Aikman's offensive line

[gimmesix]

I did a little daydreaming today while watching the first half of the 1992 NFC Championship Game against San Francisco.

Anyone who has watched Dallas' teams from those years knows the Cowboys had a very good offensive line. But watching the line protect Aikman just made me think about the lack of protection Romo gets.

As Dallas built a 28-7 halftime lead, Aikman was virtually untouched in the pocket. He was hit ONE TIME and that was on a delayed blitz where Mark Tuinei was left with two people to block. (The late blitzer got to Aikman, but he was able to get a pass off before getting hit and Alvin Harper plucked it off the turf.)

Dana Stubblefield was also able to get enough of a push against John Gesek at center to get his hands up and bat down a pass. But that was it.

I don't know if I can remember a time when Romo was pressured only twice in a half. Now, some of the line's ability to pass protect had to do with the 49ers having to respect the running game, but the line of Tuinei, Nate Newton, Gesek, Kevin Gogan and Erik Williams was just shoving San Francisco's front around and controlling the line of scrimmage.

 

[nablives]

Well that O-line was exceptional. While Romo hasn't had a great O-line, I sure wouldn't want to judge any O-line based on what some of those early to mid 90s O-lines did.

Anyway, I do agree that Romo has done a heck of a job considering what he has to work with in front of him. His O-lines haven't always been horrible, but they've never been good.

 

[HoosierCowboy]

not only were they good individual linemen, but they were a very good unit

and Erik Williams had HOF talent (he dominated the great Reggie white)

 

[ScipioCowboy]

If you go back and watch the previous NFC Championship game in San Fransisco, you'll see Aikman getting sacked four times in the first half.

 

[gimmesix]

If you go back and watch the previous NFC Championship game in San Fransisco, you'll see Aikman getting sacked four times in the first half.

Yes, there were times when Aikman was not happy with the line, but overall they kept him clean.

Couldn't find the stats for 1991, but in 1992, the Cowboys allowed 23 sacks. 29 in 1993; 23 in 1994; 18 in 1995.

Last year, Dallas allowed 39.

Now, some of the difference is attributable to more passes being thrown (Aikman attempted 432 in 1995; Romo 522 last year), but obviously Aikman was afforded much better protection overall.

 

[burmafrd]

The BIGGEST factor that except in the few games we were far behind and had to pass every play, no team could tee off because we had Emmitt who would make you pay.

There is at this time no back we have that scares the D much at all. They KNOW the real threat is Tony and getting to him is the key to stopping our Offense.

 

[Risen Star]

The BIGGEST factor that except in the few games we were far behind and had to pass every play, no team could tee off because we had Emmitt who would make you pay.

There is at this time no back we have that scares the D much at all. They KNOW the real threat is Tony and getting to him is the key to stopping our Offense.

I don't know how you can put that on the backs considering the slop in front of them failing to create rush lanes.

 

[Wolfpack]

I don't know how you can put that on the backs considering the slop in front of them failing to create rush lanes.

Playcalling. Typical runs are out of a pass formation and are finesse plays. You can get those on the way to the QB. Not much power & dive stuff called.

 

[burmafrd]

I don't know how you can put that on the backs considering the slop in front of them failing to create rush lanes.

The D right now knows our O line is not worth much; they would have to prove it before the D really even began to worry; and once again we have no back that would really scare them anyway.

So until we make them pay big time the name of the game of any D playing the boys is really simple
"Plant Romo."

 

[TwoDeep3]

I did a little daydreaming today while watching the first half of the 1992 NFC Championship Game against San Francisco.

Anyone who has watched Dallas' teams from those years knows the Cowboys had a very good offensive line. But watching the line protect Aikman just made me think about the lack of protection Romo gets.

As Dallas built a 28-7 halftime lead, Aikman was virtually untouched in the pocket. He was hit ONE TIME and that was on a delayed blitz where Mark Tuinei was left with two people to block. (The late blitzer got to Aikman, but he was able to get a pass off before getting hit and Alvin Harper plucked it off the turf.)

