“Overall, I think we need to get better in both areas throughout the year,” McCarthy said. “I think that's what we were talking about… it's training and how we do it and how we can improve there. We're not where we need to be in both areas. .”
Where the Cowboys were, they were about in the middle in both categories. Offensively, they ranked 14th out of 32 teams in rushing yards per game, averaging 112.9 yards per game. And defensively, they ranked 16th, allowing 112.4 yards per game, right in the middle.
But again, this is based on regular season stats. Running the football is always more important in the playoffs, whether it's because of the cold in some cases, or simply to shorten the game, or to establish a ball control mindset. In any case, running the football in the postseason is a different animal.
The Cowboys were middling during the regular season, but even when they lost to the Packers in the playoffs, they had major problems on both sides of the ball. A quick look at the stats: The Packers gained 143 yards rushing and the Cowboys gained 123 yards on the ground.
However, upon closer inspection, the Cowboys' rushing numbers are misleading given that Dak Prescott rushed for 45 yards on most of his designed passes that turned into scramble runs from the pocket. I understand that. Looking at the two starting running backs, Tony Pollard had 56 yards on 15 attempts, an average of 3.7 yards. Meanwhile, Green Bay's Aaron Jones had 21 carries for 118 yards, an average of 5.6 yards, and three touchdowns.
Obviously, the Packers were able to load up and run the ball effectively and the Cowboys relied more on passing, but of course this was a byproduct of being down the entire game.
And that turned out to be a theme throughout the season. The Cowboys allowed 222 rushing yards against Arizona in Week 3 and trailed the entire game. In Week 5, he allowed 170 yards to the 49ers in a game in which he never led. And the biggest rushing total against them came in Buffalo, where the Bills gained 266 yards to beat the Cowboys, but this was also a game in which Dallas led the entire game.
So, as McCarthy stated in his press conference, the Cowboys must improve in both areas. That will be tested in free agency, given that the Cowboys have two of their top running backs in Tony Pollard and Rico Doodle as unrestricted free agents.
Defensively, defensive tackles Jonathan Hankins and Neville Gallimore are free agents, and defensive ends Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler are also free agents. Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is also a UFA, but will have to make a decision after his neck injury forced him to miss the final 13 games of the season.
There will be personnel changes on both sides of the ball, but when it comes to the run game, the Cowboys must make sure the results change for the better as well.
