Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Dallas Cowboys Getting Help From Rushing Game

Cowboys Getting Help From Rushing Game
By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer


IRVING, Texas (AP) -- When Julius Jones returned healthy after rookie Marion Barber's breakthrough games, it seemed as if the Dallas Cowboys finally had the kind of a 1-2 backfield punch that Bill Parcells wanted.

Except the Cowboys have their two lowest rushing totals of the season in the three games since Jones returned from an ankle injury and shared the load with Barber.

"The run game isn't exactly what I'd like it to be, but I think the potential to have a good running game is here," Parcells said Wednesday. "Although our numbers are not good, the running game has contributed significantly to our record."
Parcells doesn't like the perception that the rushing game isn't being productive. For the coach, it's more than just yards that matter.

Mainly because they average 34 rushing plays a game, the Cowboys (7-4) lead the NFL in time of possession at 33 1/2 minutes per game. And that's big for Parcells in controlling close games - eight of their games have been decided by six points or less, with the four losses by a combined 13 points.

So expect Parcells to continue to be stubborn about running the ball, even if the yards aren't overwhelming (116.9 yards per game).

"You choose to do things for reasons other than what appears to be," Parcells said. "You choose to do things strategically not only to combat your opponents but to attempt to assist your own people."

Rookie Rob Petitti had started every game at right tackle, and Torrin Tucker took over on the left side when two-time Pro Bowl tackle Flozell Adams tore knee ligaments six games ago - during the same time Jones was sitting out.

Plus, quarterback Drew Bledsoe said opposing defenses are blitzing more against the Cowboys.

Barber ran for 95 yards at Seattle on Oct. 23, then had 127 yards and two touchdowns the next week against Arizona in his first start. He even started at Philadelphia, the game Jones returned and after Anthony Thomas, who started the first two games Jones missed, was waived.

The Cowboys had a season-low 58 rushing yards against the Eagles, then after 149 yards against a Detroit team missing several defensive starters, had 85 against Denver.

"I understand the way we're trying to play here, I really do," Bledsoe said. "Do I want to drop back and throw it a bunch? Yeah, that's fun ... At the same time, you do that, you bring a lot of risk into the game that you don't want to have."

If the Cowboys are going to stick to the ground, they need to get some bigger runs. They have only three runs of more than 20 yards: Barber runs of 28 and 26 yards in his two starts and a 25-yarder by Jones before he got hurt.

Since his breakout games, Barber has rushed for 46 (including the 26-yarder), 53 and 28 yards his last three.

"I've just got to know my reads a lot better," Barber said. "Just make one decisive cut and go with it."

Jones, who has 1,368 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first 16 games played during an injured plagued two seasons, said his main concern is that the Cowboys are winning.

Dallas plays Sunday at the New York Giants, with the winner taking a one-game lead in the NFC East with four games left. The Cowboys beat the Giants 16-13 in overtime on Oct. 16, the first game Jones missed.