Adjusting On Offense With Dalton

[Doomsday101]

As offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said Monday, the team is "heartbroken" over Dak Prescott's ankle injury requiring surgery Sunday night, knowing what Prescott means to the team and how well he played in the first five games of the season.

With Prescott facing a potential four-to-six-month rehab, Moore said the team is in a "fortunate spot" to have a backup with Andy Dalton's experience: 133 starts with the Bengals from 2011-19.

"We've kind of got to regroup, go through this process of seeing what's the adjustment here, and that's just Andy and I working together and spending time together," Moore said. "Obviously it's a different dynamic. Obviously Dak and I have spent a lot of time together over these years and now Andy and I have got to spend time together and go through this process together. I don't think we're going to drastically change. We feel very confident that Andy can go out there and execute football plays and do a good job for us. We'll figure out our plan as we move forward."

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/updates-october-2020

 

[CarolinaFathead]

Not to state the obvious, but this is why you splurge on a quality back up in this league. Dalton absolutely can get the job done but some things need to get better on the o-line. In fact, a lot better. We are still going to need to keep rolling the pocket until the o-line starts to gel and chemistry develops. I’m enjoying, in a weird fascinated way, watching Knight and Steele and the rest of the o-line band-aid their way to high offensive productivity even if it is erratic at times. When you think about it, it is amazing, even with our talent at the skill positions that this line has been as productive as it has so far. That said, that was with Dak and Dalton isn’t Dak.

 

[jwooten15]

I think the reigns will be pulled in a little more, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Play more for the run and hope to God the defense can become competent

 

[Doomsday101]

I think the reigns will be pulled in a little more, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Play more for the run and hope to God the defense can become competent

I think that is true, I just hope we do not go back to running on every 1st down play. It was getting to the point Defense knew you stack the line on 1st put them in 2nd or 3rd and long then pin your ears back and go after the QB. I like using 1st down play action mixed in with the run. With the OL issue Dallas can't afford to be overly predictable

 

[Sydla]

Dalton has some mobility but he's a pocket passer. The OL is going to have to continue to improve, especially the two OTs. If Steele struggles, I think Martin sliding over should still be on the table.

If Dalton gets time, with these weapons, I suspect he'll do fine. Not as good as Dak, obviously, but more than sufficient if you paired him with a competent D. But therein lies the problem. I am not sure Dalton can keep up offensively with Nolan and his craptastic defense.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Dalton is more accurate than Dak, on short throws if nothing else. Too may times we've had chances to make good yardage, or a first down, when the play was called perfectly but Dak threw the pass too high, outside on into the ground. A few less of those can go a long way.

But having said that, Dak's size and strength, that allows him to stand in the pocket, and with the running threat making the rush hold back just a bit, means more of those plays were open. Dalton has a history of letting the rush rattle him, which might result in just as many missed throws.

Cowboys HAVE to shorten up the plays, there are way too many long developing plays, and imho too many long throws, with the o-line in shambles you simply don't have the time to do that. Quicker passes will go a long way to reducing the rush, but Moore doesn't seem to understand that...

 

[LACowboysFan1]

I think that is true, I just hope we do not go back to running on every 1st down play. It was getting to the point Defense knew you stack the line on 1st put them in 2nd or 3rd and long then pin your ears back and go after the QB. I like using 1st down play action mixed in with the run. With the OL issue Dallas can't afford to be overly predictable

Agreed, but play action only works if there is a bona fide threat of the running game getting lots of yardage, or a high ypc or breakaway runs.

Meaning if the run game is shut down early, either because they get behind, or get stuffed every run or Moore/McCarthy think they can pass the other team silly, then play action isn't going to work...

 

[doomsday9084]

One interesting change is going to be that Dalton is comfortable under center. That changes a lot of little things. Zeke will get a running start at the line. 3 step drops can be a thing. Play action looks different.

OTOH, the rpo that Dak ran is gone. All of Dak's run yards are likely out the window.

Hopefully Moore is smart here. Dallas could throw a lot of different looks at teams going forward. It should take opponents a few weeks to build up game film on Dalton and how he is used as a Cowboy.

