Scott Linehan: Cowboys will lean on run, DeMarco Murray
By Mike Dyce
The Dallas Cowboys are trying to get over that 8-8 hurdle, and that includes bring in Scott Linehan to be their third offensive coordinator in as many years. Linehan has outlined that the Cowboys have a lot of weapons and that he thinks the Cowboys can be more vertical, but it doesn’t mean he is going to get away from the ground game, which was a big issue with last year’s play-calling.
In fact, Linehan said the Cowboys might lean on the run this year.
“Things that were done last year in the running game with DeMarco, the running style that was created here is really a good fit,” Linehan said recently on 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM]. “That’s going to be our strength, being able to lean on that running game a little bit more than they have in the past.
“Obviously, with this offensive line, this is going to be something that’s going to help our passing game. The looks that Dez [Bryant] started to get as the year went on, people started giving him the attention that Calvin [Johnson] and Randy Moss would get as far as getting those double coverages. You need to have those other facets of your offense as far as your running game.”
Despite the Cowboys averaging 21 carries per game, the second lowest total in the NFL, Murray had a career year in his healthiest season in the NFL. Murray played in 14 games rushing the ball 217 times for 1,121 yards and an impressive 5.2 yards per carry.