Turner definitely did not have the run game in the game plan yesterday. When they did run, it was not effective. But he also didn’t stick with it or give it a try. This is the play selection in the 1st quarter:
Drive 1 - Pass, Run, Pass, Pass, Punt
Drive 2 - Run, Pass, Pass (int)
Drive 3 - Run, Pass (scramble), Pass, Run, Pass, Pass, Pass (sack, fumble, TD)
Even though it was early, the game was probably out of hand from that point on. So anything after that, I think you can throw out the window. I’ve never agreed with that philosophy, but it’s what NFL coaches throughout the history of football have done.
But on your opening 3 drives, you call only 4 runs and 10 passes. That’s not having the run game in the game plan. Maybe they thought they could throw on Dallas, get a lead, then run. But that didn’t happen and instead the ball was put into the hands of the QB who had a brutal game. To me, the most impressive game was the Bucs game. TB has the number 1 rush defense, they still do. Yet we ran and ran and ran and ran. It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t always effective. But it was a commitment to playing keep away and it worked.
One more thing on the coaching. The Team was just thoroughly outcoached yesterday. Not just the Dallas defense having their way with the offense. But on offense, Dallas took the Team’s approach of dinking and dunking and playing keep away. I think it caused Turner to panic on offense and think he had to play catch-up in a hurry. But Dallas was patient most of the day. It was the Team’s blueprint to success recently and they used it against them.
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