Offense has to get better at starting faster

[Cowboyny]

The Cowboys developed a winning formula early in the Scott Linehan tenure as the team's OC. It was more of a ball controlled type of attack; win the time of possession, keep the poor defense on the sidelines, play ahead on the scoreboard and wear down your opponent. This formula was very successful. As we know Linehan was let go after his offense became too predictable and somewhat out dated. Doesn't mean the philosophy cannot work, it just needed to become more modernized.

The Cowboys were the #1 rated offense last season, but were ranked 18th in first quarter points. This affected their game plan as they were always trying to catch the scoreboard. No team can have prolonged success playing this way on a week to week basis, especially with a very suspect defense. This probably lead to inflated ranking due to passing so much playing from behind.

What were some of their issues starting slow in football games:

-Poor starting field possession
-Unforced errors, from self-induced penalties to unforced drops.
-Poor play calling that lead to negative plays
-Inability to finish off drives that result in touchdowns
-Inconsistent place kicker who would give up field position and momentum early in games

If the offense is able to solve this issue, it would force their opponent in that same situation of playing catch-up. Playing ball control no matter how it's done either through the pass or the run will force their opponents to take more chances as they will have limited opportunities.

 

[Whyjerry]

The Cowboys developed a winning formula early in the Scott Linehan tenure as the team's OC. It was more of a ball controlled type of attack; win the time of possession, keep the poor defense on the sidelines, play ahead on the scoreboard and wear down your opponent. This formula was very successful. As we know Linehan was let go after his offense became too predictable and somewhat out dated. Doesn't mean the philosophy cannot work, it just needed to become more modernized.

The Cowboys were the #1 rated offense last season, but were ranked 18th in first quarter points. This affected their game plan as they were always trying to catch the scoreboard. No team can have prolonged success playing this way on a week to week basis, especially with a very suspect defense. This probably lead to inflated ranking due to passing so much playing from behind.

What were some of their issues starting slow in football games:

-Poor starting field possession
-Unforced errors, from self-induced penalties to unforced drops.
-Poor play calling that lead to negative plays
-Inability to finish off drives that result in touchdowns
-Inconsistent place kicker who would give up field position and momentum early in games

If the offense is able to solve this issue, it would force their opponent in that same situation of playing catch-up. Playing ball control no matter how it's done either through the pass or the run will force their opponents to take more chances as they will have limited opportunities.

Coaching son. It’s 100 pct coaching. By week 4 we will all understand just how bad Garrett was.

 

[jsb357]

let's start by beating teams that got their DB's from Home Depot like Philly late last year.

elite QB?

 

[CowboyRoy]

The Cowboys developed a winning formula early in the Scott Linehan tenure as the team's OC. It was more of a ball controlled type of attack; win the time of possession, keep the poor defense on the sidelines, play ahead on the scoreboard and wear down your opponent. This formula was very successful. As we know Linehan was let go after his offense became too predictable and somewhat out dated. Doesn't mean the philosophy cannot work, it just needed to become more modernized.

The Cowboys were the #1 rated offense last season, but were ranked 18th in first quarter points. This affected their game plan as they were always trying to catch the scoreboard. No team can have prolonged success playing this way on a week to week basis, especially with a very suspect defense. This probably lead to inflated ranking due to passing so much playing from behind.

What were some of their issues starting slow in football games:

-Poor starting field possession
-Unforced errors, from self-induced penalties to unforced drops.
-Poor play calling that lead to negative plays
-Inability to finish off drives that result in touchdowns
-Inconsistent place kicker who would give up field position and momentum early in games

If the offense is able to solve this issue, it would force their opponent in that same situation of playing catch-up. Playing ball control no matter how it's done either through the pass or the run will force their opponents to take more chances as they will have limited opportunities.

Garrett is gone!!!!

 

[CowboyRoy]

let's start by beating teams that got their DB's from Home Depot like Philly late last year.

elite QB?

Just goes to show how clueless you are on how football works.

If the Cowboys didn't take advantage for Home Depot CB's whos fault is it?

 

[Redball Express]

The Cowboys developed a winning formula early in the Scott Linehan tenure as the team's OC. It was more of a ball controlled type of attack; win the time of possession, keep the poor defense on the sidelines, play ahead on the scoreboard and wear down your opponent. This formula was very successful. As we know Linehan was let go after his offense became too predictable and somewhat out dated. Doesn't mean the philosophy cannot work, it just needed to become more modernized.

The Cowboys were the #1 rated offense last season, but were ranked 18th in first quarter points. This affected their game plan as they were always trying to catch the scoreboard. No team can have prolonged success playing this way on a week to week basis, especially with a very suspect defense. This probably lead to inflated ranking due to passing so much playing from behind.