Dana Stubblefield was also able to get enough of a push against John Gesek at center to get his hands up and bat down a pass. But that was it.

I don't know if I can remember a time when Romo was pressured only twice in a half. Now, some of the line's ability to pass protect had to do with the 49ers having to respect the running game, but the line of Tuinei, Nate Newton, Gesek, Kevin Gogan and Erik Williams was just shoving San Francisco's front around and controlling the line of scrimmage.

THis will perhaps rub some the wrong way.

But one of the reasons the Cowboys were so good and the OL was good is Jerome Brown died that june.

They manhandled us when he was alive. Nate had no answers for him.

 

[Risen Star]

Playcalling. Typical runs are out of a pass formation and are finesse plays. You can get those on the way to the QB. Not much power & dive stuff called.

The reason why are run game is comprised almost entirely in those sets is because we have no offensive line to get that movement on their own.

The head coach has done a tremendous job over the years scheming production from an awful group of run blockers.

 

[Red Dragon]

Just to clarify, the 28-7 halftime game being referred to is the 1993 NFC title game, not the 1992 one.

 

[gimmesix]

The BIGGEST factor that except in the few games we were far behind and had to pass every play, no team could tee off because we had Emmitt who would make you pay.

There is at this time no back we have that scares the D much at all. They KNOW the real threat is Tony and getting to him is the key to stopping our Offense.

I agree that was a major factor. An established run game takes a load of pressure off the quarterback.

But going back and watching those games, it's fun to see a line that can just flat-out form a pocket around the quarterback when the defenses knew Dallas had to pass. (On that note, the Cowboys also did a fantastic job of mixing pass and run, so that it was a lot harder for me, other than by memory, to predict which was coming on each down ... unlike now.)

 

[sbark]

The Emmitt threat..........teams had to pick their poison, a heavy dose of E.Smith made a lot of lineman unable to pin their ears back and just bring it.
Took alot of pressure off the OLine, as did the ready and willing outlets to Novacek and the automatic quik slant to Irvin.

they took what the other teams gave them.

 

[Teague31]

The success of the 90's OL has crippled us for the last decade. Think about it, Jerrah was able to assemble the best line in the league without ever investing more than a second round pick. I truly believe Jerrah thought he could duplicate what happened with Tuinei and newton instead of realizing he just got lucky.

 

[Wood]

I did a little daydreaming today while watching the first half of the 1992 NFC Championship Game against San Francisco.

Anyone who has watched Dallas' teams from those years knows the Cowboys had a very good offensive line. But watching the line protect Aikman just made me think about the lack of protection Romo gets.

As Dallas built a 28-7 halftime lead, Aikman was virtually untouched in the pocket. He was hit ONE TIME and that was on a delayed blitz where Mark Tuinei was left with two people to block. (The late blitzer got to Aikman, but he was able to get a pass off before getting hit and Alvin Harper plucked it off the turf.)

Dana Stubblefield was also able to get enough of a push against John Gesek at center to get his hands up and bat down a pass. But that was it.

I don't know if I can remember a time when Romo was pressured only twice in a half. Now, some of the line's ability to pass protect had to do with the 49ers having to respect the running game, but the line of Tuinei, Nate Newton, Gesek, Kevin Gogan and Erik Williams was just shoving San Francisco's front around and controlling the line of scrimmage.

I think your looking at an individual game that fits nicely into your agenda because if you want to be truthful about it - Aikman was hardly untouched in his career. I remember him getting dropped on his head by Eagles who sacked him something like 11 times in a game. The players eventually bought into Aikman as their leader and would do anything to protect him. I don't think Romo commands that kind of respect from his offensive line and the results speak for themselves. If anything Romo offensive line has higher draft picks but simply gets less out of them.

