CFZ Running Game Has Not Stepped Up

[plasticman]

Zeke numbers expanded to a 17 game total would be less than a thousand yards with 4 TD's. Pollard's would be less than 700 yards with 4 TD's.

The Cowboys average 2.9 yards a carry in the 4th quarter.

Take out the Giant game and Cowboys RB's have had three runs for 10 or more yards in the other three games combined.

Take out their longest run and Zeke's average YPC is 3.4. Pollard's is 3.3.

Why can't the running game step up? Part of it is due to the injuries on the left side of the O-line.

However, I suspect that most opponent defenses are focusing on stopping the Cowboys running game. if Rush continues his success, they may back off a little, but I don't think you can discount this fact when considering our backup QB's success. Simply put, they did not respect him. They loaded the box against the run.

That's what the Cowboys wanted in order to keep Rush under less pressure. However, this plan cannot last against some of the better teams.

One of the advantages to having Dak is that defenses will let up more on defending the run. Dak is a more dynamic passer and runner and defenses must respect that.

Right now. some of Cooper's success, geared more towards not making mistakes, comes at the detriment of the running game. Unless the passing game opens up and you see some three hundred yard passing games, the running game will continue to stall.

 

[fivetwos]

I like the days of winning games and having bad stats as opposed to when we had the ‘number one offense’ but couldn’t move the ball.

 

[john van brocklin]

Zeke numbers expanded to a 17 game total would be less than a thousand yards with 4 TD's. Pollard's would be less than 700 yards with 4 TD's.

The Cowboys average 2.9 yards a carry in the 4th quarter.

Take out the Giant game and Cowboys RB's have had three runs for 10 or more yards in the other three games combined.

Take out their longest run and Zeke's average YPC is 3.4. Pollard's is 3.3.

Why can't the running game step up? Part of it is due to the injuries on the left side of the O-line.

However, I suspect that most opponent defenses are focusing on stopping the Cowboys running game. if Rush continues his success, they may back off a little, but I don't think you can discount this fact when considering our backup QB's success. Simply put, they did not respect him. They loaded the box against the run.

That's what the Cowboys wanted in order to keep Rush under less pressure. However, this plan cannot last against some of the better teams.

One of the advantages to having Dak is that defenses will let up more on defending the run. Dak is a more dynamic passer and runner and defenses must respect that.

Right now. some of Cooper's success, geared more towards not making mistakes, comes at the detriment of the running game. Unless the passing game opens up and you see some three hundred yard passing games, the running game will continue to stall.

Logical analysis

 

[john van brocklin]

I like the days of winning games and having bad stats as opposed to when we had the ‘number one offense’ but couldn’t move the ball.

Are you saying:
Just win baby?

 

[Jake]

I like the days of winning games and having bad stats as opposed to when we had the ‘number one offense’ but couldn’t move the ball.

Yeah, winning's fun - we all like it. What happens when the opponent scores 20+ points? Or do you think this defense is the 2000 Ravens?

Limited offense will only get you so far in 2022. So either Zeke and Pollard both suck, or the Cowboys have a problem blocking for the run.

 

[goshann]

Logical analysis

No it isn’t
U can’t remove carrys to twist the stats
The running game has been pretty good this year minus the wash game which they loaded the box

 

[john van brocklin]

No it isn’t
U can’t remove carrys to twist the stats
The running game has been pretty good this year minus the wash game which they loaded the box

Maybe I should have said interesting analysis?

 

[Pass2Run]

You guys aren't considering the impact of Michael Gallup.

The goal is to set up the play action.. And to be able to pass, and to not be predictable.

It doesn't matter how many yards we get; statistics show that when we rush at least 30 times, we win, almost always.

 

[Jake]

No it isn’t
U can’t remove carrys to twist the stats
The running game has been pretty good this year minus the wash game which they loaded the box

The Cowboys are 19th in rushing yards per game, and 25th in rushing yards per attempt. No twists required.

 

[GINeric]

Zeke numbers expanded to a 17 game total would be less than a thousand yards with 4 TD's. Pollard's would be less than 700 yards with 4 TD's.

The Cowboys average 2.9 yards a carry in the 4th quarter.

Take out the Giant game and Cowboys RB's have had three runs for 10 or more yards in the other three games combined.

Take out their longest run and Zeke's average YPC is 3.4. Pollard's is 3.3.

Why can't the running game step up? Part of it is due to the injuries on the left side of the O-line.

However, I suspect that most opponent defenses are focusing on stopping the Cowboys running game. if Rush continues his success, they may back off a little, but I don't think you can discount this fact when considering our backup QB's success. Simply put, they did not respect him. They loaded the box against the run.

That's what the Cowboys wanted in order to keep Rush under less pressure. However, this plan cannot last against some of the better teams.

One of the advantages to having Dak is that defenses will let up more on defending the run. Dak is a more dynamic passer and runner and defenses must respect that.

Right now. some of Cooper's success, geared more towards not making mistakes, comes at the detriment of the running game. Unless the passing game opens up and you see some three hundred yard passing games, the running game will continue to stall.

We still have to keep running the ball as a tool to wear down the defense AND to keep them honest with balance and the threat of being ran on.

The last thing you want is for Rush to have to pass all game and abandon the run. He's not built like that.

 

[Cmac]

What running game has worked under KMoore's schemes?

 

[CowboyRoy]

Zeke numbers expanded to a 17 game total would be less than a thousand yards with 4 TD's. Pollard's would be less than 700 yards with 4 TD's.

The Cowboys average 2.9 yards a carry in the 4th quarter.

Take out the Giant game and Cowboys RB's have had three runs for 10 or more yards in the other three games combined.

Take out their longest run and Zeke's average YPC is 3.4. Pollard's is 3.3.

