By PML Insider Staff — Dallas Cowboys Feature
Frisco, TX —
For the past several weeks, the Dallas Cowboys have captured the league’s attention with their explosive, aerial assault. Joe Milton III’s deep ball has become a weapon feared across the PML, and the wide receiver room has produced fireworks week after week.
But after a crushing 53–52 loss to the Detroit Lions — a game that showcased offensive brilliance yet ended in frustration — Head Coach Cody Hirsch is changing the conversation inside the locker room.
The message is clear: the Cowboys must get back to balance, back to physicality, and back to the run.
“We know we can score through the air,” Hirsch said. “Now it’s about proving we can control a game on the ground. Championship football starts with toughness, and that starts with running the football.”
That renewed focus has turned this week of practice into one of the most physical and intense of the season. Pads were popping. Tempers flared. And as Hirsch put it, “the trenches decided to take it personally.”
Javonte Williams: The Enforcer
If the Cowboys are serious about reestablishing their identity, it starts with Javonte Williams. The bruising fourth-year back has become the tone-setter for the offense — a relentless runner with violent leg drive and punishing contact balance. Against Detroit, Williams carried 16 times for 70 yards (4.4 avg), breaking three tackles and churning out multiple drive-sustaining first downs.
“Javonte runs angry,” Hirsch said. “When he’s finishing runs and falling forward, it changes everything. He’s the kind of back that breaks defenses down over four quarters.”
Williams’ impact doesn’t always show up on the highlight reel, but his physical style opens up the passing game by forcing linebackers and safeties to step up. His ability to grind between the tackles, protect the football, and keep the offense ahead of schedule is exactly what Hirsch wants to see more of moving forward.
“We want to make teams tackle us for four quarters,” Williams said. “When you do that, they don’t want to anymore. That’s when you take their will.”
Jaylen Blue: The Spark Plug
While Williams brings the muscle, Jaylen Blue brings the lightning. The rookie phenom has already proven himself as a dangerous receiver, but his skill set as a part-time running back gives Dallas an edge few teams can replicate.
Though Blue saw limited carries in the Detroit game (2 for 4 yards), his versatility is something Hirsch intends to lean on heavily. His elite acceleration and shiftiness make him a natural fit for motion plays, jet sweeps, and quick tosses that stretch defenses horizontally.
“Jaylen’s the wildcard,” Hirsch said. “He’s the player defenses have to find every snap. When he’s in the backfield, you can’t assume pass or run — he can hurt you both ways.”
Blue’s dual-threat ability also makes him a dangerous weapon in RPO and screen concepts. Expect Dallas to get him involved early next game to test pursuit angles and soften up opposing fronts.
“I love those touches that get me in space,” Blue said. “Once I make that first guy miss, it’s over. Coach Hirsch trusts me to make those plays — and I take that seriously.”
Phil Mafah: The Closer
And then there’s Phil Mafah — the rookie battering ram built for finishing drives and closing games.
At 6’1”, 220 pounds, Mafah runs with the kind of old-school power that turns second-and-short into automatic first downs. While he didn’t record a carry last week, Hirsch has made it clear that the rookie will see a much larger role moving forward, particularly in short-yardage and late-game situations.
“Phil’s our finisher,” Hirsch said. “When we need to control the clock or put a game away, he’s the guy who’s going to do it.”
Mafah’s physical running style complements Williams and Blue perfectly — allowing Hirsch to rotate backs situationally without sacrificing explosiveness or toughness. His presence is a key piece of the Cowboys’ new offensive focus: grind the game down, impose their will, and finish on their own terms.
“I take pride in being that guy who closes things out,” Mafah said. “Fourth quarter, one score game — give me the rock. That’s when I’m at my best.”
The Engine Behind It All: Smith, Booker, and Beebe
No running game succeeds without dominance up front — and for Dallas, that dominance starts with its young, bruising offensive line led by Tyler Smith, Tyler Booker, and Cooper Beebe.
Tyler Smith, the third-year left tackle, has evolved into the tone-setter of the unit. His blend of raw strength and athleticism makes him equally dangerous as a pass protector and a mauler in the run game.
“Tyler’s physical, but he’s disciplined,” Hirsch said. “He’s one of those rare linemen who enjoys the grind. He doesn’t just block people — he finishes them.”
Beside him, Tyler Booker has emerged as one of the league’s nastiest young guards — a true finisher who brings a defensive lineman’s mentality to every rep. His power in double teams and quickness in pulling plays have made him a key weapon in Dallas’ inside zone scheme.
“Booker brings juice,” Williams said. “You can hear him yelling on every run play — he’s got that dog in him.”
