Audibles are a thing. This wasn't playcalling

[erod]

Most of you know my qualms with Dak Prescott and the prospect of paying him like a top-five quarterback. Forget that for now. Last night was not about that at all.

This isn't a Dak criticism post. I think the guy played really, really well last night. In fact, that's the best game I've ever seen him play by a mile. After a rocky start with an almost pick-six, he got himself together and played a tremendous game. Very, very good to see.

However, far too much focus is being placed on the play-calling at the end. Namely, the two run calls.

Any playcall can be cancelled with an audible. They are all the time. They are DESIGNED to be changed at the line of scrimmage based on looks or whatever.

If you remember, Tony Romo almost never ran the play that was sent in. Brady, Brees, Rodgers, etc, etc, etc....they audible more than they don't.

So it's dumb to blame last night on playcalling. It's lazy and mindless thinking. This team moves the ball just fine so far with Dak at the helm.

The second down run made sense with only two yards to gain and a need to drain the clock. The second run was silly against that front. You don't run a toss play with the defense lined up out wide like that. Disaster.

And then, was the 4th down play really designed to go to Zeke? Dak was NOT required to throw it there. That is not coaching. That's a quarterback decision. I'm looking for Cooper there, and if he's doubled or tripled, the big tight ends should have advantages.

Last night was a great game. The Cowboys defense and interior offensive line play was the biggest problem, but there were others. Many others. And Dak was part of that late blunder, too.

I have a hard time blaming playcalling when you've got the ball at the 9 yard line going in for a game winning touchdown in a should-be 31-28 victory.

The game was there to be won. Dak played great, but I think he could have handled that sequence much better. It's lazy thinking to blame Kellen Moore, and even more so to blame Jason Garrett. Celebrate Dak last night, as he deserves, but don't absolve him entirely. He shared in this loss, too.

This fan base obsesses over coaching and playcalling in excess because the majority of it can't dissect what it's watching. Same with the click-baiting, non-thinking media.

 

[HungryLion]

Yeah. Why should we expect the coaches to call plays that will actually work?

 

[MysteryIceGuro]

I feel like his confidence was knocked. Imagine passing phenomenally all night long just for your play callers to continuously call plays for Zeke. I bet you those audibles he made were passing plays instead of attempts to run the ball with Zeke again, which Moore/Garrett loved last night. It’s almost as if they didn’t trust him on certain plays or something.

 

[Jake]

Defense is a thing as well. Too bad the Cowboys couldn't have played a little more of it. Maybe they wouldn't have needed 31 points?

 

[zrinkill]

What a stupid biased thread

 

[erod]

Yeah. Why should we expect the coaches to call plays that will actually work?

You mean the plays that went up and down the field all night and leads the league in offensive production? You know I hate stats, but moving the ball isn't a problem for this team.

Every playcall has multiple options. Once you get to the line and see the defensive look, you make changes. Brees and Brady change almost EVERY play at the line. Romo did that. All elite quarterbacks do. Dak did it a bunch last night.

I'm not blaming Dak for the loss, but to act like he's "trapped" into running the play called is just wrong. Just like he can throw the ball to. He's the one with the ball in his hand. He's calling the signals. It's his offense.

 

[Jkyle]

Most of you know my qualms with Dak Prescott and the prospect of paying him like a top-five quarterback. Forget that for now. Last night was not about that at all.

This isn't a Dak criticism post. I think the guy played really, really well last night. In fact, that's the best game I've ever seen him play by a mile. After a rocky start with an almost pick-six, he got himself together and played a tremendous game. Very, very good to see.

However, far too much focus is being placed on the play-calling at the end. Namely, the two run calls.

Any playcall can be cancelled with an audible. They are all the time. They are DESIGNED to be changed at the line of scrimmage based on looks or whatever.

If you remember, Tony Romo almost never ran the play that was sent in. Brady, Brees, Rodgers, etc, etc, etc....they audible more than they don't.

So it's dumb to blame last night on playcalling. It's lazy and mindless thinking. This team moves the ball just fine so far with Dak at the helm.

