The Cowboys are heading into Week 9 with a simple problem and a simple answer: they need different looks, and they need them now.
After getting embarrassed by the Arizona Cardinals last week, Dallas goes to Indianapolis on Sunday trying to stop the slide. If the Cowboys are going to avoid another loss, the offense has to stop leaning on the same tired formula. Two names stand out as players who should see more action against the Colts: Tyler Goodson and Broderick Jones.
The run game has been one of the biggest disappointments for Dallas this season. The Cowboys sit in the bottom ten in rushing yards with 753 and rushing Y/A at 3.8.
Since Week 4, they’ve topped 95 rushing yards in a game only once. A lot of that has fallen on the offensive line, but Javonte Williams also turned in a rough performance in the loss to Arizona.
He looked worn down, with none of the burst or power he showed in his big day in Philly less than a week earlier.
That raises a fair question about workload. Williams has the ninth-most carries in the league, and he’s averaged less than 4.0 Y/A in six of Dallas’ eight games this season.
Going into the year, keeping him fresh should have been a priority. Instead, the Cowboys have done a poor job of preserving their top back’s best form.
That’s why Tyler Goodson needs a bigger role. He hasn’t been perfect - he averaged just 2.0 Y/A last week against Arizona - but there’s still juice there.
In only 28 rushing attempts this season, Goodson already has three 10+ yard runs. Dallas doesn’t need to hand him the entire backfield, but giving him five or six more carries a game could help Williams get back to form and keep him effective over the rest of the regular season.
The other move is up front, where it’s time to move on from Terence Steele. He hasn’t looked like a starting-caliber offensive tackle for two years now, and the numbers back that up. Steele has allowed 17 pressures, including 10 over the past three weeks, along with 14 QB hurries.
Broderick Jones, who is 25, is waiting for a shot. Steele’s issues in both pass protection and the run game played a major role in Dallas’ inability to consistently move the ball against the Cardinals. Jones may not be a sure thing, but he deserves a chance to prove he can do better.
The Cowboys are usually stubborn about these kinds of changes, so this may not happen. But Broderick Jones should be Dallas’ starting right tackle on Sunday in Indianapolis.
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