Why can't we run the ball?

[Risen Star]

3.3 a carry yesterday for our lead back. Struggled in 3 of the 4 games to get the run going. Why? You can't say it's the Tyler Smith injury. We had very productive rushing performances with Bass filling in last year.

We have good run blockers across the board.



I know the OC is a run specialist too. I would immediately point to the running back but we ran it well last year with him.

I can't figure out why it has been such an issue this year.

 

[Risen Star]

 

[fivetwos]

I see what the numbers say but is it really that bad? If anything, maybe the play calling is a little off, and I wouldn’t be shocked if there’s a bit of a tell going on.

This team runs well enough to keep teams honest. They are going to have to win in the passing game.

 

[nate dizzle]

Texans are pretty stout against the run and have been all year giving up 3.4, Bal 3.9 is solid, so is Was 4.0...Giants were the worst at 4.7.

 

[erod]

Texans. That's why.

And they didn't even have Al-Shaair yesterday.

 

[sunalsorises]

Teams are also supposed to be focused on the 2 all-world receivers.

 

[Aven8]

I want to see more of Goodson. He’s got some juice to his game.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Through four games, the Cowboys have run 250 offensive plays.

Rushes: 94 (3.8 ypc)
Pass attempts: 150
Sacks: 6

Yesterday 25 rushes/45 passes.

It's just what we do. Nothing seems to change it. It's not 'they can't run' it's they choose not to. You can't change DNA.

 

[thunderpimp91]

The run offense really was trending the wrong way the back half of 2025. Not that they were necessarily bad, but it was a big reason why I thought the offense may regress a bit for 2026. So far I’m dead wrong, but if we don’t get stronger run production the offense will eventually have some duds. Lamb can’t go for 200 yards every game.

 

[JBS]

Through four games, the Cowboys have run 250 offensive plays.

Rushes: 94 (3.8 ypc)
Pass attempts: 150
Sacks: 6

Yesterday 25 rushes/45 passes.

It's just what we do. Nothing seems to change it. It's not 'they can't run' it's they choose not to. You can't change DNA.

The dna of the team is the passing attack. Any idea that that should change is not an intelligent one. Yes we need to run better but it’ll never be the core of this offense and it shouldn’t

 

[zrinkill]

We have average RB's at best

 

[nobody]

The dna of the team is the passing attack. Any idea that that should change is not an intelligent one. Yes we need to run better but it’ll never be the core of this offense and it shouldn’t

You need a capable defense for that. When the defense sucks, you need a ball control offense to control TOP to keep that wretched defense off the field as much as possible. Also, having a good run game opens up the passing game. Until the defense can reliably do it's job, we can not be just a passing team.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

The running game was better yesterday than the raw data shows. Williams' average got killed by all those goal line carries that got stuffed before he finally got in. His yards per carry would have been closer to 5 if not for all those.

 

[erod]

Through four games, the Cowboys have run 250 offensive plays.

Rushes: 94 (3.8 ypc)
Pass attempts: 150
Sacks: 6

Yesterday 25 rushes/45 passes.

It's just what we do. Nothing seems to change it. It's not 'they can't run' it's they choose not to. You can't change DNA.

That's because they've been behind.

I still can't believe the 49ers haven't given up a sack this season.