Cowboys need a return to the run game

by Dave Halprin on Jan 4, 2007 7:43 PM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

All week, I've been pushing the idea that Dallas needs to return to the run game, even though the Seahawks' secondary is so banged up. Playoff games on the road are tough enough, but when you add in the possible weather conditions, having a solid running game can cure a lot of ills. If you can successfully run the ball, you keep the Dallas defense on the sidelines and you take some pressure off Tony Romo and lessen the possibility for mistakes. Nick Eatman takes a look at this issue.

But as they enter Saturday's wild-card game against the Seattle Seahawks (7 p.m. CST), they'll bring along a running game that steadily decreased its production in the final month of the regular season.

A running attack that was once ranked in the NFL's top five for nine straight weeks finished the season 13th.

But while the Cowboys have struggled to run the ball, Seattle hasn't fared much better trying to stop it. The Seahawks rank 22nd in the NFL in run defense, allowing 126.8 yards per game.

"All I know is, we need to run the ball better if we have any chance of winning a playoff game," Cowboys starting tailback Julius Jones said. "We just have to run the ball better, or we're going home."

Right on, it's at close to a fact as you can get. If Dallas can't run the ball, they'll almost certainly lose this game.

"If we can do that, I think we can be all right," Romo said of running the ball. "We've struggled in a lot of areas lately. So you can't just say one thing has been the problem. But when you can go out and run the football, it opens up so many other things we can do on offense."

Once you establish that you can run the ball on a defense, they are forced to move closer to the line of scrimmage and use a safety in support. Once you have that, the inexperienced corners of the Seahawks should be ripe for exploitation by Romo, Owens and Glenn.

In the good news department, Anthony Henry says his injury has subsided.

"It's gotten a lot better," said Henry, who played in all 16 regular-season games and had the most pass breakups by a Cowboys defensive back (23) since Everson Walls' 23 in 1984. "I've just been treating it and stuff, trying to rest it as much as possible. That's all I can do at this point."

Henry said the soreness has affected his range of motion at times, but that it can't be used as an excuse.

"If I'm out there, then I expect myself to play well every time," he said.

Want to read a reporter from Seattle's take on Bill Parcells, the person? Then read this article. It's kind of revealing by the author that he went into his interview with Parcells planning to be a jerk because he didn't like Parcells' personality. Nothing like pre-judgment from the media. In the end, he changes his mind about the Tuna.

One thing came out of today's press conference that was of interest. Parcells said that Pat McQuistan will be active again this week and that he wants to get him acclimated. This could be nothing, but it got me thinking, why would Parcells do this so late in the year? He must have a plan for McQ next year that includes more than sitting on the inactive roster each week. That thought led to the inevitable next thought - that means Parcells has to be here next year to actually implement that plan. Maybe the whole thing is a lot of nothing, but of anything that's been said or inferred over the last week about the Tuna's future that may be the most illuminating.

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Or it could also mean

That someone within the organization may be tapped to takeover. I was thinking it may be Sparano, both Parcells and Payton seemed to like the guy. And Sparano is also the o-line coach in addition to being the assistant head coach.

Burt-D

by Burt D @ Blogging The Boys on Jan 4, 2007 8:04 PM CST reply actions

Didn't Sparano

play Uncle Junior on The Sopranos before joining the staff? Maybe they can bring in Big Pussy in to run the defense in '07.

by jsdoty on Jan 4, 2007 8:08 PM CST up reply actions

I sure hope its not Sparano

He is an awful line coach, and hasn't done anything except stay in BP's good graces, just another Jersey guy. I wished like hell we'd have let him go to New Orleans.

by APerfectStar on Jan 4, 2007 11:03 PM CST up reply actions

I'm glad Henry's feeling better.

We'll need the entire defense to come up big in this game.

I'm hoping somehow, miraculously, JJ finds that magic he had 2 years ago in the unforgettable win up there. We sure could use a performance like that.

by APerfectStar on Jan 4, 2007 11:06 PM CST reply actions

Coach Parcells

has said the same thing about how fortunate he is to coach this game each year in Dallas. I don't read anything into that anymore.\

Grizz you have consistently (as I remember) graded Rivera as poor to awful this year. McQ is huge and tough and has an attitude. Could the time be right for him to play guard? When asked in preseason if McQ could try guard Coach said he needed to learn one position first (LT). However we have had an eternity since then for McQ to be playing some guard on the scout teams and even with the first team. Coach's moves to add guards to the active roster this year seem to clearly indicate his concern for the position. With McQ at guard we just might have a run game again also. What do you think?

by lee3022 on Jan 4, 2007 11:20 PM CST reply actions

It fits

This fits with what he said last week before the game, he wanted to play a guy who has been inactive in the place of a guy who has started every game. McQ was my read, what is Flo's contract status?

And re lee's comment I believe BP said that he was (at least initally) keeping McQ at LT b/c he had the talent to do and few did. I seem to recall that he followed that up by saying if he tried him at any other position we'd never let him switch him back or something to that effect.

by 325424 on Jan 5, 2007 8:20 AM CST reply actions