Big Run Tell by Cowboys

Ken

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I never went back and verified for myself, but it sure seemed that anytime Noah Brown was in the game, the Cowboys ran the ball as well.

But hey, as long as the offense can "beat the man in front of them", who NEEDS scheme? Am I right?
The one time i remember them passing is when Dak got killed on the play action boot...
 

Risen Star

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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.

You don't notice that. Or if you do and it's true then Garrett wants you to notice that to set you and the defense up for something later.
 

buybuydandavis

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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.

Fair point.

But if you just wanted to check coverage, why not run a WR out wide, away from the run play? You still figure out the coverage, but you move a defender out of the box.
 

ConstantReboot

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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.


And then they complain about 8-9 man stack boxes. Garrett/Linehan think they are smarter than everyone. But they fool no one. Except, of course, Jerry.
 

ConstantReboot

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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.

When something actually works and goes for a big game, this coaching staff never call it again. I guess is called the "process." They have to keep doing over and over until it gives a different result. I call that insanity.
 

Doomsday

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Been doing it for 4 years now too. It isn't just the motion, a lot of times they put in Noah Brown etc as well.

They actually threw a pass out of it vs the Eagles last week but it was incomplete.
 

rnr_honeybadger

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This is essentially what people have been talking about when they say that the Cowboys are predictable. The problem is that this whole offense works if you can line your people up against the opponent and just flat out beat them by out executing them. Sure that will work some of the time but the elite teams in the league are going to shut this down without much of an issue. That is where coaching and scheming come into play and the Cowboys don't seem to do that.
 

TexasHillbilly

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The whole offense is 1 big tendency.

They don't care. They coach with their ego instead of strategy.
I thought the Eagles game was a pretty good mixup of plays by the OC. So even we as spectators can tell when they will run the ball especially when the motion man stops right inside the TE. The defense still has to stop it. 150 yds plus rushing. Looks like the Eagles didn't know it was going to be a run, and if they did, they still had problems stopping it. We busted em up all night....at least in the 2nd half. If we get 150 yds running we win 90 out of 100 times. Notice I didn't say 99 out of a 100.
 

birdwells1

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It was a "naked" bootleg that the Cowboys thought Bennett would bite on. Poor time to call it. Dak faked to Zeke, and Bennett was left unblocked since they assumed he would go after Elliott. Bennett clearly knew what was coming and didn't take the bait.

Had he done so, I think Dak was going to throw to Noah Brown. I have to go back and watch the game again to see if that would've had a chance.
I was watching in preseason and someone pointed this out that every time a new quarterback comes in the naked bootleg is called to make the quarterback feel comfortable so it may be called to start the half for the same reason.
 

charron

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Fair point.

But if you just wanted to check coverage, why not run a WR out wide, away from the run play? You still figure out the coverage, but you move a defender out of the box.


They use the extra wr to block the de, or lb on the backside. Just enough to force the defender wide, giving a cutback lane if needed. This allows the RB to get to the 2nd level facing that cb who followed the wr in the box. Linehan uses this too much IMHO.
 

buybuydandavis

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They use the extra wr to block the de, or lb on the backside. Just enough to force the defender wide, giving a cutback lane if needed. This allows the RB to get to the 2nd level facing that cb who followed the wr in the box. Linehan uses this too much IMHO.

Thanks for the description.

I'm not convinced by the tactic, though. Sounds like you aren't either.

Seems like a block destined to fail more often than not, with the advantage to the defender who is larger and stronger than the WR, and now you've crowded the box with two more players.

They would do this with Beasley and Austin. How are they supposed to be winning against DEs and LBs?

The tactic is a bit more credible with Noah Brown. He at least has some reasonable chance to block bigger guys. But if you're the defense, wouldn't you actually match up a LB against Brown, since you're not worried about his receiving at all? Or at least a big safety? He's not running away from anyone. And now you're bringing a credible run defender into the box.

Still don't like it, but the switch off is trying to do something. I just doubt it works that well. I'll have to look for it next game.
 

visionary

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The ginger clapper has been setting up the rest of the league for 8 years. They have a completely separate playbook for when they get to the SB .....
 

CATCH17

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I thought the Eagles game was a pretty good mixup of plays by the OC. So even we as spectators can tell when they will run the ball especially when the motion man stops right inside the TE. The defense still has to stop it. 150 yds plus rushing. Looks like the Eagles didn't know it was going to be a run, and if they did, they still had problems stopping it. We busted em up all night....at least in the 2nd half. If we get 150 yds running we win 90 out of 100 times. Notice I didn't say 99 out of a 100.

You can always point to certain games where the strategy works but with a decade of predictable football we know it doesn't bring consistent positive results or playoff wins.

Relying solely on your talent is not the way of todays NFL.
 

TexasHillbilly

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You can always point to certain games where the strategy works but with a decade of predictable football we know it doesn't bring consistent positive results or playoff wins.

Relying solely on your talent is not the way of todays NFL.
I don't think it ever has been. Us and the eagles both had "dream teams" and neither one did well that year.

I do agree with your post. This win one lose one is driving me crazy.
 

Pokes12

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I never went back and verified for myself, but it sure seemed that anytime Noah Brown was in the game, the Cowboys ran the ball as well.

But hey, as long as the offense can "beat the man in front of them", who NEEDS scheme? Am I right?
Noah Brown or Olawale in the game = RUN!!! Every defense knows this.
 

charron

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Thanks for the description.

I'm not convinced by the tactic, though. Sounds like you aren't either.

Seems like a block destined to fail more often than not, with the advantage to the defender who is larger and stronger than the WR, and now you've crowded the box with two more players.

They would do this with Beasley and Austin. How are they supposed to be winning against DEs and LBs?

The tactic is a bit more credible with Noah Brown. He at least has some reasonable chance to block bigger guys. But if you're the defense, wouldn't you actually match up a LB against Brown, since you're not worried about his receiving at all? Or at least a big safety? He's not running away from anyone. And now you're bringing a credible run defender into the box.

Still don't like it, but the switch off is trying to do something. I just doubt it works that well. I'll have to look for it next game.


The wr is just a body in the way really. Not expected to hold blocks but that would help. If they can force the DE to go a bit outside zeke has a cut back lane. Since the run is designed to go the other way if blocking is good it won't matter if the wr block helps. Not a big fan of it being used alot, but I would use it to setup a fake or screen or some kind of misdirection play.
 
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