What were some of their issues starting slow in football games:

-Poor starting field possession
-Unforced errors, from self-induced penalties to unforced drops.
-Poor play calling that lead to negative plays
-Inability to finish off drives that result in touchdowns
-Inconsistent place kicker who would give up field position and momentum early in games

If the offense is able to solve this issue, it would force their opponent in that same situation of playing catch-up. Playing ball control no matter how it's done either through the pass or the run will force their opponents to take more chances as they will have limited opportunities.

There is no doubt..

as it stands now..we do not play with urgency in the first 3/4 of any game.

This has been going on since the playoff loss to GB in the Playoffs in 2016.

So you tell me why?

Not in 2017 and not for the first half of 2018..and the only exception being the Seattle playoff game which we won.

And 2019..? Return to form again.

OMG.

So I have some thoughts.

Lack of hunger to win. Our players are too easily satisfied to just be Cowboys and being multi-millionaires. That is obvious to me and should be to everybody else.

Poor leadership from an owner/GM who constantly tries to be "one of the boys" and will not detach himself from wanting to have too much influence in the locker room.

As to the poor starts..that is lack of focus. That is coaching and failure to instill a killer instinct to your players. When Jimster took over the Cowboys..we left behind in college a rep of having teams that played with a rep of being guys 'from da hood'.

A reputation for beating you down and embarrassing you in 60 minutes of football.

I keep repeating about '60 Minutes' of football.

The last time I saw us do that was when we beat New Orleans in ATT Stadium in 2018.

Then it vanished again.

So quick starts are important but that is not an answer.

Play an entire game and leave it on the field at the end.

We do not do that.

 

[jsb357]

If the Cowboys didn't take advantage for Home Depot CB's whos fault is it?

I thought I made that clear in my post...

 

[CowboyRoy]

I thought I made that clear in my post...

Only thing you made clear is that you dont understand the game of football.

 

[Whirlwin]

It’s a system it’s a scheme. Methodical dink dunk throw the ball deep. Running game. It’s both the scheme the coaching the by in of the players . That’s what wins football games.

 

[Whirlwin]

let's start by beating teams that got their DB's from Home Depot like Philly late last year.

elite QB?

I agree, you don’t get it. The quarterback is playing a scheme that he’s coached. We Own Philly

 

[buybuydandavis]

What were some of their issues starting slow in football games:

Doggedly trying to "establish Zeke" by with first down runs between the tackles. The Saints and Vikings games were clown shows on this score.

We rolled in the first 3 games by throwing 70% of the time on 1st down.

 

[jsb357]

We Own Philly

Oh really?

How did that work out last time Dallas played them? For a trip to the playoffs no less.

 

[Williamsboys]

The defense also has to get better at Finishing faster.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

It *feels* like this issue dates back to Romo.

 

[quickccc]

Coaching son. It’s 100 pct coaching. By week 4 we will all understand just how bad Garrett was.

coaches to a degree, for instance coaches can't do anything about dropped passes, which can be drive killers ......

 

[Jake]

The Cowboys developed a winning formula early in the Scott Linehan tenure as the team's OC. It was more of a ball controlled type of attack; win the time of possession, keep the poor defense on the sidelines, play ahead on the scoreboard and wear down your opponent. This formula was very successful. As we know Linehan was let go after his offense became too predictable and somewhat out dated. Doesn't mean the philosophy cannot work, it just needed to become more modernized.

The Cowboys were the #1 rated offense last season, but were ranked 18th in first quarter points. This affected their game plan as they were always trying to catch the scoreboard. No team can have prolonged success playing this way on a week to week basis, especially with a very suspect defense. This probably lead to inflated ranking due to passing so much playing from behind.

What were some of their issues starting slow in football games:

-Poor starting field possession
-Unforced errors, from self-induced penalties to unforced drops.
-Poor play calling that lead to negative plays
-Inability to finish off drives that result in touchdowns
-Inconsistent place kicker who would give up field position and momentum early in games

If the offense is able to solve this issue, it would force their opponent in that same situation of playing catch-up. Playing ball control no matter how it's done either through the pass or the run will force their opponents to take more chances as they will have limited opportunities.

Maybe someday Cowboys fans will stop expecting the offense to magically overcome garbage special teams and pedestrian defense. The Cowboys championship teams were top ten across the board - that's how championships are won. One unit can't do it by themselves.

 

[quickccc]

The Cowboys developed a winning formula early in the Scott Linehan tenure as the team's OC. It was more of a ball controlled type of attack; win the time of possession, keep the poor defense on the sidelines, play ahead on the scoreboard and wear down your opponent. This formula was very successful. As we know Linehan was let go after his offense became too predictable and somewhat out dated. Doesn't mean the philosophy cannot work, it just needed to become more modernized.

