Offensive Balance

[craig71]

I keep reading about how we should run the ball more, I also see some that point out that the passing game has to be the focus in today's game. It seems to me that one game is not enough of a sample size to determine what plagues this team. Afterall, last year is last year and this is a new year here before us with less than a 100 offensive snaps in the books. Now that doesn't mean that I'm not concerned about how this team looked against Washington, but I'm going to refrain from going into a full blown panic attack as of yet.. Onething that I will say that I believe in is that you should try to exploit the defenses weakest link. Whether that weak link is run defense or pass defense, that particular link should be exploited. While some semblance of balance between run/pass is nice to have. I don't believe that a team can go into a game with a pre-conceived number of plays dedicated to either pass or run. If the team passes 60 times one week and wins that is fine, if it runs 50 times the next week that is fine also. The only thing that matters is the accumalation of W's and not the dreaded L's. So anyway, let's just see what happens over the next few weeks and see what trends develop. Hopefully we'll see some victories strung together and a happier crowd in these parts.

Craig

 

[The Emperor]

Well, in Washington, it appeared that the Commanders' weak link was their run defense. We were busting off big gains with our runningbacks and averaging at least 4 yards a carry.

Instead of staying with the run, we decided to pass the ball. In other words, we stopped ourselves without the Commanders trying at all to do so. Why?

That's the frustrating part with Cowboys fans. It seems like whenever we get any good thing going, Garrett stops using it and goes to something else. I say let's run the ball or pass the ball 'til they stop it consistently. Then after that, let's try something else.

 

[craig71]

Well, in Washington, it appeared that the Commanders' weak link was their run defense. We were busting off big gains with our runningbacks and averaging at least 4 yards a carry.

Instead of staying with the run, we decided to pass the ball. In other words, we stopped ourselves without the Commanders trying at all to do so. Why?

That's the frustrating part with Cowboys fans. It seems like whenever we get any good thing going, Garrett stops using it and goes to something else. I say let's run the ball or pass the ball 'til they stop it consistently. Then after that, let's try something else.

That's one way to look at it. I think part of the problem though is that we as fans don't get to hear why they got away from the run. Did they abandon the run because Washington countered with a different defensive look? Or was it something else. I often think that sometimes if either Garrett or Wade would give a definitive answer as to why they did something alot of the what-if's would go away. Just an opinion.

Craig

 

[sonnyboy]

I would like to have seen better balance between our yards gained and points scored.

 

[blindzebra]

The trouble is...and what many don't understand...we have success running because of the pass.

They see 4.9 YPC and think we should run it 35 times...well if we did that 4.9 would become 2.5 or 3.0 YPC and we'd never move the ball. Our OL is not a power running OL, just because they are big doesn't mean they routinely maul defenders.

Best case they will get stalemates and things clog up and we get a couple of yards, worst case they get shoved back and we lose a couple.

You want to run it more?

Get 3 guys more like Free and Kosier that can move and zone block.

 

[craig71]

I would like to have seen better balance between our yards gained and points scored.

I think that untimely penalties hurt us there more than any other.

Craig

 

[The Emperor]

That's one way to look at it. I think part of the problem though is that we as fans don't get to hear why they got away from the run. Did they abandon the run because Washington countered with a different defensive look? Or was it something else. I often think that sometimes if either Garrett or Wade would give a definitive answer as to why they did something alot of the what-if's would go away. Just an opinion.

Craig

Then maybe the mediots should ask questions like that instead of asking the other one what he thinks of his relationship with the other one. That was such an inane question. Thanks, Calvin "and Hobbes" Watkins. We still remember you as being the clown who in 2008 said that you could coach the team better than Wade.

If we would have had this conversation on Tuesday, I'd look at the tape and the game log and try to come up with an answer. But since it's Friday, I'm no longer interested. So, I'm going to let it go and leave it ambiguous.

 

[yentl911]

Hindsite 20/20 we probably should have pounded the ball on the Skins more than we did. It is tough to go against our passing game though. We have some absolute studs that can flat out make plays. Dez is going to be a star. He is the real deal.

One thing I think we should do more often, even though historically we have not been very good at it, is running the screen pass to Felix. Especially when the D is coming that hard after the QB. I think we could have taken adavantage of their aggresiveness and maybe slowed them down a little after a few nice screen plays.

Getting Felix in the open field is an absolue must in my opinion.

I hope that Columbo is back to his old self and not the guy that showed up against the Vikings in last years playoff game.

 

[Hostile]

In 2009 here were the top 8 passing teams.

