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Cowboys' Tyler Smith Details Method To Run Game Success vs. Packers
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- Cowboys' Tyler Smith Details Method To Run Game Success vs. Packers
One huge positive for the Dallas Cowboys' offense last season was the running game with Javonte Williams.
Dallas boasted a top-10 unit, with Williams for 1,201 yards and 11 TDs, but the run game has struggled through the first five weeks of this season.
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Just one game over 100 yards, and the rest 75 or under, it has been tough sledding for Williams and the rushing attack.
Plus, Williams is only averaging 3.7 yards per run, so there isn't much burn from the back when he does get the ball, so there is an urgency to get this thing rolling in the right direction.
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We know that Dallas' weapons outside in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are elite, but the run game helps take the pressure off of them.
With the Green Bay Packers up on Sunday night, All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith knows how to get Williams and Co. rolling.
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"I think the biggest thing is just picking up blitzes," Smith said. "Obviously, I think it all starts with communication. And I feel like when we're communicating the right way, and we're blocking the looks the right way, it'll just give our running backs lanes to go through.
"So I think biggest thing for us is practicing it the right way, and the only way you're going to communicate, to block right on game day is if you practice those things the right way. And so just banging those reps, and then making sure that we're practicing with intention."
It starts in practice, and with the Cowboys having a mini-bye after the loss to Tampa Bay, everyone is on notice now.
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The time has come to start getting something tangible from the ground game, as it has been held in check for most of the season.
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Now, is some of that not having Smith in the lineup? Maybe, but Dallas has often played from behind, so Dak Prescott has had to throw more, with only one game this season where he didn't have at least 34 pass attempts.
In his last three games, Dak has had over 40 passing attempts. So it isn't complementary at all, and that could be a big reason for the offensive inconsistency.
So, on Sunday night, getting back to leaning on Javonte should be the method, and let the passing game come to you because, as we know, if you can run the ball effectively, defenses have to commit to stop the run, and that could leave 88 and 3 wide open for big shots down the field.
