The “playbook being outdated” is lazy

[Parcells4Life]

Ive seen everyone on here and radio/internet guys keep saying the playbook is outdated.

Nate Newton, who knows more than anyone of us on here said we run 95% of the same plays post snap as the Rams.

The difference and what we’d like to see changed is the presnap misdirection that causes defenses to hesitate which opens up holes in the run game and pass game.

I’ve said forever that most NFL teams are running about the same playbook since there no true west coast or only air Coryell schemes anymore.

What separates is the timing of the calls. The perfect example is the play vs the Eagles Cooper wanted changed. We didn’t put in a new play in the huddle, we just audibled to one that already existed.

Whoever the new playcaller is, they need to have the openness to change and add some presnap motion.

But they don’t have to throw out the entire playbook.

 

[America's Cowboy]

Somewhat agree. Definitely need to get more creative pre-snap in order to get opposing Defenses guessing much more. I still believe there is much room for new plays to be added in, aside from keeping the same playbook. Just get more creative overall on all aspects (pre-snap, route running, audibles, hurry up offense, etc). It's not that hard.

 

[tunahelper]

Another issue is adapting the game plan to attack the opposing defense weaknesses. How many times did Aikman point out how the opposing CB is limited and we are not feeding Cooper? Adapting the game plan and in game adjustments are key.

 

[Cowboys22]

Sorry, I don’t agree with the initial assertion that we are running 95% the same plays as the Rams. I watched all Dallas games and have seen the Rams 4-5 times. They are not the same plays with the same routes. I 100% agree that the pre snap formations and misdirections need huge changes.

 

[Parcells4Life]

Sorry, I don’t agree with the initial assertion that we are running 95% the same plays as the Rams. I watched all Dallas games and have seen the Rams 4-5 times. They are not the same plays with the same routes. I 100% agree that the pre snap formations and misdirections need huge changes.

All I saw last week was HB dive and HB power over and over.

It was effective because of the misdirection but the play itself wasn’t fancy.

The play action is the same play we have.

The best way to think of the difference in the playbook is look at it as a menu. Our playcaller prefers the fish section (HB dive) no matter what the defense calls.

The Rams have that same fish section in their menu but if defenses are preparing for it, they with call from the steak category or make it look like a steak before calling the fish.

But we have all the same entrees the Rams do. We just haven’t utilized them and they have better sides (presnap motion).

 

[Cowboys22]

All I saw last week was HB dive and HB power over and over.

It was effective because of the misdirection but the play itself wasn’t fancy.

The play action is the same play we have.

The best way to think of the difference in the playbook is look at it as a menu. Our playcaller prefers the fish section (HB dive) no matter what the defense calls.

The Rams have that same fish section in their menu but if defenses are preparing for it, they with call from the steak category or make it look like a steak before calling the fish.

But we have all the same entrees the Rams do. We just haven’t utilized them and they have better sides (presnap motion).

I don’t see it. Not 95%. I see Dallas with a lot of comeback and curls. The WR or TE catching the ball while standing still or coming back to the QB. This limits the YAC. I know it’s not every single play, it just seems to be a lot of them. I see other teams like the Rams throw a lot to WRs and TEs on the run with plays designed to get additional YAC.

 

[Parcells4Life]

And when JG first got here he was running Mike Martz’ Arena football scheme where you throw it 50 times a game. Put up a lot of yards and points but didn’t run enough to win close games.

Now it’s gone 180 degrees where people want the Mike Martz style more involved.

The plays didn’t go away. They’re just not being utilized except vs the Giants.

 

[Parcells4Life]

I don’t see it. Not 95%. I see Dallas with a lot of comeback and curls. The WR or TE catching the ball while standing still or coming back to the QB. This limits the YAC. I know it’s not every single play, it just seems to be a lot of them. I see other teams like the Rams throw a lot to WRs and TEs on the run with plays designed to get additional YAC.

Coopers TD was a slant.

Again, not every play is the key. We have the slant plays in there. They’ve run them every week but they don’t run them often enough so people assume they don’t exist. Linehan has run the curl plays over and over. If he just had emphasized different sections or varied it more, people would think a lot different.

 

[TheHerd]

I completely disagree with the 95% comment, regardless who says it.

Many on here have detailed the specifics, but the most common Dallas offensive ideas I see are bringing WRs into the middle on running plays, TEs and WRs are often stopped or coming back when they catch the ball, no rub/pick routes, no play action, routes which go right into the DBs first, red zone running plays are slow developing and often have reach blocks.

