In their 23-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 6, the Dallas Cowboys again failed to dictate how the game was played. Dallas finished with 48 rushing yards on 15 carries as Dak Prescott attempted 54 passes.
Locked On Cowboys co-host Landon McCool traced the problem to a run-game menu he believes has become too narrow. McCool said the Cowboys have sharply reduced their use of power, pull-lead and counter concepts while leaning harder on inside zone runs that have not produced consistent movement up front.
That critique landed on the Dallas Cowboys’ interior line. Left guard Tyler Smith, center Cooper Beebe and right guard Tyler Booker make up a group Dallas expected to control games with. McCool’s film study put Dallas at 2.1 yards per carry on runs behind its guards, and he said the club’s A-gap production has fallen from 5.9 yards per carry last season to 4.5 through six games.
Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams had 41 yards on 11 carries against Green Bay, including a 1-yard touchdown. The issue, as McCool framed it, is not simply whether Williams is running hard. It is that Dallas has not made defenses pay when they stay light in the box. That lets opponents keep safeties deep, limit explosive opportunities for Dallas Cowboys wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, and force Prescott to work against layered coverage.
Locked On Cowboys co-host Marcus Mosher said the drop in production cannot be excused by personnel continuity or the resources Dallas has put into its line. McCool added that the offense needs more variation, motion and answers that create easier gains before the Cowboys fall behind and abandon the run.
The coaching staff reached a similar conclusion after the loss. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Dallas has to find a running game and acknowledged that trailing early distorted the plan. Offensive coordinator Klayton Adams now has a short week to build an offense that can stay on schedule against Philadelphia instead of asking Prescott to carry every possession.
The Cowboys visit the Philadelphia Eagles next Monday night. If Dallas cannot create more room for Williams and reduce the pressure on Prescott, opponents will keep daring the offense to win in obvious passing situations.
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