A few things I noticed after looking at the Tape

[MrMom]

I know we have all harped about Garrett not throwing enough slants and this game really proves that point. I think there were plays to be made against some of those blitzes had we had more slants and drags called.

It seems to me that Garrett has trouble scaling back his playcalling. We constantly see these receivers running these long chain routes/double moves. Besides Witten running his underneath stuff there's not a lot of options in the short passing game.

 

[Clove]

A poster here actually blamed TNew's effort on the play, but if you watch it, his momentum carried him away from Marshall, yet he still chased after him, only to have a collision with B. James downfield. The player with the best shot at Marshall was actually Hamlin, but he got shook out of his shoes when Marshall made a nasty cut.

That poster was MOI. And he did have a second chance but was bumped out of the way, then he just quit after that.

Why quit? You never know what can happen if you just keep pursuing the guy, don't just stop running.

 

[DandyDon1722]

I guess I would like to know why we can't confuse our schemes and coverage and blitz packages. Another question would be does a good offensive game plan that is well executed mitigate anything a defense might do?

I don't know...just askin'.

 

[CATCH17]

If we didn't do that with TO what makes you think RW will change that.

Im starting to think we won't ever.


I love Garretts formations but im not always thrilled about the routes that come out of those formations.

It seems to me that Garrett has trouble scaling back his playcalling. We constantly see these receivers running these long chain routes/double moves. Besides Witten running his underneath stuff there's not a lot of options in the short passing game.

It pains me to say this but it wouldn't hurt Garrett to implement some of the West Coast Offense philosiphies into this Offense.

 

[RS12]

How many drives did the O Line kill with idiotic penalties?

 

[Apollo Creed]

How many drives did the O Line kill with idiotic penalties?

As many as they've saved by blowing open massive holes.

They are the one unit this year that has played championship football. The RBs too, but its a chicken and egg kinda thing.

 

[CATCH17]

I guess I would like to know why we can't confuse our schemes and coverage and blitz packages. Another question would be does a good offensive game plan that is well executed mitigate anything a defense might do?

I don't know...just askin'.

The past couple of weeks our Defense has been pretty good. The plays that they have gave up they have been in a position to make a play outside of Carolinas TD drive last week.

Wade has done a nice job calling plays the last 2 weeks.

It's our players fault that we don't have a ton of turnovers this season because they have been put in a position to make a play all year.

Even in the Giants game we should've had a few turnovers.

 

[RS12]

As many as they've saved by blowing open massive holes.

They are the one unit this year that has played championship football. The RBs too, but its a chicken and egg kinda thing.

This is where we part company. Championship units do not make nearly the amount of mental mistakes this unit does.

 

[baj1dallas]

good analysis. The Boys have some pretty solid parts but Romo has to play better especially in the second half and some of these penalties have to stop. I think the defense will start making some of these plays, Spencer has had what two balls go right through his hands this season? I bet he hangs on to the next one.

 

[CATCH17]

good analysis. The Boys have some pretty solid parts but Romo has to play better especially in the second half and some of these penalties have to stop. I think the defense will start making some of these plays, Spencer has had what two balls go right through his hands this season? I bet he hangs on to the next one.

I think it is more like 4 or 5.

I know its more than 2.

He is playing some good ball but he just hasn't got the production yet.

This is a guy that the fans will be happy with down the road but right now they just need to show some patience. I know that is tough though.

 

[kmd24]

If you aren't a Jason Garrett fan than this is your week to let him have it.

I keep seeing people on Garrett's case this week, but I thought he did a better job in this one than in the Giants game and in the Panthers game. The Dallas OL wasn't able to execute as well as they in the earlier games.

I also think the WR's had a hard time getting open in the second half. Sure there were a couple of spots where Romo missed an open guy, but by and large, the wideouts didn't appear to be beating the coverage.

If the first three games are more indicative of the ability of the Dallas OL, Denver's run defense may be remarkably good this year. Remains to be seen, I guess.

 

[CATCH17]

I keep seeing people on Garrett's case this week, but I thought he did a better job in this one than in the Giants game and in the Panthers game. The Dallas OL wasn't able to execute as well as they in the earlier games.

