A Gut-Wrenching Look at the 2 Minutes Before Halftime. Entire Season Breakdown

[Clove]

Did we run the ball enough this season in games? No. Did it really matter? No. We were 1 INT away from possibly making the playoffs. Let it go already.

This is the thing people keep forgetting. What matters more than anything is when you have an opportunity, what do you do with it? Almost every year we've had chances to get to the playoffs, and it's come down to stupidity in certain positions.

 

[theebs]

Bob Thomas tweeted last week that Dallas was in 3rd and 2 18 times during the season and that Murray run last week was the first running play called.

Gulp.

And we are bringing back these people to be in charge again.

 

[percyhoward]

Bob Thomas tweeted last week that Dallas was in 3rd and 2 18 times during the season and that Murray run last week was the first running play called.

3rd and 2:
1 run, 1 first down (100%)
15 passes, 7 first downs (47%)

3rd and 1:
11 runs, 8 first downs (73%)
4 passes, 2 first downs (50%)

3rd and 3
2 runs, 0 first downs (0%)
9 passes, 6 first downs (67%)

 

[AdamJT13]

Right. And we ****ed at the last drive before the half in 2013, hence a -31 point differential. You really should try to read and understand what's going on before you mouth off.

Our offense tied for the league lead in touchdowns scored on drives started in the last two minutes of the first half. Unfortunately, our defense led the league in TDs allowed on those types of drives -- and tied for the lead in both fewest turnovers forced and punts forced on them.

 

[SWG9]

Our offense tied for the league lead in touchdowns scored on drives started in the last two minutes of the first half. Unfortunately, our defense led the league in TDs allowed on those types of drives -- and tied for the lead in both fewest turnovers forced and punts forced on them.

You're being pretty disingenuous here. The argument isn't about what side of the 2 minute warning Dallas started its drive on, it's about how these situations were handled tactically. As we can see from the OP's chart, 3 of the last 7 games of the season -- including, most critically, the NFC East deciding game-- were handled poorly.

 

[Kevinicus]

Nope but Romo's against GB could be...

You realize if the Cowboys beat GB they'd still be out of the playoffs, right?

 

[durrrr]

It was a lot of effort, but there is no context. There is nothing about what is a typical run/pass breakdown in the final 2 minutes of the half, only the poster's personal opinion about what is "good" or "bad."

The poster might be surprised to find out that our opponents were even more pass-happy than we were in the final 2 minutes of the first half this season, for example. Or that other offenses were as well. Or that our opponents also "ran the ball only 1 single time between the 20's when they were attempting a drive" -- and that came at our 22-yard line with 1:54 left in the half.

Vintage was right. In the last two minutes of the half, teams pass the ball a lot more, which is basically all that the original post shows.

This.

 

[AdamJT13]

You're being pretty disingenuous here. The argument isn't about what side of the 2 minute warning Dallas started its drive on, it's about how these situations were handled tactically. As we can see from the OP's chart, 3 of the last 7 games of the season -- including, most critically, the NFC East deciding game-- were handled poorly.

Your post was not about strategy, it was about how well we performed on those drives. Those are two entirely different things. Our results on offense in the two-minute offense were very good. Our results on defense were terrible.

We gave the Saints the ball at their own 25 with 53 seconds left before halftime. In the past 15 seasons, there were 86 other drives when a team got the ball at its own 25 with less than 1 minute remaining before halftime. NONE of them resulted in a touchdown. Our defense allowed a touchdown.

We gave the Bears the ball at their own 40 with 47 seconds left before halftime. In the past 15 seasons, there were 69 other drives when a team got the ball at its own 40 with less than 50 seconds remaining before halftime. NONE of them resulted in a touchdown. Our defense allowed a touchdown.

Against the Bears, we had the ball at our 39 with 1:27 remaining. Against the Eagles, we had the ball at our 47 with 2 minutes remaining. If the "proper strategy" is to NOT try to score from near midfield with plenty of time left on the clock because if you happen to give the opponent the ball with any time left, they could drive 60 or 75 yards for a touchdown even though teams should have about a 1 percent chance of doing that, then your main concern should not be your offensive strategy, it should be why your crummy defense is so bad.

There are plenty of things to criticize about Garrett's strategy, but trying to score from near midfield when you're behind is not one of them.

