Word of Muth: Eagles' Run Game Dominant Against Cowboys

[Creeper]

Eagles 2nd touchdown
9 yd run
3 yd run
8 yd run
2 yd run
8 yd run
-1 yd run
15yd pass TD

Eagles 3rd touchdown
13 yd run
5 yd run
1 yd run
5 yd run
5 yd run
1 yd run
5 yd run
6 yd run
3 yd run
2 yd run
0 yd run
22 yd pass TD

They ran it down our throats on two of their three touchdown drives.

I am not saying the Eagles didn't have success on the ground at times, but I think to say they "ran the ball down our throats" is an overstatement. They had 11 possessions, 9 of which were full possessions (not ended buy the half or the end of the game). The Eagles ran well on two of those 9 but never averaged more than 4.8 yards per carry on any drive. In fact, they only averaged more than 4.0 yards per carry on those two drives.

Runs per drive:
1. 0 for 0 yards - avg 0.0 - Punt
2. 6 for 24 yard - avg. 4.0 - TD - Longest run = 9 yards
3. 6 for 29 yards - avg 4.8 - TD - Longest run = 9 yards
4. 2 for 1 yard - avg 0.5 - FG - Longest run = 4 yards
5. 4 for 16 yards - avg 4.0 - FG - Longest run = 12 yards (Hurts)
6. 1 for 3 yards - avg 3.0 - End of half
7. 1 for 1 yards - avg 1.0 - Punt
8. 1 for 3 yards - avg 3.0 - Punt
9. 11 for 45 - avg 4.1 - TD - Longest run = 13 yards (note: 2 Pt conversion run from 1 yard line failed)
10. 3 for 12 - avg 4.0 - Punt - Longest run = 9 yards
11. 4 for 2 - avg 0.5 - End of Game - Longest run = 2 yards

The Eagles had a few good runs but otherwise the Cowboys kept their running game in check pretty much. The Eagles averaged 3.5 yards per carry for the game. Take away the 5 top runs they had and the 2 kneel downs and the failed 2 pt conversion and the Eagles were 35 for 86 for an average of 2.4 yards per carry.

For perspective, for the year the Eagles were averaging 4.3 yards per carry and 160 yards per game before the Cowboys game.

Again, I am not saying the Cowboys run defense was great. Clearly they need to tighten up on those runs outside the tackles. But they did okay against the Eagles rushing attack. They lost because of other things not because the Eagles ran at will.

 

[Creeper]

Put a real QB back there and that offense would explode. Hurts is barely average. I lol at all the people here slobbing on his knob. Hurts is not a good QB.

I agree. The Eagles clearly protect him with a lot of quick sort passes of the RPOs. But at the same time, he helps make their running game work. You can see the Cowboys defenders always keeping an eye on him in the backfield causing a little hesitation in their reaction. That gives the RBs a extra split second get get through the holes. Take the threat of Hurts keeping the ball and running out of the equation and the Eagles running game would not be so effective.

Then again, they have some really good receivers. If they had a QB to throw to them in a wide open passing attack they might be a lot better.

 

[ondaedg]

I am not saying the Eagles didn't have success on the ground at times, but I think to say they "ran the ball down our throats" is an overstatement. They had 11 possessions, 9 of which were full possessions (not ended buy the half or the end of the game). The Eagles ran well on two of those 9 but never averaged more than 4.8 yards per carry on any drive. In fact, they only averaged more than 4.0 yards per carry on those two drives.

