Changes to the Offense

[DanA]

What I want to see.

1. Option Read
Why did this get demoted after being so successful in 2016/17? I thought there were some really effective play designs around this concept and then we went cold on it. It should be a staple, maybe not as heavy as it was in 2017 and dial it back when the game is iced as there's no need to risk Dak needlessly, but to me it's still something that we should regularly use.

2. Screen Pass
I think we under-utilized the screen pass. Zeke had really good numbers in the passing game for the year and I think we could expand his route tree, but it felt like we could have run the screen pass where we pulled linemen a bit more often. It certainly didn't seem like it was blown up too often. It's my favorite thing that we did.

3. More Player Input
Cooper's comments postgame said it all. He was getting frustrated with his opponent sitting on the comeback route and we just kept sending him out to run them. It took him getting mad and leaning on Dak to finally get the play call changed that led to the TD and it shouldn't take that much. I get that there can be too many voices, but we need to empower our key players and trust what they're seeing. That doesn't mean everybody shouting to be heard, but if the no.1 WR is seeing something, trust him and make the adjustment. Hopefully, Kellen Moore will be more collaborative in this regard. I suspect Dak will feel more comfortable having an input given their history as peers.

4.Goal Line Play Calling
I feel like we were creative in the wrong way. I get not being predictable, but over the course of the year, Zeke was 20th in the league for rushed TDs (6), and to me that's inexcusable. It's not like he was getting regularly stuffed, he just wasn't getting the ball. Dak also had 6 rushed TD's, which I'm okay with, but I think it should be more like 12 for Zeke and 8 for Dak given how effective Zeke is running between the tackles and my opinion on the Option Read above. Certainly, I want us to stop being cute with plays that wind up targetting Noah Brown or Olawale. I'm okay mixing it up game to game, play to play, but at the end of the season the numbers should be predictable.

5. Tavon Austin
Let's look at how he was used. Austin's stats (excluding ST, targets include carries):
Week 1: 10 snaps, 0 targets
Week 2: 18 snaps, 3 targets, 94 yards, 1 TD
Week 3: 19 snaps, 4 targets, 20 yards, 1 TD
Week 4: 17 snaps, 2 targets, 7 yards
Week 5: 19 snaps, 3 targets, 44 yards
Week 6: 18 snaps, 3 targets, 19 yards

Prior to the injury, Austin was playing less than 35% of snaps and getting less than one carry per game despite 9.0 ypc and pretty good completion percentage (75%). He was only targeted 2.5 times a game (including carries) for an average of 29 yards a game. I don't get it, to me it should have been double that not just for what he was doing with the ball but also what motioning does to the defense. And I'm not saying Tavon Austin should be re-signed either. I am saying we need a sub 4.4 guy that offers an east/west threat, plays more the 30 snaps a game on offense and combine has a total targeted/carries of 5+ a game. I'd actually probably prefer someone else that's not Austin.

6. Draft a TE and Stop the Check Downs
I'm bullish but not yet sold on Jarwin, and IMO Swaim was a list clogging that's average at best for an NFL TE. I don't know how many times we checked down to Zeke and Swaim on 3rd down but it was doing my head in. It was annoying with Witten the torch was carried on by Swaim. I'd guess by November we'd seen 15-20 check-downs with a 75% failed conversions rate between the two of them. Please no more, let's rebuild the TE group, and stop with the check down play calling that TE's with no athleticism short of the 1st down. Note: That does not me Rico Gathers.

We don't need a whole new offense. Just some tweaks of what we've already seen work and change in the way things are used.

 

[StarBoyz83]

I really dont expect much to change. Itll be the same scheme and playbook just with a different play caller. Hopefully just not as bland and predictable.

 

[Aven8]

I’ll just take plain old deception.

 

[Tabascocat]

Scheme/gameplan to take advantage of each teams weaknesses, not just line-up and beat your man nonsense.

 

[nalam]

Garetts scheme ( a la 90's principle) has to go.
Straight up my man is better than yours and we will excute and beat hope.

In this day of data and analysis , every one identifies the tendencies and explore how to overcome that. (Example- Rams game ) where they ate our lunch in the running game .

