The 2015 Dallas Cowboys and the Myth of DeMarco Murray

[mattjames2010]

Unless you guys can provide something that tells me we are going to "Pass more" this year, I'm not even sure why it's being discussed. Linehan, from day one, has come in here with the philosophy that this team is going to run the ball like they did in the 90s and has stated they are sticking to the formula this year. If you have some other quotes from him I don't know about, show me.

So if we are going to pass more, it's because our defense implodes and we have to play catch up or our running game is not effective any longer.

 

[Doomsday101]

1800 yards is no myth

or the 13 rushing TD a league high.

 

[mattjames2010]

It worked brilliantly, until the defense gave up 40 points. And it darn near got Romo killed with an offensive line of Home Depot rejects.

Balance yes, but the passing game is still the key to championships as that past two decades has proven.

This is funny. Because others will tell you it's a good defense or a good running game.

It's kinda like there is more than one way to win a Super Bowl. And whether you find passing to be the key doesn't matter, that's not our philosophy.

 

[Doomsday101]

This is funny. Because others will tell you it's a good defense or a good running game.

It's kinda like there is more than one way to win a Super Bowl. And whether you find passing to be the key doesn't matter, that's not our philosophy.

To me they are both important. Always has been be it Rodger Staubach behind center or Troy Aikman or Tony Romo. I just think this team is better when they are balanced because it forces defense to defend both run and pass.

 

[Blackspider214]

It worked brilliantly, until the defense gave up 40 points. And it darn near got Romo killed with an offensive line of Home Depot rejects.

Balance yes, but the passing game is still the key to championships as that past two decades has proven.

You do realize we possess almost the same defense skill set wise from those years, right? This defense is not good. Why did it look good at times last year? Because the run game controlled the clock and kept them off the field. We still can't rush the QB to save our lives last year. Secondary was well below average.

Our offense in those years could never establish anything and kept bringing the defense on the field too much. They did last year and look how much it helped Romo and the defense.

 

[erod]

You do realize we possess almost the same defense skill set wise from those years, right? This defense is not good. Why did it look good at times last year? Because the run game controlled the clock and kept them off the field. We still can't rush the QB to save our lives last year. Secondary was well below average.

Our offense in those years could never establish anything and kept bringing the defense on the field too much. They did last year and look how much it helped Romo and the defense.

And when have I disagreed with that?

The run game HELPED control the clock. Without Romo, the run game would have died miserably as it did against Arizona.

 

[Blackspider214]

And when have I disagreed with that?

The run game HELPED control the clock. Without Romo, the run game would have died miserably as it did against Arizona.

So then you agree with me. We need a run game for success. It's as simple as that. Romo by himself = failure.

And an effective run game. Which Murray brought. I have serious doubts about what we have now.

 

[erod]

So then you agree with me. We need a run game for success. It's as simple as that. Romo by himself = failure.

And an effective run game. Which Murray brought. I have serious doubts about what we have now.

If Murray brought it, where was it the previous three years while he was here?

Any quarterback by himself equals failure. Good lord.

 

[Blackspider214]

If Murray brought it, where was it the previous three years while he was here?

Any quarterback by himself equals failure. Good lord.

So what exactly are you even arguing here?

 

[Doomsday101]

And when have I disagreed with that?

The run game HELPED control the clock. Without Romo, the run game would have died miserably as it did against Arizona.

It does more than control the clock, it helps keep you in down and distance that is favorable to the offense. It does not allow the defense just to pin their ears back and go after Romo and down in the redzone it is even more important. Given Dallas backup QB situation your right about the Arz game.

 

[erod]

So what exactly are you even arguing here?

I suggest you go and read my posts because I have no idea who the straw man is you've created.

 

[erod]

It does more than control the clock, it helps keep you in down and distance that is favorable to the offense. It does not allow the defense just to pin their ears back and go after Romo and down in the redzone it is even more important. Given Dallas backup QB situation your right about the Arz game.

Right, and nobody on this board has begged and argued for an offensive line more than me so Dallas can run the football.

I'm just saying, you have to throw to win big in the end. This is still a quarterback's league, which is why they get paid like they do.

Every now and then, you get a Ravens or Seahawks defense, but those are rare and usually fail without a QB to go along with it.

 

[BlindFaith]

Balance yes, but the passing game is still the key to championships as that past two decades has proven.

That is not true. At least not in the simplistic way you've stated.

 

[Blackspider214]

I suggest you go and read my posts because I have no idea who the straw man is you've created.

1. You said our slinging it all over worked great. Not even close to the truth.
2. You blame our defense for all our issues, which is silly.
3. You downplay the run game by saying the passing game is the main key.

