Prediction: Dak-friendly offensive changes

[waldoputty]

OP, what receivers are starting? Dez, Hurns, TWill, and Thompson? Bease replased or Thompson over takes TWill?

my guess:
2 wr set - dez, hurns
3 wr set - dez, hurns, bease
4 wr set run heavy set with zeke - dez, hurns, twil, noah
4wr set bubble screen/jetsweep set with zeke - lone wr - thompson, screen side - rico, hurns, dez

i think the 4wr sets with zeke could be heavily used.

 

[Klingo3034]

Lot more spread offense and RPOs. To his strengths.

 

[GMO415]

my guess:
2 wr set - dez, hurns
3 wr set - dez, hurns, bease
4 wr set run heavy set with zeke - dez, hurns, twil, noah
4wr set bubble screen/jetsweep set with zeke - lone wr - thompson, screen side - rico, hurns, dez

i think the 4wr sets with zeke could be heavily used.

Sounds like we're going college spread and using the Read Option more

 

[Northern_Cowboy]

Sounds like we're going college spread and using the Read Option more

Yup, i just don't see that working for us on a consistant basis and i think it will eventually get Dak hurt as teams adjust to what we are doing

 

[khiladi]

Linehan did that in year 1. Teams adjusted in year 2 and Dak couldn’t handle more responsibility. He got worse so they dumbed it down and our offense sucked by the end of the year.

They were running plenty of spread and empty sets by the end of the year.

Dak better grow.. that’s what the main problem is.

 

[khiladi]

Oddly enough, that is exactly what we needed to do to make the offense Romo-friendly.

No, the actual difference is they gave Romo control, and he did it himself.

And TWill and Dez were 2 of the top 3 WRs in GO routes and Romo was hardly conservative, and he was way more efficient throwing 34 TDs while using a lot less play-action than Linehan had Dak using.

 

[Aviano90]

No, the actual difference is they gave Romo control, and he did it himself.

And TWill and Dez were 2 of the top 3 WRs in GO routes and Romo was hardly conservative, and he was way more efficient throwing 34 TDs while using a lot less play-action than Linehan had Dak using.

Romo being a one man show = 8-8.
Romo finally handing ball off to Murray = 12-4 and a playoff for win.

Should have been running more between 2011 and 2013 and we would have had more success.

 

[CouchCoach]

If I were to make this offense more Dak friendly, I would focus on the OL, get the RB more involved in the pass game and get the QB more involved in the run game. I would run the offense through the RB, not the QB and sure as hell not the WR as some do.

But the very first thing I would do to make the offensive Dak friendly would be to give him a defense that won't force him into shootouts.

How did they make the offense more Roger and Troy friendly? D, OL and HOF RB's.

How did the Steelers make the O Bradshaw friendly? Niners, Packers, Giants, Pats, Broncos and how did the Eagles do that last season? Yeah, Jeffries and Smith were good signings but it was the run game and D that helped him the most.

 

[waldoputty]

Yeah it's possible they carry 6 WR's. They carried 6 last year. Dez, Bease, T Will, Switzer, Butler and Brown. Thompson plays on ST's. Obviously Switzer and Bease as well. Not sure about Hurns. That gives them some flexibility. As far as seeing 5 on the field at the same time, Linnehan should figure out any of their strengths and use them that way. Some hopes for Lal but honestly Dez, Bease and T will are one trick ponies and we don't use them to their strengths IMO. Bease maybe

yes hurns is less limited than bease and twill.

 

[waldoputty]

"Dak Friendly" should mean the offensive coaching staff work with Dak to eliminate his crappy footwork. Start there.

better ol will help here.

 

[waldoputty]

If I were to make this offense more Dak friendly, I would focus on the OL, get the RB more involved in the pass game and get the QB more involved in the run game. I would run the offense through the RB, not the QB and sure as hell not the WR as some do.

But the very first thing I would do to make the offensive Dak friendly would be to give him a defense that won't force him into shootouts.

How did they make the offense more Roger and Troy friendly? D, OL and HOF RB's.