 

[durrrr]

Your post was not about strategy, it was about how well we performed on those drives. Those are two entirely different things. Our results on offense in the two-minute offense were very good. Our results on defense were terrible.

We gave the Saints the ball at their own 25 with 53 seconds left before halftime. In the past 15 seasons, there were 86 other drives when a team got the ball at its own 25 with less than 1 minute remaining before halftime. NONE of them resulted in a touchdown. Our defense allowed a touchdown.

We gave the Bears the ball at their own 40 with 47 seconds left before halftime. In the past 15 seasons, there were 69 other drives when a team got the ball at its own 40 with less than 50 seconds remaining before halftime. NONE of them resulted in a touchdown. Our defense allowed a touchdown.

Against the Bears, we had the ball at our 39 with 1:27 remaining. Against the Eagles, we had the ball at our 47 with 2 minutes remaining. If the "proper strategy" is to NOT try to score from near midfield with plenty of time left on the clock because if you happen to give the opponent the ball with any time left, they could drive 60 or 75 yards for a touchdown even though teams should have about a 1 percent chance of doing that, then your main concern should not be your offensive strategy, it should be why your crummy defense is so bad.

There are plenty of things to criticize about Garrett's strategy, but trying to score from near midfield when you're behind is not one of them.

 

[SWG9]

Your post was not about strategy, it was about how well we performed on those drives. Those are two entirely different things. Our results on offense in the two-minute offense were very good. Our results on defense were terrible.

We gave the Saints the ball at their own 25 with 53 seconds left before halftime. In the past 15 seasons, there were 86 other drives when a team got the ball at its own 25 with less than 1 minute remaining before halftime. NONE of them resulted in a touchdown. Our defense allowed a touchdown.

We gave the Bears the ball at their own 40 with 47 seconds left before halftime. In the past 15 seasons, there were 69 other drives when a team got the ball at its own 40 with less than 50 seconds remaining before halftime. NONE of them resulted in a touchdown. Our defense allowed a touchdown.

Against the Bears, we had the ball at our 39 with 1:27 remaining. Against the Eagles, we had the ball at our 47 with 2 minutes remaining. If the "proper strategy" is to NOT try to score from near midfield with plenty of time left on the clock because if you happen to give the opponent the ball with any time left, they could drive 60 or 75 yards for a touchdown even though teams should have about a 1 percent chance of doing that, then your main concern should not be your offensive strategy, it should be why your crummy defense is so bad.

There are plenty of things to criticize about Garrett's strategy, but trying to score from near midfield when you're behind is not one of them.

No, I really didn't. That's a really silly argument based on semantics. Whether or not the drive started at 2:35, 2:05, or 1:55 is really immaterial to the point, which you of course recognize. I really have no idea why you would even bring that up. The thread evolved into a broader discussion of game management, an area where Garrett has struggled repeatedly, hence my bringing up the -31 point differential.

I'm going to ride one more time and then let this thread die. Let's review:

1. Dallas Cowboys at 01:32
2. 6-T.Morstead kicks 65 yards from NO 35 to end zone, Touchback.
3. 1-10-DAL 20 (1:32) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short right to 82-J.Witten to DAL 28 for 8 yards (50-C.Lofton). Pass 8, YAC 0
4. 2-2-DAL 28 (1:09) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass incomplete short middle to 83-T.Williams (24-C.White).
5. 3-2-DAL 28 (1:04) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass incomplete short middle to 11-C.Beasley (24-C.White).
6. 4-2-DAL 28 (1:01) 6-C.Jones punts 47 yards to NO 25, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, fair catch by 43-D.Sproles.

1. New Orleans Saints at 00:53

1. 1-10-NO 25 53) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 80-J.Graham to NO 31 for 6 yards (32-O.Scandrick). Pass 3, YAC 3
2. 2-4-NO 31 35) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 43-D.Sproles to NO 42 for 11 yards (42-B.Church) [99-G.Selvie]. Pass 7, YAC 4
3. Timeout #1 by NO at 00:30.
4. 1-10-NO 42 30) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 43-D.Sproles ran ob at DAL 47 for 11 yards (42-B.Church). Pass 5, YAC 6
5. 1-10-DAL 47 25) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 12-M.Colston to DAL 28 for 19 yards (31-M.Pellerin).
6. Timeout #2 by NO at 00:19.
7. 1-10-DAL 28 19) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass incomplete deep middle to 16-L.Moore (52-J.Durant).
8. 2-10-DAL 28 13) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 43-D.Sproles for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass -6, YAC 34WATCH HIGHLIGHT
9. 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.