 

[ChronicCowboy]

The offensive line will determine our fate on offense. If Dalton has enough time and Zeke gets enough open holes, the offense shouldn’t miss a beat.

 

[Kevinicus]

Agreed, but play action only works if there is a bona fide threat of the running game getting lots of yardage, or a high ypc or breakaway runs.

Meaning if the run game is shut down early, either because they get behind, or get stuffed every run or Moore/McCarthy think they can pass the other team silly, then play action isn't going to work...

This has repeatedly been shown to not be true. Play action consistently works, even with no real threat.

A real threat doesn't hurt, though.

 

[Doomsday101]

Agreed, but play action only works if there is a bona fide threat of the running game getting lots of yardage, or a high ypc or breakaway runs.

Meaning if the run game is shut down early, either because they get behind, or get stuffed every run or Moore/McCarthy think they can pass the other team silly, then play action isn't going to work...

Zeke still draws attention from defense and I do want to see balance instead of 40 to 50 passing attempts. I also know Cowboys have 3 excellent weapons at WR and a TE who is making plays and we must continue to use them along with the run game. Defense clearly plays a big key in this, they need to start coming up with big stops in the 1st half of the game so that we are not in a position where we must score each time we get the ball because we fall behind 2 to 3 scores.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Last year Dalton was sacked an average of every 14 pass attempts.
This last game he attempted 12 passes and was sacked once.

So he's not going to have more time in the pocket than with the Bungles, probably. One game isn't enough to do a statistical analysis, but it's not realistic to expect less based on his history...

 

[Aven8]

One thing you will notice with Dalton is he will step up into the pocket. Dak generally doesn’t step into the pocket much. He has to let it go however as he doesn’t have the strength of Dak.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

This has repeatedly been shown to not be true. Play action consistently works, even with no real threat.

A real threat doesn't hurt, though.

That includes teams that have a good running quarterback, the run game isn't just the halfback, but a quarterback that is a real threat to run, which Dallas does not have now.

For this team, if Zeke isn't doing well, play action is going to have limited success...

 

[Future]

Dalton can be more efficient, but Dallas is going to lose a lot of the over-the-top plays and balls down the seam that Dak was hitting to CD. They won't be able to win games 37-34, but luckily they don't really have any offenses left on the schedule that threaten that.

 

[CATCH17]

One thing you will notice with Dalton is he will step up into the pocket. Dak generally doesn’t step into the pocket much. He has to let it go however as he doesn’t have the strength of Dak.

Dak’s a football player playing quarterback.

Dalton is a quarterback playing quarterback.

We will probably see some more natural QB things instead of the robotic QB play we have had with Dak.

 

[Kevinicus]

That includes teams that have a good running quarterback, the run game isn't just the halfback, but a quarterback that is a real threat to run, which Dallas does not have now.

For this team, if Zeke isn't doing well, play action is going to have limited success...

No, it doesn't have to do with a running QB. It's just the data.

 

[Denim Chicken]

They won't be able to win games 37-34, but luckily they don't really have any offenses left on the schedule that threaten that.

If the Giants can put up 37 I think we need to worry about everyone.

 

[blueblood70]

I think the reigns will be pulled in a little more, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Play more for the run and hope to God the defense can become competent

100% a good thing, the pass happy nature of KM just got wake up call and i like the way they were more balanced in the Giants game and take away about 13 points made by the offense and ST gaffs and we win by 17 points,,

zeke and pollard must be brought into a better designed run scheme and use Lamb and company more creatively in the run game, see what the browns did to us.. we dont need to be run heavy but 50 passes a game is not wining formula even with dak..i blame KM for a lot of our issues this year and not happy Dak got hurt but happy KM will have to call a more balanced offense..

i want a strong run game not abandoned early to draw the defense back in the ox and then Play action to open it up..i saw this happening in the Giants game and hop it keeps going..

I trust Dalton to run this offense and make the right reads...

 

[jazzcat22]

How is Andy's release vs. Dak, is it quicker, about the same?
Also his decision making. Does he pull the trigger to make that pass quicker than Dak?

Seems Dak had improved on both, but just wondering how Dalton Compares. I seen a lot of Andy's games. But never really thought about it compared to other QB's.