How did the Steelers make the O Bradshaw friendly? Niners, Packers, Giants, Pats, Broncos and how did the Eagles do that last season? Yeah, Jeffries and Smith were good signings but it was the run game and D that helped him the most.

the ot helps the ol there.
zeke has roles in these new rpo plays, and they are calling this smashmouth spread when wrs spread the d opening zeke's running lanes.`
the point of the new plays from other teams is that dak did well rolling out, but teams adjusted and took it away without counters to the adjustments from lack of internal coaching ingenuity.

 

[waldoputty]

Sounds like we're going college spread and using the Read Option more

i think so, and the key is that teams took away dak's rollout, so counters were needed for defenses' adjustments. unbelievably, our coaches could not figure those out but need to borrow from other teams.

this also helps establish a smashmouth spread running game...

 

[waldoputty]

Yup, i just don't see that working for us on a consistant basis and i think it will eventually get Dak hurt as teams adjust to what we are doing

i think the goal is not to run dak more but to scare other teams with the run more.
those rollouts worked well for dak until other teams adjusted.
these plays would help counter the adjustments by defenses, but took an offseason to incorporate them, which seems ridiculous.

running the ball from these formations also help the running game - some are calling it smashmouth spread

 

[waldoputty]

If I were to make this offense more Dak friendly, I would focus on the OL, get the RB more involved in the pass game and get the QB more involved in the run game. I would run the offense through the RB, not the QB and sure as hell not the WR as some do.

But the very first thing I would do to make the offensive Dak friendly would be to give him a defense that won't force him into shootouts.

How did they make the offense more Roger and Troy friendly? D, OL and HOF RB's.

How did the Steelers make the O Bradshaw friendly? Niners, Packers, Giants, Pats, Broncos and how did the Eagles do that last season? Yeah, Jeffries and Smith were good signings but it was the run game and D that helped him the most.

The Cowboys offense has evolved some during the Jason Garrett/Scott Linehan era. They didn’t hesitate to add RPOs to their arsenal with Dak Prescott at the helm. But they still rely a lot on three-wide sets with Witten that feature isolation routes by the receivers. Unfortunately the Cowboys receivers are not creating their own separation, they don’t have a true home-run hitter to stretch the defense, and Dez Bryant isn’t commanding the same attention from safeties that he was in the past.
Plus, Dak Prescott is not being utilized to his full potential by getting him on the move and allowing him to use his legs more often. You don’t want Prescott running the ball all the time, but all it takes is a serious threat that he might run to make some of these concepts work. He needs to do it occasionally, probably a little more than he has been, to keep the defense honest. Frankly, sometimes these are free yards where he can just slide after making a gain and avoid taking a hit. The counter plays where you pull a guard and tackle would also seem to be a natural fit for the Cowboys personnel. Doing these plays from a spread formation is an interesting wrinkle.
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/201...ld-be-the-new-word-for-a-dak-friendly-offense

 

[waldoputty]

Linehan did that in year 1. Teams adjusted in year 2 and Dak couldn’t handle more responsibility. He got worse so they dumbed it down and our offense sucked by the end of the year.

They were running plenty of spread and empty sets by the end of the year.

Dak better grow.. that’s what the main problem is.

they rolled out, then teams adjusted. they had no counter but other teams figured out counter plays for us.

 

[northerncowboynation]

Linehan did that in year 1. Teams adjusted in year 2 and Dak couldn’t handle more responsibility. He got worse so they dumbed it down and our offense sucked by the end of the year.

They were running plenty of spread and empty sets by the end of the year.

Dak better grow.. that’s what the main problem is.

About the same thing that Seattle did with R Wilson actually. Remember that? He was crazy good in pre-season his first year. Came out firing in the first half of his first year. Put it on his shoulders then backed off letting him be more of a "game manager". That term "game manager" makes QB seem less than what they should be. They should all manage the game well. Anyway, I digress, Wilson became more of a "game manager" with Beast mode becoming a bigger piece of the game. Wilson turned out OK too didn't he. Won a SB. Went to another losing only because of a bad play call by their OC. Put up big numbers last year, and what did he have to show for it, 9-7. I'll be ecstatic if Dak accomplishes what Wilson did, seeing that he's the main problem

 

[Bluefin]

i think the goal is not to run dak more but to scare other teams with the run more.

I believe that is the ideal scenario.

You don’t want Prescott running the ball all the time, but all it takes is a serious threat that he might run to make some of these concepts work.

