Have the Cowboys eliminated their 'tells'?

[sbark]

Heck, they didn't even get rid of the "tells" on offense...

1st down, at least 1 te inline......Zeke
3rd and short....Zeke

Smash mouth spread never showed up

 

[Stash]

I think Marinelli and Richard will look over what took place in that game and all others through out the season and look to correct where is needed. Much of what I saw in the game was LB over pursuing and getting sealed off as the RB would cut back on them. I don't see the Cowboys making whole sale changes to a very good defense based on 1 game as if the 17 other games were meaningless.

Nobody's talking about "wholesale changes", just talking about not giving the other team a "copy of your playbook" and a blueprint of "90%" of what you will do.

 

[Doomsday101]

Great post Stash and very valid questions. In order to attempt to answer the question I first want to say in most sports (specifically football and basketball), when Coaches feel the need to use games or gimmicks or a lot of tricks, it is usually a personnel issue that is being hidden. Or the coaches are attempting to hide a deficiency.

The games that Dallas plays on the DL is used to mask the lack of ability the 3tech and 1tech have at beating their man one on one. Same applies to the DEs not named Lawrence. Games are used in order to trick their way into pressure and penetration IMHO.

The Coaches are fully aware of the tells BUT have a chance to rectify the situation by improving the talent at the DT position via free agency and premium draft picks. The DE position needs more talent as well due to the Gregory conundrum. Until that talent is added, the same games will need to be played. To their credit, only two teams were able to capitalize on the "tells". But, the two teams were playoff teams so hopefully the front office will not be satisfied with the results being 16 out of 18 teams being unable to exploit "tells".

We shall see when free agency and the draft are complete.

2 playoff teams did and 2 playoff teams in Seattle and philly failed.

 

[Doomsday101]

Nobody's talking about "wholesale changes", just talking about not giving the other team a "copy of your playbook" and a blueprint of "90%" of what you will do.

I don't think they did, Rams were entitled to say what they want, I know when Dallas has won games it looks as if defense knows exactly what is coming as if they were in the huddle but teams are not going to change up much of what they are and who they are. I saw the game and saw as our LB were being over aggressive and were being sealed off allowing a cut back lane in the process. Dallas did a poor job in the game and I give credit to the Rams. Hell I was the one warning not to sleep on CJ Anderson who I knew was capable of hurting the Cowboys and he did just that. As for what Rams players said I would have no doubt that Marinelli and Richard will look to see if there was anything to it or not.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

This is still a big question for me. Have the Cowboys identified and eliminated the tells that allowed the Rams to run all over them and eliminate them from the playoffs?

Do they know now what the Rams knew then?

Is this huge liability now eliminated from hurting the team again in 2019?

I've tried to search for something on this topic but all I've found is Jerry half-acknowledging the embarrassingly obvious and Garrett trying not to admit it at all.

No worries.......this guy is on it!!

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

The Cowboys "tells" are no different then any other teams. Every team has them and every team sees Defenses that set up a game plan to take advantage of them. The problem lies in our inability to change the scheme on the fly and adjust. If a Defense figures out how to stop an Offense, then that Defense is giving something up somewhere else. You have to be able find what that is and exploit it. That's the problem. It's not a magic bean thing where we change somethings small and prevent the opposition from knowing what we are going to do. That's not how it works. We just have to get better.

 

[xwalker]

lol absolutely not.

Jason Garrett does not care about this part of football and that is why all his coaches around him keep getting replaced.

Now they are hoping Kellen Moore can somehow work within the limitations Garrett puts on the team with his 1970's brand of football.

Offense
Based on interviews of Kellen Moore, the central focus of their offense in college was to mislead defenses on everything from run/pass, right/left, snap count, etc..

Moore is the all time leader for wins by a college QB despite having the arm of some middle school QBs. His success had to be largely dependent on intelligence and scheme.

Moore's record was 50-3. He had an insane TD/INT ratio of 142 TDs to 28 INTs. For comparison, Payton Manning was 89/33.

Defense
Most of the reports about the Cowboys "tells" were related to the Cowboys defense.

It's shocking that other teams didn't pick up on this earlier. I've noticed some of it myself from studying game footage in the past.

Kris Richard was in his 1st year with the team. While he did evolve to calling plays, he was not the DC and his focus was back 7. Most of the "tells" were on the DL.

I expect KR to become the DC this year. I don't know if they'll make it official, but one way or the other I expect him to be completely running the defense. I'm certain that he is well aware of the reports about their "tells" and will resolve it.

Even without the "tells", the Cowboys DL used too many stunts and the Rams took advantage of it. The extreme amount of stunting is Marinelli's calling card. He prefers stunts as an alternate to blitzing. With KR calling the plays from day 1 this year, I expect him to tone down the stunts.

There are limits to how much "tells" help the other team. If the Cowboys had Snacks Harrison at 1-tech, the Rams wouldn't be trapping him out of the play even if the Cowboys announced what they doing in the loudspeaker.

Larry Allen was known to announce that they were going to run the ball to his right or left and defenses still couldn't do anything about it.

The Cowboys nineties Super Bowl offenses were very predictable. The key for them was flawless execution combined with elite talent.

