Last drive, yes. Rest of the game? No. We had 13 points up until that... for an offense with this talent, that's unacceptable. Granted, the OL did have its worst game of the year by far.
Some of those run calls were abysmal. On 4 drives, we ran the ball on 2nd and long and got stuffed, resulting in 3rd and longs... most of which we couldn't convert on. I don't think there's a call I hate worse than 2nd and long run plays... they almost never work, and then you're telling the defense exactly what you're forced to do on the subsequent 3rd down. Very Paul Hacket-esque.. just brutal.
If you say running on second and long should not be an option didn't you just turn 2nd and long into the problem you don't want to create on 3rd and long.
Getting 3 yards makes 3rd and 7 much more makable that 3rd and 10, and being willing to run on 2nd and long makes the pass more viable in those situations when you use it.
For the record, here were our 2nd and long plays:
2-9-DAL 46 (11:38) 22-S.Ridley right guard to DAL 30 for 16 yards (43-G.Sensabaugh).
2-11-DAL 31 (10:35) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 81-A.Hernandez to DAL 25 for 6 yards (90-J.Ratliff).
2-8-DAL 31 (14:02) (No Huddle) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 84-D.Branch to DAL 19 for 12 yards (21-M.Jenkins). Penalty on DAL-32-O.Scandrick, Defensive Holding, declined.
2-18-DAL 18 (12:56) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass incomplete deep left to 84-D.Branch.
2-9-DAL 48 (9:36) (No Huddle) 12-T.Brady pass incomplete deep left to 84-D.Branch [93-A.Spencer]. PENALTY on DAL-93-A.Spencer, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced at DAL 48 - No Play.
2-15-DAL 38 (9:23) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 81-A.Hernandez to DAL 22 for 16 yards (43-G.Sensabaugh).
2-10-NE 38 (12:41) 12-T.Brady sacked at NE 32 for -6 yards (94-D.Ware).
2-10-NE 17 (5:42) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 83-W.Welker to NE 23 for 6 yards (50-S.Lee).
2-10-DAL 34 (1:30) (No Huddle) 39-D.Woodhead right tackle to DAL 29 for 5 yards (90-J.Ratliff; 93-A.Spencer).
***converted 3rd and 5
2-8-NE 39 (11:11) 39-D.Woodhead up the middle to NE 38 for -1 yards (57-V.Butler).***
converted 3rd and 9
2-10-DAL 33 (9:19) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left intended for 81-A.Hernandez INTERCEPTED by 50-S.Lee [57-V.Butler] at DAL 26. 50-S.Lee to DAL 32 for 6 yards (72-M.Light; 83-W.Welker).
This appears to TOTALLY CONTRADICT your post.
We had 11 2nd and longs.
We only ran on 3 of them.
We gained 16 on 2nd and 9 run.
We gained 5 on 2nd and 10, followed by a conversion on 3rd and 5
We lost 1 on 2nd and 8, followed by converting 3trd and 9.
In fact there wasn't a single instance where we ran on 2nd and long and it didn't end up working out.
On the other hand, we threw 8 times.
We had
1 sack (didnt convert 3rd)
1 Int
1 D penalty
4 competions for 6 (converted 3rd) 12,16,6 (converted 3rd)
1 incompletion (didnit convert 3rd)
So out of 11 2nd and long opportunties, we ran 3 times and ended up with a first down all 3.
We threw 8 and ended up with a 1st down 5 times.
We were 8 of 11 converting 2nd and long, and the only times we failed were passes that resulted in a sack an incomplete and an Int (caused by Bradys arm being hit)
The only rating you could give 2nd and long play calling is fantastic.
I don't know where your precpetion that we run a lot on 2nd and long and it works out poorly comes from. Maybe the Cowboys offense?