Anyone study tape that can say what’s happened to the offense?

Croomraider

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QB1 needs a comfy pocket, QB1 needs better wideout matchups and separation on routes.

However, beyond injuries, Kellen Moore needs to step it up.

Can't believe we are still calling
that play-action roll out to the blind side, pass to schultz, everyone knows it's coming, great
play-design maybe 3 times a season, but every game lol?

Can someone pull up our stats on 4th & 1 this season? We aren't good on short yardage, hence,
we should punt every time.
 

Whirlwin

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It’s beyond clear that the offense is not what it was several weeks ago. What I’m wondering is, are we (or other teams) doing anything differently?

My initial instinct was that teams were taking away the big play and daring us to dink and dunk. Indeed, I saw more check downs last week than I’ve seen in a long while. But it also seems clear that the separation isn’t the same. Just about every pass is contested.

Or maybe it’s Dak that needs to pick his game up. We seen him miss throws, but that sort of thing happens. What I’m trying to say is that contested throws seem like a QB thing as much as a receiver thing. I say this because when I watch really terrible QB’s, they very often throw to contested guys. In others words, they’re making the wrong decisions.

And of course, the running game has also suffered. Is that the key? Are teams stopping the run without stacking the box (leaving more guys in coverage)? I don’t know, but many seemed to scoff at the idea that the broncos found the formula. But it’s seems more plausible that this is indeed what happened,
Strength of the players overall
 

Whirlwin

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the OL and Moore happened..both hit wall and cant get it together..
I totally believe it’s the overall strength of our players. We seem to be getting pushed around other than Martin and left tackle
 

ultron

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The team hasn’t practiced together in over a month (Dak got hurt, Tyron got hurt, CeeDee got a concussion, Gallup got hurt, Amari got covid, Zeke is playing hurt) and we just went through that brutal stretch where we play like 8 games in 4 days [sarcasm]. Also, the more film a team has on your offense - the more they’ll be prepared for you. They have 5 games to get ready for the playoffs - they’ll be fine.
 

Jarntt

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We got no push in the middle and the Saints just clogged up every run and we kept running it up the gut anyway. The play calling was very poor and Dak wasn't great and Zeke looked a little slow due to injury. But the Saints have a good defense and they get paid to play too. We did enough to win on the road
 

SteveTheCowboy

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The team hasn’t practiced together in over a month (Dak got hurt, Tyron got hurt, CeeDee got a concussion, Gallup got hurt, Amari got covid, Zeke is playing hurt) and we just went through that brutal stretch where we play like 8 games in 4 days [sarcasm]. Also, the more film a team has on your offense - the more they’ll be prepared for you. They have 5 games to get ready for the playoffs - they’ll be fine.
No....we don't have 5 games to "get ready for playoffs".

We have 5 brutal divisional games to APPEAR in the playoffs. You don't get warmed up....you play these last games as if they ARE the playoffs. Because they kinda are. And you have to already be tuned and ready.
 

SteveTheCowboy

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We got no push in the middle and the Saints just clogged up every run and we kept running it up the gut anyway. The play calling was very poor and Dak wasn't great and Zeke looked a little slow due to injury. But the Saints have a good defense and they get paid to play too. We did enough to win on the road


And we never adjusted. No play action, no screen, no misdirection. Just kept running the same dam play every time. Maddening!
 

ultron

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No....we don't have 5 games to "get ready for playoffs".

We have 5 brutal divisional games to APPEAR in the playoffs. You don't get warmed up....you play these last games as if they ARE the playoffs. Because they kinda are. And you have to already be tuned and ready.
My point is everyone is back and can practice together to get ready for the playoffs - I wouldn’t call the WFT x2, Eagles, and Giants brutal they are all below average teams and those 3 teams could combine and make an ‘all star’ team and we’d still beat them. The cowboys are significantly better than all 3.
 

Jinxx13x

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We had a ton of injuries to key players at key positions on both sides of the ball when this team gets healthy they will return to form

Next man up thing is a myth and not very realistic ! losing - cooper , Ceedee , Lawrence , Gregory , Smith ETC no next man up is gonna solve those issues

Teams stacked against Zeke and Pollard

Injuries it really is just that simple

No need to overthink it
 

Jarntt

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And we never adjusted. No play action, no screen, no misdirection. Just kept running the same dam play every time. Maddening!
I felt like maybe it was to set up the flea flicker which obviously didn't work. It was bizarre to keep running inside the tackles over and over when there were just no holes at all. We did run the WR sweeps a couple of times also, which I think was an attempt to misdirect after running up the middle so much. Moore hasn't been great lately IMO.
 

JoeKing

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Zeke is injured and should be rested until he heals. He's just hurting the team by playing injured. Dak is not 100% either but he is making enough good plays to be our starter. The refs let us play without their interference for the most part. Different crew officiated differently. When Amari Cooper is limited it hurts this team's passing game despite having CeeDee and Gallup available. Just be happy we managed to keep Simi off the field.
 

CowboyRoy

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It’s beyond clear that the offense is not what it was several weeks ago. What I’m wondering is, are we (or other teams) doing anything differently?

My initial instinct was that teams were taking away the big play and daring us to dink and dunk. Indeed, I saw more check downs last week than I’ve seen in a long while. But it also seems clear that the separation isn’t the same. Just about every pass is contested.

