A closer look at our offensive skill positions

[CowboyChris]

Everybody is an agreement that Dak didn't have a great last year, I'm a big fan of Dak and I'm not making any excuses for his play last year, but let's take a closer look at what he has to work with.

Dez - not known to be a great route runner, pretty much a 2 or 3 route guy, mainly imo a jump ball receiver

TWill - a decent all around WR, but not really great at anything in particular, pretty much a WR that is single covered the majority of the time. 0 TD's last year

Beasley - a quick slot WR, who saw a lot of double teams last year compared to the previous year where he excelled in one on one situations.

Witten - basically a short yardage TE, that finds holes in zones. who also saw some double team last year.

Zeke - an all-world RB who wound up serving a 6 game suspension and had a black cloud over him all last year with the legal mess. Who is our best offensive playmaker going into year 3.

As you can see WR's and TE's are far from elite, and you add the predictability of this offense coupled with the injuries to the OL and a QB in his sophomore year, you get mediocre results.

I still think we need to shore up the OL ie OG, and we have been told the offensive play calling will change to be more unpredictable and using more RPO, you add all that and some more talented WR's to be added to the roster and we might be in a better position this year offensively....Rip away

 

[Fletch]

Everybody is an agreement that Dak didn't have a great last year, I'm a big fan of Dak and I'm not making any excuses for his play last year, but let's take a closer look at what he has to work with.

Dez - not known to be a great route runner, pretty much a 2 or 3 route guy, mainly imo a jump ball receiver

TWill - a decent all around WR, but not really great at anything in particular, pretty much a WR that is single covered the majority of the time. 0 TD's last year

Beasley - a quick slot WR, who saw a lot of double teams last year compared to the previous year where he excelled in one on one situations.

Witten - basically a short yardage TE, that finds holes in zones. who also saw some double team last year.

Zeke - an all-world RB who wound up serving a 6 game suspension and had a black cloud over him all last year with the legal mess. Who is our best offensive playmaker going into year 3.

As you can see WR's and TE's are far from elite, and you add the predictability of this offense coupled with the injuries to the OL and a QB in his sophomore year, you get mediocre results.

I still think we need to shore up the OL ie OG, and we have been told the offensive play calling will change to be more unpredictable and using more RPO, you add all that and some more talented WR's to be added to the roster and we might be in a better position this year offensively....Rip away

Spot on.

 

[rags747]

Yep, this offense needs some serious octane.

 

[Idgit]

Protect the QB, improve the defense. Our offense was one of the most productive in the entire league through 8 weeks last year. It didn't get old and slow at once. The quality of the QB play plummeted when we couldn't protect him properly.

Meanwhile, the defense still lacks talent.

 

[ShiningStar]

first the coaches need to commit to the run. why have the best rb in the league and not utilize him correctly? I hate hate hate hate that Garrett gives up on the run, either commit or let Zeke go a team that will use him.

This organization has been offense and defense resistent under Garrett, that has got to change.

 

[northerncowboynation]

Everybody is an agreement that Dak didn't have a great last year, I'm a big fan of Dak and I'm not making any excuses for his play last year, but let's take a closer look at what he has to work with.

Dez - not known to be a great route runner, pretty much a 2 or 3 route guy, mainly imo a jump ball receiver

TWill - a decent all around WR, but not really great at anything in particular, pretty much a WR that is single covered the majority of the time. 0 TD's last year

Beasley - a quick slot WR, who saw a lot of double teams last year compared to the previous year where he excelled in one on one situations.

Witten - basically a short yardage TE, that finds holes in zones. who also saw some double team last year.

Zeke - an all-world RB who wound up serving a 6 game suspension and had a black cloud over him all last year with the legal mess. Who is our best offensive playmaker going into year 3.

As you can see WR's and TE's are far from elite, and you add the predictability of this offense coupled with the injuries to the OL and a QB in his sophomore year, you get mediocre results.

I still think we need to shore up the OL ie OG, and we have been told the offensive play calling will change to be more unpredictable and using more RPO, you add all that and some more talented WR's to be added to the roster and we might be in a better position this year offensively....Rip away

Dak has a new toy to play with in Hurns. Let's add another WR in the draft. Possibly even a TE. And you forgot Switzer. Want to see what this kid can do. For me Beasley is expendable.

