Our allegedly weak running game - Murray at more than 5 yards/carry

[xwalker]

I hate how he doesn't finish runs and the o-line still needs some work but I do like the Murray/Dunbar combo esp. when were not really running team.

In an interview awhile back, Emmitt said that he talked to Murray about how to stay healthy. One thing he told Murray was that you have to avoid unnecessary hits even if it means stepping out of bounds or just going to the ground instead of trying to run over people.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

We do have a weak running game. Our running game is very good at picking up yards when the defense is not sure what we are going to do (which is fine, that's part of the mix-up a good football team wants to achieve). When it's second and short our run game almost never delivers, which is why on third and short we always pass. If it's third and 2 there is not a single person in the entire stadium who thinks we can line up and run those 2 yards down their throat... because our run game is weak.

 

[Bleu Star]

 

[Crown Royal]

I'm loving the romo to murray checkdown. Excellent way to make a risk averse defense pay for playing coverage.

 

[Denim Chicken]

We do have a weak running game. Our running game is very good at picking up yards when the defense is not sure what we are going to do (which is fine, that's part of the mix-up a good football team wants to achieve). When it's second and short our run game almost never delivers, which is why on third and short we always pass. If it's third and 2 there is not a single person in the entire stadium who thinks we can line up and run those 2 yards down their throat... because our run game is weak.

Would like to see the stats to back this up if you have them handy.

 

[Rockport]

the run game was very good on sunday. i'll eat some crow on murray. the team is different with him playing.

Murray's avg is pretty good although I believe he only has average vision at best. If there's an inital crease, he's ok, but if there isn't, he doesn't seem able to find the back crease or the patience to let it develop. Having said that, he's doing a pretty good job. The running game is still weak, not because of Murray per say, but because the offensive philosophy is pass/run at a 80-20% ratio. I don't think you can consistently win with this type of philosophy. Just my opinion.

 

[Rockport]

Would like to see the stats to back this up if you have them handy.

You don't need stats to back that up. You just have to watch the games. Are you confident on a 3rd and 2 or 4th and 2 that we can run for the 1st down consistently? I'm sure not.

 

[Doomsday101]

Is that right? DeMarco is averaging 5.1 yards/carry?

http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/rushing

If so that's near the top of the league for starters. (Is Jennings a starter for the Raiders?)

WIth 5 games left, he needs 73.2 yards per game to be our first 1,000-yard back in a while, which is slightly above his per-game average this year.

Problem is the run game is inconsistent. The OL needs to do a better job of opening holes. I would also say defense needs to play better and not give up a boat load of points so that we can stay with the run game longer. Kind of hard to continue to run the ball when you start finding yourself trailing in games.

 

[Denim Chicken]

You don't need stats to back that up. You just have to watch the games. Are you confident on a 3rd and 2 or 4th and 2 that we can run for the 1st down consistently? I'm sure not.

I am not confident that it has been attempted enough times with Murray to draw conclusions, so I wanted to look at the numbers.

 

[Risen Star]

Murray is good when he is playing (and when they run him), however, the Cowboys are ranked 29th (out of 32) in the NFL in rushing yards. Probably even more concerning than that is that the Cowboys are 31st (out of 32) in rushing attempts.

The team itself is averaged 4.0 yards per carry -- which is imminently respectable.

IMHO, it's inexcusable that the team is 31st in attempts.

Which is why our yards per carry is so high. The element of surprise. I think the more we would run it, the less effective we would be.

We still get the majority of our rushing yards thru scheme. We do not move people like a real potent rushing attack would. We're better at it than last year but still not good.

The bottom line is on 4th and goal from the 2, I have no faith whatsoever in running the ball into the end zone. I'd much rather rely on Romo.

 

[Rockport]

I am not confident that it has been attempted enough times with Murray to draw conclusions, so I wanted to look at the numbers.

This has been the case for 2-3 years if not longer. Garretts bought into the pass happy offense that's become prevalent. But football is a physical game. If you can run the ball and stop the run then you have to be a physical team. This has a huge negative effect on the opposing team mentally. This is the part most casual fans just don't understand.

 

[Risen Star]

We do have a weak running game. Our running game is very good at picking up yards when the defense is not sure what we are going to do (which is fine, that's part of the mix-up a good football team wants to achieve). When it's second and short our run game almost never delivers, which is why on third and short we always pass. If it's third and 2 there is not a single person in the entire stadium who thinks we can line up and run those 2 yards down their throat... because our run game is weak.

