Big Run Tell by Cowboys

[Roadtrip635]

Wow. So if the DE doesn't bite, they're putting the QB in a very serious situation. Based on what happened, I hope they scrap that play.

It's not a bad play, it's about frequency and successfully running other plays from the same formation and personnel package. It's kinda like running the jet sweep, it's gonna fail if you just keep running the same sweep from it. The part that makes it effective is being able and actually running other plays from that formation and pulling motion enough to keep defenses guessing. It's also about selling the fakes and motion every time you run a play from that formation, every player has to sell every play from that formation so there isn't a tell on what is actually being run from that formation. Even with all that, sometimes the defender just guesses right.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Noah Brown on the field indicates obvious run as well. First down usually means Zeke between the tackles 80% of the time.

Well, 39% of the time, anyway. Looking at only 1st-and-10 and only in the 1st and 3rd quarters (to ignore late catch-up or 2-minute drill type drives), they run with Zeke 51% of the time, and some of those are "end", not "tackle", "guard" or "middle" runs.

 

[Idgit]

The whole offense is 1 big tendency.

They don't care. They coach with their ego instead of strategy.

And yet, they've been more productive than all but a handful of teams in the league during most of their tenure, the exception being when they went into the year with no wideouts and no TEs.

I totally understand complaining about *this* year's production. But it hasn't always been like this, and the productivity has spanned multiple QBs over many years. At some point you have to ask why it matters if it's not getting in the way of scoring.

 

[Zman5]

This is old news. Lucky Whitehead was first, then TWill, then Brown, the Hurns, now back to Brown.
Whenever you see them motioning in, it's 99% run play.
They did pass to Lucky once in GB and got a big gain. That was the 1% where they didn't run.

 

[Flamma]

The "Noah Brown in motion" might turn into the 2018 version of the Lucky Whitehead jet sweep.

Luckily, the offensive line played so well at Philly it didn't matter that the Cowboys telegraphed their plays. The 1990's Cowboys ran the same plays over and over too, but the big difference is they were wise enough to disguise it with different formations.

They also ran a lot of pass and run plays from the same formations. Every play was from under center too. No way you could tell if Dallas was running or passing. All the defense had to go by was down and distance. The beauty of that is on 1st and 10 or 2nd and short the defense has to run rush. That allows for more time if you choose to pass the ball.

 

[CATCH17]

And yet, they've been more productive than all but a handful of teams in the league during most of their tenure, the exception being when they went into the year with no wideouts and no TEs.

I totally understand complaining about *this* year's production. But it hasn't always been like this, and the productivity has spanned multiple QBs over many years. At some point you have to ask why it matters if it's not getting in the way of scoring.

Yeah just think of what they could do if they didn’t coach like that. Maybe they wouldn’t underachieve so much when they have good teams.

 

[nightrain]

I've noticed that whenever the Cowboys motion a WR back toward the formation and have him stop outside or inside of the TE, it is always a run play.
Every time I see that motion, I think to myself that they can't really be running it again. Teams have to have seen that tendency on film and prepare for it. It seems like the runs always go for short gains due to that knowledge.

also noticed that on the third down all the receivers run go routes.

 

[The Natural]

Even worse its always some little *** WR doing the motion. Like thats supposed to be a big help blocking

 

[ESisback]

I think Collinsworth even mentioned that about Brown.

He did!

 

[KingintheNorth]

Noah "Obvious Run Down" Brown was a bigger indicator.

Garrett is next level.

 

[DandyDon52]

I've noticed that whenever the Cowboys motion a WR back toward the formation and have him stop outside or inside of the TE, it is always a run play.
Every time I see that motion, I think to myself that they can't really be running it again. Teams have to have seen that tendency on film and prepare for it. It seems like the runs always go for short gains due to that knowledge.

man you just outed Jason's secret run play he is so proud of !!!!!!!!
Now he will have to come up with another one !

but really that isnt the only tell on run plays lol there are several
Same thing for pass plays most times I can tell if they are going to run or pass just by formation and motion.
Defenses love the easy to read dallas offense.

 

[Idgit]

Yeah just think of what they could do if they didn’t coach like that. Maybe they wouldn’t underachieve so much when they have good teams.

The good teams that underachieved always did it on defense. Now that the defense is pretty good, the offense has fallen off.

 

[OldCoach]

Don't forget 3rd and 15.

That’s a screen. It worked last week for once.

 

[Szczepanik]

I thought the biggest tell for a run was it being first down.

 

[beware_d-ware]

Noah "Obvious Run Down" Brown was a bigger indicator.

Lol, I'm stealing this.

 

[Dre11]

I've noticed that whenever the Cowboys motion a WR back toward the formation and have him stop outside or inside of the TE, it is always a run play.
Every time I see that motion, I think to myself that they can't really be running it again. Teams have to have seen that tendency on film and prepare for it. It seems like the runs always go for short gains due to that knowledge.

No it not always a run, its majority the time a run but not always. They throw from that look too. It's good to have some tells, because you can set a team up with them as well.

 

[Dre11]

The most mind boggling play I remember from the Philly game was the first series of the 3rd quarter when Dak bootlegged, and was blown up by an unblocked Martelous Bennett. Was that a missed assignment, or a flawed scheme?

No, the De usually honors the fake, it's a naked bootleg, Bennett didn't bite.

 

[Dre11]

That roll out needs to freaking die

Every team run it, and we run it with success too.

 

[guag]

Anyone want to explain how bringing a WR into the box, along with his defender, is possibly to our advantage if we're running into the box?

I've always considered just lining up the WR wide a better block. Takes the defender out of the play, and thins out the herd in the box.

One positive aspect to moving the WR in motion is that it will tell you whether the defense is in a zone or man look... Obviously if the defender follows the WR it's man coverage, but then again I don't think our offense ever actually changes the play at the line based on this info anyway.

 

[CF74]

They’ve been doing that for a few years but this last game they faked out of it once...