I also think the WR's had a hard time getting open in the second half. Sure there were a couple of spots where Romo missed an open guy, but by and large, the wideouts didn't appear to be beating the coverage.

If the first three games are more indicative of the ability of the Dallas OL, Denver's run defense may be remarkably good this year. Remains to be seen, I guess.

Garrett was awful yesterday.

I thought he called a good game against the Giants though. We lost because of the Felix Fumble and Tony Turnover showing up.


The coaches took a lot of heat for the players mistakes against the Giants undersevingly imo.


Sunday against the Broncos though JG needs to be called out and Wade needs to be given a little credit as a D coordinator.

 

[21Savage]

I think it is more like 4 or 5.

I know its more than 2.

He is playing some good ball but he just hasn't got the production yet.

This is a guy that the fans will be happy with down the road but right now they just need to show some patience. I know that is tough though.

I couldn't agree with you more. Every game, I've seen him hit the QB (or be around the QB right before he throws) but he never quite gets there. I think he has to show some patience himself as well and not press things too much.

But like you said, he's playing some excellent ball out there and putting himself in great positions. He will come through soon.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Great thread, Catch. Much appreciated amidst all "Bench Romo" and "Make Joe D head coach" posts.

 

[kmd24]

Garrett was awful yesterday.

I thought he called a good game against the Giants though. We lost because of the Felix Fumble and Tony Turnover showing up.

Pray tell, what was the big difference in the play calling besides the huge holes that the OL opened against the Giants?

I mean, I read what you posted about the offense, and I see you calling out a lot of execution problems, but that's it.

 

[CATCH17]

Pray tell, what was the big difference in the play calling besides the huge holes that the OL opened against the Giants?

I mean, I read what you posted about the offense, and I see you calling out a lot of execution problems, but that's it.

It had everything to do with how the Broncos were attacking us.

We had to use our TE's and backs to block for most of the game.

Against the Giants we didn't have to sell out on protection.

Once our backs and TE's had to stay in and block Romo had no where to go with the ball except for downfield.

Romo had no quick options to get rid of the ball like he had in other games.




Also I can't remember every single detail of the Giants game since it was 2 weeks ago but obviously we would have won if not for the players turnovers.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

I'm pinning this one all on Romo again. He is holding the ball too long, simple as that. What got romo this starting job? Quick release. I don't know if its the play calling or just Romo, but either way the ball has gotta come out faster. I'm also totally fine with Romo getting out of the pocket and trying to make things happen. I'm not okay with him just standing in the pocket holding on to the ball. The other aspect is Romo just missing throws. He missed several open WR, threw balls high and nearly killed RW with one of them. Romo is having issues this season and needs to get his game back on track. I personally believe that its just him being to wound up with protecting the football. I'm not saying that he should just be a gun slinger and throw into double coverage, rather that he should let good ball management work its way into his style of play. He needs to loosen up and let some of his good football instinct take over again.

 

[Sasquatch]

Cowboys vs Broncos

This was a hard loss to take guys. If you aren't a Jason Garrett fan than this is your week to let him have it.



Offense

The Broncos did a great job of stopping the run and on passing downs they by far gave us the most confusing coverages we had seen all year.

On the play Romo fumbled the Broncos were rolling 3 DB's that were interchangeable safeties.

Bell went from being a Safety and then came back to be a Nickel Corner on the left side. The ball was snapped, Romo stared right the entire way, he looked for Crayton, then Williams, then Crayton, then decided to throw it to Williams.

By the time he decided to throw to Williams the play had taken to long to develop and the Blitzer hit Tony and he fumbled the ball.

Basically Romo never recoginized the coverage. It was 3rd and long and the only thing he had open was Martellus Bennett who was wide open because of the blitzing Corner. Had he thrown it to Bennett than it wouldn't have been a 1st but it wouldn't have been a turnover either.


The running game struggled the entire day because Dallas had trouble getting to the 2nd level and blocking Denvers speedy LB's.

Flo did an excellent job of doing this last week but he really struggled this week.

