Are we tipping our run plays?

[Zordon]

I've never seen defenders come down hill as fast as they do on our run plays. I don't have advanced statistics available for percentages, but I wouldn't be surprised if teams have caught on to what formations=run plays. I know our oline talent is average at best, but if you go back and watch the Vikings defenders on all of the run plays, it's amazing how often they are correct when they are selling out on the run. I noticed this last week too vs the Lions. I tried to watch Romo and our receivers to see if it was something they were doing coming out of the huddle pre-snap that was tipping the play to the defenders but I didn't notice anything particular. Are we becoming too predictable with our run formations?

 

[CowboyStar88]

Has to be formations. This offense does have major tendencies in formations as it comes to passing and running. This team is an 80% shot gun passing team if not more. The scheme is so bad and the philosophy is worse. You design an offense to make your TE #1 option and then progress your play from the inside out. No wonder this team is chaotic and isn't good at any one thing. SMH... JG is a serious issue with this team and it's offensive philosophy. I'm not even going to give Calahan a hard time this isn't his offense.

 

[Corso]

Good call- you may be on to something, Zordon.

If it's true- do Callahan, Garrett and Romo have the cognitive skills to do something about it?

 

[Big D]

When the average fan at home watching the game can call out the play you should expect an opposing linebacker to be able to do the same.

 

[Idgit]

If we were tipping our running plays we'd have a YPC at the bottom of the league. And by default they'd also know when we were passing. Yet we still pass the ball effectively overall.

I think you're just seeing through the eyes of a frustrated fan.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Zordon has a valid point here, in my opinion. The Vikings were blowing up the Cowboys' running plays fairly quickly. It's possible there were some tells the Vikings saw on tape, which might explain why the Cowboys abandoned the run so quickly. It's an easy enough fix if the Cowboys can ascertain what those tells are.

 

[Tabascocat]

They are not "tipping" their plays, but are just predictable to a certain degree. Dallas plays out of the shot-gun way too much. There is minimal variation of what plays are ran out of certain formations. The game tape is very similar from week to week and teams will know their tendencies. If my wife knows when a pass or run play is coming, then there is a problem.

 

[honyock]

I've never seen defenders come down hill as fast as they do on our run plays. I don't have advanced statistics available for percentages, but I wouldn't be surprised if teams have caught on to what formations=run plays. I know our oline talent is average at best, but if you go back and watch the Vikings defenders on all of the run plays, it's amazing how often they are correct when they are selling out on the run. I noticed this last week too vs the Lions. I tried to watch Romo and our receivers to see if it was something they were doing coming out of the huddle pre-snap that was tipping the play to the defenders but I didn't notice anything particular. Are we becoming too predictable with our run formations?

I had this same thought last week against Detroit. We ran decently against them for the most part on first down. But on second down, they seemed to be absolutely all over it when we ran, so much so that it looked like they were anticipating run. It may have been just an anomaly, but it sure looked to my armchair fan brain like they knew a run was coming.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Zordon has a valid point here, in my opinion. The Vikings were blowing up the Cowboys' running plays fairly quickly. It's possible there were some tells the Vikings saw on tape, which might explain why the Cowboys abandoned the run so quickly. It's an easy enough fix if the Cowboys can ascertain what those tells are.

There was one ILB blitz but for the most part it was guards whiffing blocks that I saw.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

There was one ILB blitz but for the most part it was guards whiffing blocks that I saw.

Your opinion is valid as well. I'm not making absolute statements as to rightness or wrongness.

 

[coult44]

I've never seen defenders come down hill as fast as they do on our run plays. I don't have advanced statistics available for percentages, but I wouldn't be surprised if teams have caught on to what formations=run plays. I know our oline talent is average at best, but if you go back and watch the Vikings defenders on all of the run plays, it's amazing how often they are correct when they are selling out on the run. I noticed this last week too vs the Lions. I tried to watch Romo and our receivers to see if it was something they were doing coming out of the huddle pre-snap that was tipping the play to the defenders but I didn't notice anything particular. Are we becoming too predictable with our run formations?