At the center of it all is Cooper Beebe, the cerebral anchor and communicator. Beebe’s football IQ and leadership have made him indispensable in pre-snap adjustments and combo blocks. He’s the voice Milton listens to when the front shifts, and the first one to fire off the ball when the whistle blows.
“Cooper’s our quarterback of the line,” Hirsch said. “He sees it all. He’s the one making sure our backs have lanes and Joe’s got time. That’s leadership.”
Together, Smith, Booker, and Beebe are forming the identity Hirsch wants this offense to represent: physical, tough, and unrelenting in the trenches.
Why the Run Game Matters
For all of Joe Milton’s greatness — and there’s been plenty of it — the Cowboys’ offense becomes truly unstoppable when the ground game is rolling.
A strong run game does three things:
- Keeps the defense honest. It forces linebackers to respect the play-action and opens up vertical lanes for Milton’s deep ball.
- Controls the tempo. It allows Dallas to dictate the flow of the game, limiting possessions for opponents.
- Protects the defense. Sustained drives mean rest for the Cowboys’ defense, giving them the energy to finish games strong.
“When we run the ball, it’s not just about yards — it’s about control,” Hirsch said. “We can play at our pace. We can dictate what happens.”
The Cowboys averaged 4.4 yards per carry as a team against Detroit — a solid start, but Hirsch believes the potential is much higher once all three backs are fully integrated into the rotation.
The Mentality Moving Forward
This week’s practices have been all about identity. Pads stayed on longer. Blocking drills were heavier. The message: dominate the line of scrimmage.
“We’re not looking for cute football,” Hirsch said. “We’re looking for violent football — controlled, disciplined, and physical. That’s our brand.”
Veterans have taken that to heart, with Tyler Smith and Beebe reportedly leading a linemen-only film session midweek, breaking down run fits and backside cutoff angles to clean up the small details that turn 4-yard runs into 14-yard runs.
The energy around The Star feels different — confident, but hungry. There’s a sense that this next stretch of games is where the Cowboys forge their true identity.
Next Game Game Plan: Establish, Rotate, Dominate
Coach Hirsch and offensive coordinator Marcus Fields have built this week’s game plan around three simple goals: start fast, stay balanced, and finish strong.
Here’s a breakdown of what the Cowboys are preparing to unleash:
1️⃣ Opening Drives – Establishing Javonte
- The first two possessions will feature Javonte Williams heavily, with a mix of inside zone and power runs behind Smith and Booker.
- Expect early 1st-down handoffs to test the opposing front and set up deep play-action shots for Milton.
- Hirsch’s emphasis: “Let Javonte hit somebody early. Make them feel us.”
2️⃣ Mid-Game – Injecting Blue’s Speed
- Once the defense starts crowding the box, Jaylen Blue will enter as the spark plug.
- Expect jet motion, orbit runs, and quick tosses designed to stretch the defense horizontally.
- Look for dual-back sets (Williams + Blue) to disguise RPO and screen action.
“We’re going to move Jaylen around,” Fields said. “He might line up at slot one play, then take a handoff the next. That kind of unpredictability keeps defenses frozen.”
3️⃣ Second Half – Unleashing Mafah the Closer
- If the Cowboys have a lead in the fourth quarter, it’s Phil Mafah time.
- The rookie will handle short-yardage and clock-control situations, running behind Beebe and Booker in heavy 12-personnel formations.
- Expect Dallas to prioritize possession football — long, punishing drives designed to drain both the clock and the opponent’s spirit.
“When we get a lead, we finish it on the ground,” Hirsch said. “That’s the identity we’re building.”
4️⃣ Situational Rotations
- On 3rd-and-short: Mafah or Williams, depending on formation.
- In hurry-up or spread: Blue, utilizing his versatility for quick outs or draws.
- In red-zone packages: A rotation designed to keep legs fresh and keep the defense guessing.
“We’ve got three different flavors of physicality,” Hirsch said. “And when we mix them right, we can control the game from start to finish.”
Final Word
The Dallas Cowboys have the talent to outscore anyone. But Coach Hirsch’s mission is to build a team that can outlastanyone.
Behind Javonte Williams’ power, Jaylen Blue’s explosiveness, and Phil Mafah’s finishing strength, running behind a young, dominant offensive line led by Tyler Smith, Tyler Booker, and Cooper Beebe, the Cowboys are ready to evolve from finesse to force.
“We’ve got all the pieces,” Hirsch said. “Now it’s about putting them together. Drive by drive. Carry by carry. When we do that — when we commit to who we are — there’s nobody that can stop us.”
The next time the Cowboys take the field, don’t just expect fireworks. Expect firepower — fueled by the return of the run.
