The Dallas Cowboys have every intention of remaining a run-first team. With the loss of Dez Bryant, the Cowboys must turn to other options for big plays and head coach Jason Garrett is hopeful that the run game is where they find them. The Cowboys have claimed to have the best offensive line in the NFL and that might be true, but in Week 1 they did very little to help the rushers get going against the New York Giants and that must change against the Philadelphia Eagles.
In Week 1, Tony Romo threw 45 passes. That is much more than he would average last season with DeMarco Murray under center. According to ESPN's Jean-Jacques Taylor, the Cowboys are 11-17 when Romo averages over 40 passes in a game. It is those kind of numbers that make the Cowboys stay focused on the ground game, but are Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden enough to get the job done? Garrett has the confidence.
"If you look at our possessions, four of them were two-minute opportunities -- two in the first half and two at the end of the game," Garrett said, via ESPN.com. "You really have to watch the game and evaluate the game. You have to understand the context in which the plays were run. The idea is to have a balanced offense and attack in a lot of different ways, both running and passing."
Randle will continue as the lead running back while McFadden works in as the backup. The Eagles have a talented front seven that performed well against a versatile Atlanta Falcons run game. The Cowboys must trust their offensive line to get the job done. In Week 1, the team's best running back producer was Lance Dunbar and he did not actually have any rushing yards, making his impact in the passing game. Dunbar will be critical for Romo moving forward without Bryant.
Terrance Williams is ready for his time in the spotlight. The wide receiver will replace Bryant on the field along with Cole Beasley, Devin Street and the newly traded Brice Butler. Williams told the media that he is ready for more responsibility on the field. Fantasy football owners would be wise to make a last-minute waiver pickup on Williams if he is still available. He will be Romo's main target.
"These are the moments you train for," Williams said, via ESPN.com. "I don't have any pressure. I've just got to go out there and run the plays that Coach calls and Tony [Romo] gives me. Stick to my fundamentals and play fast, that's what got me here."
