2015 NFL Week #2: Dallas Cowboys (1-0) @ Philadelphia Eagles (0-1)

[Midswat]

Even in the Giant game, there was disorder in the offense until the 2:00 drill. Romo was so good at that drill before each half that in 2012, Garrett tried to run the 2:00 drill for the whole game. (648 senseless passing attempts). Haven't really got to see what Linehan can do by himself yet. We will this week because without Romo, his on-field OC, the plays will all fall on Linehan and if the Eagle game is any indication, the running game could be only a sad distant reverberation of last years dictator of games.

Jason used to exclaim "we do get a lot of yards". Jerry used to amend that to "we do get a lot of yards but I'm going to have to start talking to Jason about getting some points from those yards".

I just wonder if the key to Dallas would have to be the productive tension between a running game coordinator and a passing game coordinator. Air Coryell offenses are supposed to be set up by strong runners (like Muncie or Riggins or Emmitt or Robert Smith or Stephen Davis or Edgerrin James) but if the running game is milk toast or not threatening then the passing game is easier to anticipate and worse, the QB is easier to pressure. Notice that first down and inches from the goal in the Eagle game, look at their LBs. They were not stacked on the line to stop the run. They didn't think for a second that Romo would push it in like Brady or Eli or Drew or Rothlisberger...and they were right. They weren't even afraid of Randle.

All this to say that unless Linehan can contrive successful running plays that attack the defense at varied points of the LOS then the disorder that happened in the Philly game will be even worse. The running game has to be scary good. Not just to pick up where last years team left off but to cause the rest of the offense and defense to thrive.

This is from a Rams article from 9/16/2006:

Gregg Rosenthal of NBC Sports said " . - Keep in mind Linehan's history in the red zone. It is not good"

The teams that dominate the top of the NFL in red zone TD% share one obvious trait, that appears to be the #1 catalyst for Red Zone efficiency. THEY CAN RUN THE BALL !!

In 2005, for instance, the top seven teams were Seattle, San Diego, New England, Washington, Indy, Pittsburgh and Denver, who all had backs that know how to find the end zone.

In 2004, the top five were San Diego, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Indy, and Carolina, again, all teams that could run the ball, with Donovan McNabb providing some of that for the Eagles.

In 2003 , the top five were the Chiefs, Packers, Eagles, Seahawks, and Texans, with all but Houston having very good running attacks.
-----------------
Dallas could run the ball last year and the year before, and the red zone efficiency and offensive scoring improved both years. This year with 4 TDs and 4 FGs, it smells like those Garrett years of 2.5 TDs and 2 FG average per game unless they really start running the ball.

Parcells said two years ago: "it's not as much about yards per carry, but it's about number of times per game"

This is a great post.

Thanks amigo

 

[Midswat]

Even in the Giant game, there was disorder in the offense until the 2:00 drill. Romo was so good at that drill before each half that in 2012, Garrett tried to run the 2:00 drill for the whole game. (648 senseless passing attempts). Haven't really got to see what Linehan can do by himself yet. We will this week because without Romo, his on-field OC, the plays will all fall on Linehan and if the Eagle game is any indication, the running game could be only a sad distant reverberation of last years dictator of games.

Jason used to exclaim "we do get a lot of yards". Jerry used to amend that to "we do get a lot of yards but I'm going to have to start talking to Jason about getting some points from those yards".

I just wonder if the key to Dallas would have to be the productive tension between a running game coordinator and a passing game coordinator. Air Coryell offenses are supposed to be set up by strong runners (like Muncie or Riggins or Emmitt or Robert Smith or Stephen Davis or Edgerrin James) but if the running game is milk toast or not threatening then the passing game is easier to anticipate and worse, the QB is easier to pressure. Notice that first down and inches from the goal in the Eagle game, look at their LBs. They were not stacked on the line to stop the run. They didn't think for a second that Romo would push it in like Brady or Eli or Drew or Rothlisberger...and they were right. They weren't even afraid of Randle.

All this to say that unless Linehan can contrive successful running plays that attack the defense at varied points of the LOS then the disorder that happened in the Philly game will be even worse. The running game has to be scary good. Not just to pick up where last years team left off but to cause the rest of the offense and defense to thrive.

This is from a Rams article from 9/16/2006:

Gregg Rosenthal of NBC Sports said " . - Keep in mind Linehan's history in the red zone. It is not good"

The teams that dominate the top of the NFL in red zone TD% share one obvious trait, that appears to be the #1 catalyst for Red Zone efficiency. THEY CAN RUN THE BALL !!

In 2005, for instance, the top seven teams were Seattle, San Diego, New England, Washington, Indy, Pittsburgh and Denver, who all had backs that know how to find the end zone.

In 2004, the top five were San Diego, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Indy, and Carolina, again, all teams that could run the ball, with Donovan McNabb providing some of that for the Eagles.

In 2003 , the top five were the Chiefs, Packers, Eagles, Seahawks, and Texans, with all but Houston having very good running attacks.
-----------------
Dallas could run the ball last year and the year before, and the red zone efficiency and offensive scoring improved both years. This year with 4 TDs and 4 FGs, it smells like those Garrett years of 2.5 TDs and 2 FG average per game unless they really start running the ball.

Parcells said two years ago: "it's not as much about yards per carry, but it's about number of times per game"

This is a great post.

Thanks amigo

 

[VTA]

[video=youtube;acQl-nWYiMY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acQl-nWYiMY[/video]

so much anger up there

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

Re: Omega's post -- It is amazing that a bunch of people (not here) are using the old, "We couldn't possibly try to run it because the game situation didn't allow it" excuse from 2011-2013. Even Jerry was saying that the other day. We knew we were serious about running it last year when we were down 21-0 to the Rams and we kept handing it off. But now if it's even a close game, we *have* to throw it. Just pathetic.

Of course who knows what will happen with Weeden in there. They may hand it off now because they're scared to have him throw it.

 

[Scot]

Re: Omega's post -- It is amazing that a bunch of people (not here) are using the old, "We couldn't possibly try to run it because the game situation didn't allow it" excuse from 2011-2013. Even Jerry was saying that the other day. We knew we were serious about running it last year when we were down 21-0 to the Rams and we kept handing it off. But now if it's even a close game, we *have* to throw it. Just pathetic.

Of course who knows what will happen with Weeden in there. They may hand it off now because they're scared to have him throw it.

I agree
I think our run game will become a ride till ya die type situation unless Weeden surprises us all and starts living up to his potential with a couple decent TD's like that 42 yarder to Williams Like he had last game!

But.....
I don't see that happening! I will however keep my fingers crossed just in case that magical unicorn does show up on Sunday

 

[dbair1967]

New England so far this year. 95 pass attempts, 39 rush plays.

Denver 92 pass plays, 47 runs

BALANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

New England has proven they can win that way, and Denver's offense has been horrendous.

 

[dbair1967]

New England has proven they can win that way, and Denver's offense has been horrendous.

I guess you could say that, but they did beat two pretty decent teams and rallied against a good KC defense.

I'd rather see us run the ball 50% of the time and average 5 yds a pop doing it just like everyone else, but until they start having success doing it you gotta move the ball the way you can move the ball. We've run significantly more plays than our first two opponents and have had an even more dominant edge in TOP this yr than last yr (over 37 mins vs NYG, over 40 mins vs Philly). While we need to score more TDs (which is gonna be difficult w/o Romo & Dez out there) as long as we continue to control the TOP we should be in good shape.