What happened to Joseph Randle in the 2nd half vs the Falcons

Cowboys RB Joseph Randle had 93 yards on the ground in week 3 vs the Falcons after just the first half.  He finished the game with 87 yards on 14 carries.

What happened?

You can blame Brandon Weeden with his contact check downs forcing the Falcons defense to stuff the box making it impossible to run the ball.

You can blame the Falcons aggressive defense bringing the safety down to take the running game away and force Weeden to have to throw the ball to win the game.

Those are valid arguments but I wanted to look at every one Randle had in the 2nd half to see what happened for myself.

3Q 12:35 - Dallas has the ball at their own 48, it is 1st and 15 after a Jason Witten false start.  They come up in 11 personnel (1 TE, 1 RB) and they decide to run an off tackle play to the weakside. The offensive line will be man blocking.

The play goes for a loss of 1 yard.  Two things are clear when looking at the run blocking. The RT #68 Doug Free does not have his man sealed off on the edge and any positive running play will have to the left of Free, the initial play design going outside of Free will not work.  Next is the OC #72 Travis Frederick is getting pushed into the backfield and while he is keeping his feet moving preventing a holding call, its more traffic for Randle to try and get through.

However the left side of the line has neutralized their targets for a gapping cut back lane.  La'el Collins gets downfield for the LB, Tyron Smith cuts down the DE and Jason Witten has his guy under control.

Randle has got to see this more quickly and make the cut back for positive yardage.  This is an example of the player has to run where he sees daylight, not necessarily where the playcall says to go.

3Q 7:05 - Dallas' lead is in jeopardy after an Atlanta score cutting the deficit to 25-28.  They start this drive in 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TE) with James Hanna as the second tight end lined up next to Witten on the right side.

Dallas runs a similar play this time to the strong side of the formation where the 2 tight ends lined up.  Atlanta shows 7 in the box with no LBs attempting to shoot any gaps presnap.  This suggest that Atlanta is not selling out to stuff the run on this first down play.

It goes for a loss of 4 yards and Randle had no chance on this one.  Travis Frederick gets beat off the snap and Collins can not get over quick enough to assist before the tackle is well into the backfield. Zach Martin gets beat as well which is rare on a running play but this puts 2 Atlanta defenders in the backfield and this will go for a loss 99.9% of the time.

3Q 5:54 - Just 3 plays later, Dallas has a first down after a roughing the passer penalty puts them at their own 31 yard line.  1st and 10, Cowboys again in the 12 personnel (you know by now what this means) on the offenses left side.  Atlanta shows 8 in the box this time with safety #25 William Moore  playing the run as an unaccounted for defender.  Dallas decides to run right into the middle of it.

The offensive line does a pretty good job here except for La'el Collins who struggles to get to the 2nd level and take out the LB.  Frederick knocks his man out of the hole while both Martin and Free get their man turned with ease.  Martin could of kept his man engaged a half tick longer but I'm not going to knock him much if the back gets past his man.

Randle makes about as much as was there, it was a strong play by the defense showing 8 men in the box and the unaccounted defender makes the play.  I would fault Randle if Collins had picked up his man and he ends getting taken down 1 on 1 which is a match up the back needs to win more times than not.

3Q 4:39 - Two plays later, Dallas has flipped field position after getting back up to their own 16.  It is 1st and 10 at the 45 yard line.  The offense shows a fullback this time with just one tight end off to the right meaning 21 personnel. Atlanta has seen Dallas run the ball consistently on 1st down and by now isn't concerned with the threat of a downfield pass.  They again bring the safety #25 Moore into the box on the offenses left side.

Dallas attempts a misdirection run and get some of those aggressive Atlanta defenders to bite on Randle's first step to the left.

The offensive line does their job especially Frederick and Free taking their guys downfield.  Martin gets excellent pop on his pulling assignment and the fullback Clutts gets a hat on him as well.

However Randle decides to string this play out wide to almost the sideline not reading his blocks well at all on the play.  He decides to follow his fullback and then continues to run toward his outside shoulder despite the defender having leverage to that side.  Randle had two options, either cut upfield once he passes Witten as Martin has sealed off a good hole there or Randle can run up the left side of his fullback for positive yardage.  Randle would of had to deal with former Cowboy defender #52 who is tracking the play well across the field.

The play goes for a loss of 2 yards and he would not get another carry in the game.  I believe this is the play that got the coaching staff most frustrated with his performance in the 2nd half.

Joseph Randle has been criticized for not breaking tackles and the fumble vs the Giants and now his lack of quality vision to get positive yardage instead of negative plays.  The offensive line cannot get a hat on every defender on each play, the back will have to make someone miss and turn nothing into something.

This offense needs all the help it can get from the running game and Randle's first half looked like an exception while the 2nd half is more consistent of what he has shown on the field.