Vela: Is it Tiki Barber Time for Felix Jones?

[Clove]

One reason I hate stats is because when you believe in them, that's all you believe in. Vela didn't bother to find out if a ton of those runs came when we were killing teams and we only ran to run out the clock.

That doesn't make us balanced IMO, I hate opinions based on stats alone.

Same goes for if we're trying to catch up, we're basically only going to throw the ball, so again, it messes up the stats and what type of team you really are.

How about taking the games that were competative the entire way, and use those pass to run ratio stats only, Vela?

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Rafael Vela: Felix averaged 8.9 yards a carry as a rookie. He's a touchdown threat every time he gets the ball. He was underused last season. He's that Tiki-like torch who can ignite the offense and offset some of T.O.'s lost production.

This is all Vela really had to say. Every time I hear a mediot ask "who is going to replace T.O.'s production, I find myself screaming: "FELIX JONES!"

Simply put, Dallas passed way too much last season and did not run enough. Part of replacing T.O.'s production will come from passing less, but by running more, the offense becomes a 2-dimensional threat with F. Jones touching the ball. Also, with Austin manning the #2 WR spot, Crayton can now upgrade the #3 WR spot because he's more dangerous there. So that agan lifts up the passing game to help replace what T.O. left with.

So in the end, more running with a dangerous RB, and more balance along the WR ranks, will not only replace what T.O. brought, it will help elevate the offense to a playoff-calliber status that it has not sen even when T.O. was here. And the key to it all? Yes, yuo guessed it: FELIX JONES!

 

[masomenos]

That's a really good post.

 

[Thomas82]

This is all Vela really had to say. Every time I hear a mediot ask "who is going to replace T.O.'s production, I find myself screaming: "FELIX JONES!"

Simply put, Dallas passed way too much last season and did not run enough. Part of replacing T.O.'s production will come from passing less, but by running more, the offense becomes a 2-dimensional threat with F. Jones touching the ball. Also, with Austin manning the #2 WR spot, Crayton can now upgrade the #3 WR spot because he's more dangerous there. So that agan lifts up the passing game to help replace what T.O. left with.

So in the end, more running with a dangerous RB, and more balance along the WR ranks, will not only replace what T.O. brought, it will help elevate the offense to a playoff-calliber status that it has not sen even when T.O. was here. And the key to it all? Yes, yuo guessed it: FELIX JONES!

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

One reason I hate stats is because when you believe in them, that's all you believe in. Vela didn't bother to find out if a ton of those runs came when we were killing teams and we only ran to run out the clock.

That doesn't make us balanced IMO, I hate opinions based on stats alone.

Same goes for if we're trying to catch up, we're basically only going to throw the ball, so again, it messes up the stats and what type of team you really are.

How about taking the games that were competative the entire way, and use those pass to run ratio stats only, Vela?

Whats sad about people that do not believe in stats is that they do not even bother to look up the stats to justify their position.

How many runs were called in the fourth quarter when we were up by at least 7 points or how many when were up by 7? What were the ratios in the other, close, games?

All you do is state a hypothesis and its a baseless one at that.

Vela goes through the process of detailing the stats specifically. He even goes so far as to show that the stats in question really do not deviate much from each other from game to game. This suggests that it is really more of a mental than actual change.

You should go back to your Romo trolling. At least you get a rise out of people with that. All you do here is waste people's time.

 

[hendog]

Just send everybody deep and then dump it off to Felix with 1 LBer to beat.

Man would I hate to be that LBer!

 

[hendog]

One reason I hate stats is because when you believe in them, that's all you believe in. Vela didn't bother to find out if a ton of those runs came when we were killing teams and we only ran to run out the clock.

That doesn't make us balanced IMO, I hate opinions based on stats alone.

Same goes for if we're trying to catch up, we're basically only going to throw the ball, so again, it messes up the stats and what type of team you really are.

How about taking the games that were competative the entire way, and use those pass to run ratio stats only, Vela?