I'm more concerned about the Cowboys play execution than their "tells". Moore will he creative as the OC but that only works if the execution is great. Creative plays/play-calling makes consistent execution more difficult.

Luckily the now have Amari Cooper instead of all the years with Dez.

 

[Stash]

I don't think they did, Rams were entitled to say what they want, I know when Dallas has won games it looks as if defense knows exactly what is coming as if they were in the huddle but teams are not going to change up much of what they are and who they are. I saw the game and saw as our LB were being over aggressive and were being sealed off allowing a cut back lane in the process. Dallas did a poor job in the game and I give credit to the Rams. Hell I was the one warning not to sleep on CJ Anderson who I knew was capable of hurting the Cowboys and he did just that. As for what Rams players said I would have no doubt that Marinelli and Richard will look to see if there was anything to it or not.

The Rams players weren't talking just to talk, there's substance to what they said and the results back that up.

Good teams pick up on that stuff and gain every advantage that they can get. Mediocre teams line in and hope their players beat your players.

People want to "be like the Patriots"? Then be like the Patriots, do everything you can to gain any advantage that you can. Scout and self-scout relentlessly, and create a game plan based on each opponent, don't just line up and "do what you do".

Marinelli needs to worry about and fix this, if he can, not Richard. The "Rushmen" are Marinelli's responsibility, and the tells are his. We'll see if he can adapt or if he's reached his expiration date like his mentor Monte Kiffin did.

 

[Stash]

No worries.......this guy is on it!!

 

[Doomsday101]

The Rams players weren't talking just to talk, there's substance to what they said and the results back that up.

Good teams pick up on that stuff and gain every advantage that they can get. Mediocre teams line in and hope their players beat your players.

People want to "be like the Patriots"? Then be like the Patriots, do everything you can to gain any advantage that you can. Scout and self-scout relentlessly, and create a game plan based on each opponent, don't just line up and "do what you do".

Marinelli needs to worry about and fix this, if he can, not Richard. The "Rushmen" are Marinelli's responsibility, and the tells are his. We'll see if he can adapt or if he's reached his expiration date like his mentor Monte Kiffin did.

Let me say I'm not worried and do not feel they have 90% of our defensive playbook. I think had LB did a better job of not over pursuing those runs would not have killed us as they did. Rams played a very good game I give them credit and Dallas defense overall did not play very well. I also think this defense will be better this coming season. I look for both LVE to come in bigger and stronger after a full season in the weight room and think Jaylon will continue to rise as a player. I would love to see Woods get help in the rotation at DT and I look for Dallas to address needs on DL

 

[DenCWBY]

No worries.......this guy is on it!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome the new scapegoat of the DC. Please pickup your torches and pitch forks and bow before JJ as you leave his stadium.

 

[CATCH17]

Offense
Based on interviews of Kellen Moore, the central focus of their offense in college was to mislead defenses on everything from run/pass, right/left, snap count, etc..

Moore is the all time leader for wins by a college QB despite having the arm of some middle school QBs. His success had to be largely dependent on intelligence and scheme.

Moore's record was 50-3. He had an insane TD/INT ratio of 142 TDs to 28 INTs. For comparison, Payton Manning was 89/33.

Defense
Most of the reports about the Cowboys "tells" were related to the Cowboys defense.

It's shocking that other teams didn't pick up on this earlier. I've noticed some of it myself from studying game footage in the past.

Kris Richard was in his 1st year with the team. While he did evolve to calling plays, he was not the DC and his focus was back 7. Most of the "tells" were on the DL.

I expect KR to become the DC this year. I don't know if they'll make it official, but one way or the other I expect him to be completely running the defense. I'm certain that he is well aware of the reports about their "tells" and will resolve it.

Even without the "tells", the Cowboys DL used too many stunts and the Rams took advantage of it. The extreme amount of stunting is Marinelli's calling card. He prefers stunts as an alternate to blitzing. With KR calling the plays from day 1 this year, I expect him to tone down the stunts.

During the regular season it looks like a lot of teams roll out cookie cutter game plans every week and the coaches who don’t are the ones who don’t yo yo every year.

 

[Stash]

Let me say I'm not worried and do not feel they have 90% of our defensive playbook.

Defensive line, not "playbook". The Rams were very specific on what they knew "90% of the time". It was Marinelli's defensive line, not the playbook.

I think had LB did a better job of not over pursuing those runs would not have killed us as they did. Rams played a very good game I give them credit and Dallas defense overall did not play very well. I also think this defense will be better this coming season. I look for both LVE to come in bigger and stronger after a full season in the weight room and think Jaylon will continue to rise as a player. I would love to see Woods get help in the rotation at DT and I look for Dallas to address needs on DL

I also hope that the defensive line coach isn't putting all of his players at a huge disadvantage by telling the opponents what they're doing "90% of the time".

Players can be as great as possible, but when your coaching is telling your opponent what those players will be doing, we will continue to get what we got against the Rams, run over.

