Run Game Still Struggling
Rushing attack production lagging as playoffs approach
DALLAS — If the Cowboys have one glaring problem on offense, it’s the running game.
As the team gets ready for another postseason run under head coach Mike McCarthy, the running game must find it’s legs if the Cowboys are going to make a deep run.
“We spent some extra time (Tuesday) on the run game,” McCarthy said. “We played against a defense on Saturday night that, I think, they were 64-percent pressure and 11 empty pressures, so we had a lot of uphill looks for our run game. So, it wasn’t good enough. It is definitely something we spent more time on this week.”
On the surface, it looks like a successful season for the Cowboys rushing attack – 1,790 yards and 13 touchdowns, while averaging 4.4 yards per carry.
However, a deeper look reveals that those numbers are propped up by big runs from wide receivers CeeDee Lamb, KaVontae Turpin and Brandin Cooks.
The Cowboys are just the 14th best rushing attack and the 15th best run blocking offensive line in the NFL through 16 games this season, averaging 111.8 yards per game.
They are led by RB1 Tony Pollard, who has played 281 snaps, carried the ball 235 times for 935 yards, for a 4.0 yards per carry average, and five touchdowns.
He has just one 100-yard game this season, and that came back in a Week 3 loss at Arizona. Pollard had three last season while backing up Ezekiel Elliott, who had 30 with the Cowboys including 11 since Pollard joined the team.
Backup Rico Dowdle has played 104 snaps, carried the ball 80 times for 315 yards, a 3.9 yards per carry average, and just two touchdowns.
However, in the big games, against teams that are currently in position to be in the playoffs – 49ers, Rams, Eagles twice, Seahawks, Bills, Dolphins and Lions, the duo of Pollard and Dowdle has underperformed.
“Most runs, if you can get them started, that’s where the creases come,” Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “If you don’t get them started, which (the Lions) did a nice job of taking away those and that is where you are going to tend to struggle a little bit. It makes it for a tough day.”
Pollard’s best performance came against Seattle in Week 13, when he rushed for 68 yards and had a 3.4 yards per carry average. For Dowdle, it came against the Eagles in Week 14, when he rushed for 46 yards and a 3.8 yards per carry average.
In the eight games against those playoff-bound teams, Pollard (49.8 yards, 3.8 YPC) and Dowdle (15.7 yards, 2.95 YPC) have averaged just 65.5 yards and 3.37 yards per carry.
“It is something we are going to work on,” Schottenheimer said. “We know the importance of it. We certainly have the ability to run the football, there is no question about that. It will be an emphasis this week. … For us to go to where we want to go, we know how important the running game is, and it starts with us looking at it. We’ve evaluated it – we had a little bit extra time to look at us and what we have been over the last four, five or six weeks. Again, when you are dealing with something that has that many moving parts, you can’t really put your finger on one thing.”
He's not wrong.
All the blame doesn’t lie with the running backs, the offensive line has not lived up to their hype or obligations in the rushing attack.
As team, the Cowboys rank 12th in the NFL in run blocking with a grade of 64.1 by Pro Football Focus. Left guard Tyler Smith is the Cowboys top ranked lineman in run blocking with a 79.7 grade by PFF. That is 14th best in the NFL this season – behind leader Penei Sewell (93.8 grade) of Detroit.
Left Tackle Tyron Smith is second on the team and ranked just 46th in run blocking with a PFF grade of 69.1. Chuma Edoga is the Cowboys worst run blocking lineman, with a 57.8 grade by PFF.
The Cowboys offensive line has given up 78 tackles for loss this season, including eight against the Lions on Saturday night.
“I thought Tony ran hard,” Schottenheimer said. “There are some really good runs on film, and then some looks where we are getting knocked back and losing yards. Obviously, those effect your ability to get ahead of the sticks, and the TFLs (tackles for loss) are the things we need to tighten up and make sure that that doesn’t happen.”
Ranking just 15th in the NFL in TFL allowed, it is just another middle of the road performance from an offense that has looked unstoppable at times.
“That is something that we have addresses and are going to continue to work on,” Schottenheimer said. “Again, it’s footwork. It’s fundamentals. It’s just the back pressing the hole. It’s a lot of different things that you’re looking at. Certainly, that was an indication the other night that we have not allowed very often.”
The Cowboys have just one week to find some solutions. The did sign former Cowboys offensive lineman La’El Collins on Wednesday, but it’s doubtful he will be up to speed by Sunday afternoon in Washington.
They are going to need all five starting offensive linemen and the duo of Pollard and Dowdle to get on the same page to have enough success for wins in the playoffs.
That may be easier said than done at this point in the season.