Run game may be different this year

[windjc]

I've noticed that fans like to ignore what management and coaches say about the team and personnel, choosing often to assume that whatever we saw work last year will be the same this year.

However, Garrett, Linehan and Romo have all stated that every year is DIFFERENT and that every year the play book and game plan will be based on the strengths of the team.

Last year we started running Murray in game #1 and got good results. So we stuck with that philosophy.

However it is quite possible that what we saw this week #1 is what we will see throughout the season. And what we saw is Randle and McFadden trading quarters while having Dunbar act as a Sproles type out of the background.

We saw passes to all three backs and a lot of them. And it worked.

We controlled the ball, avoided sacks, gained the #3 most yards in the league in week #1, dominated time of possession and gave the backs over 50% of the offensive touches.

We may not have the physical punishing style of Murray this year (at least not with Randle and McFadden) but the offensive productivity in week #1 did not miss a beat from last year.

 

[Junglist]

I'm most concerned about the offensive line not opening up ANY holes tonight. Now, it's just one game, but if this becomes a trend, we're screwed.

 

[spook930]

The running game looked decent.... Couldn't run it as much because we kept shooting ourselves in the foot with turnovers. We will be fine.

 

[ConstantReboot]

I'm most concerned about the offensive line not opening up ANY holes tonight. Now, it's just one game, but if this becomes a trend, we're screwed.

The holes were there. Were just so accustomed to Murray breaking a few tackles and earning some extra yardage. Randle and MacFadden can't do that. Honestly, I was disappointed more in Randle. I really wish he can break a few tackles or use his wiggle to make would be tackler miss. But I think its just the nervousness of being the lead back. I'll just have to give him the benefit of the doubt for now.

I like what I saw from MacFadden. I wish he would have been the one getting the majority of the carries tonight. I think he is more elusive than Randle is much more dangerous in space.

 

[NickZepp]

It's hard to judge the run game when we backed ourselves into a corner with the turnovers and such. I felt like all 2 and a half/3 backs played their roles. I'm not sure we can call Dunbar a running back. I'm not sure he'll get any actual carries this year. The YPC probably would have been higher if we didn't have the 3 turnovers and were trying to control the game in the 4th quarter instead of playing catch up.

 

[DallasDomination]

I was disappointed in Randle but it's game 1...we've had games where Murray couldn't run at all and we didn't panic. I would like to see dmc and Christine get more reps.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

80 yards rushing. Have to do better than that. We were lucky.

 

[FLCowboyFan]

I'm most concerned about the offensive line not opening up ANY holes tonight. Now, it's just one game, but if this becomes a trend, we're screwed.

This is the first time since last December that the OL played together. They will be fine once they get going.

 

[darthseinfeld]

80 yards rushing. Have to do better than that. We were lucky.

And 3.5 yards per carry

 

[superonyx]

But but everyone here told me anyone could run behind this line.

 

[darthseinfeld]

I think we should roll with McFadden, Dunbar and Michael next week.

 

[darthseinfeld]

But but everyone here told me anyone could run behind this line.

People forget that in the 90' two 2nd round picks in Derrick Lassic and Sherman Williams as well as a former #2 overall pick in Blair Thomas stuggled horribly behind one of the best lines in NFL history. It takes more then just a dominant line

 

[Rockport]

McFadden looked to be the starter sooner than later. Looking forward to seeing Michaels play as well. Randle is too small to carry the load even if it's every other quarter. The Arab position will be fine.

 

[starfrombirth]

I'm most concerned about the offensive line not opening up ANY holes tonight. Now, it's just one game, but if this becomes a trend, we're screwed.

Remember, the oline has only been together 1 week this entire season. I truly expect next week to be much better.

 

[black label]

Randle is not a starter in the NFL.

 

[bark]

If randle doesn't improve his blitz pickup he is headed straight to the bench . That concerns me more than his rushing ability

 

[Dodger12]

I've noticed that fans like to ignore what management and coaches say about the team and personnel, choosing often to assume that whatever we saw work last year will be the same this year.

So the idea is to take a formula that led us to 12 and 4 with a playoff win and one bad call away from going to the NFC Championship Game and change it? That's plain stupid.

In addition, this flies in the face of what folks have been saying about the multi-year time frame needed to rebuild the offensive line so we could run. Instead, we rebuild the line with 1st rounders to get away from the run. This game looked like pre-2014 all over again all the way down to giving Romo the ball and praying he bails us out on the last drive.

This team was ill prepared, played stupid in not knowing when to get out of bounds in critical situations and was the beneficiary of a horrendous play call by the Giants at the goal line. Romo saved this team's (and the coaching staff's) butt once again.

 

[ConstantReboot]

McFadden looked to be the starter sooner than later. Looking forward to seeing Michaels play as well. Randle is too small to carry the load even if it's every other quarter. The Arab position will be fine.

I think Randle is not made to be lead back. He is more of a change of pace back which we already have in MacFadden and Dunbar.

I'd like to see what CMike can do. All we needed tonight was for Randle to break a few arm tackles and he would have big gains. My concern from the beginning is that he just isn't strong enough. Hopefully he can prove me wrong against the Eagles.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I thought the running game was OK. Not great, not terrible, but OK.

Those that are riffing on it need to consider that the Cowboys were in a hole for quite a while and the Giants were loading up to stop the run.

In addition those short passes to the backs are almost like running plays. Very "West Coast Offense-ish".

I can live with that.

 

[Rockport]

I thought the running game was OK. Not great, not terrible, but OK.

Those that are riffing on it need to consider that the Cowboys were in a hole for quite a while and the Giants were loading up to stop the run.

In addition those short passes to the backs are almost like running plays. Very "West Coast Offense-ish".

I can live with that.

The running game looked fine. We were playing from behind a lot of the game so didn't get to exploit it as much.