You try to play chess when your opponent knows every move you're going to make and let me know how it works out.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Let me say I'm not worried and do not feel they have 90% of our defensive playbook. I think had LB did a better job of not over pursuing those runs would not have killed us as they did. Rams played a very good game I give them credit and Dallas defense overall did not play very well. I also think this defense will be better this coming season. I look for both LVE to come in bigger and stronger after a full season in the weight room and think Jaylon will continue to rise as a player. I would love to see Woods get help in the rotation at DT and I look for Dallas to address needs on DL

I actually think the biggest flaw in our Defensive Scheme for the Rams was that we didn't use our DT's to simply anchor and play gap responsibility. Same with our DEs, we didn't use them to hold gap responsibility. We allowed our DL to freelance too much and it created huge gaps in our run defense. Our LBs didn't read and react, they over committed and ran into backside traps all day long. Was hard to watch because I know full well that all of these guys on the coaching staff have probably forgotten more about Defense then I ever knew but I could sit and watch what was going on and I just couldn't figure out how they could not see it and make adjustments.

Really frustrating to watch, I'll tell ya.

 

[Doomsday101]

Defensive line, not "playbook". The Rams were very specific on what they knew "90% of the time". It was Marinelli's defensive line, not the playbook.



I also hope that the defensive line coach isn't putting all of his players at a huge disadvantage by telling the opponents what they're doing "90% of the time".

Players can be as great as possible, but when your coaching is telling your opponent what those players will be doing, we will continue to get what we got against the Rams, run over.

You try to play chess when your opponent knows every move you're going to make and let me know how it works out.

I will let you worry I'm not. I know what I saw in the game and I don't think there is a reason for over reaction. Cowboys will continue to use stunts just as everyone else does, if they see something in how players hand position are then fine change it up but what I saw are things that are correctable and things they did not do in other games.

 

[Doomsday101]

I actually think the biggest flaw in our Defensive Scheme for the Rams was that we didn't use our DT's to simply anchor and play gap responsibility. Same with our DEs, we didn't use them to hold gap responsibility. We allowed our DL to freelance too much and it created huge gaps in our run defense. Our LBs didn't read and react, they over committed and ran into backside traps all day long. Was hard to watch because I know full well that all of these guys on the coaching staff have probably forgotten more about Defense then I ever knew but I could sit and watch what was going on and I just couldn't figure out how they could not see it and make adjustments.

Really frustrating to watch, I'll tell ya.

I agree it was frustrating as I saw time after time of getting sealed off and backside runs getting us. Anderson ate our lunch and that was something that concerned me a lot heading into that game. I give Rams credit and expected more from out defense who were very capable of playing better yet didn't

 

[Stash]

I will let you worry I'm not. I know what I saw in the game and I don't think there is a reason for over reaction.

You don't get to decide what's "overreaction". Conversely, you go right ahead and be OK with getting run over for nearly 300 yards by a team that was shut down and nearly shut out by actually good coaching.

Cowboys will continue to use stunts just as everyone else does, if they see something in how players hand position are then fine change it up but what I saw are things that are correctable and things they did not do in other games.

Thanks, but I'll trust what professionals from the Rams stated about the game vs a fan's opinion watching it on TV. You obviously have a really hard time admitting the obvious here.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I agree it was frustrating as I saw time after time of getting sealed off and backside runs getting us. Anderson ate our lunch and that was something that concerned me a lot heading into that game. I give Rams credit and expected more from out defense who were very capable of playing better yet didn't

It makes you wonder. I mean, I know full well that Pro Coaches know a crapton about the actual profession. I just don't get how they couldn't make an adjustment. That game was not a blowout. I feel like had we made a better adjustment at Half, we had a good chance to win that game. We only lost by 8 pts. I don't know if the players just couldn't execute adjustments or if they were mentally beaten in the 1st half or what but honestly, when either of those things happen, you usually see teams get beaten while trying to execute the change but I didn't see that much in that game. I saw us doing the same thing over and over and over.

 

[Doomsday101]

You don't get to decide what's "overreaction". Conversely, you go right ahead and be OK with getting run over for nearly 300 yards by a team that was shut down and nearly shut out by actually good coaching.



Thanks, but I'll trust what professionals from the Rams stated about the game vs a fan's opinion watching it on TV. You obviously have a really hard time admitting the obvious here.

Fine feel as you do, I am not worried that now the NFL knows what Dallas defense is going to do. Your right I can't control how anyone feels only myself and I am not concerned based on 1 game. I Never over react or have knee jerk reaction based on 1 game. How other perceive this is on them not me.

As for who you trust so anytime a former player says anything you buy into it? That is fine. Strange considering so many have different views and takes on the games

 

[Doomsday101]

It makes you wonder. I mean, I know full well that Pro Coaches know a crapton about the actual profession. I just don't get how they couldn't make an adjustment. That game was not a blowout. I feel like had we made a better adjustment at Half, we had a good chance to win that game. We only lost by 8 pts. I don't know if the players just couldn't execute adjustments or if they were mentally beaten in the 1st half or what but honestly, when either of those things happen, you usually see teams get beaten while trying to execute the change but I didn't see that much in that game. I saw us doing the same thing over and over and over.

I saw Richard getting on Jaylon and LVE on the sideline as if he knew what they were doing yet they continue to get themselves trapped.