Can we reduce the Shotgun formation?

[KJJ]

I agree, but I dont at all expect it.

I think we can win with Dak, but not by featuring him as a passer.

He’s only one of the most productive passers in the league and you don’t want to feature him as a passer? Lol No offense but that’s a ridiculous comment you just made. He passed for almost 4500 yards last season with a franchise record 37 TD passes. We wouldn’t have won 6 games last season without him passing the ball. Our offense revolves around him and his ability to throw the ball. The fans that act like he’s a liability as a passer are being ridiculous!

 

[Ranched]

Wilson & Cooper were the team’s two worst YAC receivers, & they’re both gone now. In their place are receivers who, at least in theory, will do a better job of stretching the field vertically, thus opening things up underneath for the likes of Lamb, Schultz, Pollard, & Elliott.

Get 'er done Moore!

 

[Flamma]

The shotgun formation provides a lot of options, you can throw or run. It allows the QB to make quicker reads. Don’t know why anyone would want to reduce the shotgun formation.

I don't know. Dallas won 3 SBs exclusively from under center. There was a lot of shotgun going on in the 90s too. I guess it depends on what your quarterback is capable of doing.

I agree with you on the positives of shotgun. But it has negatives too. Most run plays from shotgun either go middle, or to the opposite side of where the RB is lined up. It's a formation that's not fooling anyone.

 

[Manster68]

I'm not sure about you, but I'm a bit tired of the shotgun formation and how often we use it. It seems when in doubt, just use it and stay in it.

Does anyone think that being in a more traditional formation would help a back like Zeke be more effective?

I felt they may have put Dak in the shotgun formation so much because it helps him see what's coming at him.

I'm not sure KM is willing to give this up, being the so called boy genius I'm sure he can cook up something. Maybe this is where Mike steps in and says hey if I'm going out, I'm going out using my plays etc. Please give your thoughts

It's always been my belief that if you have a strong running game, the less you will be in shotgun.

It also leads to greater time of possession, but lower scores. I love a power running game.

Dallas' running game in 2014 is probably the best Dallas has had this century

 

[Ranching]

I agree, but I dont at all expect it.

I think we can win with Dak, but not by featuring him as a passer. That doesnt seem to be the strategy for now. I'm hoping they figure this out sooner than later but I'm not hopeful. Meanwhile the defense has a shot to get even better, so there's hope overall.

Sooo, you're calling Coach Landry, Jethro?

 

[Doomsday101]

It's always been my belief that if you have a strong running game, the less you will be in shotgun.

It also leads to greater time of possession, but lower scores. I love a power running game.

Dallas' running game in 2014 is probably the best Dallas has had this century

2016 more yards and fewer carries.

2014 508 attempts 2354 yards
2016 499 attempts 2396 yards

and funny thing is both under Jason Garrett lol

 

[maryquality]

My beef with the "shotgun" is when we're in that formation for say, 3rd and 1 or less. And the QB hands it to the RB who is already 2-3 yards behind the LOS, and has to go 3 yards to get 1 yard!! But, what the heck do I know.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Jethro came up with this formation...it is not going away. And the post makes no sense. Nice one coog. How are the kids?

Landry

 

[Motorola]

I'm not sure about you, but I'm a bit tired of the shotgun formation and how often we use it. It seems when in doubt, just use it and stay in it.

Does anyone think that being in a more traditional formation would help a back like Zeke be more effective?

I felt they may have put Dak in the shotgun formation so much because it helps him see what's coming at him.

I'm not sure KM is willing to give this up, being the so called boy genius I'm sure he can cook up something. Maybe this is where Mike steps in and says hey if I'm going out, I'm going out using my plays etc. Please give your thoughts

The shotgun is a huge part of the NFL passing game. It saves time from having to drop back in the pocket. I love the shotgun and we will continue to play from that formation often. It’s not about trying to make the back more effective it’s a passing formation. It’s about trying to make the QB more effective. What’s going to make the back more effective is better blocking upfront, their vision and ability to make defenders miss.

