ESPN: Can Bill Callahan fix short-yardage problem?

[CCBoy]

Can Bill Callahan fix short-yardage problem?

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowbo...ardage-problem


OXNARD, Calif. – If you want to see Bill Callahan really smile, mention short-yardage and goal-line running to the Cowboys' offensive coordinator/offensive line coach.

“One of my favorite situations in football,” Callahan said. “It begins with an attitude and a conviction that players embrace the philosophy that you have. Whatever the package you have, whatever you have going into a game with, you got to have conviction you’re going to make that yard.”

Some people loved Al Pacino’s rendition of a football coach in Any Given Sunday because of his “fight for that inch” speech, but the Cowboys have had a hard time getting it done.

In the last three seasons, the Cowboys have been below average in third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 rushing, tying for 30th in the NFL last season, converting only 10-of-18 times running the ball. To quote our good friend here at ESPNDallas.com, Jean-Jacques Taylor: ridiculous.

Blame the offensive linemen, blame the running scheme, blame the execution of the plays or blame the defenses the Cowboys have encountered in those situations, but it’s something Jason Garrett knows must improve in 2012 if the team wants to be taken seriously.

The Cowboys have looked at the breakdowns in personnel and scheme...

[proline]

We can only hope ...

[Risen Star]

With the same players Houck had? Not a chance. He's not a better coach.

Coaching only comes into play when the talent is there.

[T-RO]

Originally Posted by Risen Star

With the same players Houck had? Not a chance. He's not a better coach.

He's a MUCH...MUCH BETTER coach than Houck.

But he's working with D and F grade material from Mr. Jones. So...achieving league average is still very iffy.

[Wolfpack]

Seems like most of the short yardage calls have always been a slow developing trap or pull rather than a power or dive. I never really understood those calls at all as they are odd short yard calls.

[CCBoy]

Originally Posted by Wolfpack

Seems like most of the short yardage calls have always been a slow developing trap or pull rather than a power or dive. I never really understood those calls at all as they are odd short yard calls.

Except for a short stint when Dockery was healthy, and as long as Holland was starting and healthy as well, they were the only interior linemen that were able to drive block and open up at least some real estate. The other players were on the small side of the league.

As to current size, it has started to increase again. And footwork and pad placements are receiving high itensity work, as it hand placements. Size and corrected technique makes a huge difference, now, in play calls.

[CCBoy]

Originally Posted by Risen Star

With the same players Houck had? Not a chance. He's not a better coach.

Coaching only comes into play when the talent is there.

Yea, when you live with gangsters...

[burmafrd]

You need strength, size and quickness to force the D line back on short yardage.

Our old guys had the strength and size but not the quickness

our new guys might have the quickness but strength and size is the question in the long run.

Actually technique is important too and of course they are too young to have much of that


We have not been able to run on short yardage downs for years

[ravidubey]

Nothing Callahan can do can improve an interior OL comprised of Livings, Costa, and Dockery. Add in that Doug Free is the RT, and there's a shocking lack of power end to end at the point of attack-- the thing that matters most in short yardage.

It's going to suck, it's just a matter of how bad will it suck and how can the offense adjust to compensate?

Where Callahan can help is to influence play-design in his capacity as offensive coordinator, not OL coach. He can tilt plays to aim shorter and stress accuracy. Receivers hit in stride at 12 yards and led upfield can be as effective and maybe moreso than players on 15-20 yard timing patterns.

In that 3 to 8 yards that a pass is fired quicker, Romo hands his OL an extra split second to block and gives his WR's a chance to make plays facing the endzone.

He has more than enough talent to make that throw, and plays like that can get all his targets, Felix and Murray included, into the passing game.

The defense, their pass rush and blitz thwarted, must decide which target to focus on in the pass pattern. As they collapse safeties inwards, it opens the deep shot. If they keep coverage deep, there's an equally damaging play coming up the gut on a run or Miles Austin or Felix Jones catching a pass at full speed already past the linebackers.

Callahan used that to perfection and made Rich Gannon a star. That's what we need from him in 2012. Keep the defense guessing, the QB healthy, and maybe we score more from 15 yards away so we don't have to try 4th and goal from the 1.

