to play you balanced on third down and not necessarily load up for the run or the pass. IOWs you don't want to pass into rushing DL, cover LBs, and nickel/dime packages. You don't always want to run into stacked defenses with 9 stuffers in the box either.

There are other reasons to run esp up the middle in controlling DL rush, LB depth and cover techniques/schemes, and DB coverage like forcing safeties to pause long enough to insure no delays etc. This all helps your passing game.

Teams don't run the ball down the field anymore in general unless running out the clock etc. We don't run anything really special either although that seems a perpetuated myth around here. Sure we have our own playbook but most teams have the same plays. The game evolved and teams have added what is available. There are just so many formations and plays from each. There are only so many routes in a tree. We run plays Romo is good at with the personnel on the field and ultimately available to us. Hence, the real equalizers in football is more talent on the field and execution more so than any playbook. Not saying coaching and playcalling and schemes aren't important. They are just secondary to talent and execution.

The whole point of this is to debunk this notion we have a special need to run the ball and to have a special RB.

 

[jnday]

If "old school smash mouth" is what works, then why have the teams that lead the league in rushing yards only won 5 playoff games in the last 10 years?

If the 2014 team was "much better" because they could "eat up clock," then why was there was virtually no difference in the length of the offense's average possession in 2015?

2014 3:02 (2nd in NFL)
2015 3:00 (3rd in NFL)

And you still haven't explained how the running game plays a bigger role in Dallas' offense than in those other teams' offenses. You ignored the question completely.

Last year, the other six teams (besides Dallas) that had a 1,000-yard rusher had QB who ranked 19th, 20th, 22nd, 24th, 28th, and 33rd in passer rating. Those sound like the kind of teams that need to depend on their running game. Romo's ranked in the top 10 every year that he's played, so why would anybody focus on Dallas as a team that especially needs to be able to run the ball?

Yet, when the Cowboys do it the result was s -4-2 season. All your stats and googling in the world can't change that.

 

[DandyDon52]

The Cowboys coaching staff was in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday to conduct private workouts with some Buckeyes, and according to the Dallas Morning News, Bosa was among them. Zierlein's latest mock draft projects Dallas to take a different Buckeye, running back Ezekiel Elliott, at No. 4.

he said also that cowboys not high on bosa.
So maybe they do want elliot, or are considering him more than I thought.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...in-dallas-cowboys-likely-to-pass-on-joey-bosa

 

[DandyDon52]

I'm not saying romo broke his collarbone because we didon't have a rb. At all. I'm simply saying the winning formula from 2014 was a solid run game. And yes I was clamoring for AP. And many here said he was done. Tell me again. Who led the league in rushing yards last year? I'm not trying to argue. I'm just saying if we don't have a strong ground game Romo has to do more. Go look up the stats for when Romo has to throw over 30 times a game and get back to me.

yes I think dallas does win more if they run 30 or more times, and pass less than 30 times a game.
It seems weird but the more romo passes the more likely they are to lose.

 

[Idgit]

yes I think dallas does win more if they run 30 or more times, and pass less than 30 times a game.
It seems weird but the more romo passes the more likely they are to lose.

That's because the more you're behind, the more low-percentage passes you have to make. It's easy to get the cause and the effect reversed.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I think we just don't have a philosophy.

Yep, I am still trying to figure the ever changing philosophy. 5 years ago, Jerry had this theory that "with a QB like Romo you can afford to go cheap on the Oline". Well, when he finally figured out what a dumb theory that was he used 3 out of our next 4 first round picks on the Oline and has made it the best in the NFL. Now his new theory is "with a line like ours, you can go cheap at RB". Now he hasnt actually said it, but its pretty obvious.

Jerry just doesnt get it. That much is quite clear. When you have the best line in the NFL you should compliment that strength with a back that will accentuate that strength. If you dont, then you are to some degree wasting the Oline. Only Jerry Jones could be that dumb when it comes to football.