The success of the run game has set up our offensive success

[Pentagruel]

I think in the modern NFL you need both a successful running game and a high octane passing game to have success. If your run game is a zero then yes, it’s too easy to defend the passing game. However, it’s a lot more difficult to build a good passing game. It requires a lot of talent from the OL to the WR core to the QB. If you don’t have that then your running game can be very easily shut down even by poor defensive teams. I think Schottenheimer and Adams have done a superb job of rebuilding the running game and balancing our offense thus far. Teams don’t know what to key in on right now as we have so many ways to hurt them on offense, including good defensive teams.

 

[ChuckA1]

I don't like Stephen A Smith but he is right Eventually if it can go wrong it will go wrong for these cowboys we are snake bitten...

It sure seems like it.

 

[blueblood70]

It sure seems like it.

I mean it's head scratching isn't it 2014 with a very good quarterback on the best runners in football and DE Marco Murray that year AA solid defense it wasn't great but it was solid pretty good special teams we go into that game and guess what DeMarco Murray fumbles one of our better kickers misses two field goals , the controversy with Dez and the almost catch, and then our defense gives up the dagger to Aaron Rodgers no matter how many times the Cowboys stayed in that game it just came down to the defense he left too much time on the clock and everybody's scared around here because that's how it goes they always give it up...

Mean 2016 new quarterback but Rookie of the year rushing champion One of the better O lines in football Solid defense again not great but good I can't remember our kicker but what happens in that game same thing our rookie does everything he can to keep us in the game battling back every time to tie the game up only to have our defense every time give it back up and lost the game..

The Rams game in 2018 defense gives up 276 yards the offense while Okay just couldn't move the football because of why the trenches we are getting our butts beat in the trenches and they couldn't run the damn football enough to open up the pass game we became one dimensional lost by 8 points it felt worse than that...

I mean just look at what happened in those San Francisco games people just forget that The offensive lines and the run games just disappeared they were really good during the regular season and couldn't do a single thing in the postseason then you got guys who some of the best at picking the ball off might have even been that year Trayvon Diggs drops an interception doesn't bother to try to knock the ball loose from Kittles and we lose another close game but remember more controversy I don't remember which game it was but get not getting the ball set on the ref... Blame that on Prescott but I've seen 50 of those since they always seem to have a ref either behind or a head that runs up and makes sure they get that ball set whether it's in college or the pros but somehow on this day we have a lazy fat slow ref who just doesn't care or maybe he had a bet I don't know.. I mean you can add in do you remember there was 11 penalties on the offensive line in one of those games plus four on the defensive line that same game and you blame Prescott for not being able to move the ball seriously playing behind the chains with no run game and being one dimensional....ughh!!!!!

And yes I'm rambling here and it doesn't even mean anything to bring up the 2023 Packers loss in the playoffs being the number one seed the worst of all of them except we were never in that game horrible defense that pretty much lost it I don't want to hear about anything else we lost on the first drive of the game when they gave up seven because they never stopped giving it up No matter what happened on offense there was nothing they could do to ever get back in this game even if it would have ended up being 40 to 37 like these games this year we were going to lose..


I know I'm rambling, but this is about we've had some great offensive lines and run games, but they don't show up in the playoffs... It's like it this team forgets how they played in the regular season and it never goes right in the postseason or even in the big games in the regular season you they just forget how to play ball..

 

[Bobhaze]

Just about everyone here was. Y’all weren’t even going to give them a chance to prove it one way or the other. I tried telling y’all but instead got relentlessly attacked for the wait and see I was preaching. No one’s even apologized which I knew wasn’t going to happen.

Rock I would add what we’re talking about right now are “positives so far”. There are negatives too of course. And 2-2-1 is pretty reflective of what this team is so far - mediocre as our record says it is.

But through five games there are several things to like - the run games success, Dak’s excellent play so far, Schotty’s aggressive play calling, additions George Pickens and Javonte Williams, some positive signs with young draft picks like Tyler Booker and Shemar James.

As I said earlier, this team is very much like their record suggests- a team in transition with some positive signs offensively and also some old problems with the run defense.

12 games to go. A whole lot still to learn about what this team is.

 

[Point-of-the-Star]

Just about everyone here was. Y’all weren’t even going to give them a chance to prove it one way or the other. I tried telling y’all but instead got relentlessly attacked for the wait and see I was preaching. No one’s even apologized which I knew wasn’t going to happen.

Rocky . . . I never attacked you . . . NEVER ! I never posted ANYTHING about my thoughts on the run game ... NEVER(2025)!