The second down run made sense with only two yards to gain and a need to drain the clock. The second run was silly against that front. You don't run a toss play with the defense lined up out wide like that. Disaster.

And then, was the 4th down play really designed to go to Zeke? Dak was NOT required to throw it there. That is not coaching. That's a quarterback decision. I'm looking for Cooper there, and if he's doubled or tripled, the big tight ends should have advantages.

Last night was a great game. The Cowboys defense and interior offensive line play was the biggest problem, but there were others. Many others. And Dak was part of that late blunder, too.

I have a hard time blaming playcalling when you've got the ball at the 9 yard line going in for a game winning touchdown in a should-be 31-28 victory.

The game was there to be won. Dak played great, but I think he could have handled that sequence much better. It's lazy thinking to blame Kellen Moore, and even more so to blame Jason Garrett. Celebrate Dak last night, as he deserves, but don't absolve him entirely. He shared in this loss, too.

This fan base obsesses over coaching and playcalling in excess because the majority of it can't dissect what it's watching. Same with the click-baiting, non-thinking media.

You are Dead On and I have the same sentiments.
Dak has the option to keep and run, he just made some wrong decisions last night, in an otherwise Good performance.
The Coaches give him that latitude and it's up to him to pull the trigger.

 

[HungryLion]

You mean the plays that went up and down the field all night and leads the league in offensive production? You know I hate stats, but moving the ball isn't a problem for this team.

Every playcall has multiple options. Once you get to the line and see the defensive look, you make changes. Brees and Brady change almost EVERY play at the line. Romo did that. All elite quarterbacks do. Dak did it a bunch last night.

I'm not blaming Dak for the loss, but to act like he's "trapped" into running the play called is just wrong. Just like he can throw the ball to. He's the one with the ball in his hand. He's calling the signals. It's his offense.

how many passes should Garret get? He has been the coach for 8 years.

its well past time to produce or go the hell away.

the offense moved up and down the field all night because Dak, Cooper and Cobb were playing incredibly and converting third and Longs at an unsustainable rate. Why did he have to convert so many 3rd and Longs? Because they kept running and doing nothing on first down.

the offense did everything they did IN SPITE OF the coaching. And then the coaching still managed to hold them back in the end.

that’s the reality.

 

[erod]

Defense is a thing as well. Too bad the Cowboys couldn't have played a little more of it. Maybe they wouldn't have needed 31 points?

That was troubling.

Vander Esch was junk. So was Jaylon. Our linebackers are killing us.

 

[sunalsorises]

Back to back runs on second and third down doesn't bother me but you sure as heck better have something ironclad ready for fourth down.

 

[erod]

how many passes should Garret get? He has been the coach for 8 years.

its well past time to produce or go the hell away.

He won't get another one. This year is it.

However, he does have the most productive offense in the NFL by the statistics-loving crowd. No. 1 in the league.

Last night was about the players.

 

[DC4L_0420]

4th and 5 smh why throw to Zeke running an out route on the short side of the field. Vikings where in man coverage if im not mistaken and Amari was open underneath on a slant route. Even if Dak doesn't audible out of that play it was the right call just a bad decision on that play. I blame the coaches for a lot but that wasn't one of them it was simply bad execution on that down. Dak played a hell of a game. Does anyone know how to prevent these slow starts? They are killing us.

 

[HungryLion]

He won't get another one. This year is it.

However, he does have the most productive offense in the NFL by the statistics-loving crowd. No. 1 in the league.

Last night was about the players.

yes. Last night was about the players. The players on offense, namely Dak and the receivers played incredible and moved the ball despite the coaches putting them into bad position over and over and over again.

Low percentage passes and catches all night long because our coaches had no answers. They converted an insane amount on 3rd and long because the coaches put them in that spot over and over again.

finally the players couldn’t overcome the disadvantage they were placed in.

 

[dckid]

Most of you know my qualms with Dak Prescott and the prospect of paying him like a top-five quarterback. Forget that for now. Last night was not about that at all.

