Zeke: We have to commit to the run

[RonnieT24]

Dude is in year 8 as a QB. It’s the OC job to give the QB the option to run of pass, from there it’s the QB’s responsibility. Like I said, this was last year. That’s a significant chunk of play-calling where run was the primary option.

I doubt it’s the OC checking out of runs.



And BTW, this was the data for the amount of 8 man in the boxes TB played that game, meaning it’s clear that Dak was benefitting from a team that didn’t care about his threat as a passer:

Frankly I think Moore was being intellectually dishonest about the whole "Dak checked out of 12 runs" deal. The fact of the matter is nearly every play they send two plays to the line.. one run, one pass.. So on the other 16 plays did Dak check out of 16 passes? Moore was feeling his seat getting warm and threw Dak under the bus then he issued his infamous "yards are yards" statement. He declared at that moment that he does not see the value of a pounding running attack and I stopped hoping for this team to accomplish anything of note right then and there. When the offensive coordinator professes such a glaring lack of understanding of basic football you know your team is doomed. If Dak is being fooled into checking into passes when he should be sticking with the run he has to take blame for that.. but he should not go to the gallows alone. Moore is the one who should he watching film with him and pointing out to him all the times when the defense showed a fake run heavy look to get him to audible to a pass and then dropped 8 into coverage. If they are going over it and Dak isn't getting it, that's on him.. But watching what I have seen from Moore since he took over as OC, I can't convince myself that Dak is overruling him. Throw it every down is the style Moore wants to play.. Dak is just an extension of him on the field.. Which IMHO absolutely has to change of this team will continue to fail.

 

[75boyz]

Zeke should know not to call out wonder boy by now………..

It's kind of a weird conundrum. On the one hand I truly believe Kellen is Jerry's Master Plan to complete his failed Garrett project Part II. To prove to all of us unbelievers that he truly is a football guy as evidence of him hand picking Moore.

On the other hand Jerry paid Zeke. And whether its been him or Stephen talking they made a point to always talk up Zeke as best player on the team or that the offense will go through him.

So I'm a little perplexed at how this all might play out regarding how both of them keep their jobs after this year.

Stay tuned.

 

[RonnieT24]

It's kind of a weird conundrum. On the one hand I truly believe Kellen is Jerry's Master Plan to complete his failed Garrett project Part II. To prove to all of us unbelievers that he truly is a football guy as evidence of him hand picking Moore.

On the other hand Jerry paid Zeke. And whether its been him or Stephen talking they made a point to always talk up Zeke as best player on the team or that the offense will go through him.

So I'm a little perplexed at how this all might play out regarding how both of them keep their jobs after this year.

Stay tuned.

Even money that both Zeke AND Moore are gone next year. There can be no denying that Zeke was the best player on the offense last Sunday. If the Cowboys had the good sense to keep feeding him they might have been able to stay close and perhaps pull the game out late. As it was Moore (and Dak) could not contain themselves trying to pass their way to victory. But I have always felt like Zeke is the best all around football player on the offense.. The Cowboys are wasting him and that annoys and frustrates me. I like watching him tote the rock and I know Moore isn't going to let him do so more than 10-12 times a game.. so part of me can't wait for him to be cut/traded from the Cowboys so he can go somewhere and get the ball. I think he has 2-3 more 1200-1400 yard seasons left in him.. but he won't get them in Dallas. And frankly that sucks.

 

[75boyz]

Even money that both Zeke AND Moore are gone next year. There can be no denying that Zeke was the best player on the offense last Sunday. If the Cowboys had the good sense to keep feeding him they might have been able to stay close and perhaps pull the game out late. As it was Moore (and Dak) could not contain themselves trying to pass their way to victory. But I have always felt like Zeke is the best all around football player on the offense.. The Cowboys are wasting him and that annoys and frustrates me. I like watching him tote the rock and I know Moore isn't going to let him do so more than 10-12 times a game.. so part of me can't wait for him to be cut/traded from the Cowboys so he can go somewhere and get the ball. I think he has 2-3 more 1200-1400 yard seasons left in him.. but he won't get them in Dallas. And frankly that sucks.

Agreed. Now I keep beatin' this horse but the sooner Moore gets back to his last year's first 6-7 game offensive scheme the sooner the offense will provide the proper balance for team success.
Moore should lean on some of the old school Linehan concepts that he was mentored under. Staying committed to the run creates the long term advantage in TOP that this offense needs.
Zeke looks healthy so use him and sprinkle in change of pace Pollard accordingly.

Make it slightly dynamic like last year's first 6 to 7 game model specifically designing plays that accentuate both Zeke's and Pollard's skillset. Like Payton did with Ingram and Kamara a few years back.

Moore "should" be bright enough to figure this out.

I have my doubts but fingers are crossed.

 

[DuncanIso]

Agree 1000 percent.

Feed Zeke.

Or we lose more games.

 

[DuncanIso]

Even money that both Zeke AND Moore are gone next year. There can be no denying that Zeke was the best player on the offense last Sunday. If the Cowboys had the good sense to keep feeding him they might have been able to stay close and perhaps pull the game out late. As it was Moore (and Dak) could not contain themselves trying to pass their way to victory. But I have always felt like Zeke is the best all around football player on the offense.. The Cowboys are wasting him and that annoys and frustrates me. I like watching him tote the rock and I know Moore isn't going to let him do so more than 10-12 times a game.. so part of me can't wait for him to be cut/traded from the Cowboys so he can go somewhere and get the ball. I think he has 2-3 more 1200-1400 yard seasons left in him.. but he won't get them in Dallas. And frankly that sucks.

Good stuff.

Zeke is ready to run.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Well the first drive they did have some success with it and then of course the rest of the game they went pass happy.

