You want an identity for our offense?

[ZeroClub]

Running is how you win games?

So in 2001 when Dallas was 3rd in the NFL in rushing attempts, we should have won more than 5 games right? And in 2005, when we were 5th, we should have been a lock for the playoffs.

Teams who are ahead run the ball more, teams don't necessarily get ahead by running the ball.

Running often and well is one way to win games.

But you still need to be able to threaten through the air, to keep the defense honest.

I do wonder about how the Cowboys OL would perform in a run first offense. For all of their size and sporadic dominance, we haven't really seen them put it together consistently. I wonder about their stamina. Maybe they are too big for their own good.

 

[wileedog]

No one's debating that, but if you wanna look at passer ratings when they matter the most, check my sig.

Statistical abberations with an extremely small sample size.

Any other arguments? How many playoff games did Payton lose before getting to the SB?

 

[28 Joker]

I disagree.

Tony Romo is plenty good enough to carry this team. He was in Brady's and Manning's class last year. The numbers were eye popping in the Garrett/Sparano version of this offense. He can definatley put this team on his back.

I do agree that Dallas needs to run the football and have balance. They need to be able to establish the running game any time they want to. I love smash mouth football and the power running game. You can help Romo this way for sure.

However, they have the quarterback and the weapons to do what ever the heck they want to. I would like to see the West Coast offense. I want that ball out faster. That offense would do it. That would help Romo out, big time. Some shorter routes would be nice, too. Let's get some YAC by the receivers. That would help him. He wouldn't need bombs all day. But...It probably will not happen.

If you throw the ball more than 30 times inside the division or against teams like Pittsburgh or the Ravens, your protection is going to break down, eventually. That is why you have to run the ball and be balanced, or they tee off. Romo threw the ball 45 times against the Ravens. Not many QBs or offensive lines will hold up to that.

As far as Owens goes, I think he should stay for sure. He's not the problem, imo. He can still play. He talked about the other receivers not being a factor as well.

 

[masomenos]

Total statiscal aberrations.

Good teams run it early, run it often and run it late to secure leads.

Were we a good team last year when we won 13 games but ranked 21st in rushing attempts per game? Are the Colts any good this year, even though they rank 30th in rushing attempts per game? Good teams score early, by any means, and then run to keep the other team off the field. You don't have to run the ball to win games, it's just one way to do it.

 

[masomenos]

No one's debating that, but if you wanna look at passer ratings when they matter the most, check my sig.

All games matter the same, unless it is a playoff game. The Rams game didn't matter any less than the Eagles game, a win in either would have put us in the playoffs. As far as Romo's playoff QB ratings, you have one game in the 60s and one just below 90. The game in the 60s, from last year, is largely affected by a 4th down, end of game shot to the endzone that was picked off.

 

[mr.jameswoods]

even the pass first superbowl winning offenses could run when they needed to. its one thing to say you are a pass first offense and a "we can only pass" offense. Last year, we were a "we can only pass" offense. that's not going to win superbowls. there are certain fundamentals to football and running is one of them. i don't care how many times you pass, you are not winning a superbowl unless you can prove you can run when you have to. And if a team figures out you can't run, they will force you to do so regardless of how pretty your pass offense is. those 49ers teams proved they could run up the gut with the best of them when they needed to craig and rathman

 

[gazjor1]

Now hear me out before you tell how crazy it sounds?

Fire TO and send him packing.

Cowher said best when he talked about running your offense to please one guy. Especially if the guy has lost a step in ability and cannot dominate as he did once.

But

The bigger reason is the offense is not GOOD enough to be a pass first offense and Romo is not in the Peyton, Brady, Brees class of QB's.

You really think that Brees is amongst this group??

Meaning?

Romo is not good enough to carry the team. Our 3 RB's should be the focus and playaction off this group and hit Williams and Witten short and allow Austin to stretch the defense vertically. This takes the every down burden off Romo and he needs to bus drive a little more than free wheel because he will turn it over.

I agree to a point, we have unearthed a raw gem in Choice , but Felix is going to be huge, add a healthy Barber and we have the Cowboys mirror of NYG.

I see no other alternative other than getting this overrated line to suddenly learn to play mistake free and not leak defenders for free rushes on Romo.

Part of Romos makeup is that he eludes the rush, take that away he wont be the same player, finding a scheme that protects him when he does this is the key

 

[Kolemmitt]

I started this thread last night.

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142164

Maybe smash mouth is the wrong word, but we do need to have a lot more balance on the the offense.

The team no one has mentioned is the Falcons. Matt Ryan is a solid QB as a rookie, in large part, thanks to Turner.

We need to make defensive coordinators respect our running game along with having to shut down TO, Roy, Witten, etc.

For those of you that doubt whether or not we could be succesful running the ball more, check out Felix's YPC. But the most impressive signal is Choice's YPC. He got most of his carries against the Steelers, the Giants, the Ravens, and the Eagles, 4 of the top 5 defenses in the league and he averaged 5.1 yards! That is very impressive! I know Barber's avg. is bad, but I think it is due, in part, to being injured most of the year. It's also due the fact that in the middle of the season, he carried the load by himself, and I don't think that suits him very well.

 

[tunahelper]

It's mind boggling. Cut your best player, because make no mistake, Terrell Owens is the best football player we have on offense. You will not replace that production without trading for another #1 WR from another team, and we pretty much had that go out the window when Jerry gave away our first round pick for 19 catches and 200+ yards and a TD.

TO is not the problem, he's just an easy target for blame, and piling on, which is what everybody is doing, they are just following the bully(media), because thats the easy thing to do instead of thinking for yourself.

TO is a problem if you consider leading the team in Yards and TDs every year equals a huge distraction. If TO was elsewhere, we would not have heard anything about him in the last 3 years except for the overdose incident.

I agree Owens is great, but will he go along with the philosophy change? If not then he must go for the better of the team because I am convinced that this team cannot operate under status quo offensive approach.