Aikman vs Romo (sacks)

Aikman - Games Started (165), sacks (259) = 1.57 (avg sacks per game)
Romo - Games Started ( 77), sacks (142) = 1.84 (avg sacks per game)

If anything it should be Danny White who has the beef:

White - Games Started ( 92), sacks (229) = 2.49 (avg sacks per game)


Just so we are all on same page

Aikman - Playoff games started - 15 (11 wins, 4 losses) .733 winning %
White - Playoff games started - 10 ( 5 wins, 5 losses) .500 winning %
Romo - Playoff games started - 4 ( 1 win, 3 losses) .250 winning %

 

[burmafrd]

The success of the 90's OL has crippled us for the last decade. Think about it, Jerrah was able to assemble the best line in the league without ever investing more than a second round pick. I truly believe Jerrah thought he could duplicate what happened with Tuinei and newton instead of realizing he just got lucky.

exactly

It has always stunned me that a man that PLAYED the O line puts so little into it except throw money at it now and then

 

[THUMPER]

I think your looking at an individual game that fits nicely into your agenda because if you want to be truthful about it - Aikman was hardly untouched in his career. I remember him getting dropped on his head by Eagles who sacked him something like 11 times in a game. The players eventually bought into Aikman as their leader and would do anything to protect him. I don't think Romo commands that kind of respect from his offensive line and the results speak for themselves. If anything Romo offensive line has higher draft picks but simply gets less out of them.

Aikman vs Romo (sacks)

Aikman - Games Started (165), sacks (259) = 1.57 (avg sacks per game)
Romo - Games Started ( 77), sacks (142) = 1.84 (avg sacks per game)

If anything it should be Danny White who has the beef:

White - Games Started ( 92), sacks (229) = 2.49 (avg sacks per game)


Just so we are all on same page

Aikman - Playoff games started - 15 (11 wins, 4 losses) .733 winning %
White - Playoff games started - 10 ( 5 wins, 5 losses) .500 winning %
Romo - Playoff games started - 4 ( 1 win, 3 losses) .250 winning %

Wow, talk about an agenda!

Aikman was sacked a lot early and late in his career because the O-Line play was nowhere near where it would be/was at the height of his career (1992-1995). Emmitt also didn't get as many yards or as easily before or after that peak.

Also, Romo throws the ball a LOT more than Aikman ever did so simply looking at it from a per game basis is far from an accurate comparison.

Lastly, the number of sacks is irrelevant when you are talking about pressure since Romo is highly elusive and Aikman wasn't.

Taking the O-Line's performance as a whole the 1992-1995 O-Line was one of the best in NFL history. Romo has had nothing anywhere near that level at any time in his career.

 

[BlindFaith]

Wow, talk about an agenda!

Also, Romo throws the ball a LOT more than Aikman ever did so simply looking at it from a per game basis is far from an accurate comparison.

Lastly, the number of sacks is irrelevant when you are talking about pressure since Romo is highly elusive and Aikman wasn't.

Talk about an agenda. At least provide examples that support your case. Aikman took that many sacks in far less pass attempts. Imagine if he was in an offense that passed as much as Romo, his sack numbers would have been higher.

That oline of the early 90s was really nothing but a bunch of castoffs. Not until Williams and Allen joined the group did they really have truely dominating players.

What made that team go was Aikman, Irvin, Smith, Moose and Novacek. Along with the defense.

Aikman made teams pay when they blitzed him. He wanted them to blitz. Teams rarely did because they new he'd beat them.

Emmitt and Moose made teams look to stop the run. Emmitt made that line look great and Moose was another lineman.

Irvin and Novacek were money and made teams pay for trying to stop the run. When we added Harper we had a deep threat.

Aikman was as accurate of a passer as there ever was. And he was smart. And he was more mobile than some give him credit for. But the guy took his fair share of hits. Remember, concussions ended his career. That doesn't happen by staying clean in the pocket all the time.

You don't win 3 super bowls in 4 years by just having a solid offensive line.

 

[Doomsday]

Romo also makes defenders miss at least 25% of the time. Every game he has guys running at him unblocked.