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Five-star answer: Play the percentages, yes
September, 22, 2011 9:05 AM CT
By Todd Archer
This week's question: Will the Cowboys have a run of 10 yards or more vs. Washington
I’m going to play the law of averages here and say yes. Absolutely. Even if Felix Jones does not play or is severely limited, it just has to happen, right?
It’s not just the 48 carries this year that have seen the Cowboys go without a run of 10 yards or more. You have to go back to a 14-yard run with 11:14 to play by Stephen McGee in the fourth quarter of last year’s season finale at Philadelphia for a gain or 10 or more. Jones had the last pickup by a running back with 12:47 to play.
It won’t be easy against the Redskins. They have allowed only four runs of 10 yards or more through the first two games, but they were a little leaky in the second half last week vs. Arizona. The Cardinals had runs of 25, 11 and 10 yards, plus three carries of nine yards.
Jones will play with a dislocated shoulder, which means you could see more of DeMarco Murray and Tashard Choice against Washington. Murray showed a little bit of wiggle on a couple of runs last week at San Francisco with blockers meeting him just as he took the handoff from Tony Romo.
Some of the Cowboys’ running game woes have to do with poor blocking and poor decision-making by the backs. But some of it has to do with the first two foes. The New York Jets have had one of the better run defenses the last few years and San Francisco has the longest current streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher. Those are stout front sevens.
Washington has one as well, but you have to play the percentages at some point on this question.
September, 22, 2011 9:05 AM CT
By Todd Archer
This week's question: Will the Cowboys have a run of 10 yards or more vs. Washington
I’m going to play the law of averages here and say yes. Absolutely. Even if Felix Jones does not play or is severely limited, it just has to happen, right?
It’s not just the 48 carries this year that have seen the Cowboys go without a run of 10 yards or more. You have to go back to a 14-yard run with 11:14 to play by Stephen McGee in the fourth quarter of last year’s season finale at Philadelphia for a gain or 10 or more. Jones had the last pickup by a running back with 12:47 to play.
It won’t be easy against the Redskins. They have allowed only four runs of 10 yards or more through the first two games, but they were a little leaky in the second half last week vs. Arizona. The Cardinals had runs of 25, 11 and 10 yards, plus three carries of nine yards.
Jones will play with a dislocated shoulder, which means you could see more of DeMarco Murray and Tashard Choice against Washington. Murray showed a little bit of wiggle on a couple of runs last week at San Francisco with blockers meeting him just as he took the handoff from Tony Romo.
Some of the Cowboys’ running game woes have to do with poor blocking and poor decision-making by the backs. But some of it has to do with the first two foes. The New York Jets have had one of the better run defenses the last few years and San Francisco has the longest current streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher. Those are stout front sevens.
Washington has one as well, but you have to play the percentages at some point on this question.