Are we changing our offensive philosophy for 2006?

[AMERICAS_FAN]

I get the strange feeling that Dallas is changing the offensive philosopy for 2006. In 2005 we executed a run-first scheme (i.e. using the run to set up the pass). But with Payton gone and rumors of losing Campbell - the perfect TE to have in a run-first offense - is it possible such developments are indicative of Dallas moving to a pass-first offense, with more focus on receiving TE's, backs out of the backfield, and marquee WR's? And could this be why so many insiders are pegging Dallas as the suiter to land TO?

I know all of this is speculative, but if you connect these pieces together, all indications are that Dallas will likely move to a pass-first scheme. Regardless of the TO saga (becasue I don't want this to turn into another wasted TO thread) would you be in favor of Dallas changing to a pass-first offense?

**

 

[kiheikiwi]

No,not really.Offensive line, Offensive Line, Offensive Line.

 

[ddh33]

I think we could see some changes, although I think the philosophy will remain the same. I just think the method may change a little.

Julius Jones has looked like a better running back when running out of more spread out formations. Bledsoe is still a gun slinger. 3 receiver sets with Witten and Julius could be lethal in a lot of ways. I wouldn't be surprised to see that...

 

[ravidubey]

The Dallas OL was better than decent at pass blocking before Flozell Adams was hurt, so they could go towards a pass-first system, but I doubt Campbell presence indicates much either way. He used to be as good a pass blocker as a run blocker.

I suspect the Cowboys coolness towards Campbell has more to do with his average performance since returning from injury coupled with his veteran cost and the depth at TE in the upcoming draft.

 

[jbsg02]

It has to change somewhat with Payton gone

 

[clayman]

Remember who the HC is...Parcells is a run first TOP taking guy of the old school.

 

[Portland Fanatic]

Remember who the HC is...Parcells is a run first TOP taking guy of the old school.

I hear that over and over, but its not totally true. I'm sure his preference would be to establish run first, but he has shown otherwise in the past.

2003 with Vinnie when he was calling plays we had games where we came out sliniging...I think we will see some of that this year. BP can adapt to what is working much better the Payton ever could. I personally want BP to call plays...I think he does a nice job.

I'm sure I'm in the minority when I say that too.

 

[kiheikiwi]

It has to change somewhat with Payton gone

Which is why it will not go "Air Corrial". I think Parcells will call the plays, and my hope is that this year we will get what Parcells wanted last year.Offensive line opening up holes AND pass blocking well, TOP - run first,control the football type of offense.

 

[Hostile]

If we acquire TO, plus keep Key and Glenn, I think not changing to a pass happy offense with a gunslinger like Bledsoe will be a travesty of epic proportions. Throw in Witten's pass catching ability and the fact our top RB has been injury prone so far, and it seems like a good idea anyway.

We need better pass blocking schemes for sure.

A healthy Rivera & Flo will help. I also look for marked improvement at C and RT given the experience they gained. (Go ahead and flame away.)

 

[Hostile]

Remember who the HC is...Parcells is a run first TOP taking guy of the old school.

Drew Bledsoe's rookie year in New England and 2004 with Vinny the Dinosaur debunk this theory.

 

[wileedog]

Remember who the HC is...Parcells is a run first TOP taking guy of the old school.

Also remember he will go to the air if he has the guns to do it. Bledsoe got the most pass attempts in a season record with Bill calling the shots.

It will depend largely on what we can accomplish on the O-line. The better it is, the more we will throw. The worse it is, the less likely Bill will take chances.

Add the defense into that equation as well.

 

[baj1dallas]

I find it highly unlikely. Payton was a guy that liked to throw downfield. Parcells less so imo. He may have thrown more often in the past, but that wasn't what he had wanted to do.

 

[Redball Express]

But I would expect that as someone mentioned above, we may see more of JuJo getting swing passes and running circle routes to get him past the lbers at times.

I also think the screen pass will be perfected more, as this also allows JuJo some room to cut back and make plays.

But as most have mentioned, the OL and it's play will dictate any significant changes. You can't pass the ball consistantly if you can't force the defense to add an 8th man at the line to stop the running attack.

