Morning After: Dare to dream - Cowboys’ Super Bowl is a possibility

[data]

The ratio was heavy on passing attempts. The rushing average was about 4 yards per carry average over a period from 2010.

so a heavy passing ratio overcomes bad pass blocking?

 

[Smitty]

The ratio was heavy on passing attempts. The rushing average was about 4 yards per carry average over a period from 2010.

Again, with a few blowout games mixed in.

Looking at the box scores, you see time after time, 16 carries for 38 yards.... 18 carries for 72 yards.... 23 carries for 52 yards.... things like that.

They were under 4 ypc waaaaaay more than they were over.

And again.... that is with the draw being a staple of the running game. Running out of running-obvious sets was completely futile.

 

[Smitty]

gonna be a replay of 2009: beat a so-so team at home, get crushed on the road, then give the medicore HC an extension

Wade actually got fired the year after 2009, so if it's a replay of that, everyone here should be happy.

 

[L.T. Fan]

so a heavy passing ratio overcomes bad pass blocking?

Have no idea what you are saying. The philosophy of the coach was a passing attack. The OL was inconsistent in their protection of Romo. Still the OL could muster a decent rushing average but the coach would not stick with it. A lot of the mistakes and turnovers by Romo were caused by inadequate pass protection at critical times because of the lack of ball control. Some of the games lost in those years was directly due to excessive reliance on the passing game which unfortunately cost some games. It could have made the difference in a winning season.

 

[L.T. Fan]

Again, with a few blowout games mixed in.

Looking at the box scores, you see time after time, 16 carries for 38 yards.... 18 carries for 72 yards.... 23 carries for 52 yards.... things like that.

They were under 4 ypc waaaaaay more than they were over.

And again.... that is with the draw being a staple of the running game. Running out of running-obvious sets was completely futile.

But is was the stubbornness of the coach to not develop the running game that is in question.

 

[Smitty]

Still the OL could muster a decent rushing average but the coach would not stick with it.

Yeah.... this is still wrong in it's implication. You are implying that the rushing attack was fine, but we just went away from it.

No. Incorrect.

All you are doing is looking at the year-end ypc and assuming the rushing attack was good. It was not.

It was also inflated by the number of times we ran the draw.... you could not sustain a straight-up power rushing attack like we are now.

There were many games each season where the run game was not working, and thus, we could not sustain drives because we ended up in 2nd and 3rd and long situations over and over. Hell, that is as much a reason for the low rushing attempts as anything... the drives were cut short when we tried to feature the run.

Remember all that trouble those years with the complaint being that we couldn't have long time consuming drives? It's because we couldn't run the ball. We'd end up in 2nd and 12.... and then the drive was essentially over, we couldn't get out of those holes. Our red zone efficiency was also down, because we couldn't pound it in from inside the 10.

This year our third down percentage is off the charts because we are in 2nd and 6 instead of 2nd and 12.

 

[data]

Have no idea what you are saying. The philosophy of the coach was a passing attack. The OL was inconsistent in their protection of Romo. Still the OL could muster a decent rushing average but the coach would not stick with it. A lot of the mistakes and turnovers by Romo were caused by inadequate pass protection at critical times because of the lack of ball control. Some of the games lost in those years was directly due to excessive reliance on the passing game which unfortunately cost some games. It could have made the difference in a winning season.

So drafting Martin was a waste of a draft pick since all we needed to do was just run more often since we already had a satisfactory rushing attack. Gotcha.

 

[Smitty]

But is was the stubbornness of the coach to not develop the running game that is in question.

Wrong.

Perhaps you need to read Bob Sturm again.... someone who knows more than you or I.

Addressing your exact theory:

This isn’t a team that elected to play the style they played, with finesse styles of offense and defense when you hoped you could ride a throwing hot streak to a victory over a playoff bully. They played that style because it was their best chance to win during the first several years of the Jason Garrett coaching stint.... People sometimes confuse this issue by saying the coaching staff finally committed to the run and ask “why didn’t they do that more in 2011 or 2012?” They didn’t because they knew they were taking a knife to a gun-fight.

You are one of the people referred to in that paragraph who are confusing this issue. You are confused as to causation.

The lack of run success wasn't because the coach didn't feature it. The coach didn't feature it because it did not work consistently. He addresses your logic exactly by saying it wasn't a matter of commitment to the running game, it was a matter of ability.

The ypc is misleading. Look at the box scores. Many, many games had 15-25 carries for less than 80 yards. That is not getting it done; and that is why the run wasn't featured.

And again... the totals that we DID manage to achieve were inflated by draw plays.... which is a short term gimmick, not something you can build a rushing attack around.

 

[Clay_Allison]

But is was the stubbornness of the coach to not develop the running game that is in question.

This is correct. We didn't make any attempt until Callahan came in here and installed the ZBS. We didn't work on running in camp, we were pass happy even in preseason.

The craziest thing about it though, we didn't develop the passing game either. It's not like we had been trying to run a spread offense like the Saints and Packers. If we were trying to overcome the bad OL by going 3 wide and moving Witten all around it would have at least made some sense, but our OC was so shitty we were stuck being the most pass happy team in the league, from balanced formations.

 

[Smitty]

This is correct.

