Will the Cowboys stay committed to the running game?

[festus]

It's no secret that last year the running game was slow to get started in the first half. I realize that the Cowboys have invested alot in the running game by signing Barber and drafting Felix Jones and Tashard Choice.

By doing so, it's clear that the Cowboys have made a strong commitment to the running game. Do you guys think that Garrett will run the ball early and often? Parcells, as we know, was old school and loved to wear down defenses with the running game, will Garrett choose to do the same?

 

[Future]

I think we should be...we were definitely too pass happy last year at times I think. Especially with TO being our only real threat at WR, I would expect a bit more of a power style of offense.

I love the idea of going 2 TE and 2 RB and TO...that would provide mismatches all over the place.

 

[Doomsday101]

It's no secret that last year the running game was slow to get started in the first half. I realize that the Cowboys have invested alot in the running game by signing Barber and drafting Felix Jones and Tashard Choice.

By doing so, it's clear that the Cowboys have made a strong commitment to the running game. Do you guys think that Garrett will run the ball early and often? Parcells, as we know, was old school and loved to wear down defenses with the running game, will Garrett choose to do the same?

Well Garrett did play on the Cowboys when Emmitt was getting over 300 carries a year. I think Garrett will try and develop a more balanced attack and I think in doing so it will only help make the passing game even more effective than it is.

 

[Aven8]

I'm not sure you can anymore. This has become a passing league. I think you still need to have a little balance to keep the defense honest, but with the way teams are trying to score these days, it's going to be real hard to keep up. At least with the big boys...ie. Pats, Colts, Packers, etc.

 

[festus]

Well Garrett did play on the Cowboys when Emmitt was getting over 300 carries a year. I think Garrett will try and develop a more balanced attack and I think in doing so it will only help make the passing game even more effective than it is.

I was thinking the same thing! Garrett in a sense is old school. I'd love to see him be able to strike from anywhere on the field after he's wore down the defense with a punishing run game.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

We wont win anything if we dont.

 

[Boysboy]

I'm not sure you can anymore. This has become a passing league. I think you still need to have a little balance to keep the defense honest, but with the way teams are trying to score these days, it's going to be real hard to keep up. At least with the big boys...ie. Pats, Colts, Packers, etc.

The Jags still play old-school, and do it VERY effectively, FWIW.

 

[festus]

I'm not sure you can anymore. This has become a passing league. I think you still need to have a little balance to keep the defense honest, but with the way teams are trying to score these days, it's going to be real hard to keep up. At least with the big boys...ie. Pats, Colts, Packers, etc.

I guess it also depends on what your defense brings to the table. When it all comes down to it, clock management and ball control still win ball games. Everything eventually comes full circle, and defenses will start to shut down the passing games of the teams you mentioned. With the Cowboys secondary shaping up to be elite, you better have something in the running game to compete...

 

[Aven8]

The Jags still play old-school, and do it VERY effectively, FWIW.

Because that's all they had to work with! Look at all the receivers they went after in the offseason. They know they have to throw to get past any of those teams.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Well, points come out the passing game. Pass to get ahead, run to stay ahead. Look at the breakdowns of those 90s teams, and that is what it will tell you.

I just don't see Garrett as an old school coach, so I really don't see him running a ball control and play defense kinda team at all, unless Romo or TO goes down and he has to. Run a wide open offense, til you get a significant lead, then grind it out. It was the formula in the past, and it is a formula for future success over a longer term.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

I get confused sometimes. All I read during the Parcells era was that boobs was too conservative and ran too much. He needed to attack.

Last year we attacked and now many want us to be conservative.

So which is it, attack or conservative?

 

[reddyuta]

It depends on how effective barber/felix/tashard are going to be in getting 1st downs early and moving the chains.If they are not effective(which is hard to believe)then garrett will to go the aerial route pretty early(2nd quarter).

I would like to think that he will use all 3 RBs to manage the clock once we get a lead.This will keep barber and felix fresh.

 

[Fletch]

It's no secret that last year the running game was slow to get started in the first half. I realize that the Cowboys have invested alot in the running game by signing Barber and drafting Felix Jones and Tashard Choice.

By doing so, it's clear that the Cowboys have made a strong commitment to the running game. Do you guys think that Garrett will run the ball early and often? Parcells, as we know, was old school and loved to wear down defenses with the running game, will Garrett choose to do the same?

Commitment? I wouldn't go that far. Just because Felix Jones and Tashard Choice were the latest RB draft choices, doesn't mean that "Air Garrett" and company will be following suit.

I personally believe Felix will be more of a younger Marshall Faulk in a more aggressive passing-style offense. Felix will have the opportunity to do the things we saw Marshall do so well in the 1998-99' St. Louis Ram's season - lining up out wide, catching balls out in the flat and using his speed to turn it up field. Bottom-line, taking the 8th defensive guy out of the box.

Regarding Tashard, he is really going to have to show some things in training camp and preseason to be considered even a backup RB in the 2008-09' Cowboy's offense.

Special teams will most likely be the destination of Tashard Choice, at least this season.

 

[Hostile]

It's no secret that last year the running game was slow to get started in the first half. I realize that the Cowboys have invested alot in the running game by signing Barber and drafting Felix Jones and Tashard Choice.

By doing so, it's clear that the Cowboys have made a strong commitment to the running game. Do you guys think that Garrett will run the ball early and often? Parcells, as we know, was old school and loved to wear down defenses with the running game, will Garrett choose to do the same?

Freaking outstanding avatar. Never change it.

Ever.

Yeah, I do think we will run the ball more than people realize because we're going to try and set up the pass. Then once we have a lead we will want the clock to wind and that is when we will really pound it.

Basically I can see us passing early to rack up points and running for balance and to kill the clock.

 

[5Stars]

Freaking outstanding avatar. Never change it.

Ever.

No kidding! Talk about memories? Festus and his drawl...sweet!!


:starspin

 

[BrassCowboy]

I'm not sure you can anymore. This has become a passing league. I think you still need to have a little balance to keep the defense honest, but with the way teams are trying to score these days, it's going to be real hard to keep up. At least with the big boys...ie. Pats, Colts, Packers, etc.

alhough it seems like more teams are pass happy, i do not buy into it at all. How do you keep a good passing team down? by keeping them off the field.
a good balance between run and pass will wear defenses down allowing for easier and easier scoring. Look at early 90's for example.

I would see your point if we could not be a good passing team, but we can turn it on in the air anytime and with the best of them. That is why you wear their defense down on the ground. Why do you think alot of coaches and most of us say it is won in the trenches. The offensive and defensive lines are the most important aspect of the game.

 

[dcfanatic]

I say find a balance based on the weekly opponent.

Too much of either is probably a bad thing.

We need to get the offense going early in games, whether it's using the running or passing game doesn't concern me, because there were times last season that we sputtered thru the first half of a game.

 

[Disturbed]

I would just like to know that when it is 3rd and 1 or 2 -- that we have the attitude and drive to get the first down. I think Barber will help by playing more, but I want the whole team to have the attitude that they can run over people. No finesse or fancy footwork, just line up and run over people.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

It will depend on the matchups

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Why wouldn't they stay committed to the running game? I mean you have the real thunder and lightening combo with MBIII and Felix Jones...