What is our end game with our running backs?

[Galian Beast]

We have three great running backs, and we run the ball 20-25 times per game...

We're tied 16th in the league in rushing attempts....

What is Jason Garrett getting at?

I'm beyond the point of drinking the koolaid in thinking we're "Saving" them for december and january.

This is just always going to be a pass dominated team.

You would think we would be one of the top ranked teams in rush attempts, but its just not turning out like that.

And I don't know about this whole, taking what the defense gives you saying. I mean I believe it, but we don't even try to run sometimes.

 

[AbeBeta]

Well, if our backs were healthy it would likely be a different story - it is clear that Barber is still not 100% nor is Felix.

 

[visionary]

lets win the next 2 superbowls with all 3 and then let the chips fall where they may

 

[Doomsday101]

We have three great running backs, and we run the ball 20-25 times per game...

We're tied 16th in the league in rushing attempts....

What is Jason Garrett getting at?

I'm beyond the point of drinking the koolaid in thinking we're "Saving" them for december and january.

This is just always going to be a pass dominated team.

You would think we would be one of the top ranked teams in rush attempts, but its just not turning out like that.

And I don't know about this whole, taking what the defense gives you saying. I mean I believe it, but we don't even try to run sometimes.

By the looks of things Garrett is trying to run a more balanced attack. We avg. 27 carries a game and pass an avg of 33 times a game.

 

[CowboyMike]

 

[tomson75]

Well, if our backs were healthy it would likely be a different story - it is clear that Barber is still not 100% nor is Felix.

Correct.

You get a blue star.

 

[Galian Beast]

this has actually been the case the whole season... we were just more productive in the start of the year.

We still have a healthy choice, yet barber is still getting his same number of carries

we also dont run in the redzone, we pass... (more than we should)

 

[Chief]

If the offense sucked, I would complain about the number of carries the backs get.

But it doesn't. It's actually very good ... good enough to win it all.

 

[Doomsday101]

If the offense sucked, I would complain about the number of carries the backs get.

But it doesn't. It's actually very good ... good enough to win it all.

I agree. I like how Dallas is mixing things up getting a lot of people involved in the offense. I never expected Dallas to be a team who was going to run it 70% of the time. I also think who we play has a lot to do with the game plan in terms of how much we may run or pass within the game. Right now we are the 3rd ranked offense in the NFL and avg 27 points a game. I don't see why anyone would have a problem with this.

 

[ZeroClub]

The Cowboys' Total Offense (YPG) is #3 in the entire NFL.

Even more interesting, is this:

The Cowboys are #6 in Passing Yards.
The Cowboys are #6 in Rushing Yards.

I've had doubts and complaints about Garrett. But at some point, you can't ignore the numbers.

If Garrett doesn't know what he's doing, he's doing a great job of pretending.

Obviously he has a sophistocated understanding of the game. I think his gameday playcalling is improving too.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

You don't need a 50/50 run/pass balance. You just need to run the ball well enough to keep the defense honest and set up play action. And we have done that, so really who cares that we have more pass attempts than rush attempts?

 

[ElGatoGrande]

You don't need a 50/50 run/pass balance. You just need to run the ball well enough to keep the defense honest and set up play action. And we have done that, so really who cares that we have more pass attempts than rush attempts?

In the Cowboy's case, this is the best approach because this team's rushing attack is very anemic until late in the game when the opposing defense has worn down. Garrett puts the early attempts in but backs off when he sees the piss-poor 1 and 2 yard gains.

2nd and 8 or 3rd and 7 are not optimal down and distances,,,

 

[NextGenBoys]

We have three great running backs, and we run the ball 20-25 times per game...

We're tied 16th in the league in rushing attempts....

What is Jason Garrett getting at?

I'm beyond the point of drinking the koolaid in thinking we're "Saving" them for december and january.

This is just always going to be a pass dominated team.

You would think we would be one of the top ranked teams in rush attempts, but its just not turning out like that.

And I don't know about this whole, taking what the defense gives you saying. I mean I believe it, but we don't even try to run sometimes.

Passing is what wins you ballgames in the NFL, period.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

We have three great running backs, and we run the ball 20-25 times per game...

We're tied 16th in the league in rushing attempts....

What is Jason Garrett getting at?

I'm beyond the point of drinking the koolaid in thinking we're "Saving" them for december and january.

This is just always going to be a pass dominated team.

You would think we would be one of the top ranked teams in rush attempts, but its just not turning out like that.

And I don't know about this whole, taking what the defense gives you saying. I mean I believe it, but we don't even try to run sometimes.

The Cowboys also rank 16th in passing attempts per game.

Garrett runs a balanced offense that ranks third in the league. What more can he do?

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

Jets, Titans, Panthers, Dolphins.

Those are the top 4 teams in the NFL in rushing yards per game. I'm sure you'd rather have their records than ours, right? :laugh2:

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

Also, about 8 of the teams that have more rushing attempts than we do this year still have considerably less rushing yards with more attempts. The notion that more rushing attempts per game equates to winning is just not true. This is not the same old ball control NFL. If you can't pass, the other team will and they will beat you.

 

[Galian Beast]

The Cowboys also rank 16th in passing attempts per game.

Garrett runs a balanced offense that ranks third in the league. What more can he do?

its not balanced because we're ranked in the same spot. You do realize that many teams pass a ridiculous amount at the end of the game to catch up... people don't do that with the run. You run the ball to run the clock out, not to catch up in games...

 

[ScipioCowboy]

its not balanced because we're ranked in the same spot. You do realize that many teams pass a ridiculous amount at the end of the game to catch up... people don't do that with the run. You run the ball to run the clock out, not to catch up in games...

It's a passing league.

The concept of balance can only be established relative to other teams, and the Cowboys are a balanced team, regardless of your biases concerning what should constitute a balanced team.

Furthermore, have you checked the records of the teams with the most rushing attempts? It's certainly no guarantee of victory.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

our backs aren't healthy as a group

and to be honest, our line is, and never was, a strong, run-blocking unit