Update on our rushing game compared to rest of league

[Dalmations202]

This is why I love listening to peoples opinions about running backs.

* If a RB hits where the hole should be and there isn't a hole there, then he should have had patience and wait on the block
* If a RB waits and gets tackled in the backfield then he should quit dancing back there and hit the hole hard.
* If a RB runs wide, then he got strung out and should have cut it back
* If a RB cuts it back, then why didn't he just get to the sideline
* If a RB uses his speed, but doesn't break it, then he has no vision
* If a RB uses his vision, but nothing is there, then he should have used his speed
* If a RB doesn't make the first man miss then he has no elusiveness, even though the first man might be there before he ready to move
* If a RB doesn't run through guys diving at him who can outweigh him by up to 100 lbs then he has no power because he can't run through arm tackles

Tony Dorsett used his speed and was a great RB
Emmitt Smith used his vision and was a great RB
Barry Sanders used elusiveness and was a great RB
Earl Campbell used power and was a great RB
Walter Payton seemed to use a combination of all these traits to be a great RB

In the end, IMO, you need to find a great RB.

 

[Deep_South]

Based on the Philly game, Randle could very easily break out against Atlanta, IMO. He got some very tough yards there, as did McFadden to a lesser extent.

These guys have to give Weeden some manageable 3rd downs, or we could have some tough going in front of us.

eta: This would be a good time to debut C. Michael. If not now, when?

 

[dallasdave]

Based on the Philly game, Randle could very easily break out against Atlanta, IMO. He got some very tough yards there, as did McFadden to a lesser extent.

These guys have to give Weeden some manageable 3rd downs, or we could have some tough going in front of us.

eta: This would be a good time to debut C. Michael. If not now, when?

McFadden can break a run and go all the way, I think we may need to run some sweeps for him.

 

[gocowboys22]

I never said Sproles had a bad game against Atlanta - I have said that Sproles is a better fit for that Philly offense than Murray is, especially if they continue with plays going east to west. Simple fact is, Sproles got hardly any playing time and the one carry he did get was the same results Murray had - being met behind the line.

You saw the video? Yet you didn't noticed McFadden's poor balance, inability to break tackles, bad vision, no strength. McFadden was simply a below average back for most of his career in Oakland.

And Randle has shown to be a good receiver. That's great. When is Randle going to show us that he's a 1,000 yard back? You know, what the majority of you said he'd get easily this year?

FYI, Randle has 116 yards through 2 games, and is on pace for 928 yards. If he stays healthy and we keep us this same RB rotation, he's going to hit 1,000 yards.

 

[Doomsday101]

FYI, Randle has 116 yards through 2 games, and is on pace for 928 yards. If he stays healthy and we keep us this same RB rotation, he's going to hit 1,000 yards.

True but he is also at 3.4 a carry what happened to the 6.7 that so many pointed to? Some of us did understand that 6.7 on limited carries would fall with added work however I was hoping for better than a 3.4 and not even seeing big runs out of him. Our RB right now are doing more in the short passing game but the notion that some had that you can plug and play at RB is not true.

 

[Deep_South]

It is very hard to get any momentum when your OL is overrun and you get hit and grabbed in the backfield before you get going. I've been there - although not recently - and it is much harder to break free and gain some yardage than it looks.

 

[Doomsday101]

It is very hard to get any momentum when your OL is overrun and you get hit and grabbed in the backfield before you get going. I've been there - although not recently - and it is much harder to break free and gain some yardage than it looks.

I agree but it is the same OL only thing that changed was the RB. Dallas should be getting more out of the position than 3.4 avg.

 

[Deep_South]

The last game DeMarco played against the Eagles last year was a big win, and he had 31 carries for 81 yards, less than 3 yds a carry. They are just a bad matchup for our running game. Hopefully things will improve against the Falcons. The last tiime we played them was 2012 in Atlanta. Felix Jones had 9 carries for 39 yards, Lance Dunbar 8 for 26, and Phillip Tanner 1 for 0. Unfortunately, we lost 19-13.

