Buffalo Did Us a Favor

[percyhoward]

Here's how last year's play selection broke down, on passes thrown 1-20 yards. This is air yardage, or how far the ball travels before the catch.

2006 (Romo)
Passes Thrown 1-10 Yards: 164 attempts (72%)
Passes Thrown 11-20 Yards: 64 attempts (28%)

Of the 229 passes thrown 1-20 yards, 164 (or 72%) were of the shorter variety (1-10). This isn't as one-sided as it seems when you consider that the longer routes gain more yardage. It was actually pretty good balance. Now fast forward to 2007.

2007 (thru 4 games)
Passes Thrown 1-10 Yards: 33 attempts (50%)
Passes Thrown 11-20 Yards: 33 attempts (50%)

Huge change in philosophy with the new OC. At first glance, it seems like good balance, but it isn't really, because it gives defenses little reason to worry about the shorter routes. The Bills' staff planned their defensive approach to last night's game basing it on these numbers. We played right into their hands, until we adjusted on the last two drives. In this way, the Bills did us a favor.

In our RB's, we have receiving weapons which we have seldom used the past two seasons. We may even have a decent pass-catching FB in Anderson. We can incorporate more of the shorter routes with the wideouts that worked so well last year, and it will open up the longer stuff. The yards are still there, whether they come in chunks or small bites.

We're lucky this change in the way teams were defending our passing game happened last night, and not next week vs. NE.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I have to agree with you. If Belichick had done that (which some of us thought he might do), and Romo has a game anything like that, we have no chance to win. Now, we can work on that all week and hopefully get a more balanced attack.

I was thinking this morning that Belicheat was probably cursing Jauron all night long for running his game plan a week early.

 

[percyhoward]

I was thinking this morning that Belicheat was probably cursing Jauron all night long for running his game plan a week early.

Yep, and I have to agree with your sig pick.

Now someone will say that Garrett put off throwing short until the 4th quarter because he was trying to set up the Pats.

 

[hairic]

Here's how last year's play selection broke down, on passes thrown 1-20 yards. This is air yardage, or how far the ball travels before the catch.

2006 (Romo)
Passes Thrown 1-10 Yards: 164 attempts (72%)
Passes Thrown 11-20 Yards: 64 attempts (28%)

Of the 229 passes thrown 1-20 yards, 164 (or 72%) were of the shorter variety (1-10). This isn't as one-sided as it seems when you consider that the longer routes gain more yardage. It was actually pretty good balance. Now fast forward to 2007.

2007 (thru 4 games)
Passes Thrown 1-10 Yards: 33 attempts (50%)
Passes Thrown 11-20 Yards: 33 attempts (50%)

Huge change in philosophy with the new OC. At first glance, it seems like good balance, but it isn't really, because it gives defenses little reason to worry about the shorter routes. The Bills' staff planned their defensive approach to last night's game basing it on these numbers. We played right into their hands, until we adjusted on the last two drives. In this way, the Bills did us a favor.

In our RB's, we have receiving weapons which we have seldom used the past two seasons. We may even have a decent pass-catching FB in Anderson. We can incorporate more of the shorter routes with the wideouts that worked so well last year, and it will open up the longer stuff. The yards are still there, whether they come in chunks or small bites.

We're lucky this change in the way teams were defending our passing game happened last night, and not next week vs. NE.

Where did you get the 33s from? I have Romo with 99 pass attempts in that depth range thru 4 games. Thirteen over 21 yards. Ten of 0 yards and under. 122 total.

Anyway, yeah, the point still remains as the % only changes to 52.5%/47.5% (52 @ 1-10, 47 @ 11-20). Romo's INTs also came on an average pass depth of 19.67 yards prior to the Buffalo game (13, 15, and 31).

 

[Nors]

I think in many ways the Bills schemed to confuse Romo. They sttod up Dline and jammed run early and flooded back in coverage in passing situations and read Romo.

I had called the Pats 2 man look and dropping back last few days. I know think Hoodie is going after Romo. Like a shark that smells blood, he's goint to try and hit Romo all game. They will be diverse like Bills and drop into coverage but you might see more 6 man rushes to physically beat up Romo.

That was about only the second time I ever saw Romo rattled, but to his credit he drove us with game on line.