Cowboys should be in a rush to pass

By Anthony Bialy  |   Tuesday, June 10, 2008  |  Comments( 8 )

Dallas Cowboys
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Dallas Cowboys first-round running back Felix Jones either better like catching the ball or getting used to liking catching the ball. One aspect offensive coordinator Jason Garrett should employ to compensate for the lack of anticipated wide receiver additions this offseason is using his runners as passing targets.

The questions about Dallas’ wide receivers have been asked nearly as often as ones about the quarterback’s relationship status, and one way to quell the football-related gossip is to emphasize the fact that Jones and veteran Marion Barber can leave the backfield without having the ball first.

There’s going to be a learning process first, though: The trouble is that Jones only managed 39 catches over his three collegiate seasons. On the other hand, the positive view of his stat line is that he averaged 9.8 yards per reception, a fairly impressive clip for a rusher; that means he was able to engage his renowned speed when he did make a reception even if he didn’t make a reception that often.

Part of his professional transition should revolve around increasing this aspect of his game; while he’ll of course have to excel in a conventional rushing manner, the fact is that occasional low-risk passes to ground game weapons are a fantastic way to steadily advance the ball, especially when the defense has to account and compensate for an offense that is capable of deep attacks.

For example, one thing that helped Peyton Manning ensure that he would never again endure the backhanded compliment of being called the best quarterback to have not won a Super Bowl was the way he focused on precision check-down throws during that championship year: Primary backs Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes combined for 76 receptions during 2006.

And the Colts aren’t the only ones; unsurprisingly, Dallas is one of the teams that has relied effectively on using traditional rushers as receivers, as Barber and current Seahawk Julius Jones totaled 67 receptions out of the backfield themselves. Tony Romo’s superior 97.4 rating last year was based in part on a 64.4 percent completion rate; in turn, a huge segment of that success was based on the fact that the duo hauled in exactly 20 percent of his 335 completions. It’s an unglamorous yet functional method for keeping the chains moving.

As with utilizing tight ends more as receiving weapons than as blockers, leaning on running backs to keep the passing game rolling is a recent trend that has led to triumph. Instead of exclusively bombing away and settling for spectacular yet comparatively infrequent receptions, teams are stirring in outlet throws as a viable option. It might not be the West Coast offense, but it’s about halfway there: Think of it as being Mountain Standard Time close.

The Cowboys should be counting on Barber improving his reception quantity of 44 from last season, while his rookie partner should anticipate a summer spent partially focusing on catching skill development so he can at least replace the previous Jones’ 23-grab output in 2007.

The Arkansas product is going to have to learn how to handle overhand throws on a regular basis: Not only will it assuage pressure on an unchanged wide receiver group that currently provokes mild anxiety, but it works well as a tactic itself, too.
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