 

[nobody]

I think every time the Cowboys abandon the run and stays pass happy, Moore should show up at the next game sporting a black eye and swollen nose. He's not learning otherwise. Beat it into him.

Every gimmick play? Black eye. Always calling runs to the outside? Black eye. No adjustments for injuries or other situations? Black eye.

 

[Captain-Crash]

if the opposing team's defense would quit acting like they are playing for the run and us checking into passing would help Moore.

 

[Dre11]

With the way the running game was working had they simply suck with it they likely would have matched Tampa FG for FG and then once it got late it would have been anybody's game. The passing game absolutely was not working. Blame Dak, blame the receivers, blame the line hell blame Zeke if you want.. but when the running game struggles it's automatic that we will pass more.. But if the passing game is pooping the bed why isn't the solution ever to run it more? I cannot for the life of me figure that one out.

Because no matter what, you can't be 1 dimensional, I dont care what you do, once a team deem you 1 dimensional your done. I believe they wanted to run.
I feel you, they need more running , but I will say this, When JG was here there was a lot of complaints because people wanted to see flash.

 

[Risen Star]

10-12 more carries and we win that game.

 

[Thomas82]

Yes...10 carries is really making him ear that money!

That haven;t done your theory in a couple years. If Zeke doesn't get 20+ carries a game (in general)....then not only are we not getting our money's worth (making him EARN it!)....we are probably losing.

It happens FAR to often to be blamed on getting behind or penalties. It's Moore' very basic philosophy. He wants NCAA Mountain West Conference Passing numbers.

This is my unpopular opinion, but I believe Zeke's entire career has been sabotaged. I get the immaturity and not taking better care of his body in his earlier years. But from the outside looking in, it also looks to me that he's also been robbed of some greatness too.

 

[Londonboy]

We have Cooper Rush at QB, a shaky OL and Noah Brown (who blocks better than He catches) starting at WR.
Running sounds like a good idea to Me.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Yes...10 carries is really making him ear that money!

That haven;t done your theory in a couple years. If Zeke doesn't get 20+ carries a game (in general)....then not only are we not getting our money's worth (making him EARN it!)....we are probably losing.

It happens FAR to often to be blamed on getting behind or penalties. It's Moore' very basic philosophy. He wants NCAA Mountain West Conference Passing numbers.

Not sure what "your theory" is, I don't see any comment about running Zeke 20 times a game, but 10 is too few. Big backs like Zeke are beneficial to the team by tiring out the defense, can't do that with 10 run calls to Zeke. Of course Moore should adjust the game plan when a team has a really good run defense, as Tampa does, but if for no other reason than making the defense respect the run, Zeke should have had more like 16-18 carries...

 

[RonnieT24]

Not sure what "your theory" is, I don't see any comment about running Zeke 20 times a game, but 10 is too few. Big backs like Zeke are beneficial to the team by tiring out the defense, can't do that with 10 run calls to Zeke. Of course Moore should adjust the game plan when a team has a really good run defense, as Tampa does, but if for no other reason than making the defense respect the run, Zeke should have had more like 16-18 carries...

If he continued to bang out 6+ yards a pop like he did in the first half why put a cap on it at all? Until Tampa stopped it they should have hammered Zeke at that defense all damn day. He should have had 16-18 carries by the middle of the third quarter and if he did then he (or Pollard) would have averaged 10+ yards per carry in the 4th quarter because that defense would have been completely beaten down. As long as the game remained close, the run should have remained in the playbook. It was a 9 point game until 3 minutes left in the 3rd. Once the Bucs scored to make it 19-3 it was a foregone conclusion that we weren't running the ball ever again. Zeke's ONE carry of the third quarter went for 5 yards.. just as most of his runs in the first half had. If as an OC you can't build an offense around a 5 yards per carry ground attack then you should hand in your playsheet and let somebody else call the damn plays.

 

[RonnieT24]

This is my unpopular opinion, but I believe Zeke's entire career has been sabotaged. I get the immaturity and not taking better care of his body in his earlier years. But from the outside looking in, it also looks to me that he's also been robbed of some greatness too.

Zeke is not the first great player whose this regime has wasted.. He's just the latest. Unfortunately he won't be the last.

 

[Thomas82]

Zeke is not the first great player whose this regime has wasted.. He's just the latest. Unfortunately he won't be the last.

Don't I know it!!

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Not sure what "your theory" is, I don't see any comment about running Zeke 20 times a game, but 10 is too few. Big backs like Zeke are beneficial to the team by tiring out the defense, can't do that with 10 run calls to Zeke. Of course Moore should adjust the game plan when a team has a really good run defense, as Tampa does, but if for no other reason than making the defense respect the run, Zeke should have had more like 16-18 carries...

I will show you the same consideration and patience khaldi showed me.

Your "theory" that Dak is to blame for lack of running. Like you are protecting Moore. We know Dak has some deficiencies. But the OC should not have ANY.
If the QB is audibling incorrectly out of the OC calls....the OC is to blame. Especially after 3-7 years.

Romo made a career audibling OUT of the called plays and making it work. Most of the time. OC's don;t pay for THAT. MAke your boss look good? Or make your boss look bad...and people have to guess what the problem is.

 

[bigE79]

Zeke is right. The gimmicky plays have to be cut way back. They aren't working.

They never do

 

[nalam]

Nope. Because JJ said the same thing before the season. He said he would see us running the ball more and sticking with it. Moore and or MM maybe the ones gone. JJ will remind them this week. Moore will run it 50 times.. And we perhaps win.

Thats what I am afraid, he will foolishly run straight into 8 man fronts , where as there will be many quick routes and easy completion available , pass to set up the run and vice versa.
using the opposite sides limitations to our advantage is an alien concept to Dallas coaches , why Why ??????