This isn't a Dak criticism post. I think the guy played really, really well last night. In fact, that's the best game I've ever seen him play by a mile. After a rocky start with an almost pick-six, he got himself together and played a tremendous game. Very, very good to see.

However, far too much focus is being placed on the play-calling at the end. Namely, the two run calls.

Any playcall can be cancelled with an audible. They are all the time. They are DESIGNED to be changed at the line of scrimmage based on looks or whatever.

If you remember, Tony Romo almost never ran the play that was sent in. Brady, Brees, Rodgers, etc, etc, etc....they audible more than they don't.

So it's dumb to blame last night on playcalling. It's lazy and mindless thinking. This team moves the ball just fine so far with Dak at the helm.

The second down run made sense with only two yards to gain and a need to drain the clock. The second run was silly against that front. You don't run a toss play with the defense lined up out wide like that. Disaster.

And then, was the 4th down play really designed to go to Zeke? Dak was NOT required to throw it there. That is not coaching. That's a quarterback decision. I'm looking for Cooper there, and if he's doubled or tripled, the big tight ends should have advantages.

Last night was a great game. The Cowboys defense and interior offensive line play was the biggest problem, but there were others. Many others. And Dak was part of that late blunder, too.

I have a hard time blaming playcalling when you've got the ball at the 9 yard line going in for a game winning touchdown in a should-be 31-28 victory.

The game was there to be won. Dak played great, but I think he could have handled that sequence much better. It's lazy thinking to blame Kellen Moore, and even more so to blame Jason Garrett. Celebrate Dak last night, as he deserves, but don't absolve him entirely. He shared in this loss, too.

This fan base obsesses over coaching and playcalling in excess because the majority of it can't dissect what it's watching. Same with the click-baiting, non-thinking media.

Disagree, your contrarian point of view would be valid on almost any other coaching staff! Cowboys played not to lose. The Vikes could not move the ball if they didn’t have the threat of PA. Even if we score with a minute left I believe we win the game. The Vikes offense without Thielen could not beat us in the passing game.
We have poor coaching across the board. Teams know how to run against us. Zone blocking me be cut guys gash us.
Can we use the Vikes running scheme for Zeke? Our guy is mauled in the backfield no lanes no nothing. Give the man a head of steam.
I hate to say it but Derrick’ Henry looks like a better player right now. (Unrelated thought)

 

[Whirlwin]

Bottom line. We can't run. And we can't stop the run. Prescott was absolutely brilliant. Best game I think I've ever seen him play and that's saying a lot because the kid has been a winner. We know who's tripping on their own ego.

 

[SDCowboy]

C'mon bruh.

 

[Whirlwin]

The League's best running back down hill. And you run him wide. I wanted to break the TV set

 

[BleedinBlue]

It is strictly conjecture and no where will you find any proof that the above mentioned QB,s audible out of more plays than they don't. Just something else to add to the long list of made up facts and spinning a narrative.
Yes Dak could've changed the play but I guess he is supposed to diagnose Conner Williams getting blown up.
These slow starts are not only on the O but mostly on the D. Where is it written that because you don't score on your first 2 drives it's okay for the other team to do so.
The RPO is easily exaggerated. Send in a play you think will work, something you saw on tape , something you think will work in that situation against a scouted opponent. The play calling was at fault along with the execution.

 

[shabazz]

Reminds me so much of the Romo era. I too thought Dakota played an excellent game and if he slingin that rock trying to get the team back in this game I dont give a crap about an interception. Id rather go down swinging rather than the previous dink and dunk, play not to lose mentality. He faced a way better defense and that is what I have been waiting for. If he can continue to play this well and improve his reads I would be pleased not to have to get a different QB and waste the time invested in him.

He fell short yesterday but as has been discussed, hes not the reason they lost. The upcoming games should solidify his growth or lack thereof but yesterday was a good start against a decent defense.

 

[Sydla]

You wrote a lot of useless words just to say, hey guys, stop blaming Garrett.

You people are insane. How many more years of this crap do you need to see before you finally see what is patently obvious.

I am stunned at the blindness being exhibited around here.