3rd and long

ConstantReboot

Well-Known Member
Messages
11,379
Reaction score
10,049
All preseason long I watch as receivers on 3rd and long are targeted running routes 2 or 3 yards shy of the 1st down, resulting in a punt of course. This also happens often in the regular season. What the heck, is this route in the playbook.

The huddle - "Ok guys, it is 3rd and 7. Everyone run 5 yards and turn around."

Those plays make me drink heavily.

Hello. Let me introduce you to the Garrett playbook. It won't matter if there is no pressure and the QB has an eternity to pass the ball. If its 3rd and 7 run a 6 yard route and be short of the 1st down.

Garrett hasn't a clue on how to win. He will sit on a small lead and be kind and gentle not to piss the other team off. Then he'll call conservative play after play - until eventually the other team catches up and wins.

Its the same story each and every game.

Welcome to Garrett's playbook and coaching style.
 

xwalker

Well-Known Member
Messages
57,162
Reaction score
64,684
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
All preseason long I watch as receivers on 3rd and long are targeted running routes 2 or 3 yards shy of the 1st down, resulting in a punt of course. This also happens often in the regular season. What the heck, is this route in the playbook.

The huddle - "Ok guys, it is 3rd and 7. Everyone run 5 yards and turn around."

Those plays make me drink heavily.

Defenses defend the sticks (1st down marker).

Receivers either go to the sticks where all the defenders reside or they catch it short and try to get yards after the catch.

Announcers for years have claimed the receiver must be past the sticks for the catch; however, there is no proof in terms of probability of success in those claims.

The probability of a completion is higher when short of the sticks than when past the sticks.

What if:
Short of the sticks by 2 yards: 8 of 10

At or past the sticks: 4 of 10

Now of the 8 (of 10) how many gain the 2 yards or more after the catch?

If 4 of 8 gain 2 or more yards the the odds are exactly the same (i.e. 4 of 10 are first downs either by catching it 2 yards short and gaining the two yards or by catching it at or past the sticks).

Unless you have the stats on both scenarios, then there is no proof one method is superior to the other.

Even Mike Irvin said he would often go to the sticks then come back and catch the ball short of the sticks. I think he was saying that he wanted to drive the defender back from the sticks such that when he caught it there would be some space to gain the yatd or two needed.

In the big picture of the entire offense they should do both. If all receivers always run to the sticks on 3rd down, then it makes it easier to defend. Defenses love predictibility by offenses.

Some receivers should go to the sticks, some short and some well past the sticks. A specific receiver like Beasley should have varied route depths on 3rd down throughout the game in terms of right at, short or well past the sticks.
 

Clove

Shrinkage
Messages
64,851
Reaction score
27,437
If it's 3rd and 9, have a couple of guys go 13-15 yards, have one guy going deep, and a couple right at the sticks. If you're afraid to allow your QB to freaking throw it, you need to get rid of said QB or resign.
 

lukin2006

Well-Known Member
Messages
11,968
Reaction score
19,293
All preseason long I watch as receivers on 3rd and long are targeted running routes 2 or 3 yards shy of the 1st down, resulting in a punt of course. This also happens often in the regular season. What the heck, is this route in the playbook.

The huddle - "Ok guys, it is 3rd and 7. Everyone run 5 yards and turn around."

Those plays make me drink heavily.

:lmao:
 

OmerV

Well-Known Member
Messages
26,076
Reaction score
22,593
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
It’s the increase passer rating and total yardage stat play. We have been doing it for many years.

Increasing total yardage stats would require getting first downs so they can throw more passes. Maybe we should pass this info along to Linnehan.
 

northerncowboynation

Well-Known Member
Messages
7,925
Reaction score
6,303
All preseason long I watch as receivers on 3rd and long are targeted running routes 2 or 3 yards shy of the 1st down, resulting in a punt of course. This also happens often in the regular season. What the heck, is this route in the playbook.