So, are you saying I owe you an apology for my private thoughts and silence toward your opinion?

I mean, you did quote my post! You did say "y'all" ! Who is owed an apology ????????????

 

[McKDaddy]

I have come to believe that the run game is the secret weapon of the better NFL offenses. Passing still gets the most yards in the NFL but it’s the teams that can run the ball effectively that have the easiest time passing the ball.

1000%. You don't have to be the top running attack in terms of yards but when you show you can consistently move the ball & especially convert first downs without trickery or putting the ball in the air, the defense has to honor everything. Notice how much more space some of our short to medium routes have because defenders aren't bailing to drop into coverage.

Schotty has stayed committed to the run game unlike Big Mac

Yes, but I would argue we are still putting the ball in the air a little too much.

 

[shabazz]

Without the Cowboys surprisingly good run game so far this year, this offense would not be ranked #1 in total yards. The run game is the engine for the rest of the success we’ve had on offense.

I have come to believe that the run game is the secret weapon of the better NFL offenses. Passing still gets the most yards in the NFL but it’s the teams that can run the ball effectively that have the easiest time passing the ball.

Why? Because if the defense has to worry about the run game, it will cheat its safeties up for run support. Opening all kinds of passing lanes. If defenses don’t have to worry about the run game, their pass defenders can move back, making it harder to pass effectively. The better the run game, the easier it is on the pass game.

Here are some things that Coach Schottenheimer has done with the offense and the run game that have helped:

• Making Dak take more snaps under center rather than in shotgun. If you have a good running game, this makes play action way better. Play action is not very effective in shotgun.
• It’s always helps to have a workhorse back like Javonte Williams. He has been outstanding. (I was dead wrong about him)
• Schotty has stayed committed to the run game unlike Big Mac, who had Dak in shotgun approximately 80% of the time and did not remain committed to the run game even when there were opportunities.
• The success of the run game has allowed this team to take more shots down the field in the passing game. And Schotty hasn’t been afraid to take those shots.

Kudos to the coaches also for making adjustments with injuries to the OL.

One other point: One reason Dak is having such a good year is greatly aided by this running game. QBs that have a strong running game have a much better chance of opening up the entire bag of offensive possibilities.

Bottom line: Having a good running game is what sets the table for everything else we’ve done well on offense so far in 2025. Our future offensive success may depend on that running game.

The Cowboys record is 30-7 when Dakota throws less than 30 passes a game.......

and conversely, when the Cowboys run less than 30 times per game Dakotas record is 24-41-1.

More runny, less throwy seems to be mo better.......if winning is the objective

 

[shabazz]

Rocky . . . I never attacked you . . . NEVER ! I never posted ANYTHING about my thoughts on the run game ... NEVER(2025)!

So, are you saying I owe you an apology for my private thoughts and silence toward your opinion?

I mean, you did quote my post! You did say "y'all" ! Who is owed an apology ????????????

True love means never having to say, "Im sorry"

Its tearing my heart out seeing breakups over a misunderstanding.

 

[Cowboys5217]

Williams has been the biggest surprise in many years. A quality back. And yes, I agree that this has opened up the offense. If Williams were the usual JAG FA signing by Jerry then we would probably be 0-5 right now.

I need to amend this to 1-4 without Williams. The Jets are so bad that we might be able to assemble a team of Cowboyszone members that could beat them.

 

[Rockport]

Rocky . . . I never attacked you . . . NEVER ! I never posted ANYTHING about my thoughts on the run game ... NEVER(2025)!

So, are you saying I owe you an apology for my private thoughts and silence toward your opinion?

I mean, you did quote my post! You did say "y'all" ! Who is owed an apology ????????????

Sorry, I wasn’t necessarily referring to you but I can see how you would think that. I apologize for that.

 

[Redline360]

Offensive line even with injuries has played great so far.

Through week 5...

Offense
PBWR: 5th
RBWR: 9th

Defense:
PRWR: 25th
RSWR: 6th

Obviously these stats can be broken down even more. According to those stats our run defense looks like its legit however we give up over 130ypg ranked 8th worse. So does this mean we wuck at tackling? Other players filling wrong gaps once rbs bounce outside or to another lane? And etc. Another example is the browns lead the league both in PRWR and RSWR but however there not considered the best overall defense(top 5 alteast). Good example on how those stats get broken down even more is check out the PFF defense grade thread and click the link

 

[ghst187]

Still left wanting to see some Phil Mafah

 

[sbuscha]

Without the Cowboys surprisingly good run game so far this year, this offense would not be ranked #1 in total yards. The run game is the engine for the rest of the success we’ve had on offense.