Otherwise, you have to try to bring in 3 and 4 WR sets to get single matchups and that just tips the defense into more blitzing, which the OL doesn't handle well with the current cast of characters.

So no matter where you want to go, run or pass, the OL must be stabilized first.

Whether that means new faces, new coaches or new playcalling, I think we are going to have some of all of that in '06 to draw on.

I don't think there is all that much wrong or lacking. A player or two, or changing their positions, luck with injuries for a change in the OL and playcalling that helps the OL instead of exposing them will create a lot of positive change.

But other than that, in order to get a passing attack that leads instead of follows, we need a WR with speed that can take pressure off of Terry Glenn as our only guy with speed.

As well as Terry played last year, I think we all noticed after the mid-season point, he disappeared again from the offense around mid-season and whether it's because Bledsoe was just seeing him double-covered or Glenn wasn't getting open or was wearing down as the season wore on..

..is anybodies guess.

But the deep ball disappeared from the offense and we must have that if there is going to be any improvement offensively. There will be no running game if the passing game continues to only be a threat b/w 10-20 yards downfield with Key and Witten playing those roles and Terry Glenn or whomever the speed WR is getting 3-5 balls thrown his way each game.

If TO were to come here, it would be with an understanding he'd get 10-15 balls thrown to him each game.

Minimum.

Otherwise..if he only gets the number Terry Glenn gets as the #1 WR..3-5 per game..then it's a total waste to bring him in at the monies he would want.

He'll be screaming before Halloween about not being THE GUY.

So that leads me to think that if a #1 WR in the draft is available, you'll see Dallas take him. Even in the 1st Rd.

Because like last year when they brought in Peerless Price, Dallas is not going to go into '06 believing that both Glenn and Key are going to last the whole season again without injury.

And as much as I like Crayton, he's a huge QUESTION MARK at WR should he have to step up and start. And Dallas has to have more at WR now and for the future.

So I'm thinking Dallas will go WR in the draft early and fill alot of their other needs in FA so if they have to trade down out of 18th, they can move back and still get a choice WR late in the 1st rd or early in the 2nd.

Sort of the same thing they did with moving back and taking JuJo at RB in the 2nd Rd. in '04.

So we'll see. yes, maybe more passing offense, but only if the OL is pulled together and the WR in the draft at the right price is found.

Sort of iffy..huh..?

Parcellswaterboy

 

[joseephuss]

Drew Bledsoe's rookie year in New England and 2004 with Vinny the Dinosaur debunk this theory.

In Bledsoe's rookie season, the Pats were ranked 5th in passing attempts and they were 4th in rushing attempts.

In 2004, Dallas was 17th in passing attempts and 14th in rushing attempts.

Parcells definitly wants to control the clock with the run, but he will turn to a passing game if needed.

 

[AbeBeta]

what do continuity mean?

 

[Cbz40]

If remain in establish the run first offensive scheme, which I have no problem with, I would like to add a Jerome Bettis type of runner to the roster.

This is not a knock on JJ , it's that I think we need to add this type of change of pace runner to our O. I would love to have that punishing type of runner that can come in on short yardage and goal line situations and put in for a couple of series to wear down a D and eat up clock..

Before you say something....Yes I know it all starts up front .... so of course fix the OL first.

 

[Nors]

Remember who the HC is...Parcells is a run first TOP taking guy of the old school.

Parcells will do what his talent dictates. What gives him best chance to win. We fix Oline - and add a Big Pass TE like Davis/Pope?

Brought in Bledsoe's ol mentor - BP/Bledsoe threw it like mad in New England. In fact we had a lot of success when chuckin it last year.


Fix oline and lets rock!

 

[lspain1]

But I would expect that as someone mentioned above, we may see more of JuJo getting swing passes and running circle routes to get him past the lbers at times.

I also think the screen pass will be perfected more, as this also allows JuJo some room to cut back and make plays.

But as most have mentioned, the OL and it's play will dictate any significant changes. You can't pass the ball consistantly if you can't force the defense to add an 8th man at the line to stop the running attack.

Otherwise, you have to try to bring in 3 and 4 WR sets to get single matchups and that just tips the defense into more blitzing, which the OL doesn't handle well with the current cast of characters.

