Dak Holding the Ball

[RustyBourneHorse]

Actually, Linehan has shortened the routes for Dak.

And when Romo held onto the ball too long per Parcells, it had absolutely nothing to do with being afraid and not being able to anticipate routes. What a Parcells meant for Romo was that he was always trying to make a play and not throw it away and he wanted Romo to save it for the next play. And we all know how conservative Parcells was and his own boy Bledsoe was actually worse at it and Parcells was forced to bench him.

Dak holding on to the ball too long is him refusing to throw on QB windows which are normal for the NFL and being check down Charlie.

TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT CONTEXTS.

It’s comical that people try and compare Romo to Dak, trying to attribute one’s lack of success on a Garrett offense with him calling plays and a Linehan one that employs way more play-action, bootlegs and roll-outs as well as even more pick plays nowadays.

Romo and Dak are absolutely nothing alike. As even Witten said, the offense with Romo was attacking the outside hashes and deep. With Dak, it’s not anymore.

Oh, I know that Dak and Romo are very different from each other. They have completely different styles, and that's perfectly fine. I wasn't trying to compare them in terms of their styles and all. My point was that the two of them held onto the ball too long. They both have played in Garrett's offence, and they have both been holding onto the ball too long. As a result, we're seeing what is happening to Dak. He's got a lot of flaws of his own, but adjusting the playbook to get him to be quicker with the ball would be better for Dak.

 

[Aviano90]

Holding onto the ball too long for whatever reason is holding onto the ball too long. Dak is afraid and Romo was always trying to play super hero. Both hurt the team with negative yardage plays.

 

[Clove]

Watch on one series of offensive plays, there will always be either a BIG penalty or an awful play call that kicks us into 3rd and 16 or more. It's been like this for years, I used to scream about it all the time.

 

[AmericanCowboy]

Watch on one series of offensive plays, there will always be either a BIG penalty or an awful play call that kicks us into 3rd and 16 or more. It's been like this for years, I used to scream about it all the time.

It’s like Witten said on Monday- we have no margin for error on each drive

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Watch on one series of offensive plays, there will always be either a BIG penalty or an awful play call that kicks us into 3rd and 16 or more. It's been like this for years, I used to scream about it all the time.

Exactly, and third down conversions are difficult in football, but they often determine the winner of each game. Why put yourself in a position to have to convert 3rd and long if you don't have to? Part of the reason that we were so good in 2016 was that we were hardly in 3rd and long for the majority of the season. Get into 3rd and long, and your options are limited. Often, your only choice IS the check downs that Dak does to try and get better field position for your defence. And then we wonder why our defence wears down. This is the big flaw with our gameplan. 1st and/or 2nd down must be mixed to make sure that defences aren't sure what you plan to run.

 

[xwalker]

Terribly sorry about creating another Dak thread. I know we have an awful lot of them. However, I think this explains at least part of the problem that Dak is having. In fact, this is a bit more of a Garrett thread than it is a Dak thread. Let me explain.

The problem that I am noticing from Dak is that he is holding onto the ball far too long in the NFL. Look at what happened in Tennessee. Even in his rookie year, he had tendencies to hold onto the ball for a long time. However, that may not be solely on him. Romo would also hold onto the ball for ages, and he took a lot of abuse that could have been avoided by being a bit more quick with his balls.

So, to me, this is more of an indictment on Jason Garrett. The fact that we had a potentially-HOF caliber QB and a probably average QB that both are having that problem is significantly problematic, yet common among them. To me, Dak would do better with a WCO-style chap who encourages quick passes. However, it also means that we need better playcalling for this to work. Firstly, we are FAR too predictable. If the commentators and most average observers can tell what we're going to do, what makes the coaches think that the defences won't know what we're going to do? We really need to be less predictable. That will help Dak because defences will have to defend more options.

Secondly, I'm stunned that we don't run more slants or PAs. We are an offence that is designed to run. That is all well and good, but it's not being properly complimented. We don't run as much PA as I think we should. It really does compliment the run well, and it would give the defence a bit more pause to think about what we're actually going to do. This ties nicely into what I said earlier about not being so predictable. If defences know that we run a lot on first down (because we do), then a PA on first down at different parts of the game would be good because defences will have to back away from the line on first down.