Except, without a solid run game, this team is 8-8.

Again, you don't make any sense.

 

[ConstantReboot]

Right, and nobody on this board has begged and argued for an offensive line more than me so Dallas can run the football.

I'm just saying, you have to throw to win big in the end. This is still a quarterback's league, which is why they get paid like they do.

Every now and then, you get a Ravens or Seahawks defense, but those are rare and usually fail without a QB to go along with it.

Sorry I have to disagree. There is more than one ways to skin a cat. There is always many ways to win a superbowl. Each team has their formula for getting to the superbowl and winning it. Seattle with their defense and the Patriots and Broncos with their passing attack.

The best thing that the Cowboys could do is keep on doing whats working. Having a balanced attack is working. Why try and fix it? Its not broken. Fix the defense and we can become constant contenders like Seattle. We don't need to follow what other teams are doing. We just need to continue doing whats working.

 

[percyhoward]

You do realize we possess almost the same defense skill set wise from those years, right? This defense is not good. Why did it look good at times last year? Because the run game controlled the clock and kept them off the field.

It isn't as simple as both sides are trying to make it. While the offense ranked 2nd in TOP (and its 1st-half TOP led the league), the defense's TOP was very much improved over the previous three seasons. Opposing teams couldn't stay on the field in the first half against us.

TIME OF POSSESSION
Dallas Offense
1st half TOP per drive (NFL rank)
2011-13 2:48 (6th)
2014 3:18 (1st)

Dallas Opponent
1st half TOP per drive (NFL rank)
2011-13 2:44 (28th)
2014 2:30 (6th)

Did we win because we ran more, or did we run more because we were winning? Did the offense give the defense needed rest, or did the defense give itself this rest? The answer is yes, and yes.

 

[Doomsday101]

Right, and nobody on this board has begged and argued for an offensive line more than me so Dallas can run the football.

I'm just saying, you have to throw to win big in the end. This is still a quarterback's league, which is why they get paid like they do.

Every now and then, you get a Ravens or Seahawks defense, but those are rare and usually fail without a QB to go along with it.

QB have always been important, I don't think we win a SB without Staubach. This is not a matter of a competition between QB vs RB. When people act as if the run does not win games? For some teams it does it is a critical part of their offense. Those 90's SB had a lot to do with the fact that GB and SF were one dimensional while Dallas you could not key on 1 aspect without getting torched by the other. Even todays Cowboys when we are facing some poor team we can get by on just throwing it but when we faced top teams it is hard to sit there throwing down after down, the run game made a big impact on that last season.

 

[Blackspider214]

It isn't as simple as both sides are trying to make it. While the offense ranked 2nd in TOP (and its 1st-half TOP led the league), the defense's TOP was very much improved over the previous three seasons. Opposing teams couldn't stay on the field in the first half against us.

TIME OF POSSESSION
Dallas Offense
1st half TOP per drive (NFL rank)
2011-13 2:48 (6th)
2014 3:18 (1st)

Dallas Opponent
1st half TOP per drive (NFL rank)
2011-13 2:44 (28th)
2014 2:30 (6th)

Did we win because we ran more, or did we run more because we were winning? Did the offense give the defense needed rest, or did the defense give itself this rest? The answer is yes, and yes.

And why couldn't they stay on the field? Because we got rest.

 

[BlindFaith]

It isn't as simple as both sides are trying to make it. While the offense ranked 2nd in TOP (and its 1st-half TOP led the league), the defense's TOP was very much improved over the previous three seasons. Opposing teams couldn't stay on the field in the first half against us.

TIME OF POSSESSION
Dallas Offense
1st half TOP per drive (NFL rank)
2011-13 2:48 (6th)
2014 3:18 (1st)

Dallas Opponent
1st half TOP per drive (NFL rank)
2011-13 2:44 (28th)
2014 2:30 (6th)

Did we win because we ran more, or did we run more because we were winning? Did the offense give the defense needed rest, or did the defense give itself this rest? The answer is yes, and yes.

Curious, please post the yards per play for those offenses. Defensive TOP is very misleading. If they give up huge chunks of yards in a hurry, TOP will be low. And we did just that last year on defense.

 

[Rockport]

It is a very valid comparison. Dez gets 14m and they won't give the reigning AP Offensive POY 8m.

Murray probably would have signed for 18m guaranteed. Over 3 years that is 6m per. Less than they gave Free or Carr.

Everyone says how easy it is to replace Murray, but here we are with Gus Johnson starting.

Lol, that's s very naive take. I use inform you its the first preseason game and not week 1 of the regular season.