News: PFT: DeMarco Murray: It’s hard to run against nine in the box

[WoodysGirl]

Noting that the Cardinals continually stacked the line of scrimmage to stop Murray and dareBrandon Weeden to pass on them, Murray said the Cowboys actually did pretty well running the ball, considering the Cardinals’ defensive alignment.

“We did good against nine guys in the box,” Murray said, via the Star-Telegram. “It was a hard day.”

Murray is right: When you’re going up against a defensive front like this, it’s hard to run. But given the absence of Romo, it’s surprising that the Cowboys have handed Murray the ball just 19 times in each of the last two games.


Read more: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...rray-its-hard-to-run-against-nine-in-the-box/

Michael David Smith‏@MichaelDavSmith
Think Cardinals D knew a run up the middle was coming?

 

[bark]

I agree with Murray and I'll add that if the game had stayed competitive till the end he would have broke 100 again

 

[Idgit]

I agree with Murray and I'll add that if the game had stayed competitive till the end he would have broke 100 again

He was on pace to up through the end of the 3rd quarter.

 

[JohnsKey19]

They won't face another front like Arizona again all season. It's not that they just stacked the box, it's also the players they have on the DL, particularly Campbell and Williams. They were also fortunate to catch us without Leary at OG and a below average backup QB they clearly did not respect. How the running game performed with these conditions was more encouraging than something to be concerned about.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Noting that the Cardinals continually stacked the line of scrimmage to stop Murray and dareBrandon Weeden to pass on them, Murray said the Cowboys actually did pretty well running the ball, considering the Cardinals’ defensive alignment.

“We did good against nine guys in the box,” Murray said, via the Star-Telegram. “It was a hard day.”

Murray is right: When you’re going up against a defensive front like this, it’s hard to run. But given the absence of Romo, it’s surprising that the Cowboys have handed Murray the ball just 19 times in each of the last two games.


Read more: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...rray-its-hard-to-run-against-nine-in-the-box/

Michael David Smith‏@MichaelDavSmith
Think Cardinals D knew a run up the middle was coming?

Seriously, if I see that I am breaking to my right to try and get something around the corner.

 

[WV Cowboy]

A fake dive to Murray, and a quick pitch to Randle or Dunbar would have probably gotten to the outside for 2 yards.

 

[bark]

Also I haven't heard anyone mention it but I remember seeing Dunbar in on several plays but that other guy that spells Murray on occasion, don't remember seeing him. Hmmm must be injured or something

 

[WV Cowboy]

I agree with Murray and I'll add that if the game had stayed competitive till the end he would have broke 100 again

He was on pace to up through the end of the 3rd quarter.

He ended up with 79, .. I know he had an 11 yard run called back because of penalty. I would not have minded seeing him run a little even after we knew we were going to lose, .. just to try to get 100.

 

[Sasquatch]

I was a bit surprised that we didn't use the shotgun draw. Perhaps with Weeden back there it wouldn't have fooled anyone.

 

[Crown Royal]

Even with Romo back expect teams to crowd the line of scrimmage until we prove that we can beat them for it.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

He ended up with 79, .. I know he had an 11 yard run called back because of penalty. I would not have minded seeing him run a little even after we knew we were going to lose, .. just to try to get 100.

I agree. I think we owe it to DeMarco. He's been great. He was one of the few bright spots yesterday. He didn't deserve to have his streak broken because everyone else was incompetent.

 

[LandryFan]

Also I haven't heard anyone mention it but I remember seeing Dunbar in on several plays but that other guy that spells Murray on occasion, don't remember seeing him. Hmmm must be injured or something

He had one carry for 2 yards late in the 3rd QTR, I believe.

 

[Idgit]

He ended up with 79, .. I know he had an 11 yard run called back because of penalty. I would not have minded seeing him run a little even after we knew we were going to lose, .. just to try to get 100.

Yeah. I remember thinking they'd run the ball at the end of the 3rd when they had a play or two there, and he'd just gotten over the 75 yard mark.
That said, I'm glad that streak is broken. I don't like the temptation to run the guy late in a game like that when we should be running his backups. And I don't like it when streaks take on importance to players and then teams try to feed them to keep the mojo going. I prefer we just call the plays we think are going to be safest or most effective.

I do love Murray's reaction to the streak getting broken, which was basically 'Who cares. We lost. That's all I care about.' He's a cool dude who really gets it and who I think really means it.

 

[bark]

He had one carry for 2 yards late in the 3rd QTR, I believe.

I missed that one I guess. My eyes were crossed at that point watching weeden drill a fastball into the turf

 

[Doomsday101]

Just disappointed they failed to pick it up. Had Dallas ran wide and were stopped the question would be why not go directly at them since it was a yard? If he pay action and throw and fail to excute again the question is why did you not run it and the Murray had 4.1 per carry crowd would question the call. At some point if falls to the players to make the play and 4th in 1 it was the cardinal player who made the play.

 

[WV Cowboy]

Yeah. I remember thinking they'd run the ball at the end of the 3rd when they had a play or two there, and he'd just gotten over the 75 yard mark.
That said, I'm glad that streak is broken. I don't like the temptation to run the guy late in a game like that when we should be running his backups. And I don't like it when streaks take on importance to players and then teams try to feed them to keep the mojo going. I prefer we just call the plays we think are going to be safest or most effective.

I do love Murray's reaction to the streak getting broken, which was basically 'Who cares. We lost. That's all I care about.' He's a cool dude who really gets it and who I think really means it.

Records aside, .. running Murray was probably our best chance at moving the ball with the way Weeden played yesterday. LOL

 

[LandryFan]

I missed that one I guess. My eyes were crossed at that point watching weeden drill a fastball into the turf

You really had to be paying attention to know that he had that carry. I can see how Weeden's performance had you closing your eyes.

 

[Idgit]

Records aside, .. running Murray was probably our best chance at moving the ball with the way Weeden played yesterday. LOL

Oh, definitely. Only referring to us getting down by 18 at the end of the game. We were like a fly with its wings pulled off on offense yesterday. It was really frustrating, because there were good situations for throwing against that secondary, and, despite the rush, the OL game Weeden plenty of time more often than not.

 

[tyke1doe]

He was on pace to up through the end of the 3rd quarter.

Yep. We just stop feeding him the rock. Another 100 yard game was within reach.

 

[tyke1doe]

Oh, definitely. Only referring to us getting down by 18 at the end of the game. We were like a fly with its wings pulled off on offense yesterday. It was really frustrating, because there were good situations for throwing against that secondary, and, despite the rush, the OL game Weeden plenty of time more often than not.

And we were only down by 4 and had thwarted Arizona's offense UNTIL ... we couldn't pick up one yard, went for it on fourth down, didn't convert and gave Arizona excellent field position.

Even in the loss, I'm encourage. After Arizona went up 14, they didn't really do much more for most of the third quarter. We just couldn't do anything offensively. I think we blow them out if we play them again - if everyone is healthy, starting with Romo, that is.