1. Houston
2. New Orleans
3. New England
4. Indianapolis
5. San Diego
6. Dallas
7. Green Bay
8. Minnesota


I consider those to be 7 of the 8 most dangerous Offenses in the NFL. If you disagree, tell me why.


Here is where the same 8 teams ranked rushing the football.

6. New Orleans (2106 yards)
7. Dallas (2103 yards)
12. New England
13. Minnesota
14. Green Bay
30. Houston
31. San Diego
32. Indianapolis


I suppose I judge "Balance" differently than the cabal.

 

[dbair1967]

Well, in Washington, it appeared that the Commanders' weak link was their run defense. We were busting off big gains with our runningbacks and averaging at least 4 yards a carry.

Instead of staying with the run, we decided to pass the ball. In other words, we stopped ourselves without the Commanders trying at all to do so. Why?

That's the frustrating part with Cowboys fans. It seems like whenever we get any good thing going, Garrett stops using it and goes to something else. I say let's run the ball or pass the ball 'til they stop it consistently. Then after that, let's try something else.

We ran the ball the same amount of times in the second half as we did the first half. It was never "given up on" You can keep saying it, but it doesnt make it true.

Once again, what evidence did you see during preseason that our OL as it was going to be strong in the run game?

 

[The Emperor]

We ran the ball the same amount of times in the second half as we did the first half. It was never "given up on" You can keep saying it, but it doesnt make it true.

Once again, what evidence did you see during preseason that our OL as it was going to be strong in the run game?

So? We didn't run it enough. That would be like saying Child B was fed adequately because we gave him a Twinkie and parsley for lunch, just like we did with Child A.

Look at this here. This is what I'm talking about when I say "give up on the run":

(13:40) 24-M.Barber right tackle to WAS 47 for 4 yards (30-L.Landry, 52-R.McIntosh).
1-10-WAS 47
(13:09) 24-M.Barber left tackle to WAS 37 for 10 yards (23-D.Hall).
1-10-WAS 37
(12:31) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short right to 88-D.Bryant to WAS 35 for 2 yards (52-R.McIntosh, 99-A.Carter).
2-8-WAS 35
(11:48) 9-T.Romo pass short right to 88-D.Bryant to WAS 36 for -1 yards (23-D.Hall).


1-10-DAL 33
(13:20) 28-F.Jones left tackle to DAL 39 for 6 yards (30-L.Landry).
2-4-DAL 39
(12:38) 28-F.Jones left guard to DAL 42 for 3 yards (96-M.Kemoeatu, 59-L.Fletcher).
Timeout #1 by DAL at 11:45.
3-1-DAL 42
(11:45) 24-M.Barber left end ran ob at DAL 45 for 3 yards (52-R.McIntosh).
1-10-DAL 45
(11:19) 9-T.Romo pass incomplete short middle to 24-M.Barber.
2-10-DAL 45
(11:15) 9-T.Romo sacked at DAL 40 for -5 yards (52-R.McIntosh). Penalty on DAL-65-A.Gurode, Offensive Holding, declined.



1-10-DAL 17
(9:15) 28-F.Jones up the middle to DAL 22 for 5 yards (30-L.Landry, 37-R.Doughty).
2-5-DAL 22
(8:33) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 19-M.Austin to WAS 49 for 29 yards (59-L.Fletcher).
1-10-WAS 49
(7:44) 9-T.Romo pass incomplete deep left to 11-R.Williams (22-C.Rogers).
2-10-WAS 49
(7:36) 24-M.Barber left end pushed ob at WAS 48 for 1 yard (98-B.Orakpo).
3-9-WAS 48
(7:03) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left to 88-D.Bryant to WAS 42 for 6 yards (30-L.Landry).
4-3-WAS 42
(6:15) 1-M.McBriar punts 35 yards to WAS 7, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, downed by DAL-58-J.Williams.

This is a perplexing one. Even after we have to start 1st and 12 after Bennett's penalty, we abandon the run:


1-10-DAL 18
(14:21) 28-F.Jones left end to DAL 29 for 11 yards (52-R.McIntosh, 37-R.Doughty).
1-10-DAL 29
(13:42) 28-F.Jones left end pushed ob at DAL 34 for 5 yards (59-L.Fletcher). WAS-98-B.Orakpo was injured during the play.
2-5-DAL 34
(13:20) 28-F.Jones right end to DAL 37 for 3 yards (30-L.Landry).
3-2-DAL 37
(12:36) 23-T.Choice up the middle to DAL 45 for 8 yards (59-L.Fletcher, 22-C.Rogers).
1-10-DAL 45
(11:56) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 19-M.Austin pushed ob at WAS 43 for 12 yards (30-L.Landry). PENALTY on DAL-80-M.Bennett, Illegal Block Above the Waist, 10 yards, enforced at WAS 47.
1-12-DAL 43
(11:28) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left to 11-R.Williams to DAL 44 for 1 yard (31-P.Buchanon, 99-A.Carter).
2-11-DAL 44
(10:55) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass incomplete short middle to 82-J.Witten (98-B.Orakpo, 52-R.McIntosh).