 

[DogFace]

https://cowboyszone.com/threads/article-on-how-predictable-cowboys-were-on-offense.398743/

 

[percyhoward]

https://cowboyszone.com/threads/article-on-how-predictable-cowboys-were-on-offense.398743/

Here's the 2018 version, same author.

 

[Parcells4Life]

This only tells that the playcall-ING needed to be improved.

You can have the fanciest play in the world but if the defense knows it’s coming it’s a lot harder to execute. Not impossible as the 90s love to remind us.

But without any presnap motion and just going straight I it’s a lot harder.

I’m fully on board with the fact that a lot of plays were predictable because Linehan kept choosing from the same section of the menu and didn’t do anything to disguise his calls.

My contention as we saw with the Giants/Jaguars is there is a much bigger portion of plays that are available but not being utilized.

 

[lukin2006]

I am a little tired with every game when we start on offence it's the same call, handoff to Zeke for 2 yards. Do the Rams do that 16 times a year? That 4 and 1 in the Rams game, when Zeke ran into a wall should have got the coaches fired...Everyone knew what they were doing.

 

[glimmerman]

Most run the same plays. It’s called something different. Listen to Dez, he said Linehan had them lining up in the same place for years. That’s lazy. We had a game that we used some misdirection and it worked a lot of times. Then the next game it disappears!

Change the route tree out of the same formation.

Change the formation.

Move players around presnap. Use misdirection.

Make up a new play or 2.

When you have a player like Cooper who can run the tree well then move him around. He quickly had a problem with Linehan calling stop routes on every pass play. It took him and Dak changing at the line and looky what happens.

Our recievers had to run perfect routes to get open. They weren’t being lazy, the opposing defense knew where the break was and where they would be. Makes it a lot easier for defenses. The throw has to be almost perfect. Makes it hard for a young QB.

 

[glimmerman]

I am a little tired with every game when we start on offence it's the same call, handoff to Zeke for 2 yards. Do the Rams do that 16 times a year? That 4 and 1 in the Rams game, when Zeke ran into a wall should have got the coaches fired...Everyone knew what they were doing.

Had Dak used the option and kept it off tackle like he does then it was a easy pick up. He may have broken that wide open. Everyone in he world knew what was about to happen. That’s a play either the staff has to trust Dak or he has to call his own number. Was a greater chance of getting it if it was even a simple sneak. By the time the handoff took place it was over. Hindsight but true. If we use the same Offensive scheme this year then Dak is going to have to just take over like Romo was doing later in his career. That would either be a good thing or a disaster. Lol.

 

[gmoney112]

This post is lazy.

 

[foofighters]

Ive seen everyone on here and radio/internet guys keep saying the playbook is outdated.

Nate Newton, who knows more than anyone of us on here said we run 95% of the same plays post snap as the Rams.

The difference and what we’d like to see changed is the presnap misdirection that causes defenses to hesitate which opens up holes in the run game and pass game.

I’ve said forever that most NFL teams are running about the same playbook since there no true west coast or only air Coryell schemes anymore.

What separates is the timing of the calls. The perfect example is the play vs the Eagles Cooper wanted changed. We didn’t put in a new play in the huddle, we just audibled to one that already existed.

Whoever the new playcaller is, they need to have the openness to change and add some presnap motion.

But they don’t have to throw out the entire playbook.

I am not Dak's biggest fan but I do see potential with him. If we want to be successful, we must use Dak's legs. Rollouts and planned runs. Now we don't have to do many nor do they have to be successful plays. Just the threat of Dak moving is enough to help open up Zeke and our passing game.

 

[Haimerej]

If we use the same Offensive scheme this year then Dak is going to have to just take over like Romo was doing later in his career. That would either be a good thing or a disaster. Lol.

Funny thing is Tony's best season was with Linehan calling plays.

"On plays that Callahan would call that Romo would audible out of, Romo trusted Linehan more often than not. Most audibles were based on defensive alignments and changes, but overall, it was Romo finally finding a play caller he trusted."

 

[glimmerman]

Funny thing is Tony's best season was with Linehan calling plays.

"On plays that Callahan would call that Romo would audible out of, Romo trusted Linehan more often than not. Most audibles were based on defensive alignments and changes, but overall, it was Romo finally finding a play caller he trusted."

I think it may also come down to plain old experience. Linehan leaned on the run and we had the O-Line and murray to run the ball. But Romos experience of reading defenses allowed him to call really good audibles when needed. Dak needs that experience. And we need to shake up the playbook.

 

[TheCount]

So it’s not outdated, it’s just outdated?