Bob Sturm Blog: Football 301: Decoding Jason Garrett – Week 1

[Bob Sacamano]

that'll do pig, that'll do

 

[theogt]

You're doing fine.

Now if you could get burm to figure it out.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Now if you could get burm to figure it out.

burm knows how. He just refuses to use the quote function. Just being contrary.

 

[sonnyboy]

Fantastic Article!

I've had wood over our 2 TE potential for some time and I know I'm not alone.

Far be it form me to complain or nit pick after a huge offensive showing and I know enough to know I don't, BUT..............

Can anyone explain a few things to me?

1) Why not use the 2TE set more often?

2) Why use our FB outside of obvious short yardage?

3) Why not use Barber as FB in our 2 back set?

 

[dest]

First, let me say this, the report that Bob reported and wrote was excellent for us as fans to read and see how the team operated, and scored.

My question is this to the fans of the dallas cowboys, hostile, woodysgirl, and others. Isnt this at the same time giving full breakdown on our team. Don't other team fans visit this board like skins fans, eagle fans and giant fans.

Wouldnt they be saying oh goody, they are exposing the cowboys plays to us, now we can report this to our team, so we can beat them?

I am not trying to say that I am knocking the report, was a beauty to see. Like Hostile said a clinic on football covering the cowboys. Yet, doesnt that expose the cowboys. Yeah, I know that teams view their own films of teams etc. But what if in that report is something that the opposing team missed in their scouting the cowboys, and that report brings to light some way to attack the cowboys. Wouldnt that be hurting the cowboys instead?

Wouldnt it be better to find writers that expose their team, like the giant writers, or the eagle writers, or the Commander writers?

So, in a small way, i challenge other cowboys fans to find breakdown on writeups of opposing teams like bob did on our team.

Just a thought that I had.

Holy lol.

 

[theogt]

burm knows how. He just refuses to use the quote function. Just being contrary.

Very much so to reply to a 20+ page thread, not quoting anyone, with just "You have no idea what your (sic) talking about."

Of course, it could be an appropriate response, in most cases, to the entire thread.

 

[BAT]

It will be a challenge for them to handle things coverage-wise. They are short in the DB department and their linebackers are not very good in coverage (this is one reason they got Boley in the first place).

Before getting too excited, there is one minor detail. The Giants are 100 times better at rushing the QB than Tampa Bay and more than likely, we will see Witten and/or Bennett held in a lot to help in protection.

I completely agree, the Giants are salivating at the thought of the Cowboys passing out of the "12" and "13" formations. But I think Garrett is setting them up, or he should be, and will be running out of these formations, at least initially.

Running out of the 12 and 13 will put the Giants' pass rush on its heels, setting up the big pass plays and play action. I am drooling just writing this.

And big props to Sturm, excellent excellent analysis. Who cares if he is breaking down the Cowboys playbook from the Tampa game, its not like the Giants have not done the same. Knowing is one thing, but stopping it is something else entirely.

 

[theogt]

I completely agree, the Giants are salivating at the thought of the Cowboys passing out of the "12" and "13" formations.

Just curious as to why they'd be salivating at this? It's typically a max protect formation, which makes it more difficult to passrush, but the option of having two receiving tight end is what makes it difficult to defend.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Just curious as to why they'd be salivating at this? It's typically a max protect formation, which makes it more difficult to passrush, but the option of having two receiving tight end is what makes it difficult to defend.

this

we got 2 great blocking TEs in addition to 5 linemen

 

[BAT]

Just curious as to why they'd be salivating at this? It's typically a max protect formation, which makes it more difficult to passrush, but the option of having two receiving tight end is what makes it difficult to defend.

It CAN be used for max protection, but when the Cowboys split the TEs wide, it is definitely NOT a max protect formation & the Giant defenders will pin their ears back every time. Giants have a fiercer pass rush than the Bucs, and even on those big pass plays, there was a pass rusher on Romo's back or in his lap, just before he got the pass off. The Giants know they can get there sooner and better than the Bucs.

