How do Cowboys fix red zone problems?

Arkyvarminter said:

They were 26th last year in the red zone and were 7th in 2017. How much did the absence of Witten play into the red zone woe's last year? I never really considered Witten to be a red zone threat but that's just my opinion. What do you think Moore needs to do inside the 20 that they failed to do last year? Think about how many points you leave on the field when your ranked 26th in the red zone and how that determines wins and losses. I do know that they need to get Zeke involved more and by that I mean catching the ball and so forth.........

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It's already fixed. Kellen Moore. Linny was one of the worst red zone play callers I've ever seen. In 17, a great OL and RB bailed him out.

ghst187 said:

Agree.
Also, we repeatedly did NOT run the ball when we should have.
If we are inside the five there should be at least two Zeke carries every time period.

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Yes, and w/ KM we'll see more unpredictable runs, not just the same run every time where Zeke is met in the backfield by 6 players(Yes, that's an exaggeration to make a point) as soon as he gets the ball.

kskboys said:

Yes, and w/ KM we'll see more unpredictable runs, not just the same run every time where Zeke is met in the backfield by 6 players(Yes, that's an exaggeration to make a point) as soon as he gets the ball.

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Praying you are correct!
People figured out tecmo bowl years ago....

I feel like the Red Zone, where the field is short, and where actually knowing the defense you're playing as well as your own strengths + execution, is really where OCs show their quality.

It's one thing to have a terrible offense with marginal talent, it's another to have a pretty good offense with talented players and absolutely get destroyed in the red zone.

That was such a bad coaching job, I almost feel like Dak and this OL + Zeke, Cooper could go play backyard football and be more successful.

When Frederick is full strength that'll help. Better play at LG will help too. More aggressive and less broadcasting RZ rushing attempts, pass catcher experience + cohesion. Red zone is probably an emphasis this year after it was glaringly obvious how bad we were. I don't know about Moore, but it'd be pretty hard to be as bad as Linehan was even if he tried. He could probably accidentally be better.

Zeke having that many TDs in the RZ should be a crime.

It’s weird to me to see how much faith people are willing to put on Kellen Moore as OC—and I think he’ll end up a really good coach.

A healthy Frederick will go a long way. Beyond that, we didn’t really do that much to improve the red zone. If we’re luck, Cobb for Beasley is a push in RZ. Cooper doesn’t help much. Witten has never been a lethal RZ threat, so I don’t understand it when I see that written. I do think we can use scheme to free up Dak some more inside if Frederick coming back improves the run game down there. But that’s incremental improvement at best. I think we’ll be lucky to be mediocre in RZ this season, overall. Though I do think we’re going to score more from outside the RZ. Maybe quite a bit more.

Idgit said:

It’s weird to me to see how much faith people are willing to put on Kellen Moore as OC—and I think he’ll end up a really good coach.

A healthy Frederick will go a long way. Beyond that, we didn’t really do that much to improve the red zone. If we’re luck, Cobb for Beasley is a push in RZ. Cooper doesn’t help much. Witten has never been a lethal RZ threat, so I don’t understand it when I see that written. I do think we can use scheme to free up Dak some more inside if Frederick coming back improves the run game down there. But that’s incremental improvement at best. I think we’ll be lucky to be mediocre in RZ this season, overall. Though I do think we’re going to score more from outside the RZ. Maybe quite a bit more.

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I think the optimistic thing about the RZ is, you don't explicitly need a bunch of RZ weapons to be a top 10 Redzone team. We have the talent to be there.

The Cardinals (worst offense in the league), Bengals, Bears, Browns, and Seahawks were all top 10 in TDs per RZ drive. Panthers and Bucs also top 15. The Bills, yes Buffalo, was the team at #16. Couple good offenses here, mainly looking at the bad ones, but none of them are exactly world beaters.

The big # I'd have painted in blood in the Offense meetings + locker room is 29. We were 29th in both TDs per redzone drive and Points per Redzone drive. I'd be okay with being mediocre in the RZ if it came with top 10 in pts/drive. Mediocre would still be a big upgrade. Rams and NE were both mediocre in RZ surprisingly, but top 10 in pts/drive so that's okay. Mediocre in both though and we're probably not winning anything, which is a whole other bag of problems with coaching contracts.

The good thing is they should know this, and it's also probably the easiest thing to improve, with our personnel, that gives us a significant marginal improvement. We don't exactly need additional personnel, it'd be nice but we should have enough "talent". I think the biggest thing is probably just the amount of attention it should be getting, especially with JG in a contract year and Moore having things to prove. That 29th ranking is a blight, and could directly lead to lost jobs, and is embarrassing in general, so I have to imagine it's going to be a focus. The OL and additional stuff will really just be compounding on the emphasis, since it looks to be the path of least resistance in improving the offense. In my opinion anyway.

I'm not really sure where we end up, though. But, I was a little more optimistic after seeing some truly bad teams, and teams where I'd say we pretty objectively have more talent, in the top groups. Hopefully we figure it out.

JoeKing said:

With Witten back and KM at the OC helm, the red-zone problems fixes itself. Some of you think Dak can't throw in tight windows but this season you'll find out that he actually can.

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Why?

Idgit said:

It’s weird to me see to see how much faith people are willing to put on Kellen Moore as OC—and I think he’ll end up a really good coach.