The shotgun formation has been utilized in professional and college football since the middle of the last century. Due to the shift to\ emphasis on passing over the last three decades many coaches have implemented it as their primary offensive set. There are college QBs playing now that rarely - if ever - line up under center for most of the games. (Short yardage \ goal line are exceptions.)
Prescott is not alone among his NFL colleagues with little experience taking snaps under center for the majority, or even half, of a game.

 

[CouchCoach]

I don't have a problem with the formation as much as the QB having to have the best hands on the team. Is it too much to ask that the Center put the ball in the same place on shotgun snaps so he doesn't have to take his eyes off the defense and locate the ball and catch it, then turn his eyes to the defense?

 

[KJJ]

I don't know. Dallas won 3 SBs exclusively from under center. There was a lot of shotgun going on in the 90s too. I guess it depends on what your quarterback is capable of doing.

I agree with you on the positives of shotgun. But it has negatives too. Most run plays from shotgun either go middle, or to the opposite side of where the RB is lined up. It's a formation that's not fooling anyone.

The rules have changed the game some since the 90s they’ve opened the passing game even more. Back in the 90s we had an arguably the greatest OL in the history of the game and the all-time leading rusher. We also had a great defense. We don’t have the OL or the defense to play the kind of game we played in the 90s.

 

[Flamma]

I agree, but I dont at all expect it.

I think we can win with Dak, but not by featuring him as a passer. That doesnt seem to be the strategy for now. I'm hoping they figure this out sooner than later but I'm not hopeful. Meanwhile the defense has a shot to get even better, so there's hope overall.

Like with most teams, balance is key. I wouldn't use Dak like Mahomes, but he's not someone you have to hide like Garoppolo.

 

[Motorola]

Jethro came up with this formation...it is not going away. And the post makes no sense. Nice one coog. How are the kids?

Landry

Red Hickey is credited devising and naming the actual formation as we see it today while head coach of the 49ers back in the 1960s.

 

[Flamma]

The rules have changed the game some since the 90s they’ve opened the passing game even more. Back in the 90s we had an arguably the greatest OL in the history of the game and the all-time leading rusher. We also had a great defense. We don’t have the OL or the defense to play the kind of game we played in the 90s.

LOL, that I can't argue even though I want to argue.

 

[G2]

Shotgun helps the QB see the defense better. A lot of QB's these days operate mostly from the shotgun. Most of the time, if you see Dak under center it's almost always going to be a handoff and is a huge tell to the defense. I would like to see Dak learn to operate under center as it would help disguise things but at this point I don't see that happening.

Not always. The QB has to take his eyes off downfield to catch the snap.

 

[Doomsday101]

Landry

Landry brought it back but it was used in the 1940's

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Red Hickey is credited devising and naming the actual formation as we see it today while head coach of the 49ers back in the 1960s.

How dare you take credit away from a Cowboys legend. Shame on you mister, even though your right.

It's like Mike McGill creating the move that made Tony Hawk famous. You don't give Mike the credit. You give Hawk the credit.

 

[Doomsday]

KM gets predictable at times and tends to call a pass on first down, then a run on 2nd down if there is an incomplete pass on first down. If the RB is lined up right of the QB the run is going to be to the left or up the gut making things even more predictable.

I would be curious what the Cowboys ypc in shotgun vs under center was last season?

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Landry brought it back but it was used in the 1940's

How dare you take credit away from a Cowboys legend. Shame on you mister, even though your right.

It's like Mike McGill creating the move that made Tony Hawk famous. You don't give Mike the credit. You give Hawk the credit.

Landry. Landry. Landry.

 

[jazzcat22]

Jethro came up with this formation...it is not going away. And the post makes no sense. Nice one coog. How are the kids?

You calling Tom Landry Jethro? He was the one who brought it back to popularity.