There is only one way into playoffs

[Wood]

and that will be running the ball to ad nauseam. I am noticing mission creep with Romo being focus again. Commanders game tape has probably been watched several times by Philly & Giants. Add in games at NY and Philly and it could get hostile quickly. The way to offset this is to run Murray often. Its effective on multiple fronts:
1) It slows game down almost boring for their fans to watch.
2) It eliminates hits on Romo.
3) It keeps opposing offenses off field longer.
4) It eliminates complex decision making by Romo to make on road (this is crucial).
5) It demoralizes a defense if effective.
6) It sets up better play action.

Even if Dallas is down 7 points heading into 4th quarter, I would continue to run ball heavy. Randle should get two series a game so Murray is upright for playoffs.

 

[Macnalty]

and that will be running the ball to ad nauseam. I am noticing mission creep with Romo being focus again. Commanders game tape has probably been watched several times by Philly & Giants. Add in games at NY and Philly and it could get hostile quickly. The way to offset this is to run Murray often. Its effective on multiple fronts:
1) It slows game down almost boring for their fans to watch.
2) It eliminates hits on Romo.
3) It keeps opposing offenses off field longer.
4) It eliminates complex decision making by Romo to make on road (this is crucial).
5) It demoralizes a defense if effective.
6) It sets up better play action.

If I had to rate all your points and I agree with all of them.

1) It emasculates a defense when effective and creates business decisions for the DB's, really a dual edge since we are considered the gold standard of the run in 2014. thanks Martin, Smith, Leary, Fred, Free, Hanna, Witten, and Clutts keep it up for six more games and the drought will be over.

2) It keeps opposing offenses off field longer in critical situations like the fourth quarter and end of half.

3) It sets up better play action

4) It lessens some of the complex decision making by Romo to make on road+

5) It mitigates the total hits on Romo

6) It slows game down almost boring for their fans to watch(IMO I like seeing the four yard gains and seeing us reload again) must be part of my lizard brain.

Warmer in London that in Dallas by about 13 degrees.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Let me sum this up.

There is only one way into the play-offs.

Win!

 

[Boyzmamacita]

This is a really good thread topic. The only thing that worries me is that if we use this strategy (and we should), we must score with some frequency, especially if the opposing team has some quick strike touchdowns. Keeping the opposing offense off the field only works if the defense plays at least average. Of course they would be well rested so that should help.

 

[DallasInDC]

Overall I agree with the premise; however, if philly and/or NY dedicate substantial resources to stopping the run, then we will need to adjust and take advantage of the mismatches in the passing game and make them pay for their strategy. If they do heavy run blitzes, kill em With screens and slants. This team has too many offensive weapons to have to stick to a singular game plan. It is on the HC and OC to adjust and make them suffer for choosing their poison.

 

[elcowboi]

I agree running will go a long way especially in the cold weather games.

 

[TheCount]

Hmm, the observation about "Romo Creep" is interesting.

Murray has dipped below 20 carries a game for the last three games, and other than the SF game, he hadn't taken less than 24.

Some of it may be because we realized the pace he was on was going to wear him out, but yeah, I agree in hoping the team is self aware enough to realize they don't want to put Romo in positions where he needs to be superman going forward.

Keep running.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

I enjoy watching the offense this year, probably more than recent years of throwing every down and losing.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

and that will be running the ball to ad nauseam. I am noticing mission creep with Romo being focus again. Commanders game tape has probably been watched several times by Philly & Giants. Add in games at NY and Philly and it could get hostile quickly. The way to offset this is to run Murray often. Its effective on multiple fronts:
1) It slows game down almost boring for their fans to watch.
2) It eliminates hits on Romo.
3) It keeps opposing offenses off field longer.
4) It eliminates complex decision making by Romo to make on road (this is crucial).
5) It demoralizes a defense if effective.
6) It sets up better play action.

Even if Dallas is down 7 points heading into 4th quarter, I would continue to run ball heavy. Randle should get two series a game so Murray is upright for playoffs.

Romo is averaging 30 passes a game this season. The last 3 games he has thrown the ball 23, 28 and 27 times.