I agree we have to do better running the ball, especially with Weeden the starter. It would be nice to see Michael out there on Sunday and see what he's got.

 

[Doomsday101]

The last game DeMarco played against the Eagles last year was a big win, and he had 31 carries for 81 yards, less than 3 yds a carry. They are just a bad matchup for our running game. Hopefully things will improve against the Falcons. The last tiime we played them was 2012 in Atlanta. Felix Jones had 9 carries for 39 yards, Lance Dunbar 8 for 26, and Phillip Tanner 1 for 0. Unfortunately, we lost 19-13.

I agree we have to do better running the ball, especially with Weeden the starter. It would be nice to see Michael out there on Sunday and see what he's got.

I hope so but right now those so called dirty yards that put you in 2nd 6 or 2nd and 5 are not there. I'm not trying to get down on Randle or any of the RB but they need to pick up the pace. There was a lot of talking it is time to show it.

 

[JoeBoBBY]

Line up Murray, DMC, Randle, Dunbar and who do you pick first, to be on your team? That's easy, Murray;
Unless of course there is Money involved. Then it isn't so clear.

The Cowboys went cheap at RB. Which I think was a mistake, for reasons that have been discussed. Exposing Romo unnecessarily, was the most important reason. The running game just doesnt have the same capabilities and dominant, tone-setting ability, it did last year.

Doesn't mean we lose this year..... we are 2-0. It might be the oddest 2-0 team Ive seen. But hey, we are 2-0!
But no one can tell me, by throwing some stats at me, that this is the same dominant, run first team, we saw last year.

Maybe that changes as the season develops. Maybe it really was just the situations we faced in the first two games? I am guessing that is not the case. We dont have that bell-cow, so now we have to call plays that allow Randle and Dunbar and DMC to use their particular skills. We had to change our offensive gameplan from what it was last year. Because we went cheap at RB.

Lots of ball to play though; These teams are still finding themselves, its still early.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

First, let me say that neither Randle or McFadden are passing the eyeball test in the actual games. Murray 2014 was a better model than what is toting the rock through two games this season. That is just the truth of the situation. Unless Michael comes on at the end of the season, the front office will no doubt be looking at any and all ways to upgrade the position next offseason.

Having said that, Dez missed most of the first game and all of the second. Seems to me that defenses are playing closer to the LOC because they do not really fear our receivers, so the running lanes close faster. Randle and Murray may ultimately prove sufficient when Bryant comes back and Defenses have to play off the LOC again.

 

[zrinkill]

I don't care if we run for 2 yards per game. I just want to be playing a game in February.

So you are saying you want Murray back.

 

[Rockport]

There are only 16 games in a season. To take a look at a trend after 2 of those 16 games is hardly "knee jerk".

While I can and do agree that the Eagles have consistently been tough against the Cowboys' run game, I can also point to an alarming trend that appears to be rearing its ugly head again. A quick move to pass over running.

It's the same flawed tendency this team has had prior to 2014, and the same one they're starting to show this year. Romo's injury is obviously terrible, but losing him may force this team away from once again falling into 'pass happy' habits and to commit to the run.

It's totally knee jerk. The first game the Cowboys were playing from behind and the 2nd game there were 33 rush attempts and 34 pass attempts so they did not resort to a pass over running as you stated.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

What were the stats for the first two games last year? Could not have been great.....comparisons should be made with the first two from last year and the first two from this year imo.