So no matter where you want to go, run or pass, the OL must be stabilized first.

Whether that means new faces, new coaches or new playcalling, I think we are going to have some of all of that in '06 to draw on.

I don't think there is all that much wrong or lacking. A player or two, or changing their positions, luck with injuries for a change in the OL and playcalling that helps the OL instead of exposing them will create a lot of positive change.

But other than that, in order to get a passing attack that leads instead of follows, we need a WR with speed that can take pressure off of Terry Glenn as our only guy with speed.

As well as Terry played last year, I think we all noticed after the mid-season point, he disappeared again from the offense around mid-season and whether it's because Bledsoe was just seeing him double-covered or Glenn wasn't getting open or was wearing down as the season wore on..

..is anybodies guess.

But the deep ball disappeared from the offense and we must have that if there is going to be any improvement offensively. There will be no running game if the passing game continues to only be a threat b/w 10-20 yards downfield with Key and Witten playing those roles and Terry Glenn or whomever the speed WR is getting 3-5 balls thrown his way each game.

If TO were to come here, it would be with an understanding he'd get 10-15 balls thrown to him each game.

Minimum.

Otherwise..if he only gets the number Terry Glenn gets as the #1 WR..3-5 per game..then it's a total waste to bring him in at the monies he would want.

He'll be screaming before Halloween about not being THE GUY.

So that leads me to think that if a #1 WR in the draft is available, you'll see Dallas take him. Even in the 1st Rd.

Because like last year when they brought in Peerless Price, Dallas is not going to go into '06 believing that both Glenn and Key are going to last the whole season again without injury.

And as much as I like Crayton, he's a huge QUESTION MARK at WR should he have to step up and start. And Dallas has to have more at WR now and for the future.

So I'm thinking Dallas will go WR in the draft early and fill alot of their other needs in FA so if they have to trade down out of 18th, they can move back and still get a choice WR late in the 1st rd or early in the 2nd.

Sort of the same thing they did with moving back and taking JuJo at RB in the 2nd Rd. in '04.

So we'll see. yes, maybe more passing offense, but only if the OL is pulled together and the WR in the draft at the right price is found.

Sort of iffy..huh..?

Parcellswaterboy

I think your points about the OL are right on. It's been a long time since the Cowboys were a good screen team. You need athletic linemen to do it well, and the Cowboys do not have them right now. Making Julius Jones a better receiver out of the backfield will help but the real difference has to start up front.

I believe the passing attack last year was dictated by the poor run blocking we had. Parcells will never give up on the run because his method really revolves around defense and TOP. But Parcells is pragmatic and will go with whatever is working, Frankly, Bledsoe was our best weapon on offense last season and it looks to be the same this year. The addition of TO if it happens will make that even more true.

 

[CowboyMark]

With a good line and a healthy Jones and Barber will rock. Taking pressure off Drew and the offense will be much better than it has the last couple of years. Remember, it all starts with the offensive line.

 

[Bledsoe4MVP]

I get the strange feeling that Dallas is changing the offensive philosopy for 2006. In 2005 we executed a run-first scheme (i.e. using the run to set up the pass). But with Payton gone and rumors of losing Campbell - the perfect TE to have in a run-first offense - is it possible such developments are indicative of Dallas moving to a pass-first offense, with more focus on receiving TE's, backs out of the backfield, and marquee WR's? And could this be why so many insiders are pegging Dallas as the suiter to land TO?

I know all of this is speculative, but if you connect these pieces together, all indications are that Dallas will likely move to a pass-first scheme. Regardless of the TO saga (becasue I don't want this to turn into another wasted TO thread) would you be in favor of Dallas changing to a pass-first offense?

**

That's an astute observation young grasshopper, but then again since we have one of the best passing QB's of all time would it really surprise you if this philosophical shift in offense comes to fruition?

I for one would love to see our new offensive coordinator succeed where Payton failed at times...and that's pass first, ask questions later. Bledsoe is a downfield assassin and we need to build around his strengths especially if we are looking to win NOW. Drew is capable of having huge games with the right protection up front. This is why I'm all for signing TO or another big name receiver to add to Drew's arsenal.