Runs per drive:
1. 0 for 0 yards - avg 0.0 - Punt
2. 6 for 24 yard - avg. 4.0 - TD - Longest run = 9 yards
3. 6 for 29 yards - avg 4.8 - TD - Longest run = 9 yards
4. 2 for 1 yard - avg 0.5 - FG - Longest run = 4 yards
5. 4 for 16 yards - avg 4.0 - FG - Longest run = 12 yards (Hurts)
6. 1 for 3 yards - avg 3.0 - End of half
7. 1 for 1 yards - avg 1.0 - Punt
8. 1 for 3 yards - avg 3.0 - Punt
9. 11 for 45 - avg 4.1 - TD - Longest run = 13 yards (note: 2 Pt conversion run from 1 yard line failed)
10. 3 for 12 - avg 4.0 - Punt - Longest run = 9 yards
11. 4 for 2 - avg 0.5 - End of Game - Longest run = 2 yards

The Eagles had a few good runs but otherwise the Cowboys kept their running game in check pretty much. The Eagles averaged 3.5 yards per carry for the game. Take away the 5 top runs they had and the 2 kneel downs and the failed 2 pt conversion and the Eagles were 35 for 86 for an average of 2.4 yards per carry.

For perspective, for the year the Eagles were averaging 4.3 yards per carry and 160 yards per game before the Cowboys game.

Again, I am not saying the Cowboys run defense was great. Clearly they need to tighten up on those runs outside the tackles. But they did okay against the Eagles rushing attack. They lost because of other things not because the Eagles ran at will.

The goal of my post wasn’t to counter your argument that they didn’t run well as a whole. It was just to point out that on two of their touchdown drives we could not stop the run. It’s those lapses in our defense that kills us. A perfect example of this is SF’s opening drive against us in the playoffs where they ran it down the field on us resulting in an opening drive touchdown. We held them in check for most of the game after that but for some reason we give up at least that one drive where our opponent just bullies us down the field.

 

[BleedSilverandBlue]

https://www.footballoutsiders.com/word-muth/2022/eagles-run-game-dominant-against-cowboys

Ben Muth analyzes offensive line play over at FO. Every year he picks three teams to focus on; the Eagles are one of those teams this year. So the focus is squarely on the Eagles OL, not the Cowboys, but it's well worth a read.

They only averaged 4ish yards per carry. I would call that effective, but hardly dominant. The defense played more than well enough to win that game.

 

[Creeper]

They only averaged 4ish yards per carry. I would call that effective, but hardly dominant. The defense played more than well enough to win that game.

They averaged 3.5, but your point is valid. They ran 39 times, 40 counting the 2 point conversion that failed.

However, those runs off the tackle that go for 8 or 9 yards are annoying and leave opponents with short 2nd and 3rd downs, or extend drives eating up clock and keeping the defense on the field. It is something they need to get corrected. The Bucs killed them with those plays. I was hoping Anthony Bar would make a difference there but he hasn't so far. We'll see if that improves.

 

[DandyDon52]

What am I missing? Zeke got 6+ yards and Pollard over 4 a carry. Better than any of the Eagles. They even held Hurts to 3.0 a carry. The Cowboys matched their Rush game. Now if they want to talk turnovers in the game....

dallas did not run enough.
they should have ran 35 - 40 times, but kellen wants to pass pass pass.

 

[ondaedg]

They averaged 3.5, but your point is valid. They ran 39 times, 40 counting the 2 point conversion that failed.

However, those runs off the tackle that go for 8 or 9 yards are annoying and leave opponents with short 2nd and 3rd downs, or extend drives eating up clock and keeping the defense on the field. It is something they need to get corrected. The Bucs killed them with those plays. I was hoping Anthony Bar would make a difference there but he hasn't so far. We'll see if that improves.

Our DTs are the reason for those big runs. Against TB, the longest run by Fournette was because TB called the run to the B gap but Trysten Hill stunted to the C gap leaving a giant hole for him to run through. The rest of those off tackle runs our DTs were collapsed inside leaving only the DEs to try and stop the play. Until we address the DT position and get guys who can stand their ground instead of getting driven 3 yards out of the play we will continue to struggle in those situations.

 

[JD_KaPow]

dallas did not run enough.
they should have ran 35 - 40 times, but kellen wants to pass pass pass.

