What would you do as a coach to improve the running game?

[Pantone282C]

And it's so obvious. Why do people still fight it?

Coach, stop hitting your hand with a hammer.

 

[SquidwardTentacles]

Parameter change, hey?

Chain movers get yards that are not blocked for.

Not enough to make a difference without good blocking, run play design and situational play calling

 

[ak47kaehu]

I'd bring back Billy boy Callahan

 

[Bullflop]

If it were up to me, I'd make a concentrated effort to secure a power type of "bell cow" RB in the 2024 NFL draft that's been missing in 2023. Of course, an improved offensive line would likely serve to make that fairly possible. The Cowboys OL sorely needs improved blocking for both their running and passing attack. That would surely serve this team's offense favorably.

 

[plasticman]

If you aren't the kind of coach that recognized a depleted talent pool for an RB squad at the beginning of the season then you probably aren't going to be the kind of coach that has the ability to figure out how to improve it going into the playoffs.

I mean, who didn't see this coming? What where they going to do, hand the ball off to Pollard 390 times this season after coming off an injury? Did they imagine he was the 2nd coming of DeMarco Murray with this O-line?

They need talent at the position, you can't teach that. They need to draft a RB, maybe even two. At least one of them has to be in the top 3 rounds.

Right now, the success of the running game depends more on the health of O-line starters than any innovation a coach might attempt.

I would do what Mccarthy is doing, I would give Pollard his 12-16 carries, give the other RB his 3-5 carries, a couple runs by Dak plus a carry or two by Lamb or Turpin. That's pretty close to the team's average 27 carries per game.

The Cowboys also throw the ball to their RBs about five times a game and those are really like a running play with more space.

 

[Blackrain]

If I was the coach I would have prepared before the draft I would not have stockpiled tight ends that we didn't need I would have drafted a powerful running back or an offensive lineman.

Banking on Pollard and steel both coming back from injury was wishful thinking.

I would have made Derrick Henry an offer he couldn't refuse if I wanted to make it past the second round of the playoffs when you're blocking has fallen off a bruiser gives you a chance that a midget does not.

We've gotten good service out of this line but they are old now and the loss of Travis Frederick has never been made up for and at the end of the season they're worn down and wore out.

There's no quick fix for this mess one thing I'll tell you going into the playoffs Dak is going to have to run a good bit more if we are going to be successful.

We had Ferguson hendershot there's another guy and we draft spoon maker how many tight ends do we need.
A quality running back or offensive lineman could really be the difference in how far we get in the playoffs right now.
There's no scheme that's going to fix this in a week it's going to be up to Dak to pull the rabbit out of the hat hope he's up to it

 

[Lutonio]

I don’t know the gritty details of blocking schemes. It’s one of the fine points of the game that I actually think would be pretty interesting to educate myself on one day.

But one sweeping generalization I think can be made — it feels like the Cowboys run in a lot of obvious run situations and formations. Being a little more unpredictable and creative might help.

But that also seems obvious, so I figure I’m missing something.

 

[Blackrain]

I don’t know the gritty details of blocking schemes. It’s one of the fine points of the game that I actually think would be pretty interesting to educate myself on one day.

But one sweeping generalization I think can be made — it feels like the Cowboys run in a lot of obvious run situations and formations. Being a little more unpredictable and creative might help.

But that also seems obvious, so I figure I’m missing something.

Yeah I got to agree on that it always seems like we telegraph what we're going to do.

They're going to have to use more motion and be more deceptive and Dak is going to have to roll out and be given the option to just tuck it in and get a few yards if the pass isn't there.

I'm trying real hard to be positive but I really don't feel like seeing us get to the playoffs again and not be able to run the ball and not be able to stop the other team from running the ball usually a recipe for disaster.

 

[Blackrain]

I preached it all year I begged to do whatever necessary to get Derrick Henry. Or pick up a quality offensive lineman.

When you get to the playoffs you're not beating up on bad teams anymore you need some sort of a running game to kill the clock and close out games.

We have an old beat up offensive line anchored by an underpowered center our youngest best guy now has a foot injury
It's obvious steel has not recovered fully from his injury and is his shadow of his former self.

I hope I'm wrong but I think Collins was shot when he left here Nate Newton echoes my sentiments.

Pollard just like steel is not the guy he was last year behind him is rookies journeyman midgets we got nothing but depending on DAk to somehow fix this whole mess.

 

[kskboys]

Not enough to make a difference without good blocking, run play design and situational play calling

So, your thesis is that there's not difference between Pollard and Josh Jacobs. Weird. Polarization.

 

[kskboys]

I preached it all year I begged to do whatever necessary to get Derrick Henry. Or pick up a quality offensive lineman.

When you get to the playoffs you're not beating up on bad teams anymore you need some sort of a running game to kill the clock and close out games.

We have an old beat up offensive line anchored by an underpowered center our youngest best guy now has a foot injury
It's obvious steel has not recovered fully from his injury and is his shadow of his former self.

I hope I'm wrong but I think Collins was shot when he left here Nate Newton echoes my sentiments.

Pollard just like steel is not the guy he was last year behind him is rookies journeyman midgets we got nothing but depending on DAk to somehow fix this whole mess.

Pollard is the same guy who is being used incorrectly.

 

[SquidwardTentacles]

So, your thesis is that there's not difference between Pollard and Josh Jacobs. Weird. Polarization.

I said that?

 

[Blast From The Past]

The run blocking is just flat out terrible right now. I have little explanation why, but I would be interested to see a breakdown by an NFL offensive line mind as to where things are going wrong.

Pollard isn't massively explosive anymore, but the blocking is just not good enough either.

Do you really think King Henry could flourish here? TP is still fast enough but when the defense is where the qb is handing you the ball I don't think anyone could. I hated the last oline coach as bad as this one. I know Marc Columbo came in season and made a huge difference in our blocking scheme that paid dividends. A coaching change. Let that marinate on your brains a lil bit.

 

[Blast From The Past]

Aside from replacing the oline coach I would say scheme, pulling lineman out on the perimeters, misdirection and lots of movement pre-snap. About all we can do currently.

 

[SquidwardTentacles]

Pollard is the same guy who is being used incorrectly.

Running Pollard into the teeth of a defense, with poor blocking, poor situational play call, with no deception or surprise.
Let's not even bring up our lack luster screen game.

 

[quickccc]

Aside from replacing the oline coach I would say scheme, pulling lineman out on the perimeters, misdirection and lots of movement pre-snap. About all we can do currently.

and quit having a running game so based off shotgun formation - QB to RBs under center deep handoffs ...........

 

[Hadenough]

The run blocking is just flat out terrible right now. I have little explanation why, but I would be interested to see a breakdown by an NFL offensive line mind as to where things are going wrong.

Pollard isn't massively explosive anymore, but the blocking is just not good enough either.

The offensive line has been groomed to pass block. Run blocking requires pushing your guy back or to one side to seal off the edge of a hole. It looks like the whole offensive line forms a pocket for Dak and Pollard has to find a way out.