I have come to believe that the run game is the secret weapon of the better NFL offenses. Passing still gets the most yards in the NFL but it’s the teams that can run the ball effectively that have the easiest time passing the ball.

Why? Because if the defense has to worry about the run game, it will cheat its safeties up for run support. Opening all kinds of passing lanes. If defenses don’t have to worry about the run game, their pass defenders can move back, making it harder to pass effectively. The better the run game, the easier it is on the pass game.

Here are some things that Coach Schottenheimer has done with the offense and the run game that have helped:

• Making Dak take more snaps under center rather than in shotgun. If you have a good running game, this makes play action way better. Play action is not very effective in shotgun.
• It’s always helps to have a workhorse back like Javonte Williams. He has been outstanding. (I was dead wrong about him)
• Schotty has stayed committed to the run game unlike Big Mac, who had Dak in shotgun approximately 80% of the time and did not remain committed to the run game even when there were opportunities.
• The success of the run game has allowed this team to take more shots down the field in the passing game. And Schotty hasn’t been afraid to take those shots.

Kudos to the coaches also for making adjustments with injuries to the OL.

One other point: One reason Dak is having such a good year is greatly aided by this running game. QBs that have a strong running game have a much better chance of opening up the entire bag of offensive possibilities.

Bottom line: Having a good running game is what sets the table for everything else we’ve done well on offense so far in 2025. Our future offensive success may depend on that running game.

100%. If we had grabbed Henry when we had the chance, with the defense we had at the time, we’d be in a much better place right now. Love seeing the run game helping the offense breathe again.

 

[Blast From The Past]

It has and always will be the oline that starts the running game being successful. But the backs have to utilize their vision and patience to hit that open hole and get it. We have that here this season. Coaches and players on the offense are to be commended.

 

[ArtClink]

Rock I would add what we’re talking about right now are “positives so far”. There are negatives too of course. And 2-2-1 is pretty reflective of what this team is so far - mediocre as our record says it is.

But through five games there are several things to like - the run games success, Dak’s excellent play so far, Schotty’s aggressive play calling, additions George Pickens and Javonte Williams, some positive signs with young draft picks like Tyler Booker and Shemar James.

As I said earlier, this team is very much like their record suggests- a team in transition with some positive signs offensively and also some old problems with the run defense.

12 games to go. A whole lot still to learn about what this team is.

I’ve been watching the NFL and the Cowboys since the early 70s and so far, this has been a bizarre season. I’m not sure if there are more than a few great teams and even that can change as we saw the Bills blow a game v the Jags.

I thought the Cowboys would be 7-10 based on the defensive roster and they still mighty be. But I think the team that has a top ten defense and can effectively run the ball will be in the conference championship games.

I have to give kudos to the backup offense linemen that have filled in for our starters. Granted it was the lowly Jets but it’s a big positive and it’s great to see some depth w talent.

 

[StarW]

And the running game should only improve with the emergence of Ryan Flournoy. Blocking counts, even at the WR spot, and defenses are gonna be stretched when big CD once Lamb gets back out there. We can run out of our 3 WR set all day and keep em guessing. Pickens, Flournoy and Lamb are big strong WRs that actually block. You can't really say that about Fergusson.

Point is: It's already game 6, but this offense has yet to peak in the run or pass game. LFG!

 

[Zman5]

Agree - Our defense is still a pushover in the run game. We have to hope the young guys across this defense can develop both individually and as a unit. Their inability to stop the run will undercut our offense obviously.

The biggest problem with our defense IMO is a serious lack of talent. It will take some time to address that.

 

[leeblair]

Without the Cowboys surprisingly good run game so far this year, this offense would not be ranked #1 in total yards. The run game is the engine for the rest of the success we’ve had on offense.

I have come to believe that the run game is the secret weapon of the better NFL offenses. Passing still gets the most yards in the NFL but it’s the teams that can run the ball effectively that have the easiest time passing the ball.

Why? Because if the defense has to worry about the run game, it will cheat its safeties up for run support. Opening all kinds of passing lanes. If defenses don’t have to worry about the run game, their pass defenders can move back, making it harder to pass effectively. The better the run game, the easier it is on the pass game.