The OL is a done deal, the season ain't.

[bud42]

Bill Callahan needs to be a magician!

[EGG]

Another crappy year of interior OL play = another crappy short yardage performance = another crappy year in the red zone,,,, this team needs this problem fixed ASAP!

[Omegasupreme]

Originally Posted by ravidubey

Where Callahan can help is to influence play-design in his capacity as offensive coordinator, not OL coach. He can tilt plays to aim shorter and stress accuracy. Receivers hit in stride at 12 yards and led upfield can be as effective and maybe moreso than players on 15-20 yard timing patterns.

In that 3 to 8 yards that a pass is fired quicker, Romo hands his OL an extra split second to block and gives his WR's a chance to make plays facing the endzone.

He has more than enough talent to make that throw, and plays like that can get all his targets, Felix and Murray included, into the passing game.

[View Full Quote]The defense, their pass rush and blitz thwarted, must decide which target to focus on in the pass pattern. As they collapse safeties inwards, it opens the deep shot. If they keep coverage deep, there's an equally damaging play coming up the gut on a run or Miles Austin or Felix Jones catching a pass at full speed already past the linebackers.

Callahan used that to perfection and made Rich Gannon a star. That's what we need from him in 2012. Keep the defense guessing, the QB healthy, and maybe we score more from 15 yards away so we don't have to try 4th and goal from the 1.

The OL is a done deal, the season ain't.

Well stated!

Without question, this is the complete remedy for every aspect of the passing game. Many teams with lesser talent use this approach just to keep the QB healthy and progress going. But Dallas should use this because it plays to the strengths of Romo, Miles, Dez, and Felix. Even John Philips and Ogletree have excellent short area quickness.

Fingers crossed that Callahan gets this sort of authority.

[Future]

Originally Posted by ravidubey

Nothing Callahan can do can improve an interior OL comprised of Livings, Costa, and Dockery. Add in that Doug Free is the RT, and there's a shocking lack of power end to end at the point of attack-- the thing that matters most in short yardage.

It's going to suck, it's just a matter of how bad will it suck and how can the offense adjust to compensate?

Where Callahan can help is to influence play-design in his capacity as offensive coordinator, not OL coach. He can tilt plays to aim shorter and stress accuracy. Receivers hit in stride at 12 yards and led upfield can be as effective and maybe moreso than players on 15-20 yard timing patterns.

In that 3 to 8 yards that a pass is fired quicker, Romo hands his OL an extra split second to block and gives his WR's a chance to make plays facing the endzone.

[View Full Quote]He has more than enough talent to make that throw, and plays like that can get all his targets, Felix and Murray included, into the passing game.

The defense, their pass rush and blitz thwarted, must decide which target to focus on in the pass pattern. As they collapse safeties inwards, it opens the deep shot. If they keep coverage deep, there's an equally damaging play coming up the gut on a run or Miles Austin or Felix Jones catching a pass at full speed already past the linebackers.

Callahan used that to perfection and made Rich Gannon a star. That's what we need from him in 2012. Keep the defense guessing, the QB healthy, and maybe we score more from 15 yards away so we don't have to try 4th and goal from the 1.

The OL is a done deal, the season ain't.

Nice post. Awesome post actually. I agree 100% with your take on the passing game. I've always hated that Red doesn't tweak his pass playcalling to minimize the effects of a pass rush, just hopes we can beat them deep. Like you mentioned, a 10 yard catch and run is the same as a 20 yard completion.

Actually, the blueprint of how to do this is already in our division. The Giants have killed teams, including us, using that exact philosophy. Get the ball out quick, let receivers make plays.

[Doomsday101]

I think the addition of Vickers will be a big help in short yardage situation as well as a healthy Murray. Callahan has to stay on top of the OL player and continue to work on technique to gain the leverage the OL needs to have in these situation

[ravidubey]

Originally Posted by Future

Actually, the blueprint of how to do this is already in our division. The Giants have killed teams, including us, using that exact philosophy. Get the ball out quick, let receivers make plays.

Good point. That was one thing Eli Manning said he worked to improve more than any other last year and it really paid off.