1. DAL 10 NO 28 Plays: 6 Possession: 0:48

Cowboys were to receive the second half kickoff. This one seems fairly easy. Try to put points on the board but definitely, at all costs, do not give the ball back to the Saints with time. 3 passes, Saints get the ball with time, score a TD. Essentially that ended the game.

9-R.Gould kicks 60 yards from CHI 35 to DAL 5. 17-D.Harris to DAL 29 for 24 yards (52-B.Costanzo).

1. 1-10-DAL 29 (1:27) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left to 88-D.Bryant to DAL 39 for 10 yards (26-T.Jennings; 21-M.Wright). DAL-88-D.Bryant was injured during the play. His return is Probable.
2. Timeout #2 by DAL at 01:13.
3. 1-10-DAL 39 (1:13) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass incomplete short right to 82-J.Witten.
4. 2-10-DAL 39 (1:10) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass incomplete short left to 29-D.Murray.
5. 3-10-DAL 39 (1:05) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass incomplete short right to 83-T.Williams (38-Z.Bowman).
6. 4-10-DAL 39 59) (Punt formation) 6-C.Jones punts 40 yards to CHI 21, Center-91-L.Ladouceur. 23-D.Hester to CHI 40 for 19 yards (40-D.McCray).

1. Chicago Bears at 00:47

1. 1-10-CHI 40 47) (Shotgun) 12-J.McCown pass incomplete deep right to 17-A.Jeffery.
2. 2-10-CHI 40 41) (Shotgun) 12-J.McCown pass short middle to 22-M.Forte to CHI 49 for 9 yards (54-B.Carter).
3. Timeout #1 by CHI at 00:31.
4. 3-1-CHI 49 31) 12-J.McCown pass short left to 17-A.Jeffery to DAL 44 for 7 yards (42-B.Church; 50-S.Lee).
5. Timeout #2 by CHI at 00:25.
6. 1-10-DAL 44 25) (Shotgun) 12-J.McCown pass short middle to 15-B.Marshall to DAL 25 for 19 yards (38-J.Heath).
7. Timeout #3 by CHI at 00:17.
8. 1-10-DAL 25 17) #62 E. Britton reports eligible (Shotgun) 12-J.McCown pass deep right to 17-A.Jeffery for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.WATCH HIGHLIGHT
9. 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.

1. DAL 14 CHI 24 Plays: 5 Possession: 0:37

Another fairly straightforward one. Try to get in at half down 3. 4 passes, give the ball back to the Bears against your historically bad defence. They score a TD. Essentially ends the ball game.

1. Dallas Cowboys at 04:18
2. 1-10-DAL 25 (4:18) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short middle to 82-J.Witten to DAL 28 for 3 yards (59-D.Ryans). Pass complete on a drag route.
3. 2-7-DAL 28 (3:41) 29-D.Murray right tackle to DAL 35 for 7 yards (24-B.Fletcher).
4. 1-10-DAL 35 (3:00) 29-D.Murray right end to DAL 36 for 1 yard (55-B.Graham).
5. 2-9-DAL 36 (2:21) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass incomplete short left. Orton under pressure (Brandon Graham), runs outside the tackle box and throws the ball away.
6. 3-9-DAL 36 (2:13) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short middle to 82-J.Witten to DAL 47 for 11 yards (23-P.Chung). Pass complete on a curl route.
7. Two-Minute Warning
8. 1-10-DAL 47 (2:00) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short right intended for 82-J.Witten INTERCEPTED by 95-M.Kendricks at PHI 46. 95-M.Kendricks pushed ob at DAL 49 for 5 yards (82-J.Witten).WATCH HIGHLIGHT

1. Philadelphia Eagles at 01:53

1. 1-10-DAL 49 (1:53) 9-N.Foles pass deep right to 87-B.Celek to DAL 14 for 35 yards (57-D.Holloman).WATCH HIGHLIGHT
2. 1-10-DAL 14 (1:25) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-N.Foles pass short right to 87-B.Celek for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.WATCH HIGHLIGHT
3. 6-A.Henery extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Jones.

