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There\u2019s been a lot of noise this week about whether or not Dak Prescott \u201cshows up in January.\u201d\u2028Stephen A. Smith\u00a0added fuel to the fire with his usual style of the delivery of an empty one-liner …<\/p>\n
\u201cDo people respect the man who doesn\u2019t show up in January?\u201d<\/p>\n
But here\u2019s what he won\u2019t say.\u2028Here\u2019s what none of the viral-first talking heads want to slow down and explain:<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Dallas Cowboys\u2019 running game has completely failed them in the postseason.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s look at the receipts \u2014 specifically, the last three playoff losses:<\/p>\n
2022 vs. San Francisco (Divisional Round)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Running back carries: 16<\/p>\n
\u2022 Total yards: 45<\/p>\n
\u2022 Yards per carry: 2.8<\/p>\n
That\u2019s not just bad. That\u2019s game-plan breaking.<\/p>\n
2023 vs. San Francisco (Divisional Round)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Running back carries: 16<\/p>\n
\u2022 Total yards: 48<\/p>\n
\u2022 Yards per carry: 3.0<\/p>\n
Same script, same result. Predictable. One-dimensional. Easy to sit on.<\/p>\n
2024 vs. Green Bay (Wild Card)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Running back carries: 17<\/p>\n
\u2022 Total yards: 67<\/p>\n
\u2022 Yards per carry: 3.9<\/p>\n
Slightly better on paper \u2014 but let\u2019s be real: that number liekly looks much worse if not for Green Bay sitting in prevent defense for most of the second half. The damage was already done.<\/p>\n
When a defense can keep 7 in coverage, not even commit extra men to the box, and still suffocate your run game \u2014 your\u00a0quarterback\u00a0is cooked before the snap.\u2028He becomes predictable.\u2028Your play-action gets eliminated.\u2028And defenses sit on everything underneath because they know you\u2019re desperate to make a play.<\/p>\n
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That\u2019s not a \u201cDak Prescott problem.\u201d\u2028That\u2019s a team construction problem.<\/p>\n
By the way, this isn’t mean to absolve Dak from losses; Dallas has been a playoff failure across the board, from the coach to the ball boy and everybody in between.<\/p>\n
This is football.\u2028It\u2019s the ultimate team sport.\u2028So yes, wins and losses are credited to the QB … and yet at the same time, in Dallas’ case?<\/p>\n
When 16 carries for 45 yards is all you get from your backfield in the biggest moments of the season, not too many quarterbacks are bailing you out of that.<\/p>\n
But of course, none of that gets mentioned on ESPN.\u2028Because it doesn\u2019t fit the script.<\/p>\n
Stephen A. Smith isn\u2019t breaking down run fit problems or zone-blocking inefficiency.\u2028He\u2019s here to entertain. To antagonize. To stir the pot.<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s fine.\u2028But let\u2019s not confuse that for real football analysis.<\/p>\n
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