Cowboys can win on the ground, too

By Anthony Bialy  |   Monday, September 17, 2007  |  Comments( 4 )

Dallas Cowboys
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After a pair of games, the two things learned about the Dallas offense is that it can rack up tremendous scores with aerial assaults, and it can rack up tremendous scores emphasizing pounding the ball on the ground. This seemingly leaves opposing defensive coordinators in the lurch of having to choose which aspect of the Cowboy offense they prefer to get beaten by, and, while I'll go ahead and predict they won't average 41 points per game through the end of the season, the multifaceted thrashings they've administered early are going to make this team tough to stop or even slow.

Tony Romo passed for 345 yards against an uptight Giants secondary in Week 1. With that knowledge in mind, someone who read his stat line without knowing the final score against the Dolphins might think that it was an off week for the offense. Yet, with Romo going for only 186 yards and, at 14 for 29, completing fewer than half his passes, his team still erupted for 37 points. How did the Cowboys manage?

The quarterback did help his side with the numbers two and zero: throwing for touchdowns twice while refraining from tossing any interceptions. His first scoring pass, taking advantage of a spectacular punt return in the third quarter that left only 30 yards of field between the starting line of scrimmage and the end zone, was a 2-yard strike to tight end Tony Curtis after an efficient four-play drive.

Romo also extended the lead with a touchdown pass to Terrell Owens near the fourth quarter's four-minute mark. The receiver's unsurprising but still superfluous showboating penalty aside, the 34-yard play illustrated a perfect combination between well-timed execution and an intrepid play call at a point when many would have gone for a conservative rush straight up the field's center. Romo's slipperiness and his ability to make opportune throws overcomes any concerns about passing totals that are less than gaudy.

Besides, Dallas had already done plenty of damage on the ground. Marion Barber's 14 attempts covered 89 yards, good for a superhuman 6.4 per-carry average. He also scored his team's first and last touchdowns of the afternoon, the initial one breaking a 3-3 tie with a straight-ahead gash late in the second quarter. The latter score went for 40 yards near the game's end as he sped past an exhausted defense.

While the second touchdown run did beef up Barber's total yardage, it's important to remember that single long gains at that point are usually thanks to having spent earlier portions of the game wearing down the defense. Barber earned a high average for the day by setting it up earlier colliding with tacklers.

Of indubitable help to the overall effort is the fact Barber is also actively involved in pass protection. Instead of simply aiding the airborne game indirectly by forcing defenders to cheat near the line of scrimmage, Barber also contributes with good recognition of pass rushers coupled with blocking that could be best described as dominant for a running back.

Being able to hold off blitzers as well as knock aside tacklers on the way to long gains is going to wear on any competitor, and doing so on a hot September day in Miami was of invaluable help in Dallas getting to 2-0. Barber's physical mentality helped the Cowboys eventually overpower the Dolphins in addition to showing the rest of the league that holding Romo to modest passing totals won't ensure a win.

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