Vela is the best read on the net. End of story.

 

[InmanRoshi]

He's got a long ways to go before he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Tiki. Vela keeps throwing out these height and weight comparisons as if they mean anything, and they really dont. Tiki was a freak of nature when it came to handling a massive amount of touches and avoiding injury. That's what made him special and a cut above all the other dime a dozen 3rd down scat backs in the NFL. Felix missed as many games with injury last year as Tiki did in his entire career. It was common place for Tiki to regularly get around 400 touches a season. Felix broke down after 32.

 

[hendog]

He's got a long ways to go before he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Tiki. Tiki was a freak of nature when it came to handling a massive amount of touches and avoiding injury. Felix missed as many games with injury last year as Tiki did in his entire career.

That's true but Tiki had a serious case of fumblitist for several years before whoever it was at the end of his career taught him how to carry the ball.

A lot of times injuries are just bad luck. Let's hope that's the case with Felix.

 

[InmanRoshi]

What will determine our pass/run ratio more than anything is maintaining a manageable down and distance situations. In other words, stay out of 3rd and long. That's pretty much impossible to do when you lead the NFL in penalties, as we did last year. And if you have a stupid team that continually commits stupid penalties, odds are they probably make a lot of other stupid mistakes that lead to sacks, blown blocking assignments, tackles for losses, etc that also lead to negative plays that cause improbable down and distance situations.

If we dont drastically cut down on penalties and blown assignments next year, something tells me that somehow we'll magically have a lopsided pass ratio again next year and Romo will just magically have a lot of turnovers again. Its amazing how continually finding yourself in 3rd and 9s and 3rd and 12s magically lends itself to turnovers by your QB and lopsided playcalling.

Getting rid of a few of the most notable knuckleheads may help, but if Wade as a head coach isn't able to install discipline in this team, this run based attack mentality is going to fail miserably. Head coach is more than just a glorified defensvie coordinator.

 

[masomenos]

What will determine our pass/run ratio more than anything is maintaining a manageable down and distance situations. In other words, stay out of 3rd and long. That's pretty much impossible to do when you lead the NFL in penalties, as we did last year. And if you have a stupid team that continually commits stupid penalties, odds are they probably make a lot of other stupid mistakes that lead to sacks, blown blocking assignments, tackles for losses, etc that also lead to negative plays that cause improbable down and distance situations.

If we dont drastically cut down on penalties and blown assignments next year, something tells me that somehow we'll magically have a lopsided pass ratio again next year and Romo will just magically have a lot of turnovers again. Its amazing how continually finding yourself in 3rd and 9s and 3rd and 12s magically lends itself to turnovers by your QB and lopsided playcalling.

Getting rid of a few of the most notable knuckleheads may help, but if Wade as a head coach isn't able to install discipline in this team, this run based attack mentality is going to fail miserably. Head coach is more than just a glorified defensvie coordinator.

This is also an extremely good post.

 

[Typhus]

What will determine our pass/run ratio more than anything is maintaining a manageable down and distance situations. In other words, stay out of 3rd and long. That's pretty much impossible to do when you lead the NFL in penalties, as we did last year. And if you have a stupid team that continually commits stupid penalties, odds are they probably make a lot of other stupid mistakes that lead to sacks, blown blocking assignments, tackles for losses, etc that also lead to negative plays that cause improbable down and distance situations.

If we dont drastically cut down on penalties and blown assignments next year, something tells me that somehow we'll magically have a lopsided pass ratio again next year and Romo will just magically have a lot of turnovers again. Its amazing how continually finding yourself in 3rd and 9s and 3rd and 12s magically lends itself to turnovers by your QB and lopsided playcalling.

Getting rid of a few of the most notable knuckleheads may help, but if Wade as a head coach isn't able to install discipline in this team, this run based attack mentality is going to fail miserably. Head coach is more than just a glorified defensvie coordinator.

Solid assesment, and agree on many points.