As I stated also, the slants are severely lacking, and they are perfect for Dak to get the ball out quickly. Additionally, slants are actually good for gaining yardage. Plus, considering the penalties that our offence is committing because of the long time that Dak is taking to hold onto the ball, slants and other quick passes can help us NOT be staring down the barrel of 3rd and 15+. We get a lot of those 3rd downs, and it is highly improbable to consistently convert those 3rd downs. So, this is more reason to use more quick balls.

Romo held the ball a long time on many plays.

That's a sign that the scheme is a problem.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Romo held the ball a long time on many plays.

That's a sign that the scheme is a problem.

Exactly, and that's why I'm saying that we need better coaching and a change of scheme. It's one of the reasons Dak's not succeeding.

 

[InTheZone]

Oh, I'm fully aware that he's got a lot of problems of his own. I think he has to do a much better job of seeing the field and making better decisions. He's got his share of the blame to shoulder for our predicament this season. However, I think that the coaches could do a bit more to help Dak a long. Would adjusting routes a tad to get him quick releases not help Dak?

I don't like blanket statements like Linehan isn't helping. I want to know why people believe Dak can't hot route, motion a WR, or adjust blocks to account for the free rusher. We're sitting at 6-2 or better if Dak were to utilize pockets better, connect on passes that are open, not run into sacks when there's no pressure, and stop fumbling. Then we'd be singing a different tune on the problems. It's the same thing his rookie year, we were winning so most people were ignoring the actual problems behind the scenes. Dak isn't the same player he was his rookie year, it's been a nosedive, and now those same flaws are more prevalent. But now we're trying to focus on other people for why it's that way.

I'm not understanding how underthrowing/overthrowing a wide open fly route would be fixed by adjusting routes. We already run a basic offense because, I believe, of his limitations, what more can we do for him? Out routes take forever to come out of his hand. Sure coaches continuously work with the players, but we are legit running into a dead end with what else we can ask Dak to successfully execute.

 

[Clove]

So many people forget how all of the things Dak is going through, Romo was going through, except, Romo was years into the system and given free reign to do as please via Jerry Jones, whereas, Dak must follow the script. This entire scheme along with the coaches of it must GO.

 

[Blake]

Watch on one series of offensive plays, there will always be either a BIG penalty or an awful play call that kicks us into 3rd and 16 or more. It's been like this for years, I used to scream about it all the time.

It's an impulse thing with the Cowoboys.

 

[nate dizzle]

Holding the ball too long has been his MO since college. It's due to his lack of anticipation and decision making ability.

His college scouting report pretty much lays all this out.

 

[PAPPYDOG]

Dak has so many "Flaws" only Jerry and fans who live in a fantasy NFL world can have any hope he they will be corrected and Dak will excel at QB at some point.....He is the Cowboys Anti-Christ and all and everyone is in danger as long as he leads our team.....

 

[cowboyz]

on the herd, some former player was discussing the same issue with mccarty and rodgers. saying the scheme required wrs to get open, compared with mcvay and the new coaches that scheme players open. its basically all these old coaches still relying on old methods. sure if you got the best players it works, but when you dont you have to adapt. and it appears these coaches cant and are being left behind.

to think they could run this offense with crappy wrs was foolish.

also, cowboys probably felt their run game would allow for open wrs. but with fredbeard out, it just hasn't happened. they cant just run at will.

 

[xwalker]

Exactly, and that's why I'm saying that we need better coaching and a change of scheme. It's one of the reasons Dak's not succeeding.

Yes, Romo didn't hold the ball too long when Parcells was the HC. Parcells stood behind him in practice and blew the whistle after 3 seconds. Parcells made it clear that he would pull him as the starter if he did it in games.

It's clear that the offensive coaching/scheme is not very good.

 

[MCMetal69]

Jason Witten encapsulated the whole thing perfectly on Monday Night Football : If every player doesn't complete their assignment perfectly on every single play , it becomes a Chinese fire drill.............................It's insane to even think all 11 players are going to perform perfectly on every play.