Here are some things that Coach Schottenheimer has done with the offense and the run game that have helped:

• Making Dak take more snaps under center rather than in shotgun. If you have a good running game, this makes play action way better. Play action is not very effective in shotgun.
• It’s always helps to have a workhorse back like Javonte Williams. He has been outstanding. (I was dead wrong about him)
• Schotty has stayed committed to the run game unlike Big Mac, who had Dak in shotgun approximately 80% of the time and did not remain committed to the run game even when there were opportunities.
• The success of the run game has allowed this team to take more shots down the field in the passing game. And Schotty hasn’t been afraid to take those shots.

Kudos to the coaches also for making adjustments with injuries to the OL.

One other point: One reason Dak is having such a good year is greatly aided by this running game. QBs that have a strong running game have a much better chance of opening up the entire bag of offensive possibilities.

Bottom line: Having a good running game is what sets the table for everything else we’ve done well on offense so far in 2025. Our future offensive success may depend on that running game.

And people wonder why I say Javonte Williams and Brandon Aubrey are more valuable to the Cowboys than Prescott!
The Cowboys could play well with another quarterback- perhaps even better.
But with Aubrey the Cowboys are in field goal range at the fifty, and Williams is gashing defenses and running with power.
They are both more valuable than Prescott.
Your post even reveals that.

 

[eromeopolk]

Why do fans have the ... why the other team lost excuse .... as opposed to why Dallas won concept .....

Dallas caused the turnovers, the Jets just didn't give the ball to Dallas.
Cowboys had penalties also.
Cowboys defense made stops when needed, as in past games they did not.
Most of the Jets yards came on the first drive. Then with 12 minutes in the 4th Dallas pretty much went into the prevent defense. Giving up the middle of the field giving up yards to make the Jets run clock.

You are over thinking the post. However, you don't give up nearly 400 yards on the first drive. So with that statement I will go where you thought I did.

I look at the game as a Dallas Cowboys fan and not as an Arlington Jonesboys fan. The Cowboys defense made sacks and got turnovers from a team that gives up sacks and gives up turnovers. But the Jets still rushed for 144, had +380 total yds, a 100 yd rusher, a 100 yd receiver, and had possession of +38 minutes.

A win is a win but I don't want Arlington Jonesboys fans whining when a team does not give up sacks and turnovers and puts up that amount of yardage and time of possession then Dallas gets a lost which would be with those offensive stats. What have you guys been watching for the last 30 years and cannot figure this out by now.

A wise coach once said don't get too high off a win or too low after a lost. You beat the Giants and the Jest and played your buts off against the Packers for a tie. You play your schedule and beat what they put in front of you. They have put 1-4, 0-5, and 2-1-1. So get ready for the Panthers 2-3

 

[kskboys]

Without the Cowboys surprisingly good run game so far this year, this offense would not be ranked #1 in total yards. The run game is the engine for the rest of the success we’ve had on offense.

I have come to believe that the run game is the secret weapon of the better NFL offenses. Passing still gets the most yards in the NFL but it’s the teams that can run the ball effectively that have the easiest time passing the ball.

Why? Because if the defense has to worry about the run game, it will cheat its safeties up for run support. Opening all kinds of passing lanes. If defenses don’t have to worry about the run game, their pass defenders can move back, making it harder to pass effectively. The better the run game, the easier it is on the pass game.

Here are some things that Coach Schottenheimer has done with the offense and the run game that have helped:

• Making Dak take more snaps under center rather than in shotgun. If you have a good running game, this makes play action way better. Play action is not very effective in shotgun.
• It’s always helps to have a workhorse back like Javonte Williams. He has been outstanding. (I was dead wrong about him)
• Schotty has stayed committed to the run game unlike Big Mac, who had Dak in shotgun approximately 80% of the time and did not remain committed to the run game even when there were opportunities.
• The success of the run game has allowed this team to take more shots down the field in the passing game. And Schotty hasn’t been afraid to take those shots.

Kudos to the coaches also for making adjustments with injuries to the OL.

One other point: One reason Dak is having such a good year is greatly aided by this running game. QBs that have a strong running game have a much better chance of opening up the entire bag of offensive possibilities.

Bottom line: Having a good running game is what sets the table for everything else we’ve done well on offense so far in 2025. Our future offensive success may depend on that running game.

Yup, we've been screaming this to Jerry for years.

And how did it happen? A very quick and nimble tough yards RB. That is the type that is conducive to super bowl appearances. And the reason that knucklehead Legarrateee Blount was on like 5 super bowl winning teams. Dude was one dimensional, didn't do anything else. Ah, but that one thing, he plowed the field. Got 2 yds when 1 was needed. Made people pay to tackle him.

Antelopes are nice complementary players, but charging bulls win super bowls.