The coaches are tipping them. Anyone who looks at film can figure it out pretty easily. Our trends are very predictable. For professionals, it's down right easy to figure out...

 

[Hoofbite]

If teams were just to guess run or pass based on whether or not Dallas was in the shotgun, they'd be pretty successful based on that alone.

Prior to today and spanning the previous month, here's the breakdown. This covers Denver, Washington, Philadelphia and Detroit. 2-2 over that time, and Dallas has shown both the best offense they can put out as well as some rather uninspired offensive performances.

Under Center: 72.6% Run / 27.4% Pass (61 Runs / 23 Passes)

Shotgun: 13.5% Run / 86.5% Pass (20 Runs / 128 Passes)​

Without even taking into account the down, the distance, the score, time on the clock, field position or anything else that's what teams start with.

So, just using that basic framework what would happen if teams played the run every time Dallas was under center and played the pass every time Dallas was in the shotgun and didn't even factor in all the other stuff?

Under Center: 61 of 84 plays correctly identified.

Shotgun: 128 of 148 plays correctly identified.

Total: 189 of 232 plays correctly identified.

​

That's 81.4% of all the plays run that teams would be lining up expecting a run or pass and being correct. Who knows how high that percentage could be if teams actually started looking at trends based on distance to go or what down it is.

 

[Hoofbite]

The coaches are tipping them. Anyone who looks at film can figure it out pretty easily. Our trends are very predictable. For professionals, it's down right easy to figure out...

This is the part that is kind of sad. Just based on numbers and not even looking at formations you can get a good idea of what Dallas is doing as soon as they line up. People who aren't paid a dime can pretty much guess 4 out of 5 plays correctly.

 

[CowboyStar88]

If teams were just to guess run or pass based on whether or not Dallas was in the shotgun, they'd be pretty successful based on that alone.

Prior to today and spanning the previous month, here's the breakdown. This covers Denver, Washington, Philadelphia and Detroit. 2-2 over that time, and Dallas has shown both the best offense they can put out as well as some rather uninspired offensive performances.

Under Center: 72.6% Run / 27.4% Pass (61 Runs / 23 Passes)

Shotgun: 13.5% Run / 86.5% Pass (20 Runs / 128 Passes)​

Without even taking into account the down, the distance, the score, time on the clock, field position or anything else that's what teams start with.

So, just using that basic framework what would happen if teams played the run every time Dallas was under center and played the pass every time Dallas was in the shotgun and didn't even factor in all the other stuff?

Under Center: 61 of 84 plays correctly identified.

Shotgun: 128 of 148 plays correctly identified.

Total: 189 of 232 plays correctly identified.

​

That's 81.4% of all the plays run that teams would be lining up expecting a run or pass and being correct. Who knows how high that percentage could be if teams actually started looking at trends based on distance to go or what down it is.

This is a Jason Garrett problem. This is killing this team. If you want to know why this guy is a .500 coach look no further then right here. His philosophy and his scheme are so flawed. He doesn't care if there are patterns or not he believes you just lineup and execute and it's getting this team killed. Unreal that JJ has put up with this for so long it's sickening. 7 years of this crap philosophy and scheme. Yup he's a genius! Design your offense to make the TE #1 read and work the offense inside out. This guy is a terrible coach

 

[Zordon]

If teams were just to guess run or pass based on whether or not Dallas was in the shotgun, they'd be pretty successful based on that alone.

Prior to today and spanning the previous month, here's the breakdown. This covers Denver, Washington, Philadelphia and Detroit. 2-2 over that time, and Dallas has shown both the best offense they can put out as well as some rather uninspired offensive performances.

Under Center: 72.6% Run / 27.4% Pass (61 Runs / 23 Passes)

Shotgun: 13.5% Run / 86.5% Pass (20 Runs / 128 Passes)​

Without even taking into account the down, the distance, the score, time on the clock, field position or anything else that's what teams start with.