 

[cowboyz]

talking about rodgers, but relevant to the cowboys offense, packers offense doesn't make it easy for rodgers, unlike brady

 

[CowboyRoy]

Well, again, that's where the coaches need to figure out a solution to that problem. We know that the offence isn't what we'd like it to be, so the coaches must build a plan to help Dak. To do this, Dak must get rid of the ball quicker. If he does that and he's hit, it should be an extra 15 yards given the current rules.

Correct. So the next issue is the coaching. They are te heavy offense. Didn’t bother to adjust after Witten left. These morons are still running 3 te formations with rookies and fa tes in there. Go to the spread with more receivers.

 

[BlindFaith]

And it’s hilarious to me, because when the Giants game was approaching, every Dak defender was taking about Linehan not attacking it deep and when Dak actually threw it deep on a scripted play and scored they thought it was the cure all.

It’s every excuse in the book for Dak. Dak only throws when he knows where he is going from te beginning and he’s not a progression type of QB.

This is probably the best explanation. A lot of other good points were made as well.

It's most likely that his first year he was asked to only read half of the field. Limiting his reads. Now he's reading the whole field and has "paralysis from analysis". To counter that, he decides to lock in on a WR, hence missing wide open guys.

Coaching, good coaching can help with that, but a lot of that is simply ability. Reading defenses, anticipation, accuracy.

I was a Dak fan. But this his third year and he has regressed now each year.

I also thought Linehan would be more creative. Still not sure if this is really his offense or if Garrett still has his mark on it. Either way, it's atrocious.

Dak will be our QB next year. He's cheap and we have no other options.

This year is done. So I'd pull the trigger and dump Garrett and Linehan. Give Richard's the interim job and see how he does. Not sure who would call plays, but it couldn't be worse than what we have now.

Next year, depending on how Richard's pans out, make him HC and let him find a bright, creative OC and see what he can do with Dak.

If Dak doesn't show any improvement, then do whatever it takes to get a QB in the 2020 draft.

 

[Runwildboys]

A lot of the time when we go no huddle is because we are trailing and trying to catch up in late in the fourth quarter

Dak looks good during this time because the other team is usually in a prevent defense

and Dak doesn't have time to overthink.

 

[TwentyOne]

Terribly sorry about creating another Dak thread. I know we have an awful lot of them. However, I think this explains at least part of the problem that Dak is having. In fact, this is a bit more of a Garrett thread than it is a Dak thread. Let me explain.

The problem that I am noticing from Dak is that he is holding onto the ball far too long in the NFL. Look at what happened in Tennessee. Even in his rookie year, he had tendencies to hold onto the ball for a long time. However, that may not be solely on him. Romo would also hold onto the ball for ages, and he took a lot of abuse that could have been avoided by being a bit more quick with his balls.

So, to me, this is more of an indictment on Jason Garrett. The fact that we had a potentially-HOF caliber QB and a probably average QB that both are having that problem is significantly problematic, yet common among them. To me, Dak would do better with a WCO-style chap who encourages quick passes. However, it also means that we need better playcalling for this to work. Firstly, we are FAR too predictable. If the commentators and most average observers can tell what we're going to do, what makes the coaches think that the defences won't know what we're going to do? We really need to be less predictable. That will help Dak because defences will have to defend more options.

Secondly, I'm stunned that we don't run more slants or PAs. We are an offence that is designed to run. That is all well and good, but it's not being properly complimented. We don't run as much PA as I think we should. It really does compliment the run well, and it would give the defence a bit more pause to think about what we're actually going to do. This ties nicely into what I said earlier about not being so predictable. If defences know that we run a lot on first down (because we do), then a PA on first down at different parts of the game would be good because defences will have to back away from the line on first down.

As I stated also, the slants are severely lacking, and they are perfect for Dak to get the ball out quickly. Additionally, slants are actually good for gaining yardage. Plus, considering the penalties that our offence is committing because of the long time that Dak is taking to hold onto the ball, slants and other quick passes can help us NOT be staring down the barrel of 3rd and 15+. We get a lot of those 3rd downs, and it is highly improbable to consistently convert those 3rd downs. So, this is more reason to use more quick balls.

Dak is a bad NFL QB.

IMO its hard to judge our playcalling when Linehan is so limited by Daks talent.