1. PHI 17 DAL 7 Plays: 2 Possession: 0:34
2. Dallas Cowboys at 01:19

1. 6-A.Henery kicks 65 yards from PHI 35 to end zone, Touchback. Ball rolled out of the end zone.
2. 1-10-DAL 20 (1:19) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short right to 82-J.Witten pushed ob at DAL 28 for 8 yards (95-M.Kendricks).
3. 2-2-DAL 28 (1:15) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton scrambles up the middle to DAL 36 for 8 yards (95-M.Kendricks). Injury update: Eagles' Jason Avant has a shoulder injury; return is questionable.
4. Timeout #1 by DAL at 01:09.
5. 1-10-DAL 36 (1:09) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short left to 82-J.Witten pushed ob at PHI 36 for 28 yards (23-P.Chung).WATCH HIGHLIGHT
6. 1-10-PHI 36 (1:02) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short middle to 82-J.Witten to PHI 25 for 11 yards (95-M.Kendricks).
7. 1-10-PHI 25 38) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass incomplete short middle to 11-C.Beasley (22-B.Boykin). Pass broken up at the Philadelphia 15.
8. 2-10-PHI 25 34) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass incomplete deep left to 88-D.Bryant. Pass lofted back left corner of the end zone.
9. 3-10-PHI 25 29) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short right to 82-J.Witten pushed ob at PHI 26 for -1 yards (29-N.Allen).
10. Timeout #2 by DAL at 00:23.
11. 4-11-PHI 26 23) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.WATCH HIGHLIGHT

1. PHI 17 DAL 10 Plays: 8 Possession: 1:01

Anyone who was listening to the radio broadcast heard Brad Sham comment at the beginning of the Dallas drive that the main objective should be to make sure Philly didn't get the ball back with time remaining, since they were to receive the opening kickoff. Garrett actually managed this one decently and was aided by a huge Orton completion on 3rd at 9. At that point, at near midfield with all 3 timeouts, the entire playbook was open. Any discussion of the Cowboys needing to run a hurry up offence is absurd, yet we somehow threw again on 1st down. 2 plays later the Eagles were in the end zone. Although we scored a FG before half, it was still a 4 point swing.

It's pretty simple, at least to my mind. Garrett is the head coach of the football team. The entire football team. His job is to try to mitigate the team's weaknesses as best as possible. Repeatedly bringing up that Dallas had one of the worst defences in NFL history does not absolve him in the least. He of course knew that, and he should have known that his DUAL objectives were to avoid giving the other team another possession before half and to, if possible, put points on the board. 3 passes against the Saints, a TD before half. 4 passes against the Bears, another TD before the half. And 1st and 10 at the 47 before halftime with all 3 TO's and a back up QB, shotgun, INT, TD Eagles 2 plays later. Them's the facts.

And not to beat this dead horse, but let's not act like this defence just fell out of the sky all of a sudden and that there was absolutely nothing that could be done about it. We could have ran the ball. We might even have picked up a critical first down doing so, especially in the Chicago game. We could have forced the other team to use some timeouts, and we might have even prevented them from scoring or held them to FG's instead of TD's.

We did none of those things and it really hurt in those three games.

 

[50cent]

No, I really didn't. That's a really silly argument based on semantics. Whether or not the drive started at 2:35, 2:05, or 1:55 is really immaterial to the point, which you of course recognize. I really have no idea why you would even bring that up. The thread evolved into a broader discussion of game management, an area where Garrett has struggled repeatedly, hence my bringing up the -31 point differential.

I'm going to ride one more time and then let this thread die. Let's review:

1. Dallas Cowboys at 01:32
2. 6-T.Morstead kicks 65 yards from NO 35 to end zone, Touchback.
3. 1-10-DAL 20 (1:32) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short right to 82-J.Witten to DAL 28 for 8 yards (50-C.Lofton). Pass 8, YAC 0
4. 2-2-DAL 28 (1:09) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass incomplete short middle to 83-T.Williams (24-C.White).
5. 3-2-DAL 28 (1:04) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass incomplete short middle to 11-C.Beasley (24-C.White).
6. 4-2-DAL 28 (1:01) 6-C.Jones punts 47 yards to NO 25, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, fair catch by 43-D.Sproles.

