Simple Plan using Snap Counts to Make Offense Better in 2014

[perrykemp]

Todd Archer published his analysis of total snap counts for Cowboys offensive players in 2014 here.

Three line items really stand out to me:

• Miles Austin (524 Snaps)
• James Hanna (311 Snaps)
• Gavin Escobar (197 Snaps)

That's over 1000 snaps. The production gained for those 1000 snaps was 45 receptions, 451 yards, and 2 TDs.

Hanna + Esobar's combined production was 21 receptions for 207 yards, and 2 TDs -- all on 835 snap for a pair of guys who offered nothing in the running game.

One of ways to maximize the offense next year and make it more efficient is obviously gain more production from those 1000 snaps.

Cutting Austin seems like an obvious solution and one I'm certain they will do.

IMHO Hanna showed zero growth in his second year and since he is destined to be the third TE (at best) and can't block, and he should be cut.

Escobar emerging in his 2nd year should help here.

If the Cowboys can gain more production from these 1000 snaps, they should improve next season on offense.

 

[khiladi]

There goes another wasted pick at TE.... at least, if we cut Miles, he actually got us some production. I think Miles will do pretty good once he bounces from this travesty of an offense tht doesn't take advantage of him in the slot.

 

[perrykemp]

There goes another wasted pick at TE.... at least, if we cut Miles, he actually got us some production. I think Miles will do pretty good once he bounces from this travesty of an offense tht doesn't take advantage of him in the slot.

Escobar wasn't a wasted pick yet. I think he showed a lot of potential the little they played him.

What I will say is that James Hanna was a complete waste of offensive snaps. He showed nothing in the passing game and can't block. Hanna should at best be the #3 TE next year and probably should be cut. He can't / shouldn't take any snaps away from Escobar.

 

[khiladi]

I mean Hanna as a wasted pick. Escobar, I like as purely an offensive weapon. It's really a matter of scheming to utilize him.

 

[perrykemp]

I mean Hanna as a wasted pick. Escobar, I like as purely an offensive weapon. It's really a matter of scheming to utilize him.

Well, he was a project -- basically a pumped up WR. Sometimes those guys work out as H-Backs. It didn't work out with Hanna, however, the biggest cost wasn't the 5th round pick, it was the fact he took away valuable developmental snaps from Escobar.

 

[Future]

I don't know how anyone can say anything negative about either of these guys. Neither are given any chance to do anything at all. No they aren't great run blockers, but neither was projected to be. If you draft a WR, don't expect them to block like a FB...

 

[perrykemp]

I don't know how anyone can say anything negative about either of these guys. Neither are given any chance to do anything at all. No they aren't great run blockers, but neither was projected to be. If you draft a WR, don't expect them to block like a FB...

Future:

I'll turn it around and ask you how you can say anything positive about Hanna? I haven't seen him getting open a whole lot. Once he gets the ball in his hands he hasn't shown a lot of run after the catch ability. We know he can't block.

Isn't he exactly the kind of guy you need to cull from the roster on an annual basis in the hopes of improving?

 

[Future]

Future:

I'll turn it around and ask you how you can say anything positive about Hanna? I haven't seen him getting open a whole lot. Once he gets the ball in his hands he hasn't shown a lot of run after the catch ability. We know he can't block.

Isn't he exactly the kind of guy you need to cull from the roster on an annual basis in the hopes of improving?

I'm not saying he's an important piece going forward, sure you could cut him. How many catches does he get with the actual opportunity to run? 1 or 2 a year? Those little FB flat routes are impossible to turn into YAC, and the time or two he's gotten the ball down the field, he's looked fast.

We've already seen it with Fasano and Bennett - guys who go elsewhere and become productive. To me, that suggests that these guys are not being used to their actual potential. There is no good reason for Esco to only end up with 12 catches or whatever it was. Not one. The guy is too big and has too good of hands for that to be an issue. Hanna, maybe not as much, but he's a great athlete. Not being able to get him the ball in space is on the coaches, imo.

 

[CyberB0b]

The offense was fine.

 

[big dog cowboy]

There goes another wasted pick at TE.... at least, if we cut Miles, he actually got us some production. I think Miles will do pretty good once he bounces from this travesty of an offense tht doesn't take advantage of him in the slot.

Hanna was a 6th round pick. Not a big deal.

Miles is suddenly going to have healthy hammstrings and will do good? I have to see that before I believe it.

 

[jrumann59]

There goes another wasted pick at TE.... at least, if we cut Miles, he actually got us some production. I think Miles will do pretty good once he bounces from this travesty of an offense tht doesn't take advantage of him in the slot.

