Cowboys having a Black Friday, but not quite a doomsday yet
To the point of running the ball more, the Cowboys have to get back to what brought them the early success they were having this year. They’ve been better when committed to pounding the rock. It’s really that simple.
Over the course of their last few seasons and when they’ve been their best, they’ve been a team that has been feared for what they could do to opposing defenses on the ground. When they have been able to make teams submit to their will, their running game, they have been successful.
Aside from the Minnesota Vikings win, a Cooper Rush special, the Dallas Cowboys have actually been closer to approaching 40 ground attempts than they have the 20 or less than they have in most of their defeats.
That is the message right there!
The game plan has to include more of that for many reasons, most importantly it keeps your offense on the field ticking and in rhythm, and it allows your defense to not be on the field.
You know, that same defense that was accused of giving up too many big plays or penalties on Thursday. This is also the same defense that has shown you that they can be very good or even elite if all things are equal.
You also have to look at things from ease of scenario standpoint. When looking at Dak Prescott and the offense as a whole, being more diverse not only allows them to better dictate the looks that they’ll receive from the defense but also allows them to maintain a sense of suspense or mystery.
If a defense or defensive coordinator knows that the ball is going in the air more often than it isn’t, defending said offense becomes that much easier. It’s actually not complicated at all.
So, not only does running the ball well help your offense and defense operate at peak efficiency on their own accords, but it specifically allows the offense to be able to better manipulate, control, and strategize throughout the game.
You control the things you can control and that is certainly something they can control. However, there are still those things to endure that are totally out of their control too.