That's what I mean when I say we "abandon the run."

And you want to talk about the pre-season and what indications from that time gave me the impression we could run the ball? The fact that we didn't run any elaborate blocking schemes. We were pretty vanilla.

And what happened in Washington gave me all the impression necessary to believe we can run the ball in the regular season.

 

[JBS]

I would like to have seen better balance between our yards gained and points scored.

Agreed...we need that number to be at or around 15 yards per point

 

[Fletch]

Well, in Washington, it appeared that the Commanders' weak link was their run defense. We were busting off big gains with our runningbacks and averaging at least 4 yards a carry.

Instead of staying with the run, we decided to pass the ball. In other words, we stopped ourselves without the Commanders trying at all to do so. Why?

That's the frustrating part with Cowboys fans. It seems like whenever we get any good thing going, Garrett stops using it and goes to something else. I say let's run the ball or pass the ball 'til they stop it consistently. Then after that, let's try something else.

Yeah, we do tend to stray rather quickly from what's working. Baffling sometimes. But some of those runs were penalized and maybe that caused Garrett to believe that the patch-work line wasn't up to task and decided to start passing.

 

[T-RO]

In 2009 in our game against Washington at Fedex we ran the ball 33 times...out of 61 plays and scored 7 points. (54% run first, more balanced)

This season in our game against Washington at Fedex we ran the ball 22 times...out of 70 plays and scored 7 points. (76% pass first)



Did running a lot more and "having balance" help us last season?

 

[T-RO]

The reality is that when the Cowboys and Skins meet you can expect an ugly, low scoring game.

Then factor in the state of our line...

Why do you think I predicted us to only score 7?

 

[percyhoward]

The trouble is...and what many don't understand...we have success running because of the pass.

Many don't understand that, while that is normally the case, it isn't the case for every...single...game.

 

[craig71]

In 2009 here were the top 8 passing teams.

1. Houston
2. New Orleans
3. New England
4. Indianapolis
5. San Diego
6. Dallas
7. Green Bay
8. Minnesota


I consider those to be 7 of the 8 most dangerous Offenses in the NFL. If you disagree, tell me why.


Here is where the same 8 teams ranked rushing the football.

6. New Orleans (2106 yards)
7. Dallas (2103 yards)
12. New England
13. Minnesota
14. Green Bay
30. Houston
31. San Diego
32. Indianapolis


I suppose I judge "Balance" differently than the cabal.

No disagreement on the teams listed. I think what really sets the teams apart is the ability to run the ball. Even if you don't run, just having the ability/threat to run makes a difference. To be honest, if Dallas would just cut down on the penalties/mental mistakes the offense would look much better.

On another note, I don't believe that I've seen the word "cabal" used in sometime.

Craig

 

[craig71]

Hindsite 20/20 we probably should have pounded the ball on the Skins more than we did. It is tough to go against our passing game though. We have some absolute studs that can flat out make plays. Dez is going to be a star. He is the real deal.

One thing I think we should do more often, even though historically we have not been very good at it, is running the screen pass to Felix. Especially when the D is coming that hard after the QB. I think we could have taken adavantage of their aggresiveness and maybe slowed them down a little after a few nice screen plays.

Getting Felix in the open field is an absolue must in my opinion.

I hope that Columbo is back to his old self and not the guy that showed up against the Vikings in last years playoff game.

In my opinion Dallas has not been a good screen team since the Landry Era.

Craig

 

[Hostile]

No disagreement on the teams listed. I think what really sets the teams apart is the ability to run the ball. Even if you don't run, just having the ability/threat to run makes a difference. To be honest, if Dallas would just cut down on the penalties/mental mistakes the offense would look much better.

On another note, I don't believe that I've seen the word "cabal" used in sometime.

Craig

Yeah, I thought about saying lynch mob instead.

 

[T-RO]

In my opinion Dallas has not been a good screen team since the Landry Era.

Craig

We keep going for these massive (purportedly) maulers and we won't run screens well.

Free and Kosier are the only guys who are good in screen blocking.