Denver also did a lot of things schematically to get pressure on the QB. They had guys coming we didn't account for.

Even when they didn't blitz though Flozell had trouble blocking his man.

Tough day for Flo.

In the 4th Quarter Bennetts holding call really hurt us on the Tashard Choice run. It was a ticky tacky call but there was a hold.

I was proud of the guys on the 4th down play on the last drive. Hurd had tremendous focus on that play and Tony did a fantastic job of getting out of the pocket and making a play.

Hurd also came back again on this drive and got a big first down for us.

So now we're at the end of the game when Romo throws to Hurd twice.

On the first throw to Hurd it seemed like it was pre-meditated and he never looked for anyone else. Had he looked he had Miles Austin breaking free on the backside of this play for a touch. It was a much simpler throw.


On the 2nd throw to Hurd, Miles Austin again beat his man but it would've been a tougher throw because Crayton was in the way.

Romo throws the ball and Champ Bailey makes a fantastic play. It really surprises me that they would go after him twice in a row.


Overall the Offense was terrible and it was the reason we lost the game. Give the Broncos some credit though. They are excellent defensively and well coached.

I felt like there were plays to be made over the middle of the field to counter their blitzing but we just never did anything to capitalize on it.



Defense

On the other hand Wade Phillips did an excellent job of putting our guys in a position to Succeed.

Denvers first Touchdown came off of a Tony Romo fumble after putting Anthony Spencer in a perfet position to make a play and the ball just went through him and into Morenos hands.

On the big 4th & inches stop Spears, and Ratliff had excellent penetration into the backfield. Bobby Carpenter did a great job getting in there too and caused the cutback. After the RB cutback Brookings was there to make the tackle and Jenkins helped clean up.

Give Bobby Carpenter a little love on this play.

It was also sad to see Anthony Spencers first sack be negated by a facemask penalty.

The Ratliff helmet to helmet helped put Denver in Field Goal range to put them @ 10. Really ticky tacky call.

On the Marshall Touchdown at the end of the game Newman had good Coverage but Marshall just went up and made a play. Newman didn't. It's really as simple as that.

If there was 1 giant positive in this game it was Mike Jenkins .

The deep ball he batted down was the best play i've seen a Cowboy DB make since the last deep ball he batted down against Philly in week 2 last year. What a play.

Spears also had a fantastic game for us. Heck of a day for him.

--------------------------

Overall after watching this game I think the Denver defense is for real.

Mike Nolan owned Jason Garrett and confused Romo all day with his disguised coverages.

I felt like the Cowboy Defense had a good game and they were hendered by the Offense in this one.

Well done. A welcome change from the normal fare.

 

[kmd24]

It had everything to do with how the Broncos were attacking us.

We had to use our TE's and backs to block for most of the game.

Against the Giants we didn't have to sell out on protection.

Once our backs and TE's had to stay in and block Romo had no where to go with the ball except for downfield.

Romo had no quick options to get rid of the ball like he had in other games.

That's exactly my point. We had to keep backs and TE's in because the line couldn't handle the rush. That's execution, not playcalling.

I'd also add that Romo clearly passed over underneath receivers on a couple of plays because of the down and distance. He appears unwilling to throw underneath on third and long. Again, execution, not playcalling.

We had some success moving the ball in the first half, but Denver's strategy of quick penetration led to several negative runs. We compounded that with penalties and sacks, and that put us in obvious passing situations with a line that couldn't keep the Broncos out of the backfield.

If we had been able to execute on the line, we'd have seen more third and short plays, and Denver would have been less able to dictate the action.

Also I can't remember every single detail of the Giants game since it was 2 weeks ago but obviously we would have won if not for the players turnovers.

Can't you say the same thing about this week? Romo's two turnovers certainly cost the Cowboys the game.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Sunday against the Broncos though JG needs to be called out and Wade needs to be given a little credit as a D coordinator.

Hmm. I give Wade credit for what he did. I just don't give him much. The Broncos offense is NOT good. They only score against poor defenses. (Browns and Raiders) The two decent defenses they have met, they won with lucky plays.