1. New Orleans Saints at 00:53

1. 1-10-NO 25 53) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 80-J.Graham to NO 31 for 6 yards (32-O.Scandrick). Pass 3, YAC 3
2. 2-4-NO 31 35) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 43-D.Sproles to NO 42 for 11 yards (42-B.Church) [99-G.Selvie]. Pass 7, YAC 4
3. Timeout #1 by NO at 00:30.
4. 1-10-NO 42 30) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 43-D.Sproles ran ob at DAL 47 for 11 yards (42-B.Church). Pass 5, YAC 6
5. 1-10-DAL 47 25) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 12-M.Colston to DAL 28 for 19 yards (31-M.Pellerin).
6. Timeout #2 by NO at 00:19.
7. 1-10-DAL 28 19) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass incomplete deep middle to 16-L.Moore (52-J.Durant).
8. 2-10-DAL 28 13) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 43-D.Sproles for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass -6, YAC 34WATCH HIGHLIGHT
9. 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.

1. DAL 10 NO 28 Plays: 6 Possession: 0:48

Cowboys were to receive the second half kickoff. This one seems fairly easy. Try to put points on the board but definitely, at all costs, do not give the ball back to the Saints with time. 3 passes, Saints get the ball with time, score a TD. Essentially that ended the game.

9-R.Gould kicks 60 yards from CHI 35 to DAL 5. 17-D.Harris to DAL 29 for 24 yards (52-B.Costanzo).

1. 1-10-DAL 29 (1:27) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left to 88-D.Bryant to DAL 39 for 10 yards (26-T.Jennings; 21-M.Wright). DAL-88-D.Bryant was injured during the play. His return is Probable.
2. Timeout #2 by DAL at 01:13.
3. 1-10-DAL 39 (1:13) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass incomplete short right to 82-J.Witten.
4. 2-10-DAL 39 (1:10) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass incomplete short left to 29-D.Murray.
5. 3-10-DAL 39 (1:05) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass incomplete short right to 83-T.Williams (38-Z.Bowman).
6. 4-10-DAL 39 59) (Punt formation) 6-C.Jones punts 40 yards to CHI 21, Center-91-L.Ladouceur. 23-D.Hester to CHI 40 for 19 yards (40-D.McCray).

1. Chicago Bears at 00:47

1. 1-10-CHI 40 47) (Shotgun) 12-J.McCown pass incomplete deep right to 17-A.Jeffery.
2. 2-10-CHI 40 41) (Shotgun) 12-J.McCown pass short middle to 22-M.Forte to CHI 49 for 9 yards (54-B.Carter).
3. Timeout #1 by CHI at 00:31.
4. 3-1-CHI 49 31) 12-J.McCown pass short left to 17-A.Jeffery to DAL 44 for 7 yards (42-B.Church; 50-S.Lee).
5. Timeout #2 by CHI at 00:25.
6. 1-10-DAL 44 25) (Shotgun) 12-J.McCown pass short middle to 15-B.Marshall to DAL 25 for 19 yards (38-J.Heath).
7. Timeout #3 by CHI at 00:17.
8. 1-10-DAL 25 17) #62 E. Britton reports eligible (Shotgun) 12-J.McCown pass deep right to 17-A.Jeffery for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.WATCH HIGHLIGHT
9. 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.

1. DAL 14 CHI 24 Plays: 5 Possession: 0:37

Another fairly straightforward one. Try to get in at half down 3. 4 passes, give the ball back to the Bears against your historically bad defence. They score a TD. Essentially ends the ball game.

1. Dallas Cowboys at 04:18
2. 1-10-DAL 25 (4:18) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short middle to 82-J.Witten to DAL 28 for 3 yards (59-D.Ryans). Pass complete on a drag route.
3. 2-7-DAL 28 (3:41) 29-D.Murray right tackle to DAL 35 for 7 yards (24-B.Fletcher).
4. 1-10-DAL 35 (3:00) 29-D.Murray right end to DAL 36 for 1 yard (55-B.Graham).
5. 2-9-DAL 36 (2:21) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass incomplete short left. Orton under pressure (Brandon Graham), runs outside the tackle box and throws the ball away.
6. 3-9-DAL 36 (2:13) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short middle to 82-J.Witten to DAL 47 for 11 yards (23-P.Chung). Pass complete on a curl route.
7. Two-Minute Warning
8. 1-10-DAL 47 (2:00) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short right intended for 82-J.Witten INTERCEPTED by 95-M.Kendricks at PHI 46. 95-M.Kendricks pushed ob at DAL 49 for 5 yards (82-J.Witten).WATCH HIGHLIGHT

