Easy Tex, this isn't a post about Tony's ball cap. The theory with the Cowboys has been that Garrett loved the vertical passing game and only runs when he has to. My view in the past was along the same lines - that Garrett  - decended from the Air Coryell lineage - was pass-first, and having a QB who did his best work down-field and a deep threat like Owens only served to encouraged Red Ball to push the passing envelope.

Then I read an interesting tidbit from the DMN Mailbag that started me wondering:

... You are exactly correct in your assessment about a potential reluctance to rely more heavily on the running game. While the Cowboys seem to have a bevy of talented running backs, they had far too many carries last year for one yard or less - nearly 30 percent as I figured a while back. So just assuming they can just run over everyone is rather presumptive to me. In fact, the Cowboys it seemed had to use the passing game to open up the running game. As for your question, I think offensive line is capable, but will need the crafty Kyle Kosier out there or Montrae Holland to improve over last year. And the return of Felix Jones certainly will help the offensive line's production because of his unique ability to make at least one guy miss. Marion Barber has to run people over.

Some of you may have already been seeing it this way, but has Garrett instead been covering up his line's weaknesses in run blocking by passing first to set up the running game? It would explain a lot (inability to run between the tackles, high use of draw plays, etc.) but I wanted to hear your thoughts. Is this plausible? What does it mean for everyone's expectation that the team will become more balanced? Is it nurture or nature, attitude or aptitude?