In other words your "mission creep with Romo being the focus again" theory is nonsense.

 

[AsthmaField]

I agree that running will be key. One of the most important stats to win during games is 3rd down conversion percentage. By running effectively the offense finds itself in shorter, easier to convert 3rd downs. The opposing defense finds it more difficult to defend the pass when they're having to struggle to stop the run, so even when Romo does pass on 3rd down, the conversion percentage is higher.

On defense, Marinelli has a much easier time stopping the other team on 3rd down when his defense hasn't been playing nearly as much because the offense has won time of possession.

Running is very, very key to winning enough to make the post season.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Overall I agree with the premise; however, if philly and/or NY dedicate substantial resources to stopping the run, then we will need to adjust and take advantage of the mismatches in the passing game and make them pay for their strategy. If they do heavy run blitzes, kill em With screens and slants. This team has too many offensive weapons to have to stick to a singular game plan. It is on the HC and OC to adjust and make them suffer for choosing their poison.

Yes, I think Beasley can be the xfactor here.
Kill em with the run.
Kill em with the short stuff to Beas... Everything else opens up.

 

[Nation]

You'll likely face teams that can stop the run as the year progresses. The way into the playoffs is balance and making sure the QB and the OLine get pass protection issues taken care of when teams blitz.

 

[Fletch]

This is a really good thread topic. The only thing that worries me is that if we use this strategy (and we should), we must score with some frequency, especially if the opposing team has some quick strike touchdowns. Keeping the opposing offense off the field only works if the defense plays at least average. Of course they would be well rested so that should help.

Very good point. It goes hand in hand. Our defense, which is getting some much needed TLC this BYE week has to be on par. For the most part, they have been, so this formula should work if Linehan and Romo stick to it.

 

[roughneck266]

Overall I agree with the premise; however, if philly and/or NY dedicate substantial resources to stopping the run, then we will need to adjust and take advantage of the mismatches in the passing game and make them pay for their strategy. If they do heavy run blitzes, kill em With screens and slants. This team has too many offensive weapons to have to stick to a singular game plan. It is on the HC and OC to adjust and make them suffer for choosing their poison.

This is the very situation that screens and play action were invented for. Not saying we will do that, but we definitely should.

 

[CCBoy]

I agree that running will be key. One of the most important stats to win during games is 3rd down conversion percentage. By running effectively the offense finds itself in shorter, easier to convert 3rd downs. The opposing defense finds it more difficult to defend the pass when they're having to struggle to stop the run, so even when Romo does pass on 3rd down, the conversion percentage is higher.

On defense, Marinelli has a much easier time stopping the other team on 3rd down when his defense hasn't been playing nearly as much because the offense has won time of possession.

Running is very, very key to winning enough to make the post season.

The team coming back healthy, shall help in this mission description.

Now, the focus is simply, getting ready to sweep the NFC East...and two wins against Philadelphia should about do it...

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Running the ball effectively is the key, that means making teams PAY for stacking the box,,, otherwise they'll just stack the box until, eventually, you cant convert the third and long.

 

[CF74]

Murray: 20-25 touches
Randle: 10-15 touches
Dunbar: 5-10 touches
Dez: ?
Twill: ?
Witt: ?
Escobar: ?
Beastley: ?
Street: ?
Harris: ?
Clutts:? LMAO!!!

So many weapons they should call the ATF on us..............

 

[LandryFan]

Hmm, the observation about "Romo Creep" is interesting.

Murray has dipped below 20 carries a game for the last three games, and other than the SF game, he hadn't taken less than 24.

Some of it may be because we realized the pace he was on was going to wear him out, but yeah, I agree in hoping the team is self aware enough to realize they don't want to put Romo in positions where he needs to be superman going forward.

Keep running.

True, Murray had only 19 carries against Jax (19 the previous 2 games, as well), but the overall run to pass ratio was righ at 1:1 if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Staubacher]

Creepy Romo has won at least 3 of our games with clutch passing.

 

[iceberg]

Let me sum this up.

There is only one way into the play-offs.

Win!

I hate it when we agree