Why can't the running game step up? Part of it is due to the injuries on the left side of the O-line.

However, I suspect that most opponent defenses are focusing on stopping the Cowboys running game. if Rush continues his success, they may back off a little, but I don't think you can discount this fact when considering our backup QB's success. Simply put, they did not respect him. They loaded the box against the run.

That's what the Cowboys wanted in order to keep Rush under less pressure. However, this plan cannot last against some of the better teams.

One of the advantages to having Dak is that defenses will let up more on defending the run. Dak is a more dynamic passer and runner and defenses must respect that.

Right now. some of Cooper's success, geared more towards not making mistakes, comes at the detriment of the running game. Unless the passing game opens up and you see some three hundred yard passing games, the running game will continue to stall.

No big secret. Many of us have been saying it for years. ANYTIME you feature some over the hill, slow plodding RB that cant bounce it outside your running game is going to be inconsistent at best. With Pollard at least you get the big plays. With Zeke you get neither.

But you pointed out another big issue. With Rush at QB, they are not concerned about the passing game so the run game gets the attention. Just the opposite with Dak. So we see ANOTHER reason why Rush has had some mild success. Because play action is working and defenses are focusing on the run more.

With Dak its a two deep safety look or a 3 deep shell nickel and they are daring us to run. THIS year, however, we probably have more of a chance to make them pay for that type of defense.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I like the days of winning games and having bad stats as opposed to when we had the ‘number one offense’ but couldn’t move the ball.

When was that?

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

You run the ball wether it's working or not just to keep the defense honest. So our rushing attempts may not be effective on the ground, but it's affecting the passing game. It slows down the pass rush and makes play action way more efficient. So if we're gaining yours on the ground good, If we're not, just keep running it, because but is working.

As some say...it's not how well you run the ball that matters, it's how often you run the ball that matters. But yes good production on the ground would be nice.

 

[glimmerman]

They stacked the box Sunday. Moore is a passing OC. He does not understand that the screen or dump off plays work when they stack the box. Had a few that was big plays. And it forces them to back out. He threw 2. No sweep or toss plays. He runs up the gut and Elliot was still getting 3 or so yards per carry. Against a stacked box it’s not bad but everyone thinks he has lost a step.

 

[glimmerman]

No big secret. Many of us have been saying it for years. ANYTIME you feature some over the hill, slow plodding RB that cant bounce it outside your running game is going to be inconsistent at best. With Pollard at least you get the big plays. With Zeke you get neither.

But you pointed out another big issue. With Rush at QB, they are not concerned about the passing game so the run game gets the attention. Just the opposite with Dak. So we see ANOTHER reason why Rush has had some mild success. Because play action is working and defenses are focusing on the run more.

With Dak its a two deep safety look or a 3 deep shell nickel and they are daring us to run. THIS year, however, we probably have more of a chance to make them pay for that type of defense.

We need to see if Dak will take off with the ball when he gets back. They stack the box and Dak rolls out and the defense freaks out because he can take off for 7 or more and slide. He does that a few times and the defense is forced to change or if Dak is smart he will either have a big rushing day or they can set up screens. Run the 12 personnel.

 

[RonnieT24]

Ditto what several have already said.. and as Bill Parcells always said, "sometimes you have to be stubborn with the run." People who don't understand football think "yards are yards" and repeat that same old tired mantra that "you don't just keep banging your head against the wall" when the run isn't working. What those people don't understand is that if the running game is forcing the defense to commit resources to it and keeping the defensive front from teeing off on your QB.. then the running game IS working. You can't allow the defense to dictate what plays you run. Teams go into every game wanting to make the opponent's offense one-dimensional so they dedicate extra attention to it early in games hoping some young hotshot OC will completely abandon the run and make themselves much easier to defend for the rest of the game.

Talking heads are fond of citing the old "8 men in the box" as the ultimate indicator of a defense focused on stopping the run. It's simply not true. All that is necessary is that they cheat the linebackers up and/or put more people in the box than you have blockers.. So 6 in the box is advantage defense is you only have 5 blockers. Same with 7 in the box against 6 blockers. Especially when one or two of your blockers are not good. That's why 12 personnel is favored when you really want to run the ball. Obviously the last three weeks teams have not exactly feared our passing game. So they've come for the runners. Our 220 yard, 1 TD a game passing attack aint striking fear into anybody.. so I expect all the attention to be on the runners until Dak comes back.

 

[Big D]

We still have to keep running the ball as a tool to wear down the defense AND to keep them honest with balance and the threat of being ran on.

The last thing you want is for Rush to have to pass all game and abandon the run. He's not built like that.

Burrow and Herbert aren't either and they're supposedly significantly better than our QBs. Run the ball!

 

[RonnieT24]

Burrow and Herbert aren't either and they're supposedly significantly better than our QBs. Run the ball!

There is not a QB in the league who can just drop back 50 times every game and win them all. Nor has there ever been. The repeated narrative that "Dak needs help so he's not as good as {fill in the blank}" is just mindless drivel. This is a team game.. It takes 40+ guys to win games on Sunday.. I have no problem acknowledging that there are some QBs who are better than Dak.. I just don't think that list is nearly as long as some people make it out to be.

 

[slick325]

Yeah, winning's fun - we all like it. What happens when the opponent scores 20+ points? Or do you think this defense is the 2000 Ravens?

Limited offense will only get you so far in 2022. So either Zeke and Pollard both suck, or the Cowboys have a problem blocking for the run.

I think it is the run blocking, play scheme, blocking scheme and the timing of when some runs are called (OC not always having a feel for the flow of the game), that all contribute to it. Hopefully things get sorted out and the LG and C positions establish themselves.