Dallas Cowboys: How The 'Boys Can Get Their 2010 Season Back on Track

This offseason in Big D, the talk was all about the Dallas Cowboys' running game.

Marion Barber dropped 10 pounds to add quickness and Felix Jones gained pounds to add muscle and combat injury. Tashard Choice was still batting third in the lineup and would provide a change-up to Barber and Jones.

Finally, Dallas would commit to the run and give some balance to an unit hampered by a shaky offensive line.

But once the season started, that all went out the window.

Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett dialed up 47 passing plays, compared to only 22 running plays, in the first game of the season against Washington and went a step further with 51 in the next game against Chicago.

So far, Dallas is passing the ball 67 percent of the time on its way to a 1-3 record and dead last in the NFC East.

What happened to Felix Jones, Marion Barber and Tashard Choice? Well, let’s take a look at a few stats and we’ll find out.

Over his career Marion Barber has been considered a hard nosed runner averaging around 185 carries per season. So far he’s on pace for around 130 carries this year, which would be the lowest of his career.

In order for Barber to be productive he needs to be fed the ball. Garrett placed the ball in Barber’s gut eight times against the Redskins, a loss, and 17 versus the Texans, a win.

I know this may sound like I’m beating a dead horse, but when there is balance to the Cowboys offense, it provides protection for the offensive line and gives them their best chance to win.

When it comes to Felix Jones, he provides the spark and pop to the ‘Boys running game.

Last week against Tennessee, Jones averaged 7.3 yards per carry and had his most prolific running performance of the season with 109 yards. But Tony Romo threw the ball 46 times and Garrett never gave Jones a chance to truly get going.

As far as Tashard Choice goes, he’s been an anomaly since that infamous Steelers game from a couple of seasons ago. Choice only has eight carries, and some of those have come from the wildcat, a formation that Dallas rarely uses. 

Placing the ball in the air that many times gives the opponent a great chance of causing a turnover, as evidenced by the Cowboys three interceptions,two coming off of tipped passes.

Another reason the Cowboys should commit to the run, is to protect their aging and oft injured offensive line.

Starting guard Leonard Davis was benched against Tennessee because of his poor play and was replaced by Montrae Holland. Davis had trouble protecting Tony Romo, as the Dallas quarterback tasted turf six times in the first half alone.

If anything, Garrett has an obligation to at least protect the team’s franchise quarterback.

Lastly, Dallas should try running the ball because passing it hasn’t worked for them.

Sounds simple, but it’s the truth. The Cowboys have lost every game this season in which they've passed the ball over 40 times.

Tony Romo is a pretty good quarterback, but when he’s forced to throw the rock that many times behind a line that has trouble protecting him, I think the best route is for the ‘Boys to simply run it.

-JH

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