1. Philadelphia Eagles at 01:53

1. 1-10-DAL 49 (1:53) 9-N.Foles pass deep right to 87-B.Celek to DAL 14 for 35 yards (57-D.Holloman).WATCH HIGHLIGHT
2. 1-10-DAL 14 (1:25) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-N.Foles pass short right to 87-B.Celek for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.WATCH HIGHLIGHT
3. 6-A.Henery extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Jones.

1. PHI 17 DAL 7 Plays: 2 Possession: 0:34
2. Dallas Cowboys at 01:19

1. 6-A.Henery kicks 65 yards from PHI 35 to end zone, Touchback. Ball rolled out of the end zone.
2. 1-10-DAL 20 (1:19) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short right to 82-J.Witten pushed ob at DAL 28 for 8 yards (95-M.Kendricks).
3. 2-2-DAL 28 (1:15) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton scrambles up the middle to DAL 36 for 8 yards (95-M.Kendricks). Injury update: Eagles' Jason Avant has a shoulder injury; return is questionable.
4. Timeout #1 by DAL at 01:09.
5. 1-10-DAL 36 (1:09) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short left to 82-J.Witten pushed ob at PHI 36 for 28 yards (23-P.Chung).WATCH HIGHLIGHT
6. 1-10-PHI 36 (1:02) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short middle to 82-J.Witten to PHI 25 for 11 yards (95-M.Kendricks).
7. 1-10-PHI 25 38) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass incomplete short middle to 11-C.Beasley (22-B.Boykin). Pass broken up at the Philadelphia 15.
8. 2-10-PHI 25 34) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass incomplete deep left to 88-D.Bryant. Pass lofted back left corner of the end zone.
9. 3-10-PHI 25 29) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short right to 82-J.Witten pushed ob at PHI 26 for -1 yards (29-N.Allen).
10. Timeout #2 by DAL at 00:23.
11. 4-11-PHI 26 23) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.WATCH HIGHLIGHT

1. PHI 17 DAL 10 Plays: 8 Possession: 1:01

Anyone who was listening to the radio broadcast heard Brad Sham comment at the beginning of the Dallas drive that the main objective should be to make sure Philly didn't get the ball back with time remaining, since they were to receive the opening kickoff. Garrett actually managed this one decently and was aided by a huge Orton completion on 3rd at 9. At that point, at near midfield with all 3 timeouts, the entire playbook was open. Any discussion of the Cowboys needing to run a hurry up offence is absurd, yet we somehow threw again on 1st down. 2 plays later the Eagles were in the end zone. Although we scored a FG before half, it was still a 4 point swing.

It's pretty simple, at least to my mind. Garrett is the head coach of the football team. The entire football team. His job is to try to mitigate the team's weaknesses as best as possible. Repeatedly bringing up that Dallas had one of the worst defences in NFL history does not absolve him in the least. He of course knew that, and he should have known that his DUAL objectives were to avoid giving the other team another possession before half and to, if possible, put points on the board. 3 passes against the Saints, a TD before half. 4 passes against the Bears, another TD before the half. And 1st and 10 at the 47 before halftime with all 3 TO's and a back up QB, shotgun, INT, TD Eagles 2 plays later. Them's the facts.

And not to beat this dead horse, but let's not act like this defence just fell out of the sky all of a sudden and that there was absolutely nothing that could be done about it. We could have ran the ball. We might even have picked up a critical first down doing so, especially in the Chicago game. We could have forced the other team to use some timeouts, and we might have even prevented them from scoring or held them to FG's instead of TD's.

We did none of those things and it really hurt in those three games.

I like this guy! This thread has plenty of context in regards to clock management or lack there of but some will only see a bad defense at fault.

 

[AdamJT13]

No, I really didn't. That's a really silly argument based on semantics. Whether or not the drive started at 2:35, 2:05, or 1:55 is really immaterial to the point, which you of course recognize. I really have no idea why you would even bring that up.
The thread evolved into a broader discussion of game management, an area where Garrett has struggled repeatedly, hence my bringing up the -31 point differential.