If you exclude the last drive of the game (down two scores, less than 5 minutes left) and the last drive before the half (two minute drill), the Cowboys ran 25 times and passed 21 times. There's nothing "pass pass pass" about that.

(Technically, I should add sacks to the passing plays and change QB scrambles from runs to passes. Oh, that's weird. Dallas took no sacks and Rush never scrambled. Huh.)

 

[Creeper]

Our DTs are the reason for those big runs. Against TB, the longest run by Fournette was because TB called the run to the B gap but Trysten Hill stunted to the C gap leaving a giant hole for him to run through. The rest of those off tackle runs our DTs were collapsed inside leaving only the DEs to try and stop the play. Until we address the DT position and get guys who can stand their ground instead of getting driven 3 yards out of the play we will continue to struggle in those situations.

Understandable when the DTs are getting double teamed. Getting caught in a stunt is just a good play call by the offense, IMO.

I watched that Bucs game a few times, I was actually pretty happy the way Bohanna stood up to the double teams. Hills does a pretty good job of it too.

 

[VACowboy]

I guess we can expect the Dallas run defense pitch a shutout but IMHO it did a heck of a job limiting the Iggles run game. The Cowboys didn't lose because they were "dominated" on the ground. They lost because the offense turned the ball over three times and handed Philly four short fields. Yeah, the Dallas D gave up a tuddy at the end of the game, but they stuffed the two-point conversion--and that was the only six points they gave up in the second half. If the Cowboys offense hadn't been so totally inept in the first half nobody would be talking about Philadelphia dominating anything.

Muth may be great at OL analysis or whatever but on this game he's full of crap.

 

[DandyDon52]

If you exclude the last drive of the game (down two scores, less than 5 minutes left) and the last drive before the half (two minute drill), the Cowboys ran 25 times and passed 21 times. There's nothing "pass pass pass" about that.

(Technically, I should add sacks to the passing plays and change QB scrambles from runs to passes. Oh, that's weird. Dallas took no sacks and Rush never scrambled. Huh.)

lol I dont know what your looking at , but espn box score has our 2 rb with 24 total carries, and 2 with lamb.26 total
and 38 passes.only 18 complete.
I may look later at play by play, to see what the ratio was in 1st half, they ran more in 2nd half I think.

 

[DandyDon52]

I guess we can expect the Dallas run defense pitch a shutout but IMHO it did a heck of a job limiting the Iggles run game. The Cowboys didn't lose because they were "dominated" on the ground. They lost because the offense turned the ball over three times and handed Philly four short fields. Yeah, the Dallas D gave up a tuddy at the end of the game, but they stuffed the two-point conversion--and that was the only six points they gave up in the second half. If the Cowboys offense hadn't been so totally inept in the first half nobody would be talking about Philadelphia dominating anything.

Muth may be great at OL analysis or whatever but on this game he's full of crap.

they were dominated on that last drive when it counted.
and they lost due to many things, not just int's

 

[VACowboy]

they were dominated on that last drive when it counted.
and they lost due to many things, not just int's

They played more than good enough run defense to win that game had they not turned the ball over three times.

I don't understand why this is this even an argument. The Dallas D held a top-three running team to less than 3.5 yards/carry and a top-three scoring team to six points in the second half--when the Dallas offense wasn't repeatedly handing the ball to the Iggles O in FG range.

If the Cowboys keep playing run defense like that they're gonna win a lot of games, but no football team at any level is going to win much turning the ball over three times a game. Period.

 

[JD_KaPow]

lol I dont know what your looking at , but espn box score has our 2 rb with 24 total carries, and 2 with lamb.26 total
and 38 passes.only 18 complete.
I may look later at play by play, to see what the ratio was in 1st half, they ran more in 2nd half I think.

Clearly you didn’t read what I wrote. We had a 10-pass drive in desperation time at the end of the game (2 scores down) and a 7-pass 1-run two-minute drill at the end of the half. Outside of those obvious passing situations we ran more than we passed.