Not sure which way we go with the O-line but if Collins moves to LG and Flemming plays RT, we need a swing tackle in a BIG way. Chaz is as leaky as a screen door in a submarine. If we keep Collins at RT then Marcus Martin will get a shot at LG and we should draft another.

None take precedence over LB'er or DT

 

[northerncowboynation]

first the coaches need to commit to the run. why have the best rb in the league and not utilize him correctly? I hate hate hate hate that Garrett gives up on the run, either commit or let Zeke go a team that will use him.

This organization has been offense and defense resistent under Garrett, that has got to change.

Why do you say Garrett gives up on the run? Honestly, doesn't Linnehan call the plays from the sidelines? If he doesn't why the heck do we have an offensive coordinator. The very title suggests coordinating the offense

 

[conner01]

Everybody is an agreement that Dak didn't have a great last year, I'm a big fan of Dak and I'm not making any excuses for his play last year, but let's take a closer look at what he has to work with.

Dez - not known to be a great route runner, pretty much a 2 or 3 route guy, mainly imo a jump ball receiver

TWill - a decent all around WR, but not really great at anything in particular, pretty much a WR that is single covered the majority of the time. 0 TD's last year

Beasley - a quick slot WR, who saw a lot of double teams last year compared to the previous year where he excelled in one on one situations.

Witten - basically a short yardage TE, that finds holes in zones. who also saw some double team last year.

Zeke - an all-world RB who wound up serving a 6 game suspension and had a black cloud over him all last year with the legal mess. Who is our best offensive playmaker going into year 3.

As you can see WR's and TE's are far from elite, and you add the predictability of this offense coupled with the injuries to the OL and a QB in his sophomore year, you get mediocre results.

I still think we need to shore up the OL ie OG, and we have been told the offensive play calling will change to be more unpredictable and using more RPO, you add all that and some more talented WR's to be added to the roster and we might be in a better position this year offensively....Rip away

I don’t think they are going into the season with the new Martin at guard
I think one of the top 3 picks will be a guard
That’s why I don’t want dez gone this year because then 2 or the top 3 will be offense

 

[conner01]

Dak has a new toy to play with in Hurns. Let's add another WR in the draft. Possibly even a TE. And you forgot Switzer. Want to see what this kid can do. For me Beasley is expendable.

Not sure which way we go with the O-line but if Collins moves to LG and Flemming plays RT, we need a swing tackle in a BIG way. Chaz is as leaky as a screen door in a submarine. If we keep Collins at RT then Marcus Martin will get a shot at LG and we should draft another.

None take precedence over LB'er or DT

I’d be shopping Beasley around right now
Pkg him with a couple of lower picks and try to add another top 3 pick, hopefully a second

 

[northerncowboynation]

I don’t think they are going into the season with the new Martin at guard
I think one of the top 3 picks will be a guard
That’s why I don’t want dez gone this year because then 2 or the top 3 will be offense

We have no idea what the mind set is yet. Lots of talk about Collins going back to LG. Flemming will probably be given a shot at RT if that happens. Then the need is a swing T not a G. Collins will be the LG, Martin will be the back up and Looney the G/C. It all depends on the thoughts about Collins. We'll know that the way the draft shakes out. If we go T then Collins is going back to LG. At one point I saw Hernandez as a possible pick at 19. Not now

Right now we have Zach, La'ell, Marcus Martin and Looney as G's. We have Tyron, La'ell, Flemming and Chaz as T's. Obviously Collins can't play both. The decision on where he plays, LG or RT, will determine the O-line position we draft

 

[ShiningStar]

Why do you say Garrett gives up on the run? Honestly, doesn't Linnehan call the plays from the sidelines? If he doesn't why the heck do we have an offensive coordinator. The very title suggests coordinating the offense

because Garrett was giving up on the run before Linehan got here. So no, i dont have faith Linehan can do with the offense as he sees fit. and if that is the case hes as bad as Garrett and they BOTH give up on the run.