He needs to do it occasionally, probably a little more than he has been, to keep the defense honest. Frankly, sometimes these are free yards where he can just slide after making a gain and avoid taking a hit.

Agreed.

There have been numerous early down pass plays the last two years where Dak Prescott had a running lane to pick up some easy yards and he always opted to stay in the pocket waiting for his receivers to get open.

This is a good thing as young, mobile QBs are often too keen on escaping the pocket and using their legs when called pass plays don't quickly provide an open target. It's what they did in college, it's what they know.

I'm glad Dak isn't just looking to run every time when his first read is covered, but he is actually too hesitant to us his legs, IMO.

I don't want a "running" QB as it leads to unnecessary injuries, but Dak is effective as a runner and it needs to be part of the offense. The zone read is already part of the scheme and very effective in the red zone.

Dak (57 att) tied Cam Newton (139 att) last season to lead NFL QBs with 6 rushing touchdowns. The Cowboy (1 play 20+ yds) didn't generate the big gains like the Panther (5 plays 20+ yds, 2 plays 40+ yds) but he protected the ball much better (0 fumbles to Cam's 6). Russell Wilson also had 6 fumbles on running plays (95 att) and Kirk Cousins led the NFL with 7 fumbles on only 49 attempts.

So, I like what Dak is doing, he just needs to be coached to do it a little more when the opportunity arises next season.

Making defenses honor the treat of Dak scrambling can pay huge dividends.

 

[waldoputty]

About the same thing that Seattle did with R Wilson actually. Remember that? He was crazy good in pre-season his first year. Came out firing in the first half of his first year. Put it on his shoulders then backed off letting him be more of a "game manager". That term "game manager" makes QB seem less than what they should be. They should all manage the game well. Anyway, I digress, Wilson became more of a "game manager" with Beast mode becoming a bigger piece of the game. Wilson turned out OK too didn't he. Won a SB. Went to another losing only because of a bad play call by their OC. Put up big numbers last year, and what did he have to show for it, 9-7. I'll be ecstatic if Dak accomplishes what Wilson did, seeing that he's the main problem

different qbs have different skill sets.
it may well be possible to build a great system with dak's skill set.

 

[waldoputty]

I believe that is the ideal scenario.





Agreed.

There have been numerous early down pass plays the last two years where Dak Prescott had a running lane to pick up some easy yards and he always opted to stay in the pocket waiting for his receivers to get open.

This is a good thing as young, mobile QBs are often too keen on escaping the pocket and using their legs when called pass plays don't quickly provide an open target. It's what they did in college, it's what they know.

I'm glad Dak isn't just looking to run every time when his first read is covered, but he is actually too hesitant to us his legs, IMO.

I don't want a "running" QB as it leads to unnecessary injuries, but Dak is effective as a runner and it needs to be part of the offense. The zone read is already part of the scheme and very effective in the red zone.

Dak (57 att) tied Cam Newton (139 att) last season to lead NFL QBs with 6 rushing touchdowns. The Cowboy (1 play 20+ yds) didn't generate the big gains like the Panther (5 plays 20+ yds, 2 plays 40+ yds) but he protected the ball much better (0 fumbles to Cam's 6). Russell Wilson also had 6 fumbles on running plays (95 att) and Kirk Cousins led the NFL with 7 fumbles on only 49 attempts.

So, I like what Dak is doing, he just needs to be coached to do it a little more when the opportunity arises next season.

Making defenses honor the treat of Dak scrambling can pay huge dividends.

dak had an almost great ol to work with which the others did not.
if we fix the ol, running rpo plays with a great ol and great rb introduces complexities that make a defense' life even more difficult.
others are saying that the rams may do it with gurley.
we could do it with zeke and a superior ol if we fix the lg position.

these draft picks would make things really interesting:

1. hernandez - lg
2. settle - 1tech
3. jewell - mlb
more lb, rb, g, 1tech

or
1. payne
2. price - lg
3. jewell - mlb
more g, lb, rb

 

[glimmerman]

Dak could be helped by making sure the O-Line is shored up. Pass protect and give him speed on the outside with time to throw. Let’s get these defenses stretched and backed off. Get Beez back in it. Like his rookie season.