A healthy Frederick will go a long way. Beyond that, we didn’t really do that much to improve the red zone. If we’re luck, Cobb for Beasley is a push in RZ. Cooper doesn’t help much. Witten has never been a lethal RZ threat, so I don’t understand it when I see that written. I do think we can use scheme to free up Dak some more inside if Frederick coming back improves the run game down there. But that’s incremental improvement at best. I think we’ll be lucky to be mediocre in RZ this season, overall. Though I do think we’re going to score more from outside the RZ. Maybe quite a bit more.

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Sum it up this way. . .the last escape goat for the deficiencies of Dak is Linehan and in their insistent denial of Dak having any deficiencies has caused them to be overtly optimistic. Because they can't wrap around their minds that Dak is to blame

Arkyvarminter said:

They were 26th last year in the red zone and were 7th in 2017. How much did the absence of Witten play into the red zone woe's last year? I never really considered Witten to be a red zone threat but that's just my opinion. What do you think Moore needs to do inside the 20 that they failed to do last year? Think about how many points you leave on the field when your ranked 26th in the red zone and how that determines wins and losses. I do know that they need to get Zeke involved more and by that I mean catching the ball and so forth.........

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Oline was the #1 problem. Scheme was #2.

Arkyvarminter said:

They were 26th last year in the red zone and were 7th in 2017. How much did the absence of Witten play into the red zone woe's last year? I never really considered Witten to be a red zone threat but that's just my opinion. What do you think Moore needs to do inside the 20 that they failed to do last year? Think about how many points you leave on the field when your ranked 26th in the red zone and how that determines wins and losses. I do know that they need to get Zeke involved more and by that I mean catching the ball and so forth.........

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Improve the OL and overall blocking.
- Frederick
- LG. CW bigger and more experienced.
- Not starting the season with OL coach Paul Alexander.
- Alexander caused La'el to regress.
- Rams made WRs an integral part of the blocking scheme.

Improve the Skill Positions.
- Cooper available from the beginning.
- Gallup with starting experience now.
- Pollard as offensive weapon (RB/WR/Gadget) gives new options.
- Cobb a bit more versatile at slot-WR than Beasley.

Improve the play calling.
- Kellen Moore over Linehan
- Linehan called slow developing pass plays in the RZ.
- Moore very focused on deception at Boise St.

Improve the play designs.
- Kellen Moore expected to be more creative.
- The Rams copied some things that Boise St. did when Moore was there.

Run the ball better in red zone.

Idgit said:

It’s weird to me to see how much faith people are willing to put on Kellen Moore as OC—and I think he’ll end up a really good coach.

A healthy Frederick will go a long way. Beyond that, we didn’t really do that much to improve the red zone. If we’re luck, Cobb for Beasley is a push in RZ. Cooper doesn’t help much. Witten has never been a lethal RZ threat, so I don’t understand it when I see that written. I do think we can use scheme to free up Dak some more inside if Frederick coming back improves the run game down there. But that’s incremental improvement at best. I think we’ll be lucky to be mediocre in RZ this season, overall. Though I do think we’re going to score more from outside the RZ. Maybe quite a bit more.

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Guess this is a test to see just how bad Linny really was, hey?

It's not faith in Moore so much as pure ecstasy that we finally changed out a terrible coach.

NotForLong said:

Sum it up this way. . .the last escape goat for the deficiencies of Dak is Linehan and in their insistent denial of Dak having any deficiencies has caused them to be overtly optimistic. Because they can't wrap around their minds that Dak is to blame

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There's like 3 people who believe Dak has no blame.

kskboys said:

Guess this is a test to see just how bad Linny really was, hey?

It's not faith in Moore so much as pure ecstasy that we finally changed out a terrible coach.

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I’ll be shocked if Moore outperforms Linehan’s 2016 offense. Even with, overall, better players.

Idgit said:

I’ll be shocked if Moore outperforms Linehan’s 2016 offense. Even with, overall, better players.

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Define outperforms. Linny's O's were known for putting up big numbers but failing at key times and getting stuffed when the chips were down.

I expect Moore's O to be based more on TOP and a varied style. It's possible no one will put up big numbers. An effective O is not about numbers.

kskboys said:

Define outperforms. Linny's O's were known for putting up big numbers but failing at key times and getting stuffed when the chips were down.

I expect Moore's O to be based more on TOP and a varied style. It's possible no one will put up big numbers. An effective O is not about numbers.

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Points/offensive possession. Though I don’t recognize what you’re describing as particular failures for that 2016 offense, either. Every offense has its challenges, it that 2016 team was pretty consistent throughout. It was the defense that let us down in the playoffs again.

Idgit said:

I’ll be shocked if Moore outperforms Linehan’s 2016 offense. Even with, overall, better players.

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I disagree that this offense is better on paper than 2016. I actually can't see one position we are stronger(not depth) outside of maybe WR1.


Leary >>>>> Cwill
Free > Collins
2016 Tyron > 2019 Tyron
2016 Zeke >> 2019 Zeke
2016 Fred > 2019 Fred
2016 Witten > 2019 Witten
2016 Beasley and Twill > 2019 Cobb and Gallup

If they stop playing for the field goal that should help out tons.

QuincyCarterEra said:

I disagree that this offense is better on paper than 2016. I actually can't see one position we are stronger(not depth) outside of maybe WR1.


Leary >>>>> Cwill
Free > Collins
2016 Tyron > 2019 Tyron
2016 Zeke >> 2019 Zeke
2016 Fred > 2019 Fred
2016 Witten > 2019 Witten
2016 Beasley and Twill > 2019 Cobb and Gallup

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We’ll see, then. Moore should be able to outperform Linehan pretty easily then, right?

NotForLong said:

Why?

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wait and see.