Mailbag: How run heavy will Dallas really be?

(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)

With all the talk we've heard about the running game (again), how run heavy do you really see the Cowboys being this year? Knowing Dak Prescott is at his best with a strong rushing game, I'm just curious to see what you all think? – Ruben Mangus/Shelbyville, TN

Patrik: Your question is one filled with intrigue, indeed. That's because, on one front, Brian Schottenheimer has made it abundantly clear the Cowboys' offense will lean heavily on the rushing attack going forward, and signing JaVonte Williams and Miles Sanders before then drafting both Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah certainly hint at the fact he's not kidding. On the other note, however, the team didn't pass on a chance to try and recreate their high-powered passing attack they once had when CeeDee Lamb was playing opposite Amari Cooper — striking a blockbuster deal to land George Pickens this past spring. Now let's make things a bit foggier, intentionally, by pointing at Schottenheimer mentioning, repeatedly, how the offense will be "multiple" and "attacking".

My ultimate take on it is this: the Cowboys want to establish the run as a threat, but not to the point of DeMarco Murray-esque levels, rather just enough to allow the passing attack to have its way with defenses; and that will include using guys like Williams, Blue and Sanders (and KaVontae Turpin) to stretch teams horizontally with passes out of the backfield from Dak Prescott. It feels like the goal is to establish the rushing attack out of necessity, and not necessarily an old-school idea of handing the ball off 30 times a game.

Tommy: If we're talking in comparison to last year, I think the Cowboys will be more run heavy but maybe not as overwhelmingly as it's been portrayed at times in the offseason. It took time for Rico Dowdle to step into his own in 2024, and right now Dallas doesn't have a clear-cut guy they can lean on to establish the run. That said, they bolstered up on the offensive line from a personnel and coaching standpoint, so the hope is that they can find more success because of it. If anything, I think you'll see a bigger uptick in play action with Dak Prescott under center and Brian Schottenheimer trying to play to his strengths. Prescott has been at his best in his career off of play action, and he's got a nice array of weapons surrounding him to be able to take advantage of it.