 

[beware_d-ware]

I want to get more spread passing concepts on this team. Pick plays, trips sets, smoke screens, hurry up, etc. The NFL is slanted in favor of these passing tactics, so I don't get why we're not employing them.

RPOs, I can kind of understand not using those as much because you don't want Dak taking too many shots (remember how nervous we were when he got his bell rung against Jacksonville). But we've got a QB who's most comfortable in spread passing and an RB centerpiece who can function extremely well in the spread too with 70 catches and some ace pass blocking, so I'd like it if we opened that up a bit more.

I think our red zone offense should improve just by not having Linehan. I can kind of understand his play calls in the red zone, everyone there is expecting you to hammer it with Zeke so that gives you favorable matchups elsewhere, but he got way too cute with it. The Dak/Zeke RPO inside the 5 is almost as much of a money play as the Romo/Dez fade IMO and should be broken out regularly near the goal line. Again, I don't like calling it often because of the risk to Dak, but having 7 points on the line for 1 carry is exactly the right time to use it.

 

[buybuydandavis]

5. Tavon Austin

Prior to the injury, Austin was playing less than 35% of snaps and getting less than one carry per game despite 9.0 ypc and pretty good completion percentage (75%). He was only targeted 2.5 times a game (including carries) for an average of 29 yards a game. I don't get it, to me it should have been double that not just for what he was doing with the ball but also what motioning does to the defense. And I'm not saying Tavon Austin should be re-signed either. I am saying we need a sub 4.4 guy that offers an east/west threat, plays more the 30 snaps a game on offense and combine has a total targeted/carries of 5+ a game. I'd actually probably prefer someone else that's not Austin.

This is the flip side of "next man up", the "don't care how well you're playing, you're not part of the plan." In both cases, we don't adjust to the players we have. We just "do what we do".

We should have used Austin more. 14 yds/touch. What's a guy gotta do around here to get noticed?

They've spent years looking exactly for him. Gimmick "web" back who can run/return/go deep. Perfect complement to our run game with Zeke. Horizontal run threat, vertical receiving threat.

I wish he were more stout, but in my Offense, he's more of a decoy than a guy touching the ball. For most of his career, he was about a 4.5 touch per game plus punts. That's showing up for a gimmick player.

If not Austin, maybe Gallup can be the jet sweep guy? I really don't see why it has to be some tiny fellow.

 

[buybuydandavis]

I want to get more spread passing concepts on this team. Pick plays, trips sets, smoke screens, hurry up, etc. The NFL is slanted in favor of these passing tactics, so I don't get why we're not employing them.

RPOs, I can kind of understand not using those as much because you don't want Dak taking too many shots (remember how nervous we were when he got his bell rung against Jacksonville). But we've got a QB who's most comfortable in spread passing and an RB centerpiece who can function extremely well in the spread too with 70 catches and some ace pass blocking, so I'd like it if we opened that up a bit more.

I think our red zone offense should improve just by not having Linehan. I can kind of understand his play calls in the red zone, everyone there is expecting you to hammer it with Zeke so that gives you favorable matchups elsewhere, but he got way too cute with it. The Dak/Zeke RPO inside the 5 is almost as much of a money play as the Romo/Dez fade IMO and should be broken out regularly near the goal line. Again, I don't like calling it often because of the risk to Dak, but having 7 points on the line for 1 carry is exactly the right time to use it.

We should be so impossible to stop near the goal line.

If they're biting on Zeke roll out with it and run or pass to TE. Multiple opportunities to read the defense and take the best opportunity, and if everything looks like a loser, throw the ball away. Playing to all our strengths, run blocking, Zeke, Dak running, and giving Dak an easy and safe throw as an option.

I don't get the daintiness with Dak. He's built like a LB, and he gets the protection afforded to QBs when he runs. He took twice the carries per season in college with fewer games.

Is getting hit as a stationary target in the pocket by dlinemen supposed to be better than taking on a CB on the edge?

And of Dak's TD runs, how many is he running upright into the end zone? I could do without the cartwheels, but I remember a lot of strolls into the endzone.