 

[conner01]

We have no idea what the mind set is yet. Lots of talk about Collins going back to LG. Flemming will probably be given a shot at RT if that happens. Then the need is a swing T not a G. Collins will be the LG, Martin will be the back up and Looney the G/C. It all depends on the thoughts about Collins. We'll know that the way the draft shakes out. If we go T then Collins is going back to LG. At one point I saw Hernandez as a possible pick at 19. Not now

To me you change as little as possible
Collins is getting tackle money so I leave him at tackle
I draft a guard in the top 3 and I replace him in 4 years with another cheap guy
Tackles always cost a ton and we have expensive center and other guard
One oline guy needs to always be on a rookie contract

 

[northerncowboynation]

because Garrett was giving up on the run before Linehan got here. So no, i dont have faith Linehan can do with the offense as he sees fit. and if that is the case hes as bad as Garrett and they BOTH give up on the run.

Ok, Linnehan became the defacto OC in 2013 when he took over play calling for JG. He had both Demarco and Zeke as RB's between 2013 and 2017. Who were the RB's from 2010 to 2013? Do you remember that home run hitter Felix jones and how bad the O-line was in 2010, 2011 and 2012 ( when we saw the light and drafted Tyron). Yep you could blame those lean years on Garrett or you could hope he get's fired with the possibility of Linnehan takin over as HC. Personally I'll take the lesser of two evils, Garrett

 

[northerncowboynation]

To me you change as little as possible
Collins is getting tackle money so I leave him at tackle
I draft a guard in the top 3 and I replace him in 4 years with another cheap guy
Tackles always cost a ton and we have expensive center and other guard
One oline guy needs to always be on a rookie contract

Collins is a better G than a T. Not saying he won't become a good T but he's a mauler at G. I would have kept him there last year. That was the mistake we made. Any way, neither you nor I will fix it. We'll know in 3 weeks

 

[ShiningStar]

Ok, Linnehan became the defacto OC in 2013 when he took over play calling for JG. He had both Demarco and Zeke as RB's between 2013 and 2017. Who were the RB's from 2010 to 2013? Do you remember that home run hitter Felix jones and how bad the O-line was in 2010, 2011 and 2012 ( when we saw the light and drafted Tyron). Yep you could blame those lean years on Garrett or you could hope he get's fired with the possibility of Linnehan takin over as HC. Personally I'll take the lesser of two evils, Garrett

Garret has proven you can have a Pro Bowler QB, RB, WR and TE and still fail to make some noise. So, I have no fear Linehan getting the job or taking over to begin with. and yes, Garrett as OC was not impressive, and as HC and OC creativity, has failed.

 

[PhillySpecial]

Everybody is an agreement that Dak didn't have a great last year, I'm a big fan of Dak and I'm not making any excuses for his play last year, but let's take a closer look at what he has to work with.

Dez - not known to be a great route runner, pretty much a 2 or 3 route guy, mainly imo a jump ball receiver

TWill - a decent all around WR, but not really great at anything in particular, pretty much a WR that is single covered the majority of the time. 0 TD's last year

Beasley - a quick slot WR, who saw a lot of double teams last year compared to the previous year where he excelled in one on one situations.

Witten - basically a short yardage TE, that finds holes in zones. who also saw some double team last year.

Zeke - an all-world RB who wound up serving a 6 game suspension and had a black cloud over him all last year with the legal mess. Who is our best offensive playmaker going into year 3.

As you can see WR's and TE's are far from elite, and you add the predictability of this offense coupled with the injuries to the OL and a QB in his sophomore year, you get mediocre results.

I still think we need to shore up the OL ie OG, and we have been told the offensive play calling will change to be more unpredictable and using more RPO, you add all that and some more talented WR's to be added to the roster and we might be in a better position this year offensively....Rip away

Point To Ponder:

Cowboys are heavily O-Line dependent. O-Line makes it possible to win the TOP battle with the run game and short passing game. When the O-Line develops a chink in the armor, the whole team falters.