So, just using that basic framework what would happen if teams played the run every time Dallas was under center and played the pass every time Dallas was in the shotgun and didn't even factor in all the other stuff?

Under Center: 61 of 84 plays correctly identified.

Shotgun: 128 of 148 plays correctly identified.

Total: 189 of 232 plays correctly identified.

​

That's 81.4% of all the plays run that teams would be lining up expecting a run or pass and being correct. Who knows how high that percentage could be if teams actually started looking at trends based on distance to go or what down it is.

Thank you, this is something similar to what I was looking for. I would be interested to see the breakdown even further from 3 wr sets, 2 tight ends, personnel groupings, etc. I read somewhere last week (can't remember if it was here or another site) that we run an abnormal amount of times any time d. harris is in. These are all trends I'm sure d-coordinators are catching onto.

 

[texbumthelife]

I think it has more to due with Dallas's predictability on offense. I know for the first 6 week or so, every time Hannah went in motion, it was a run. This is the first week which I saw him go in motion and it was a pass, the big PA pass he caught.

I also noticed we very very rarely run week side.

I think what is happening, it teams have learned our tendencies when they show blitz. Romo like that quick slant. So they load up the edges of the DL and come of the edges while having backing run/drift back into those short middle zones. This way, they take way the potential for a run but also cover there bases as far as Romo's hot read.

I just think we are very very predictable. Also, Romo desperately needs to change his cadence at the LOS. Even I know what most of his hand signals and calls mean now.

 

[DallasCowboysRule!]

Also, Romo desperately needs to change his cadence at the LOS. Even I know what most of his hand signals and calls mean now.

White Eighty! White Eighty! Kill, Kill, Kill! Fifty-Six is Mike...White Eighty! White Eighty Seven Hut!

How'd you like my Romo impersonation? I think I've got it down pretty good.

 

[texbumthelife]

White Eighty! White Eighty! Kill, Kill, Kill! Fifty-Six is Mike...White Eighty! White Eighty Seven Hut!

How'd you like my Romo impersonation? I think I've got it down pretty good.

Did you do the half fist pump and the coy slash gesture? If so, be at Valley Ranch tomorrow.

 

[TheCount]

If we were tipping our running plays we'd have a YPC at the bottom of the league. And by default they'd also know when we were passing. Yet we still pass the ball effectively overall.

I think you're just seeing through the eyes of a frustrated fan.

I dunno about that one. There are more options to cover on a pass, even if you know it's a pass.

I haven't been on top of it this year, but last year there were several articles about our run pass ratio being heavily weighted out of certain formations.

 

[starfrombirth]

If teams were just to guess run or pass based on whether or not Dallas was in the shotgun, they'd be pretty successful based on that alone.

Prior to today and spanning the previous month, here's the breakdown. This covers Denver, Washington, Philadelphia and Detroit. 2-2 over that time, and Dallas has shown both the best offense they can put out as well as some rather uninspired offensive performances.

Under Center: 72.6% Run / 27.4% Pass (61 Runs / 23 Passes)

Shotgun: 13.5% Run / 86.5% Pass (20 Runs / 128 Passes)​

Without even taking into account the down, the distance, the score, time on the clock, field position or anything else that's what teams start with.

So, just using that basic framework what would happen if teams played the run every time Dallas was under center and played the pass every time Dallas was in the shotgun and didn't even factor in all the other stuff?

Under Center: 61 of 84 plays correctly identified.

Shotgun: 128 of 148 plays correctly identified.

Total: 189 of 232 plays correctly identified.

​

That's 81.4% of all the plays run that teams would be lining up expecting a run or pass and being correct. Who knows how high that percentage could be if teams actually started looking at trends based on distance to go or what down it is.

Too bad there isn't some way to get this to Garrett and say, "If I can figure this out so can the other teams defense Jason. Get your head out of your tuckus!".