Excellent post.

We'll have a strong running game when we can just put a hat on a hat and move people on known running downs. We are still inept in that department.

You have to play the hand you're dealt and right now the Cowboys best play is to keep the football in Tony Romo's hands. That's the strength of this offense. Run it to give some kind of balance and to keep the defense honest but we will win or lose games with this group on the back of the QB and the passing game.

 

[Denim Chicken]

This has been the case for 2-3 years if not longer. Garretts bought into the pass happy offense that's become prevalent. But football is a physical game. If you can run the ball and stop the run then you have to be a physical team. This has a huge negative effect on the opposing team mentally. This is the part most casual fans just don't understand.

You are being anecdotal and general now. The previous poster was referencing specific downs and distances for this year and that is what peaked my interest; not your expert-fan-only conclusion that the team has to be physical.

 

[Rockport]

You are being anecdotal and general now. The previous poster was referencing specific downs and distances for this year and that is what peaked my interest; not your expert-fan-only conclusion that the team has to be physical.

Huh?

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Excellent post.

We'll have a strong running game when we can just put a hat on a hat and move people on known running downs. We are still inept in that department.

You have to play the hand you're dealt and right now the Cowboys best play is to keep the football in Tony Romo's hands. That's the strength of this offense. Run it to give some kind of balance and to keep the defense honest but we will win or lose games with this group on the back of the QB and the passing game.

This. The great Nate Newton once said that running the football, and stopping the run for that matter, is a state of mind. If you commit yourself as an o-line to run the ball you will do it well. It helps if you have a feature back but you can run the ball consistently if that is what you commit to doing.

As for stopping the run, the D needs to step up on playing physical as well as staying (disciplined) in their gaps.

 

[Doomsday101]

This. The great Nate Newton once said that running the football, and stopping the run for that matter, is a state of mind. If you commit yourself as an o-line to run the ball you will do it well. It helps if you have a feature back but you can run the ball consistently if that is what you commit to doing.

As for stopping the run, the D needs to step up on playing physical as well as staying (disciplined) in their gaps.

True but when you find yourself giving up quick points it becomes harder to stay with the run. If defense can go out there and get 3 and out keep the scoring down using the run more often makes sense. I would love nothing more than to run the ball more but I also think you have to see the overall picture of what is going on

 

[Super_Kazuya]

You are being anecdotal and general now. The previous poster was referencing specific downs and distances for this year and that is what peaked my interest; not your expert-fan-only conclusion that the team has to be physical.

It is indeed for me based purely on observation, someone could show me the numbers and I may be surprised. Perhaps our particular ineptitude on second down in the Saints game is sticking extra long with me. However for me, the observation is that when we get 7 yards on 1st down, we almost never pick up the first down with a second down run... we'll get a yard or no gain. Also, we may run well early in the game but when we are trying to protect a lead our running game gets stuffed, getting 1-2 yards or losing yards. Fans interpret this as us abandoning the run, but the coaches know deep down that we can't run when a team knows we are and there's no use in throwing away downs. But yes, I'd like to see the numbers too.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

True but when you find yourself giving up quick points it becomes harder to stay with the run. If defense can go out there and get 3 and out keep the scoring down using the run more often makes sense. I would love nothing more than to run the ball more but I also think you have to see the overall picture of what is going on

Very true. This is the perfect game for Dallas to set the tone by coming out and smacking the Raiders offense in the face. I don't see it happening, though.

 

[Doomsday101]

Very true. This is the perfect game for Dallas to set the tone by coming out and smacking the Raiders offense in the face. I don't see it happening, though.

I would hope they will use both run and pass in this game and frankly every game. I do think that is ultimately what Garrett wants in this offense. Yes we are good at throwing the ball so when things get stagnate they will turn to what they do best but I don't think that changes what Garrett would like to see from this offense and that is better balance. Does not mean you run every 1st down but it does mean you use the run game to compliment the passing game and of course to keep defense off balance.

 

[ISUFan22]

There have been a lot of "fans" blaming Murray and ripping on him all season for the poor running game. It's had nothing to do with Murray and everything to do do with the scheme and dedication (or lack of it) to the running game.

Murray has been at or close to this 5 yards per carry all season. Got a running game like that and the scheme/gameplan ignores it? Completely pathetic.