The Cowboys were the #1 rated offense last season, but were ranked 18th in first quarter points. This affected their game plan as they were always trying to catch the scoreboard. No team can have prolonged success playing this way on a week to week basis, especially with a very suspect defense. This probably lead to inflated ranking due to passing so much playing from behind.

What were some of their issues starting slow in football games:

-Poor starting field possession
-Unforced errors, from self-induced penalties to unforced drops.
-Poor play calling that lead to negative plays
-Inability to finish off drives that result in touchdowns
-Inconsistent place kicker who would give up field position and momentum early in games

If the offense is able to solve this issue, it would force their opponent in that same situation of playing catch-up. Playing ball control no matter how it's done either through the pass or the run will force their opponents to take more chances as they will have limited opportunities.

- Are early poor field position, penalties and drops contributing to these early game stalls ?
- Are Dak and Zeke just the kinda of guys that take time to get revved up early in games before better the later the game goes ?
- Too many down spots and factors on special teams ?
- yes, are we always starting games at our own 12 yard line ?
- Dropped balls - were we still among the league leaders in that area ?
- Dak was 10th in NFL in overall 3rd down conversion %, ... i wonder what his 3rd down % in first quarter
- i want to see our 1st quarter scoring production vs the tougher defenses instead of weak sister teams

Sure he had his share of rookie OC mistakes, but what i liked about Kellen Moore is his route design, in-out huddle pace, multiple pre-snap motion and varied formations, and how he design the offense to constantly push the ball downfield vertically.
It was an aim to get more chunk yard plays.

But i do have questions in How well did we run the ball early in games to cut down and distances in half - and was there a nice diverse change up between when throwing it on first downs or running ball on first downs.- was there tendencies ?
i believe in Moore when it comes to the pass game- i do want to see him get plenty help from surrounding coaches in run game:

Here's my aim for better Early game improvement production:
- Field position
- 3rd down conversion %.
- Red zone efficiency ...
- Early run game success
- No killer penalties or drops
- Better special teams factors (no missed FGs)

 

[Xeven]

The Cowboys developed a winning formula early in the Scott Linehan tenure as the team's OC. It was more of a ball controlled type of attack; win the time of possession, keep the poor defense on the sidelines, play ahead on the scoreboard and wear down your opponent. This formula was very successful. As we know Linehan was let go after his offense became too predictable and somewhat out dated. Doesn't mean the philosophy cannot work, it just needed to become more modernized.

The Cowboys were the #1 rated offense last season, but were ranked 18th in first quarter points. This affected their game plan as they were always trying to catch the scoreboard. No team can have prolonged success playing this way on a week to week basis, especially with a very suspect defense. This probably lead to inflated ranking due to passing so much playing from behind.

What were some of their issues starting slow in football games:

-Poor starting field possession
-Unforced errors, from self-induced penalties to unforced drops.
-Poor play calling that lead to negative plays
-Inability to finish off drives that result in touchdowns
-Inconsistent place kicker who would give up field position and momentum early in games

If the offense is able to solve this issue, it would force their opponent in that same situation of playing catch-up. Playing ball control no matter how it's done either through the pass or the run will force their opponents to take more chances as they will have limited opportunities.

Real problem was Garret never had a plan for adjustments at half time. Not offensively and not defensively. He could only think in one dimension.

 

[fivetwos]

There is no doubt..

as it stands now..we do not play with urgency in the first 3/4 of any game.

This has been going on since the playoff loss to GB in the Playoffs in 2016.

So you tell me why?

Not in 2017 and not for the first half of 2018..and the only exception being the Seattle playoff game which we won.

And 2019..? Return to form again.

OMG.

So I have some thoughts.

Lack of hunger to win. Our players are too easily satisfied to just be Cowboys and being multi-millionaires. That is obvious to me and should be to everybody else.

Poor leadership from an owner/GM who constantly tries to be "one of the boys" and will not detach himself from wanting to have too much influence in the locker room.

As to the poor starts..that is lack of focus. That is coaching and failure to instill a killer instinct to your players. When Jimster took over the Cowboys..we left behind in college a rep of having teams that played with a rep of being guys 'from da hood'.

A reputation for beating you down and embarrassing you in 60 minutes of football.

I keep repeating about '60 Minutes' of football.

The last time I saw us do that was when we beat New Orleans in ATT Stadium in 2018.

Then it vanished again.

So quick starts are important but that is not an answer.

Play an entire game and leave it on the field at the end.

We do not do that.

Or the rare times it happens, build on it.

We have to hope the latest changes help that.

If Jerry pulls his usual crap, we are probably in for more of it.

 

[GenoT]

The offense getting faster at starting better would also help.