Or maybe it’s Dak that needs to pick his game up. We seen him miss throws, but that sort of thing happens. What I’m trying to say is that contested throws seem like a QB thing as much as a receiver thing. I say this because when I watch really terrible QB’s, they very often throw to contested guys. In others words, they’re making the wrong decisions.

And of course, the running game has also suffered. Is that the key? Are teams stopping the run without stacking the box (leaving more guys in coverage)? I don’t know, but many seemed to scoff at the idea that the broncos found the formula. But it’s seems more plausible that this is indeed what happened,

VERY VERY simple. In order of importance.

1. Oline has been playing terrible. The loss of Tyron Smith about 5 weeks ago caused a domino affect that has really affected it. Steele was playing great at RT, but when Smith went out he had to be moved over there and played bad. Collins came back and has played bad at RT. And then Mcgovern came in for Williams and has played worse than Williams. So 3 spots went to bad. Even with the return of Smith, Steele was out and McGovern still in for Williams.

2. Zeke is banged up and refuses to sit. Teams have also figured out they just need to flood the middle and Zeke cant bounce it outside.

Both of those equals no run game. Team is one dimensional

3. Passing game players like Lamb and Cooper, Jarwin out with injuries. Lack of continuity in the passing game.

4. Moore seems to refuse to force Zeke to sit or refuses to simply give the load to Pollard when its obvious he is the better back at this time. Needs to just go spread hurry up in the passing game at times.

5. Defensive injuries have caused the defense in certain games to give up big leads early which has contributed to a one dimensional offense.

Basically a little it of everything. And that is not even mentioning Dak being a little banged up.
 

Hadenough

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And we never adjusted. No play action, no screen, no misdirection. Just kept running the same dam play every time. Maddening!
And that's on the coaches but at some point you would think Mr Prescott would say f this I got some ideas.
 

DenCWBY

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continuity on multiple levels.

the OL play suffered, specially run blocking. more than any other unit on a football team the OL work together as a group and too many changes on the line, some of it self inflicted (i.e. we lose smith, get collins back and then we move collins to the right, steele to the left so 2/5 of OL has to adjust instead of just 1, which also impacts the guards that play next to them).

Dak is injured, I watched various games and since his calf injury, he is not right. one thing that he is pretty good, accurate from the pocket, he is struggling a lot when he is on the move...

Zeke is hurt.

WRs have been in an out....our offense depends greatly on 3 WR sets and creating mismatches. Brown is the 5th WR and he sucks and he has had to play major minutes. Wilson was decent in the 3rd WR role, dangerous enough to warrant attention and he got hurt too. that throws off the timing and pattern of play calling significantly.

there is more tape on Moore.....last year really couldn't be counted since we had Dalton (ugh)....but teams now have tape, and Bilicheck kind of figured out his offense a bit, despite the results.....we are a finesse offense despite the OL size and all the talk....and defenses that play us physical tend to have more success. earlier in the year, prior to calf injury it was take your poison, which is what Bilicheck did, took the running game away and he relied on his secondary, but our passing game was too good. after the injury, our passing game is not as good. its not an excuse for Dak, he needs to be better, but the passing performance difference between the first 6 games and last few is significant.

Moore needs to adjust his game planning and game calling. defenses are adjusting to him, he needs to move the game plan and adjust his play calling. he doesn't have the same personnel to execute his offense and he is having a bit of trouble adjusting. Dak needs to get over his calf injury (combination of calf, ankle is obviously impacting him).

Dak needs to play better....he and Moore need to get on the same page.

We need to get healthy. it may take a couple of games for everyone to adjust.....there were good moments against saints, but not consistent enough. the offense needs to be more patient.
This. It's a combination of a lot of variables with all offensive positions and OC. Timing with the Oline is off. Dak is not right (feet are not set, throwing off balance) and looks confused. RB is hurt and again timing off with the pulling Oline blocks or lack thereof. WR corp drops and lazy routes. Good thing is this can be fixed with healing and getting the right combination on the OL.
 

Redline360

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Starts and ends with the combination of the OL play and coaching. OL is struggling bad, can't run block, and KM has gone back to his old play calling ways.

Then we have....
Zeke who is banged up
Dak is afraid to step up and run for first downs and still looks hurt
Recievers like to get the drops in big moments

Pollard has been the only bright side for weeks and he even got shutdown last week until that run.


This team lives or dies through the running game. Everyone knows this. Offense steamrolls when the running game is going and struggles immensely when it doesn't.
 

DandyDon52

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It's obvious Steele back to RT and LC at guard. I think we improve quickly if that happens. We need to reach a point where they quit tinkering so damn much.
its obvious to us, but the powers that be just dont see it the same way. I think jerry wants lael at LT. if so thats the end of that discussion .
 
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Doomsday101

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I think OL play is the key. Cowboys have not been opening holes for a consistent run game or giving the protection they gave earlier in the season. The guys up front just need to step up and do a better job than they have
 
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CWR

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its obvious to us, but the powers that be just dont see it the same way. I think jerry wants lael at LT. if so thats the end of that discussion .

I agree, but have to believe they see the end result and know a change is necessary to save our season.

JJ is so polar in that early in his tenure he lacked patience and pulled the trigger prematurely. Now he waits too long to make obvious moves. I would hope this is a coaching move alone, but keeping LC at tackle feels likes a financial decision or preparation for the future, when Tyron Smith is no longer able to suit up.

Obviously pure speculation on my part, but I'm hoping the coaches find the right line up and management isn't an obstacle in that.
 
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