Your quote to which I responded was that our offense "****ed" on the last drive of the first half, which was false. Our offense was able to move the ball and score quickly before halftime.

Cowboys were to receive the second half kickoff. This one seems fairly easy. Try to put points on the board but definitely, at all costs, do not give the ball back to the Saints with time. 3 passes, Saints get the ball with time, score a TD. Essentially that ended the game.

Again, the "time" the Saints had when they got the ball back should not have been enough to drive 75 yards and score a touchdown. And we were already down by double digits -- even if you forget that you're as good as any offense in the league at scoring in that situation and intentionally waste your last possession of the first half because you're too scared that your defense is going to allow a 75-yard touchdown drive in 40 seconds, you're still going to be down by double digits when you get the ball to start the second half! Even if you manage to score a touchdown to start the second half, you're still losing. If you want to actually win the game, the best strategy is to SCORE before halftime and again AFTER halftime, not to be cowards and hope that you don't fall behind by too much.

Another fairly straightforward one. Try to get in at half down 3. 4 passes, give the ball back to the Bears against your historically bad defence.

That's an absolute loser mentality. We had the ball at our own 39-yard line, down by 3 points, with 1:13 left and a timeout in our pocket. And your preferred strategy is to "try to get in at half down 3"? No thanks. There was plenty of time to get into field goal range or possibly score a touchdown from that field position. I'd much rather have my team actually TRY to tie the game or go ahead than to give up near midfield and accept being behind by 3 points.

Anyone who was listening to the radio broadcast heard Brad Sham comment at the beginning of the Dallas drive that the main objective should be to make sure Philly didn't get the ball back with time remaining, since they were to receive the opening kickoff. Garrett actually managed this one decently and was aided by a huge Orton completion on 3rd at 9. At that point, at near midfield with all 3 timeouts, the entire playbook was open. Any discussion of the Cowboys needing to run a hurry up offence is absurd, yet we somehow threw again on 1st down. 2 plays later the Eagles were in the end zone. Although we scored a FG before half, it was still a 4 point swing.

Surely you realize that you're basing your judgment entirely with hindsight. You have the ball at the 49 with 2 minutes remaining, down by 3 -- do you want to run the ball 3 times and punt, thereby ensuring that the opponent will not intercept a pass? I would hope not. And you seem to think that Sham was correct, and our main objective should have been to run out the clock instead of trying to tie the game or take the lead. Exactly how do you propose doing that? The Eagles had all three timeouts left -- we needed first downs, not only to get into scoring range, but also to achieve what you think should have been our primary objective. And you're going to accomplish that by being too scared to even attempt a pass? Brilliant.

Like I said, being afraid to try scoring points when you NEED to score points, especially when you have enough time and good field position, is a complete loser mentality, if you ask me. We weren't inside our own 20 in a tie game or trying to protect a slim lead, we were losing and needed points -- and we had a chance to get them. In each case, there was a better chance of driving to score than of giving the ball back AND having our opponent drive to score. The fact that our defense TWICE allowed touchdown drives of a time-and-distance that had not occurred in at least 15 seasons does not change the fact that trying to score points instead of being cowards was the correct strategy. Only hindsight says otherwise.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

its the final two minutes. either you have a lead you are protecting, or you are behind trying to catch up. regardless, its called the two minute offense and passing is the major part of it.

so nice research. but what about other teams 2 minute offense before half time? how do these stats compare to the other teams and the NFL. looking at these stats in a vaccum as you have done makes no sense. cowboys were being blown out in a few games and needed to catch up and/or swing the game and get momentum. you don't run the ball for that.

and I also blame Romo. one criticism of garrett is he gave too much rope to room and needed to be more controlling of him. partly because jerry wanted room more involved. room changed way too many plays to pass when the play called was run. room, unlike brady or manning doesn't have the same game management skills, so shouldn't be given the same freedom. his own defensive players called him out on that. I think that finally led to garrett frustration, as he always tries to put on a good front. against GB, room changed too many plays to pass plays because he saw a defensive front to stop the run, yet they weren't able to.

Romo needs to be reigned in and controlled and coached on his game management and play calling at the line

 

[Sarge]

smh


..................................still