What the slot on the bench where he is icing his hammies? He played in a good amount of games but he was no where near 100% you could see it on the field he wasn't 100% until the last couple of games.

 

[xwalker]

Todd Archer published his analysis of total snap counts for Cowboys offensive players in 2014 here.

Three line items really stand out to me:

• Miles Austin (524 Snaps)
• James Hanna (311 Snaps)
• Gavin Escobar (197 Snaps)

That's over 1000 snaps. The production gained for those 1000 snaps was 45 receptions, 451 yards, and 2 TDs.

Hanna + Esobar's combined production was 21 receptions for 207 yards, and 2 TDs -- all on 835 snap for a pair of guys who offered nothing in the running game.

One of ways to maximize the offense next year and make it more efficient is obviously gain more production from those 1000 snaps.

Cutting Austin seems like an obvious solution and one I'm certain they will do.

IMHO Hanna showed zero growth in his second year and since he is destined to be the third TE (at best) and can't block, and he should be cut.

Escobar emerging in his 2nd year should help here.

If the Cowboys can gain more production from these 1000 snaps, they should improve next season on offense.

Hanna rarely ran pass routes.

For some reason, they took an undersized TE with 4.4 speed and used him as a blocker.

Like all other young players, just bring them to training camp and go from there. There is no reason to be cutting those types of players at this point in time.

If they change O-Coordinators, it's possible they could use Hanna properly. He could even be used as a big WR in some situations.

 

[perrykemp]

For some reason, they took an undersized TE with 4.4 speed and used him as a blocker.

I would love to have some insights on what made the coaching staff this was a good idea.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Todd Archer published his analysis of total snap counts for Cowboys offensive players in 2014 here.

Three line items really stand out to me:

• Miles Austin (524 Snaps)
• James Hanna (311 Snaps)
• Gavin Escobar (197 Snaps)

That's over 1000 snaps. The production gained for those 1000 snaps was 45 receptions, 451 yards, and 2 TDs.

Hanna + Esobar's combined production was 21 receptions for 207 yards, and 2 TDs -- all on 835 snap for a pair of guys who offered nothing in the running game.

One of ways to maximize the offense next year and make it more efficient is obviously gain more production from those 1000 snaps.

Cutting Austin seems like an obvious solution and one I'm certain they will do.

IMHO Hanna showed zero growth in his second year and since he is destined to be the third TE (at best) and can't block, and he should be cut.

Escobar emerging in his 2nd year should help here.

If the Cowboys can gain more production from these 1000 snaps, they should improve next season on offense.

These numbers don't mean much without points of comparison. To determine whether or not the production of these players is really problematic, you'd have to compare them to players with similar snap counts on other teams.

 

[dragon_mikal]

Garrett is terrible at getting the most out of his playmakers. Escobar could be a force if used but I doubt he will be. Murray has the potential to be a game changer but they refuse to let him run wild. Dez is amazing but they don't look his way as much as they should.

The scheme itself is a problem.

 

[links18]

Hanna has shown nothing, zip, nada. Is it because he stinks or because they can't figure out how to use him? I don't know.

For all those who think Miles is a sure cut, Jerry has already talked about restructuring him. That doesn't mean he will do it, but with this group, who knows?

 

[khiladi]

Miles is suddenly going to have healthy hammstrings and will do good? I have to see that before I believe it.

Hamstrings aren't that difficul to fix in reality. And I just don't think they ever used Miles properly, even prior to the injury. One could argue that they didn't have other WRs, but none of that prevents an OC from using him in motion and running routes from the slot, as well as quick plays to utilize his strength and speed..

 

[CowboyGil]

If/when Miles gets cut, his hammies will magically heal.

 

[DandyDon1722]

These numbers don't mean much without points of comparison. To determine whether or not the production of these players is really problematic, you'd have to compare them to players with similar snap counts on other teams.

Took the words right off my keyboard. But the key would be similar snap counts with a close approximation to the players. Maybe Carolina if the snap counts are in the ballpark because I think they play multiple tight ends and Miles could be the Steve Smith mirror.

With a comparison of another team, we would know if these numbers are woeful or at least average.

 

[jrumann59]

Hamstrings aren't that difficul to fix in reality. And I just don't think they ever used Miles properly, even prior to the injury. One could argue that they didn't have other WRs, but none of that prevents an OC from using him in motion and running routes from the slot, as well as quick plays to utilize his strength and speed..

Miles never seemed to run all out and when he did he pulled up lame.