Regular season games serve multiple purposes throughout a season. Obviously, it’s a way to earn wins and subsequently pave a path to the postseason, but it’s also a way to learn and grow for contests down the road. Each opponent offers their own sets of challenges and certain traits can prove to be particularly problematic to some teams. For the Cowboys, this problematic trait is a running QB.
Facing off against New York on Sunday, Dallas will take on one of the NFL’s better rushing QBs. Since entering the league in 2019, Daniel Jones has honed his rushing skills and become a true multi-tooled weapon.
In 2022, Jones found enormous success as a rushing option. His 708 yards on the ground marked a career high for the fourth-year veteran. It took pressure off his arm and added an extra layer to the Giants’ offensive attack.
Facing the Cowboys defense, Jones’ results were a mixed bag. In one game he saw tremendous success. In another game the Cowboys locked him down as a runner. One thing was clear: he was a formidable opponent as run threat.
He wasn’t just a steppingstone for the Cowboys postseason run, but he acted as a prep course for the division’s top dual-threat QB, Jalen Hurts.
Like Jones, Hurts is equal parts arm and legs. His value lies in his ability to do both, and Hurts set an NFL record in rushing attempts last season from the QB position.
This isn’t to say Jones is a Hurts starter pack as a runner either. In fact, Jones has consistently performed far better than Hurts in rushing yards over expected (RYOE), indicating Hurts is more of a volume runner and Jones is a better model of efficiency.
Daniel Jones’ efficiency as a runner is extremely underrated. He’s not the workhorse many of his counterparts are but he’s extremely impactful as a runner. pic.twitter.com/qsAxa2ZBuX
— Reid D Hanson (@ReidDHanson) September 9, 2023
But since the Eagles are the defending NFC champs, most believe the road to the playoffs runs through Philadelphia. If the Cowboys want challenge them for the top spot, they need to do a better job of stopping mobile QBs like Jones (and Hurts).
For as good as Dan Quinn’s defense has been over the years, they’ve often been undisciplined in their handling of QB run options. Zone reads and RPOs (with a QB run option attached) are areas in which Dallas struggles.
Dallas did a fine job of corralling Jones in their Arlington meeting, but in New Jersey it was a different story. Jones ran nine times for 79 yards that day. Not only did he have an 8.8 yard-per-carry average, but his 0.93 EPA/play led all players on both teams. While his passing success rate sat below 50 percent, his rushing success rate was a clean 100 percent.
Jones’ rushing ability will be a challenge for the Cowboys defense on Sunday night. Their discipline will be tested in much the same way Hurts and the Eagles will test them down the road.
It’s not just about this game, it’s about preparing for future games as well. Jones and the Giants are a challenge in themselves and deserve that respect. But at the same time, Jones is a great primer in what is yet to come for the Cowboys defense.
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