How the Lions Offense Can Run Successfully on the Cowboys D

When the Detroit Lions visit Arlington to face off with the Dallas Cowboys, one of the keys to the elusive playoff victory is being able to run the football. 

I know, I know. Today's NFL is all about quarterbacks and the passing offense. It's been drummed into our heads as often as "Let it Go" is to the parents of a six-year-old girl. Make no mistake, Matthew Stafford and his receivers will play a major role in the outcome.

Yet the Lions have a great opportunity to attack the Cowboys on the ground. This plan of attack provides Detroit many benefits that just might carry it to the upset victory.

On the surface, Dallas' run defense doesn't look too shabby. The Cowboys finished eighth in rushing yards per game at 103.1, which is pretty impressive. 

A deeper look reveals more vulnerability. Per Team Rankings, the Cowboys ranked just 17th in yards per carry allowed. Furthermore, Dallas allowed more rushing touchdowns (18) than any team except the Atlanta Falcons, per Sporting Charts.

Just for comparison, Detroit ranked first in all three of those metrics. DeMarco Murray and the Dallas running offense face a stiff challenge, but that's for another time...

In watching the All-22 tape of several Dallas games, one of the standout takeaways was its vulnerability to aggressive running attacks. Teams with physical lines and decisive rushers consistently found success. 

One of those teams was the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15. Even though the Eagles lost 38-27 after falling behind 21-0, when they opted to run the ball, they did it pretty well.

Their blocking scheme on this particular play is something the Lions can replicate against the Dallas defensive front. 

NFL Game Rewind

The key here is the guards. Both guards are tasked with combination blocks, initially helping create a double-team with one block but then peeling off and engaging a different defender. 

Here they are hitting the second-level blocks.

NFL Game Rewind

This gives running back LeSean McCoy several options. McCoy quickly opts for the middle route and bursts through the crease to the left of his left guard, who nicely engages and engulfs the linebacker to create more space. He picks up 14 yards before the safety brings him down.

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Dedication to the run is important. The Eagles sense a good thing going with the play above and opt to go right back at it. Once again, proper execution by the guards and decisive running by McCoy create success.

On this play, the blocking scheme changes up but stays aggressive. The center and left tackle both fly out and engage Cowboys at the second level while the guards lock up the interior linemen. The tight end is responsible for sealing off the left side.

NFL Game Rewind

McCoy gets the ball and doesn't hesitate. He explodes through the hole at top speed. This catches safety Barry Church (No. 42) too far up the field.

NFL Game Rewind

Church guesses on the outside hole instead of being patient and showing positional discipline. He recovers just quick enough to clip McCoy's heel and bring him down, but it's still a seven-yard gain. 

The Dallas safeties are a weak point in run defense. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) grades out both Church and fellow starter J.J. Wilcox negatively in run defense. Church ranks 53rd, and you'll need to scroll down to 76th to find Wilcox, who was a collegiate running back three short years ago. 

If these plays look familiar to Lions fans, they should. Detroit runs plays similar to these designs as a staple of the run game. Here's an example from the Chicago game in Week 16.

NFL Game Rewind

In this case, the right guard and tight end explode out directly to the second level. At other times, it's the center and right tackle, often off of combo blocks as shown in the first Eagles play above. 

One of the differences is that Reggie Bush frequently isn't as authoritative of a runner as LeSean McCoy, or really most any quality running back. Bush likes to dance and bounce instead of getting north/south. On that play in Chicago, he attacked right away and picked up 16 yards like he was shot out of a cannon.

Bush and Joique Bell both need to exhibit that sort of decisiveness and swiftness to the point of attack. The opportunities will be there. 

Detroit has been running much more successfully in recent games after an awful start to the season. In fact, the Lions' 4.6 yards per carry over the last three weeks ranks eighth. Dallas finished third in the league in that category for the season but ranks just 18th (tied) over the same span. 

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

By running effectively, the Lions can set up the play-action fakes to hold those same safeties and give Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate more room to operate. It also helps water down the pass rush, which will be important to help rookie right tackle Cornelius Lucas (pictured) and rookie right guard Travis Swanson, who figures to replace the hobbled Larry Warford in Dallas. 

It's hard to resist the urge to have Stafford drop back 45 times and target two 1,000-yard receivers in Tate and Johnson 12 times apiece, but running the ball will make the passing game more effective on fewer attempts. Even if Detroit falls behind early, as appears to be its custom, the Lions cannot abandon the run game.