Cowboys just need to set up the threat of the run from those formations to calm the waters first.

 

[theogt]

It CAN be used for max protection, but when the Cowboys split the TEs wide, it is definitely NOT a max protect formation & the Giant defenders will pin their ears back every time.

The key, obviously, is that you base your personnel packages based on who goes into the huddle. You cant substitute after the TE is split out wide.

But if they want to pin their ears back, with 5 or more rushers, while Bennett or Witten are running crossing routes over the middle, more power to them.

 

[BAT]

The key, obviously, is that you base your personnel packages based on who goes into the huddle. You cant substitute after the TE is split out wide.

But if they want to pin their ears back, with 5 or more rushers, while Bennett or Witten are running crossing routes over the middle, more power to them.

And they will. The Giants D under Spagnuolo (and Jim Johnson's Eagles) attack offenses more than defending/reacting to them. They are aggressive. I expect to see a cover 2 shell with lots of zone dogs from the LBs, with the DL dropping into zones. But the key to effective zone defense is an effective pass rush. The Giants appear to have retained Spanuolo's philosophy on D, they will attack from different points on the field, feeling out and taking advantage of mismatches. There will be corner and safety blitzes too, more than what Dallas saw from Tampa.

 

[JustDezIt]

First, let me say this, the report that Bob reported and wrote was excellent for us as fans to read and see how the team operated, and scored.

My question is this to the fans of the dallas cowboys, hostile, woodysgirl, and others. Isnt this at the same time giving full breakdown on our team. Don't other team fans visit this board like skins fans, eagle fans and giant fans.

Wouldnt they be saying oh goody, they are exposing the cowboys plays to us, now we can report this to our team, so we can beat them?

I am not trying to say that I am knocking the report, was a beauty to see. Like Hostile said a clinic on football covering the cowboys. Yet, doesnt that expose the cowboys. Yeah, I know that teams view their own films of teams etc. But what if in that report is something that the opposing team missed in their scouting the cowboys, and that report brings to light some way to attack the cowboys. Wouldnt that be hurting the cowboys instead?

Wouldnt it be better to find writers that expose their team, like the giant writers, or the eagle writers, or the Commander writers?

So, in a small way, i challenge other cowboys fans to find breakdown on writeups of opposing teams like bob did on our team.

Just a thought that I had.

if Bob Sturm is better then their football people they have bigger problems then us....

 

[JBell]

Excellent read.

JG did a brilliant job of keeping everyone on their toes on Sunday.

If there's one thing that's predictable about him, it's when Miles Austin is in the game.

I've noticed that usually 1-2 times a game, Austin will be the lone WR in a formation, and it's ALWAYS a playaction deep pass.

We tried it once on Sunday but Romo had no time to throw and it resulted in an incompletion.

Wonder if anyone else noticed this.

 

[percyhoward]

For the most part, Bob merely broke down personnel groupings. NFL teams will break down every play by personnel (both by position and by specific players), formation and game situation, and they'll know the tendencies in every combination of those.

That's an important point. When he says Garrett rarely falls into a pattern, he's talking about packages--not play calling.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

GREAT read!

 

[BAT]

And they will. The Giants D under Spagnuolo (and Jim Johnson's Eagles) attack offenses more than defending/reacting to them. They are aggressive. I expect to see a cover 2 shell with lots of zone dogs from the LBs, with the DL dropping into zones. But the key to effective zone defense is an effective pass rush. The Giants appear to have retained Spanuolo's philosophy on D, they will attack from different points on the field, feeling out and taking advantage of mismatches. There will be corner and safety blitzes too, more than what Dallas saw from Tampa.

Joe found an article that is probably explains what I am trying to get across more articulately.

 

[Hostile]

That's an important point. When he says Garrett rarely falls into a pattern, he's talking about packages--not play calling.

Correct sir.