DallasNews.com: Cowboys must improve in trenches

[tr1]

That sucky run game is becoming a constant for the pukes. I'm glad Jones has been freed of his 'robot' shackles...

And, if you can't stop the run, a pressure pass defense is useless.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/082707dnspocowinsider.2a030fd.html

IRVING – Amid the sky-is-falling talk after the Cowboys' disappointing 28-16 loss to Houston on Saturday, a little all-is-well is needed, too.

As much as the Cowboys' 2-0 start to the preseason was exciting for the fans, the players constantly reminded themselves that it was only the preseason, that little of it really mattered.

So losing to the Texans was not the end of the world, but the defeat showed there should at least be concern about the most basic tenets in football: stopping the run and running the ball.

The Cowboys did neither against the Texans.

Houston finished with 142 yards on the ground on 26 carries, with quarterback Sage Rosenfels being credited with minus-2 yards for kneeling at the end of the game. In the first two preseason games vs. Indianapolis and Denver, the Cowboys allowed 84 yards on 34 carries. Ahman Green, who had a 90-yard touchdown run against the Cowboys in 2004 with Green Bay, rushed for 65 yards on eight carries.

Green's 46-yard run in the second quarter that set up the Texans' second touchdown was a microcosm of the evening.

Rookie outside linebacker Anthony Spencer got pinned inside by fullback Vonta Leach, something that rarely happens to veteran Greg Ellis, the starter once he proves he's healthy. Defensive end Marcus Spears got turned inside by the tight end, keeping linebacker Bradie James from properly chasing the play. Left guard Chester Pitts eventually picked off James, leaving cornerback Aaron Glenn alone on Green.

Glenn's dive at Green's ankles failed at the 35, and safety Roy Williams did not wrap up Green 2 yards later, setting up a sprint down the field.

But it wasn't the big play that hurt the Cowboys as much as it was the inability to stop Houston from grinding on them.

Of the 25 running plays by Houston's tailbacks and fullbacks, the Cowboys forced just three negative runs. Thirteen of those gains were for 4 yards or more.

"All the credit to them, they did what they had to do," nose tackle Jason Ferguson said after the game. "We knew they were going to run it and we couldn't stop them."

Of the 20 running plays by Cowboys tailbacks Julius Jones, Marion Barber and Tyson Thompson, they were stopped for negative yardage just once, but 13 times they gained 3 yards or less.

The tenor was set on the opening play when fullback Lousaka Polite could not budge linebacker Danny Clark, who stopped Jones for a 1-yard gain. Even the people's champ, Barber, looked human in picking up only 14 yards on six carries.

...

The Cowboys have built their offensive line on size – at 6-5, 294 pounds, left guard Kyle Kosier is the smallest. It worked in the 1990s when they had Emmitt Smith running behind Nate Newton, Mark Tuinei and Larry Allen. But on Saturday, Houston's speed gave the unit trouble.

"We need to run the ball better," Wade Phillips said. "It's harder to run the football on the road. That's always a problem. It's something we'll need to address and we'll get a chance to do that next week."

[Fan since a Fetus]

"All the credit to them, they did what they had to do," nose tackle Jason Ferguson said after the game. "We knew they were going to run it and we couldn't stop them."

This is definitely my favorite line out of this article. You "knew" the "Texans" were going to run and you couldn't stop them? Priceless. The Texans are one of the worst running teams in the league. Ha! Ha!!!!!:laugh:

[Popeman38]

Weren't the trenches the same place Dallas had troubles last year? They couldn't keep the QB on his feet (Romo sits to pee took 21 sacks), and the rushing game wasn't exactly deadly. They sign Leonard Davis to an astrnomical contract and do nothing else to shore up the trenches and they are considered a SB contender?

[Fred Jones]

Wade had some good Dline players last year to man his defense. He does not have the same in puke land.

[Popeman38]

Wade had some good Dline players last year to man his defense. He does not have the same in puke land.

You know what I love? How all of a sudden Demarcus Ware is foing to be Shawne Merriman and wrap up defensive player of the year whil piling up 20 sacks. All because Wade Phillips is now the coach. Like Parcells was holding him back. The same Parcells who used a certain LT to wreak havoc on the league for years.

[Tulane Skins Fan]

C'mon guys, don't you know that Wade Phillips let the Texans run on them because he wanted to see if they could stop the run without trying?