This gives me hope. More runs, less bumps and bruises on Romo, less turnovers, more wins. Sounds good. Especially with the 3-headed monster we’ve got at running back: MBIII, Felix Jones, Tashard Choice.

All we need is some more beef on the OL and we can run much better.

rb position. I think we could become a great running team if Garrett gives our Rb’s defined roles in our offense:

MB3:
short yardage; goal line; and 4th quarter closer

Bubble Butt:
1st and 2nd downs in the first three quarters

Choice:
3rd down back; relieving FeJo in the first three quarters; jack of all trades

Hahaha

This is exactly what I’d like to see happen next season. With the group of RB’s that we have, there should be no reason we can’t end up in the top 10. O-line? This is all on you, make it happen.

If Dallas can make their opponents have to worry about the run in a big way it will go a long way toward helping Romo. Slow down the opposing pass rush, make play action more effective, and force the other team to drop that safety into the box.

A strong running game will help this offense return to a more effective unit…wouldn’t hurt if a certain someone to could make some less obvious play calls too

will always be out of kilter if we keep getting as many stupid penalties that force us into passing situations.

Because 3 out of the 4 things that can happen when you try to pass the ball are bad. I just hope that FJ’s and MB’s toes are good to go. I don’t trust toe injuries healing back to what they were before and they seem to linger past anything else people injure.

Tex is puzzled… why hasn’t Brian Stewart, the most unqualified coordinator in the National Football league, been let go yet? Following Read and Adam Jones, BStew’s dismissal was the third “no brainer” move of the off-season. Capers will be gone by week’s end and the status quo on defense isn’t acceptable. Fire Brian Stewart.

You are saying something intelligent and that I agree with T E X

there were many games last year when it seemed like our defense was just getting worn down.

Won by studying film, finding holes in their opponents Defense/Offense and exploiting it. Just like they found holes in the Dallas Defense/Offense and exploited them. Dallas Coaches/Players are sooooo confident in thier abilities that they feel they can just line up and no one stop them. Until they get out of that mindset we will continue to disapoint.

we have RBs that can consistently pick up 3rd and 1,2,3,4s. For this to work, though, we need to get positive yards on 1st and 2nd down. If we have to pass on 80% of 3rd and 3,4,5,6 etc., there is no way to reach 50% in runs. too many times this past year we got zero passing on 1st down, stuffed on 2nd down runs, and disaster on 3rd down. Romo completely lost his touch for 3rd and long situations. Something he was once great at.

NFL Network has a scroll running at the bottom of the screen saying the Colts are holding a presser this afternoon and Tony Dungy is expected to retire

but with Garrett as OC, they’ll always pass more, I’m thinking a good pass/run ratio would be 55/45.

If this team can just get around 50/50 it will be all they need…

Balance is the key

In 2003, as assistant defensive backs coach for the Houston Texans, Brian Stewart’s group ranked 31st in the league in pass defense.

In the next two years, as defensive backs coach for the San Diego Chargers, BStew presided over the leagues 31st and 28th ranked pass defense.

And then, with a proven track record of failure, the beleaguered Brian Stewart was named Defensive Coordinator of America’s team. Tex doesn’t get it.

Even if he is just a male secretary, and a Coordinator in name only, Brian Stewart is unqualified to lead this defense. He looks like a deer-in-the-headlights on the sidelines and his units have underachieved, again. The Chargers didn’t just strip Ted Cottrell of his play calling duties, the wacked him in full… addition by subtraction. The same must take place in Dallas. Fire Brian Stewart.

The NFL passing leader has NEVER, repeat NEVER, won the SuperBowl.

Brady probably came the closest – they were a huge favourite – but couldn’t get it done.

Rushing leader, defensiver leaders, even special teams leaders have won the SB – but never the passing leader. Over 40 SuperBowls I think that simple stat says something.

You have to be able to run in the playoffs, or eventually a good D will force you into mistakes and knock you off.

Helps Romo, and the defense. I hope Houck regains his touch and the line can maintain consistency next season. They are certainly built for the run and not the pass as much.

Marion didn’t have a very good ypc…

If we run more it won’t go up all things being equal.

This has been buzzing in the back of my mind since Raf made his post. I’m not sure where its headed. But I thought I’d start getting some ideas down.

4th quarters are when we run the most, assuming we’re ahead. Its when Barber was/is his most effective. In 2007, we were 13-3. Obviously playing with a lead much of the year. Last year we trailed a lot more and thus were passing a lot more. Our relative leads probably explain much of the differences in run totals year over year.

So I think our overall philosophy is unchanged year over year as far as run/pass ratio is concerned. As Raf indicated, we are a pass-first team. Much like the Pats, Colts, Eagles, and others. It seems Garrett’s philosophy is to pass to get ahead then run the ball to close out the game.

I also seem to recall some excellent posts by Raf on the old boards discussing how d-linemen get more tired rushing the QBs than defending the run. Doesnt our strategy of the last 2 years support this point further?

The question becomes is this the optimal strategy for 2009?

I would be interested to see the statisitics of running by quarter. I suspect that we havent been very effective running the ball in the first halves. How many 2nd and 9’s, 3rd and sevens does it take for us to realize that may not be the best attacking strategy?

Perhaps Parcells said it best that you just have to keep hammering with the running game and eventually good things happen.

Anyway, I’m blathering on here. Trying to get out different ideas. I havent fully crystalized my thoughts on this very complicated, multi-faceted subject.

You may know this was Cam Cameron an option last year if JG would have taken the ATL or Balt job?

QB and my least favorite announcer.
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/DOJ/story?id=6629292&page=1

if you have effective blocking and an efficient passing game. I’m all for upping the run totals, but Romo has to be in a frame of mind to execute on fewer chances. Lets face it, while the 90’s Cowboys were a run first team, they had one of the most efficient passers in league history. You could tape a dime to your chest and Aikman could hit it. Here’s the problem with that…you must have precise routes run by your wide receivers, and we don’t have a lot of evidence to show ours can do that. If you look at the greatest running teams in recent history, they also had the ability to sustain a controlled passing attack. The 80’s and 90’s 49ers were not running teams by any stretch of the imagination. They employed the short passing game, with runs after the catch. So here’s what I’m saying…you can’t just go from a bunch of passing fools, to a running juggernaut. You have to mix it up. And with fewer opportunities in the passing game, you better not miss when you DO throw it. We can’t just sit there and say we’re going to run more. We have to have an overall plan to make it work.

I think the biggest problem is that they abandon the run too early when they are down or the game is close.