[GTripp0012]

I think the main point is that now teams are respecting our passing game as a legitimate big play threat. This is the fourth year in a row that our passing game has been above average, and the last time it wasn't (2004) seems like forever ago. But the argument against that has always been that the passing game itself was successful, but only because opponents really didn't respect it's downfield ability. Thus, our offense was being hurt in other ways, such as the running game (8 in the box, run blitzes, etc.).

But now, it appears that Dallas has to plan for the downfield passing game. So instead of offensive balance falling on Jason Campbell's shoulders, like it has the past 2 years, the concept of offensive balance has to fall on Portis and the running game. Portis didn't produce big gashing runs last year, and certainly there were a litany of legit excuses (he's hurt, the OL is decimated, the run blocking schemes don't work, the vertical passing game is non-existant, etc.). But he's healthy now and the OL is pretty healthy, we're doing a lot of zone running, and we have a nice vertical passing game. If Portis doesn't start breaking off long runs under these conditions, I think we will have to accept the fact that he's no longer the speed back he was at the beginning of his career.

Which I feel is somewhat obvious, but maybe under these conditions, I'll be proven wrong.