Better or worse than in 2015 (Offensive edition)

[Zekeats]

Oline should be better with a real RB and QB

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Then why is his ypc declining? His career high is 11.9 and in 2013 it was 11.7 and 2014 11.0.

His plays over 20 yards have been evaporating. He is no longer a threat downfield I would have to look at all the routes he ran as opposed to last year to come up with an informed answer to that but those throws down the seam have dried up.

 

[Risen Star]

Offensive line's better. Collins is no longer a rookie. All 4 guys are maturing into crafty veterans.

 

[Bullflop]

Let me know how many games Romo will miss, and I'll let you know where the offense stands compared to 2015.

Even if Romo misses some games in 2016, chances are good he won't miss as many as he did in 2015.

 

[jazzcat22]

Looking forward as to how the FB's will be used now. If they increase their role. The one plus with Rod Smith at FB, he can also be a threat to run the ball, or catch. As they had him lined up as a receiver last year on some plays.
Jason likes having a Fb on the roster. I don't get where fans keep insisting they won't carry a FB. Yes, that possibility exists. They tried it before with keeping 50 TE's around. It didn't work. Soon they brought back in a FB. And have had one ever since.

 

[Jarv]

Looking forward as to how the FB's will be used now. If they increase their role. The one plus with Rod Smith at FB, he can also be a threat to run the ball, or catch. As they had him lined up as a receiver last year on some plays.
Jason likes having a Fb on the roster. I don't get where fans keep insisting they won't carry a FB. Yes, that possibility exists. They tried it before with keeping 50 TE's around. It didn't work. Soon they brought back in a FB. And have had one ever since.

I like Morris in that role and he can still be a backup RB. That might allow to keep Jackson and Dunbar will be on PUP anyway. My ideal backfield would be EE, McFadden, Morris (Part time FB) and Jackson.

 

[jazzcat22]

I like Morris in that role and he can still be a backup RB. That might allow to keep Jackson and Dunbar will be on PUP anyway. My ideal backfield would be EE, McFadden, Morris (Part time FB) and Jackson.

But Rod Smith also is a very good ST's player....Morris does not play St's that i know of. Jackson will need to play ST's. Not sure if they will trot him out there for returns right away, if he can do that. Look how long it took for them to trust Lucky. then it was when the season was pretty much over.

 

[Jarv]

But Rod Smith also is a very good ST's player....Morris does not play St's that i know of. Jackson will need to play ST's. Not sure if they will trot him out there for returns right away, if he can do that. Look how long it took for them to trust Lucky. then it was when the season was pretty much over.

You got me there, it's going to be a hard cut come September. I agree though that I want one of there RBs to step up as the p/t RB.

 

[JBS]

I'm hoping the WRs not named Dez step up and really turn this offense into an unstoppable force...there's so many things going for this team to help make that happen

Romo is healthy
Zeke will command a ton of attention
OL should be better
Dez will get his share of double teams

TWill, Beasley, and Butler will have a plethora of opportunities to blossom into something special...I'm hoping one of these guys really steps up and becomes a real force.. I wouldn't be surprised if multiple guys from this list go on to have a big season

 

[gimmesix]

Looking forward as to how the FB's will be used now. If they increase their role. The one plus with Rod Smith at FB, he can also be a threat to run the ball, or catch. As they had him lined up as a receiver last year on some plays.
Jason likes having a Fb on the roster. I don't get where fans keep insisting they won't carry a FB. Yes, that possibility exists. They tried it before with keeping 50 TE's around. It didn't work. Soon they brought back in a FB. And have had one ever since.

And that might be one of the reasons why the team is experimenting. Garrett wants a Moose-like fullback (he stated that years ago), but few seem to exist anymore. The closest he might can get is a converted tailback who can block some while also being able to catch and run.

However, I think the biggest reason for trying to convert the Smiths is because both are good on special teams. Knowing that the position is going to take up a game-day spot, the team can't really afford for the fullback to be a player who is on the field for just a few offensive snaps.

 

[gimmesix]

Offensive line's better. Collins is no longer a rookie. All 4 guys are maturing into crafty veterans.

I hedged on that because while I'm expecting it to be the case, I want to see it first. I expected the line to be better last year than in 2014, but the injuries in camp slowed its progress and eventually led to Collins replacing Leary.

 

[gimmesix]

He used to run down the seam free a lot. Guy are now able to catch up with him. I understand he uses leverage, pushoffs and that huge frame to get open on cuts but flies don't afford you such opportunities.

I don't think he ever did it a lot, but I have been rewatching some of the 2006-2008 games and it seemed like that was definitely part of the playbook. Like I said, I'd have to go back and look at 2014 to see if it changed. I'm discounting 2015 because of who we had at QB. It's hard to base any kind of judgment on that.

Overall, I would assume he has slowed some based on the eye test, but because his game isn't built on speed, there really hasn't been much of a difference in his YPC. It's hard to say a guy is falling off a cliff when his YPC is pretty much steady (with a few aberrations). His number of catches and yards has fluctuated, but it's hard to just say that's a product of declining performance. There was a stretch there from 2007-2012 where he was catching at least 80 passes a season (with a high of 110 in 2012), but you've got to factor in how much we were passing the ball and whether we had other reliable receivers.

If Romo is healthy this year, we should be able to tell how close Witten is to the end. I think, though, he's the type of player who will be good until he decides to retire, simply because of his understanding of how to play the position.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I don't think he ever did it a lot, but I have been rewatching some of the 2006-2008 games and it seemed like that was definitely part of the playbook. Like I said, I'd have to go back and look at 2014 to see if it changed. I'm discounting 2015 because of who we had at QB. It's hard to base any kind of judgment on that.

Overall, I would assume he has slowed some based on the eye test, but because his game isn't built on speed, there really hasn't been much of a difference in his YPC. It's hard to say a guy is falling off a cliff when his YPC is pretty much steady (with a few aberrations). His number of catches and yards has fluctuated, but it's hard to just say that's a product of declining performance. There was a stretch there from 2007-2012 where he was catching at least 80 passes a season (with a high of 110 in 2012), but you've got to factor in how much we were passing the ball and whether we had other reliable receivers.

If Romo is healthy this year, we should be able to tell how close Witten is to the end. I think, though, he's the type of player who will be good until he decides to retire, simply because of his understanding of how to play the position.

His receptions of 40+ have completely dried up and his 20+ receptions are dwindling. An 11 YPC is not exactly impressive to begin with.

 

[gimmesix]

An 11 YPC is not exactly impressive to begin with.

Yet that's who he always has been as a future Hall of Famer. His games has never been built around 40-plus-yard receptions. As far as the 20-plus-yard receptions go, again I'd have to go back and look at 2014 compared to previous years. There's probably a chart on that somewhere.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Yet that's who he always has been as a future Hall of Famer. His games has never been built around 40-plus-yard receptions. As far as the 20-plus-yard receptions go, again I'd have to go back and look at 2014 compared to previous years. There's probably a chart on that somewhere.

There are typically only ever a couple 40+ in any game. In his younger years he would get a couple few year after year. Not anymore. Last couple of years his throws of 20+ are about half of what they were before.

He's clearly lost a step and at his age it is little surprise.