See: http://cowboyszone.com/threads/ol-question-are-we-missing-callahan.331937/

First two games of 2014 vs SF and Tenn:
RBs Rushing Yards - 338
RBs Receiving Yards - 52
QB Sacked - 7 Times
First two games of 2015 vs NYG and PHI:
RBs Rushing Yards - 189
RBs Receiving Yards - 221
QB Sacked - 3 Times

 

[Silver N Blue]

See: http://cowboyszone.com/threads/ol-question-are-we-missing-callahan.331937/

First two games of 2014 vs SF and Tenn:
RBs Rushing Yards - 338
RBs Receiving Yards - 52
QB Sacked - 7 Times
First two games of 2015 vs NYG and PHI:
RBs Rushing Yards - 189
RBs Receiving Yards - 221
QB Sacked - 3 Times

Hey thanks! The combined yardage is higher this year with less sacks so there is indeed improvement. However I am with you on the rushing totals even with the bump in receiving yards that number should be going up.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Hey thanks! The combined yardage is higher this year with less sacks so there is indeed improvement. However I am with you on the rushing totals even with the bump in receiving yards that number should be going up.

I think another big factor in the rushing yards dropping is the number of turnovers and dropped passes this year. They kill drives and give the team less chances to run the ball. Last week against the Giants, Beasley fumbles which killed a drive, Romo's tip INT to Witten killed another drive, Street's INT killed another drive, Williams dropped a 3rd down pass against the Giants killing another drive, Dez dropped a 3rd down pass against the Giants stopping a drive in the red zone. Escobar fumbled against the Eagles killing another drive.

That's 7 drives right there off the top of my head where mistakes killed opportunities to run the ball more. Figure at least 3+ more chances to run the ball per killed drive and that is over 20 chances to run the ball that we missed. Say 4 yds/carry and we should have over 80 more yards running the ball the past two weeks if we could stop turning the ball over and the turnovers. Factor in penalties and it is worse.

 

[bayeslife]

FYI, Randle has 116 yards through 2 games, and is on pace for 928 yards. If he stays healthy and we keep us this same RB rotation, he's going to hit 1,000 yards.

Especially against the upcoming trash heap defenses we play compared to the Eagles and Giants.

 

[Silver N Blue]

I think another big factor in the rushing yards dropping is the number of turnovers and dropped passes this year. They kill drives and give the team less chances to run the ball. Last week against the Giants, Beasley fumbles which killed a drive, Romo's tip INT to Witten killed another drive, Street's INT killed another drive, Williams dropped a 3rd down pass against the Giants killing another drive, Dez dropped a 3rd down pass against the Giants stopping a drive in the red zone. Escobar fumbled against the Eagles killing another drive.

That's 7 drives right there off the top of my head where mistakes killed opportunities to run the ball more. Figure at least 3+ more chances to run the ball per killed drive and that is over 20 chances to run the ball that we missed. Say 4 yds/carry and we should have over 80 more yards running the ball the past two weeks if we could stop turning the ball over and the turnovers. Factor in penalties and it is worse.

This team can ill afford those types of mistakes going forward or this season will unravel quickly. Good stuff man!

 

[JIGGYFLY]

I hope so but right now those so called dirty yards that put you in 2nd 6 or 2nd and 5 are not there. I'm not trying to get down on Randle or any of the RB but they need to pick up the pace. There was a lot of talking it is time to show it.

Randle consistently got those "dirty" yards this game the problem was we kept getting penalized.

This was one game you cannot complain about him not getting those type of yards.

 

[Brooksey]

I think the answer is pretty simple. It is multiple factors.

1. A lot of our rushing yards came in the 2nd half of games in 2014 as defenses wore down. In the Giants game we had to pass the ball because we were behind the entire 2nd half. In the Eagles game we had to pass the ball more because of down and distance resulting from a Franchise all-time high 18 penalties.

2. Half of our current season so far was played against the Eagles. We averaged around 75 yards and 3.0 yards per carry against the Eagles in 2014.

3. More passes to RBs. We are scheming to feature Dunbar more in the first two games. Linehan seems to be running a west coast scheme that includes more passes and a few fewer runs for RBs.

This is true but don't look past the facts that we are choosing NOT to run the ball on short yardage, in the red zone or with much consistency at all. We came from behind on several games last year by running the ball.
I think you will see more running now that Romo is out but before the injury it sure looked like a team that was pass first, substituting short passes to backs instead of runs. Against NY it worked pretty well.