It's not correct per the rest of your post.

We didn't make any attempt until Callahan came in here and installed the ZBS. We didn't work on running in camp, we were pass happy even in preseason.

"We didn't work on running in camp"... this is the kind of stuff that's just untrue.

The craziest thing about it though, we didn't develop the passing game either. It's not like we had been trying to run a spread offense like the Saints and Packers. If we were trying to overcome the bad OL by going 3 wide and moving Witten all around it would have at least made some sense, but our OC was so shitty we were stuck being the most pass happy team in the league, from balanced formations.

This is true. You'd think if we were gonna go pass happy away from the run, we'd go spread. Instead we seemed to stay in 2 TE formations.

But that's the point. We had to go pass. We just weren't smart about how we did it. Though... who were our receivers then? Was Hurd our 4th? Not exactly a recipe for success in a spread offense.

 

[data]

2TE formation. What a joke.

 

[Jiggyfly]

gonna be a replay of 2009: beat a so-so team at home, get crushed on the road, then give the medicore HC an extension

 

[Clay_Allison]

It's not correct per the rest of your post.



"We didn't work on running in camp"... this is the kind of stuff that's just untrue.



This is true. You'd think if we were gonna go pass happy away from the run, we'd go spread. Instead we seemed to stay in 2 TE formations.

But that's the point. We had to go pass. We just weren't smart about how we did it. Though... who were our receivers then? Was Hurd our 4th? Not exactly a recipe for success in a spread offense.

Our third receiver was Crayton, early in Garrett's tenure. After that, maybe he should have lobbied for a WR instead of FUCKING TEs and Felix Jones. As for the 4th, well, that's not a big deal. No one is taking Witten off the field.

 

[L.T. Fan]

So drafting Martin was a waste of a draft pick since all we needed to do was just run more often since we already had a satisfactory rushing attack. Gotcha.

Not at all. It was a good move. The issue with the revamping of the OL was for the benefit of Romo being protected. Martin was the culmination of that process. The running game is a seperate issue. The primary fault with it was its absence toward a balanced attack. That aspect wasn't properly utilized until Linehan was installed. The sad part is a running game could have been utilized much earlier. The team didn't have to wait for 3 years or more to begin the process. The entire offense was schemed around Romo and the passing game previously. It's just prima faca because that's how it was.

 

[Carp]

You morons don't handle success well...we clinched a playoff spot, let's whine and complain and push personal agendas.

As far as the Super Bowl...I'd like nothing more than beating the Patriots. I think it would be a win that would legitimize Romo's legacy and I also think they are the best team from the AFC. Beating the Steelers would be meh...I don't hate them now like I did when they were a dynasty.

 

[kidd]

You morons don't handle success well...we clinched a playoff spot, let's whine and complain and push personal agendas.

As far as the Super Bowl...I'd like nothing more than beating the Patriots. I think it would be a win that would legitimize Romo's legacy and I also think they are the best team from the AFC. Beating the Steelers would be meh...I don't hate them now like I did when they were a dynasty.

Same here. Seeing Brady lose again would be sweet! But honestly, Brady and Co. scare the shat out of me. Just a bad matchup.

 

[Carp]

Same here. Seeing Brady lose again would be sweet! But honestly, Brady and Co. scare the shat out of me. Just a bad matchup.

I think they would be the toughest match up for us from the AFC...Gronk is great and we have a tough time with TEs. Although I am just going by who would be the sweetest win.

 

[kidd]

I think they would be the toughest match up for us from the AFC...Gronk is great and we have a tough time with TEs. Although I am just going by who would be the sweetest win.

I agree. Kinda like how the Packers are the toughest from the NFC. If we had any sort of studs on defense like an edge rusher or shutdown corner, I'd say we're the best and could handle the Pats. Our offense can hang with any team in the league.

And like you said, a victory over the Pats would legitimize Romo's legacy. It would be a real shame to see him retire without a ring. A ring is the only thing that will prevent him from going down in history as a choker.

 

[p1_]

if they acquire a no-holds barred stud DL I will become a ridiculous homer.

I think this is not if but when. I believe this is next on the list.

 

[p1_]

Not at all. It was a good move. The issue with the revamping of the OL was for the benefit of Romo being protected. Martin was the culmination of that process. The running game is a seperate issue. The primary fault with it was its absence toward a balanced attack. That aspect wasn't properly utilized until Linehan was installed. The sad part is a running game could have been utilized much earlier. The team didn't have to wait for 3 years or more to begin the process. The entire offense was schemed around Romo and the passing game previously. It's just prima faca because that's how it was.

I think you're wrong about that. The line is not just about Romo and pass pro. It has also been the key to our running success.

I quote the great Bob Sturm:

This isn’t a team that elected to play the style they played, with finesse styles of offense and defense when you hoped you could ride a throwing hot streak to a victory over a playoff bully. They played that style because it was their best chance to win during the first several years of the Jason Garrett coaching stint. But, during that time, often right under our noses, they were assembling big men who could win street fights against the bullies of this league. They stopped investing in 200-pounders, and started buying in bulk the 300-pound variety. The front office started to realize that if you go cheap in the trenches, it will end up with Tony Romo on his back and a running game that doesn’t want to bother to run anymore.