Dallas' offensive success seems reliant on the play action. The best way to make play action less effective is to limit 1st down yardage and make 3rd down 3 yards or more. Dallas almost always runs on 1st down, making it easier to limit 1st down yardage. 3rd down and 3+ yards to go, means the LBs can play a yard or 2 farther away from the LOS, and they can wait a tick longer to diagnose whether or not the ball was handed off or kept by the QB. They don't have to immediately react to the action of the QB handing off. LBs playing a yard or 2 farther off the LOS also allows them to clog the middle of the field making the short passing game more difficult to execute. The defense only needs that extra tick to force the QB to hold onto the ball just long enough to allow for pressure and/or for him to have to look farther down the field. Force him into throws he's not comfortable making.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Everybody is an agreement that Dak didn't have a great last year, I'm a big fan of Dak and I'm not making any excuses for his play last year, but let's take a closer look at what he has to work with.

Dez - not known to be a great route runner, pretty much a 2 or 3 route guy, mainly imo a jump ball receiver

TWill - a decent all around WR, but not really great at anything in particular, pretty much a WR that is single covered the majority of the time. 0 TD's last year

Beasley - a quick slot WR, who saw a lot of double teams last year compared to the previous year where he excelled in one on one situations.

Witten - basically a short yardage TE, that finds holes in zones. who also saw some double team last year.

Zeke - an all-world RB who wound up serving a 6 game suspension and had a black cloud over him all last year with the legal mess. Who is our best offensive playmaker going into year 3.

As you can see WR's and TE's are far from elite, and you add the predictability of this offense coupled with the injuries to the OL and a QB in his sophomore year, you get mediocre results.

I still think we need to shore up the OL ie OG, and we have been told the offensive play calling will change to be more unpredictable and using more RPO, you add all that and some more talented WR's to be added to the roster and we might be in a better position this year offensively....Rip away

Everybody isn't in agreement that Dak has a bad year. The first half of the season he was on fire. 3 straight games with 3 passing TDs. Second half he had some bad games, sure but he was pretty decent the first half of the season

 

[CowboyChris]

Everybody isn't in agreement that Dak has a bad year. The first half of the season he was on fire. 3 straight games with 3 passing TDs. Second half he had some bad games, sure but he was pretty decent the first half of the season

Be that as it may....my focus was primarily on our skill players....someone recently dubbed us as a half court offense.

 

[PUSHfold]

Point To Ponder:

Cowboys are heavily O-Line dependent. O-Line makes it possible to win the TOP battle with the run game and short passing game. When the O-Line develops a chink in the armor, the whole team falters.

Dallas' offensive success seems reliant on the play action. The best way to make play action less effective is to limit 1st down yardage and make 3rd down 3 yards or more. Dallas almost always runs on 1st down, making it easier to limit 1st down yardage. 3rd down and 3+ yards to go, means the LBs can play a yard or 2 farther away from the LOS, and they can wait a tick longer to diagnose whether or not the ball was handed off or kept by the QB. They don't have to immediately react to the action of the QB handing off. LBs playing a yard or 2 farther off the LOS also allows them to clog the middle of the field making the short passing game more difficult to execute. The defense only needs that extra tick to force the QB to hold onto the ball just long enough to allow for pressure and/or for him to have to look farther down the field. Force him into throws he's not comfortable making.

Completely agree with this and it's why I don't mind #19 being used on Wynn or Hernandez...I want our O-line to be ALL WORLD and the best in history. Last year our o-line let us down and look how the season went and Dak ended up playing as a DIRECT result of poor o-line play...while Dak is developing I am all for spending as much as necessary on the O-line. After he's learned the nuances of the game and is able to carry the team more maybe he won't need that but I don't see anything wrong with it until then. QBs need time to develop like many other positions.

 

[Rayman70]

Completely agree with this and it's why I don't mind #19 being used on Wynn or Hernandez...I want our O-line to be ALL WORLD and the best in history. Last year our o-line let us down and look how the season went and Dak ended up playing as a DIRECT result of poor o-line play...while Dak is developing I am all for spending as much as necessary on the O-line. After he's learned the nuances of the game and is able to carry the team more maybe he won't need that but I don't see anything wrong with it until then. QBs need time to develop like many other positions.

Will Hernandez is a stud and steal at 19.