Most of Flos offsides penalties came on pass plays, where he always needs a headstart to get back on the defender.

So an increase or dedication to the run this season would at the very least reduce the amount of off sides on Flo.

Thats always been a drive killer on 3rd and long.

 

[BIGDen]

I have no problem with a split slightly in favor of the pass. Some of those passes are still going to be touches for the RB's. Heck if we can get the ball to Felix on a little swing pass matched up with a linebacker, do it.

:signmast:
All 3 of our backs are good out of the backfield. Throw in Witten, RW, Bennett, Austin and Crayton and we have plenty of weapons in the passing game. Clearly our backfield is loaded. A little more pass than run is fine, but balance is important - nothing lopsided.

It all comes down to our OL. If they open some holes and protect Romo reasonably well, we will be fine. Our D should be top 10 again and our STs should be improved.

If this team stays healthy and plays with a little more discipline, there is no reason why we cannot contend.
The past is the past. 13-3 did not carry over, so why should 9-7? It's a new year and I'm looking forward to it!

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

What will determine our pass/run ratio more than anything is maintaining a manageable down and distance situations. In other words, stay out of 3rd and long. That's pretty much impossible to do when you lead the NFL in penalties, as we did last year. And if you have a stupid team that continually commits stupid penalties, odds are they probably make a lot of other stupid mistakes that lead to sacks, blown blocking assignments, tackles for losses, etc that also lead to negative plays that cause improbable down and distance situations.

If we dont drastically cut down on penalties and blown assignments next year, something tells me that somehow we'll magically have a lopsided pass ratio again next year and Romo will just magically have a lot of turnovers again. Its amazing how continually finding yourself in 3rd and 9s and 3rd and 12s magically lends itself to turnovers by your QB and lopsided playcalling.

Getting rid of a few of the most notable knuckleheads may help, but if Wade as a head coach isn't able to install discipline in this team, this run based attack mentality is going to fail miserably. Head coach is more than just a glorified defensvie coordinator.

Well, duh, but that is not remotely the only thing. Its a philosophical thing that changes the outcome. Of course you throw it on 3rd and long but its what you do on the not so obvious situations that makes the difference. What do you do on 2nd and 7 for example.

There are also a lot less false starts and holds when you run the the ball versus passing. Flo and Columbo were going backwards on pretty much all of the false starts and you dont have to hold to save your QB when its a run play.

They key is to run it on first and second downs to keep the down and distance manageable and not force passes because of previous incompletions

 

[Doomsday101]

Why can't be Felix Jones time? Other than they both play football and are RB I don't see much comparison between Tiki and Felix

 

[reddyuta]

What will determine our pass/run ratio more than anything is maintaining a manageable down and distance situations. In other words, stay out of 3rd and long. That's pretty much impossible to do when you lead the NFL in penalties, as we did last year. And if you have a stupid team that continually commits stupid penalties, odds are they probably make a lot of other stupid mistakes that lead to sacks, blown blocking assignments, tackles for losses, etc that also lead to negative plays that cause improbable down and distance situations.

If we dont drastically cut down on penalties and blown assignments next year, something tells me that somehow we'll magically have a lopsided pass ratio again next year and Romo will just magically have a lot of turnovers again. Its amazing how continually finding yourself in 3rd and 9s and 3rd and 12s magically lends itself to turnovers by your QB and lopsided playcalling.

Getting rid of a few of the most notable knuckleheads may help, but if Wade as a head coach isn't able to install discipline in this team, this run based attack mentality is going to fail miserably. Head coach is more than just a glorified defensvie coordinator.

i can understand our tackles having a lot of penalties but players like Witten and tony curtis have no excuse.

 

[Duane]

If we do then Red should be fired.

There's just too much talent in the backfield not to run more often. I just hope the offensive line can keep up their part of the bargain.

 

[Thomas82]

There's just too much talent in the backfield not to run more often. I just hope the offensive line can keep up their part of the bargain.

That will be a major factor in the success of our running game.