The huddle - "Ok guys, it is 3rd and 7. Everyone run 5 yards and turn around."

Those plays make me drink heavily.

Of course it's in the play book. We don't want to run up the score do we. JG is a gentleman coach. When he claps he's clapping for the other team too don't ya know ;)
 

Nightman

Capologist
Messages
27,121
Reaction score
24,038
Defenses defend the sticks (1st down marker).

Receivers either go to the sticks where all the defenders reside or they catch it short and try to get yards after the catch.

Announcers for years have claimed the receiver must be past the sticks for the catch; however, there is no proof in terms of probability of success in those claims.

The probability of a completion is higher when short of the sticks than when past the sticks.

What if:
Short of the sticks by 2 yards: 8 of 10

At or past the sticks: 4 of 10

Now of the 8 (of 10) how many gain the 2 yards or more after the catch?

If 4 of 8 gain 2 or more yards the the odds are exactly the same (i.e. 4 of 10 are first downs either by catching it 2 yards short and gaining the two yards or by catching it at or past the sticks).

Unless you have the stats on both scenarios, then there is no proof one method is superior to the other.

Even Mike Irvin said he would often go to the sticks then come back and catch the ball short of the sticks. I think he was saying that he wanted to drive the defender back from the sticks such that when he caught it there would be some space to gain the yatd or two needed.

In the big picture of the entire offense they should do both. If all receivers always run to the sticks on 3rd down, then it makes it easier to defend. Defenses love predictibility by offenses.

Some receivers should go to the sticks, some short and some well past the sticks. A specific receiver like Beasley should have varied route depths on 3rd down throughout the game in terms of right at, short or well past the sticks.
It is common sense and we have seen it for years..... Witten was great at getting 1st downs on 3rd and 5 or less........ he was very bad at getting 1sts on 3r and 8 or more

The game is rigged to help the passing team...... you need to put pressure on the D to cover deep and create mismatches down the field...... we are terrible at this
 

Aviano90

Go Seahawks!!!
Messages
16,758
Reaction score
24,485
Increasing total yardage stats would require getting first downs so they can throw more passes. Maybe we should pass this info along to Linnehan.
But the 7 yards on 3rd and 8 is > than 0 yards with an incomplete pass downfield, correct?
 

SoupcanSam

Well-Known Member
Messages
5,126
Reaction score
7,271
All preseason long I watch as receivers on 3rd and long are targeted running routes 2 or 3 yards shy of the 1st down, resulting in a punt of course. This also happens often in the regular season. What the heck, is this route in the playbook.

The huddle - "Ok guys, it is 3rd and 7. Everyone run 5 yards and turn around."

Those plays make me drink heavily.

This cant be news to you
 

PAPPYDOG

There are no Dak haters just Cowboy lovers!!!
Messages
19,672
Reaction score
33,859
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
All preseason long I watch as receivers on 3rd and long are targeted running routes 2 or 3 yards shy of the 1st down, resulting in a punt of course. This also happens often in the regular season. What the heck, is this route in the playbook.

The huddle - "Ok guys, it is 3rd and 7. Everyone run 5 yards and turn around."

Those plays make me drink heavily.

Ask Dak (Mr. Checkdown) why this is so......................:eek:


 
Last edited:

PhillyCowboysFan

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,062
Reaction score
4,968
Hello. Let me introduce you to the Garrett playbook. It won't matter if there is no pressure and the QB has an eternity to pass the ball. If its 3rd and 7 run a 6 yard route and be short of the 1st down.

Garrett hasn't a clue on how to win. He will sit on a small lead and be kind and gentle not to piss the other team off. Then he'll call conservative play after play - until eventually the other team catches up and wins.

Its the same story each and every game.

Welcome to Garrett's playbook and coaching style.

You do know it’s not just Garrett right?

https://fivethirtyeight.com/feature...eaning-on-the-short-pass-and-its-not-working/
 
Top