Dallas Cowboys Nation

Running Game: Dallas’ Key To Victory

The Cowboys passing offense can be the best in the NFL. With a receiving core of Miles Austin who had 81 catches for 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns in only 9 starts, and Roy Williams who had seven touchdowns and is looking for a bounce back year; Dez Bryant the Cowboys first round pick is turning heads at camp.

Most feel he can be a big time player right away.

All pro Jason Witten, who is coming off another pro bowl season, will look to keep adding to his hall of fame resume. Throwing to that group will be pro bowl quarterback Tony Romo, coming off one of his best seasons.

Saying all that, the most important part of the Cowboys offense is the running game.

The Cowboys have a three headed monster at running back with Felix Jones, Marion Barber III and Tashard Choice. All of them have their own role on offense and can make plays. The problem is Jason Garrett loves to focus on the passing game with all of those weapons.

How can you blame him? It’s hard not to call a passing play every down with that type of talent on the edge. However, if you want to win games the Cowboys are going to have to run the ball. When you look back at 2009 you can see that when the Cowboys run the ball, they win more often than not.

Not only that but when Jason Garrett gets too pass heavy they lose.

Last season the Cowboys never won a game when Tony Romo threw more than 36 passes. In five 2009 Cowboys losses, Tony Romo threw and average of 40 times. The Cowboys lose when they throw too much. On the other hand, nine of the Cowboys wins this past season they ran the ball more than 25 times. And vs. the Raiders they had 24. The Cowboys don’t have to run the ball well all the time they just have to make sure they try. Last season when they played the Giants in December they ran the ball only nine times in the second half. On one possession they had three running plays and that drive ended in a touchdown.

It is great to have weapons on the outside, however, the statistics show that if the Cowboys want to win games they need to run the ball and not just air it out.

2009 Season Stats

Week 1-6


Weeks 7-13


Weeks 13-17
Team Run Pass
Team Run Pass
Team Run Pass
Bucs 20 27 W
Seahawks 29 36 W
Saints 31 34 W
Giants 29 29 L
Eagles 23 24 W
Eagles 29 34 W
Panthers 32 33 W
Raiders
24 29 W
Eagles 33 35 W
Broncos 25 42 L
Redskins 30 27 W
Vikings 24 35 L
Chiefs
26 34 W
Packers 42 39 L




Falcons 28 29 W
Giants 21 55 L




First Day of Camp: All Eyes on Dez Bryant

The Cowboys started the 2010 season today with their first mini camp. Although there were 24 rookies participating, all eyes were on first round pick Dez Bryant. During the practice Dez showed the talent that made the Cowboys move up to pick him by making a few great catches.

This was Bryant’s first practice since he was suspended by the NCAA and he was glad to be back, “It feels good; it feels great.”

However, conditioning is a problem. Bryant was seen gasping for air and receivers coach Ray Sherman yelled at him, “Got to get in shape.” Overall Bryant looked good out there and says he will keep getting better.

“As the days go on,” Bryant explained,  “you will see a lot of progression.“

Second round pick Sean Lee is just happy to be on a team and playing football.

“It’s great to see all the rookies here. I think we’re going to build a little bit of camaraderie. I think it’s good, all of us being here, so we can get more comfortable and used to things as a group.” Sean Lee is going to play a big role for the Cowboys this season at linebacker and needs to learn the calls quick.

Some players, like Sam Young, are just happy to be a Cowboy and know how special it is. “The first thing you see when you come in is all those Super Bowls, and different things that make the Cowboys a special organization.“

The Cowboys first day of mini camp is over and the rookies are looking to improve for tomorrows practice.

The only negative around Cowboys camp right now is the Dez Bryant/Jeff Ireland questioning. After the first practice reporters were asking Bryant if his dad was a “pimp” and tried to get a reaction out of him. Bryant just wanted to talk about football and wanted to leave that problem in the past. Let’s hope the media stops talking about Dez Bryant’s mother too so he can focus on the playbook and getting in shape.