Werder: Run game was not the problem last season, Cowboys ran the football 45%

[Whyjerry]

I agree with others here that the run design was terrible. With Zeke it was always jammed up between the tackles. You saw it coming every time. Pollard was allowed some outside runs but it was mostly up the gut. Moore also gave up on the run all the time. The inside the 10 yard line first and goal spread attack was a doozie he carried over from the moronic Garrett regime. Moore is a goober that was gift wrapped an OC job. I don’t want to hear any McVey comps either. Not even close.

 

[Rayman70]

I don’t know if you are a NBA fan but Giannis was on the Daily show on the comedy channel joking about KD. Skip and Shannon ripped him apart like he threatened to hurt KD or something. It’s a shame what is going on with national media now.

they are twisted mentality and evil. Agenda driven and truth isn't the goal.

 

[Rayman70]

I just read what Machota wrote. He reported it accurately and there is 0 wrong with what MM wants or what he said. Not sure why the "experts" are creating an issue where their isn't 1. Dallas media is the worst.

 

[RonnieT24]

This is a bit confusing coz something isn't adding up.........timing, sequence, play design??????

I mean MM says Kellen wanted to light up the scoreboard, he wanna rub the ball........

This is why the raw numbers never tell the whole story. The media and its penchant for twisting the numbers to say what they want them to say always shows up. The Cowboys as a team averaged in the neighborhood of 3 ypc over the last 3 weeks of the season and the playoffs. The run game absolute WAS a problem. Though it was far from the ONLY problem to stand up here and act as if the 5 games without Dak when they ran it over half the time doesn't factor in nor the blowouts where they were handing off the entire 4th quarter? The fact of the matter is the Cowboys did NOT run the ball WELL ENOUGH. Nor did they run it effectively when they needed to on many occasions. Thing is, they had good linemen and good backs. So one can only conclude that they reason they weren't better comes down to coaching. Which is why I'm glad a lot of those coaches are gone.

 

[RonnieT24]

WHEN. Thats right. Mike eluded 2 this.

Alluded.. as in hinted.. Eluded would mean he avoided it.

 

[RonnieT24]

Ed is leaving out the full context of what Mike said.

Logic and context don't get views/clicks. You know how this works..

 

[Sydla]

Using the run pass ratio as evidence of run game effectiveness is silly.

But whatever.

 

[75boyz]

The play call should have NEVER been a empty backfield formation; sure the interception is on Dak, but the play call is on Moore. Even if it was to be a pass play, how bout play action; or something that is not obvious.

OR again...
DAK making a better decision with the ball in his hand.
Audible, run, throw it away ARE viable options.

This really ain't hard.
McCarthy's supposed "new" play calling will not change Dak's decision making.

REGARDLESS of whatever play is called, the QB has to make a good decision when the play is happening.

Dak doesn't.

 

[KDM256]

Run game was definitely the problem against teams that matter in the playoffs. Once Tony Pollard went down, our offense became stagnant with Zeke taking over the carries. Zeke ran hard but couldn't create separation once he got to the second level of the defense (that's when if got there) nor had the agility to make defenders miss. Also saw a coaching staff that didn't have enough trust to put in another running back (Malik Davis) which some posters think he can replace Pollard going into 2023.

Running the ball at a 45% doesn't mean jack if you don't have the players that'll command respect of the defense.

 

[Stash]

This is a bit confusing coz something isn't adding up.........timing, sequence, play design??????

I mean MM says Kellen wanted to light up the scoreboard, he wanna rub the ball........

Weirder should stick to reporting rather than letting everyone know he doesn’t understand what he’s talking about.

 

[Swagger]

That play was against the Jaguars. We all remember it. Jags were out of timeouts. KM threw a bomb instead of running it up the middle. Probably cost the game.

When MM talks about calling plays to win instead of score, I think he is specifically talking about that play. The butterfly effect from losing that game was significant too.

Fair point but couldn't McCarthy have overruled the play call as the Head Coach?

 

[Swagger]

If it means the ball is in Prescott's hands even less then obviously all the better as he's a liability at this point. However, it just brings it back to the old point of not needing to pay a bus driver $40 million a year.

 

[Verdict]

This is a bit confusing coz something isn't adding up.........timing, sequence, play design??????

I mean MM says Kellen wanted to light up the scoreboard, he wanna rub the ball........

Ed Werder has no clue.

 

[CowboyRoy]

This is a bit confusing coz something isn't adding up.........timing, sequence, play design??????

I mean MM says Kellen wanted to light up the scoreboard, he wanna rub the ball........

mm is a fool. He had to make something up to get rid of Moore, which Jerry forced upon him.

moore ran the ball plenty, we just gave it to the wrong RB. For 4 years we did that. mm was the head coach . Why didn’t he do something about that?

 

[Verdict]

Problem with the running game last year:

1. Zeke is done except for short yardage but he played an inordinate amount of snaps for his skill set.

2. We insisted on running into loaded boxes between the tackles.

3. Running game was very predictable.

4. Failed to run the ball where situationally it was the right call. Instead of running the ball on 3rd and 1 we go for a low percentage long pass.

5. If we needed a yard, there was a good chance we wouldn’t get it.

6. Tendencies were far too predictable.

7. Did not use misdirection (in a downhill manner) properly.

8. Run blocking was inferior compared to talent level of OL.

9. Failed to run off tackle enough.

10. Telegraphed running plays.

11. Running plays were poorly designed (in shotgun, etc)

12. No originality in running game. It’s KM’s Achilles heel.

I could go on and one but I won’t. You get the picture.

 

[xwalker]

The quarterbacks inaccuracies under pressure were what kept this team from advancing Running game could not change that. Good defenses will cause us grief until our QB can and will throw early to tight covered receivers. This is what separates good college QBs from the few who make pros . Dak is what his scouting report says he is .

Playoff game vs Niners
76 rushing yards
3.4 yards/carry

Dak's win rate is over 95% when:
- Cowboys rush for over 100 and over 4.5.ypc
- Cowboys hold opponent to less than 140 rushing yards.

 

[NFCBeasts]

nah...its all of it. Mike knows what it takes. He has a ring. He understands he's saddled with Dak so he's doing whats best for the team.

He had Rodgers in his prime ti get that ring …

 

[Rayman70]

Alluded.. as in hinted.. Eluded would mean he avoided it.

ha ha yeah guilty as charged. Thats what I meant ALLUDED. TY.

 

[Rayman70]

He had Rodgers in his prime ti get that ring …

so what. Reid Has Mahomes and has 2 rings. Before that, 0 rings. Bill Walsh didn't get a ring until Montana. Even decent HC's need good QB. MM's SB win shouldn't be disparaged because he had Rodgers. Thats way unfair. Sean Payton had Brees.

 

[doomsday9084]

Fair point but couldn't McCarthy have overruled the play call as the Head Coach?

That's a good question. I'm not sure if there is enough time between plays for head coaches to overrule plays. The clock was ticking and they obviously didn't want to call a timeout to talk things over.