 

[Zekeats]

I would love to see a FB in front of Zeke more.

 

[PhillySpecial]

We should be so impossible to stop near the goal line.

If they're biting on Zeke roll out with it and run or pass to TE. Multiple opportunities to read the defense and take the best opportunity, and if everything looks like a loser, throw the ball away. Playing to all our strengths, run blocking, Zeke, Dak running, and giving Dak an easy and safe throw as an option.

I don't get the daintiness with Dak. He's built like a LB, and he gets the protection afforded to QBs when he runs. He took twice the carries per season in college with fewer games.

Is getting hit as a stationary target in the pocket by dlinemen supposed to be better than taking on a CB on the edge?

And of Dak's TD runs, how many is he running upright into the end zone? I could do without the cartwheels, but I remember a lot of strolls into the endzone.

QBs aren't protected when they run. They're only protected inside the pocket. Once they leave the pocket, they can be hit like any RB, WR, TE. Even behind the LOS.

 

[Vinnie2u]

I take stop being so predictable!

 

[glimmerman]

1 - They tried to make Dak into a pocket passer. Huge mistake. Dak is a running QB and he is a big one, lessening the chances of injury but the chance is still there so I get it from the staff. Designed rollouts are a good option. He does have to work on his scrambling, he has had plenty of wide open lanes to run when no one open. He needs to open that part of his game.

2 - We began using the screen more toward the second half of the year. Expect that to continue but you can’t over do it or teams will sit on it.

3 - I agree and it’s wjy I didn’t like my OC in a booth. He needs to be on the ground around his players communicating with the players to make adjustments with the WR and QB so they are on the same page. You make a adjustments with a WR to zig instead of zag and the QB isn’t in the loop and the QB will throw the zag and a int.

4 - Agreed, If we go into another season of being on the goal line and throwing it 3 straight times and I will have a heart attack. We have a good O-Line and a good RB. Pound the ball or use the read option. Even a sneak. But run the ball there.

5 - Austin is likely gone. He is speedy but will want more money than Beez and Austin is injury prone. If he wants to try another prove it deal for a descent price then ok. But he is like Lee, you need to plan on not having him for a whole season.

6 - I actually think that our TEs will be better this year. Work with Swaim on a 1 or 2 year deal. Jarwin came a long way last year and Schultz will step up this year. Not opposed to a veteran perhaps but I think we will be ok. Dak opened the TE game up in the giants game and was very effective.

7 - We will be better from a growth standpoint this year alone. Dak and the other young players will improve and hopefully our O- Line will be healthy. Get some depth there and away we go. Maybe with a new OC and new wrinkles we won’t be as predictable. Hope we get off to a fast start. No 3-5 start... Let’s start off winning and keep going....

 

[pancakeman]

Hitting receivers on the move, not just planted in soft spots in the zone. I’ll take a downtick in completion percentage if it means more explosive run-after-catch plays. If these are avoided to make the offense more “Dak-friendly” that may be short-sighted: his job gets easier if such plays become more of a threat.

 

[Screw The Hall]

I’ve always believed in the concept that changing and controlling pace is the easiest way to throw the opposing defense a curve ball in every sport.

I’m not just talking about speeding up or slowing down the tempo either. I mean starting at 1 tempo, and as soon as the defense seems to have figured that out and gets into a groove .... change it up immediately and drastically.

Don’t wait for a quarter and a half to play around with pace either. I think pace is a tool that an offense should constantly be tinkering with to disturb a defenses ability to anticipate snap counts, get into a rhythm with their pass rush, fill their gaps, have effective communication in the secondary, and hinder substitutions. I would never stop applying this type of pressure.

Your opponent should “NEVER” feel confident anticipating your snap count. Why would you willingly take the guesswork for the enemy out of a part of the game you are in complete control of.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

What I want to see.

1. Option Read
Why did this get demoted after being so successful in 2016/17? I thought there were some really effective play designs around this concept and then we went cold on it. It should be a staple, maybe not as heavy as it was in 2017 and dial it back when the game is iced as there's no need to risk Dak needlessly, but to me it's still something that we should regularly use.

2. Screen Pass
I think we under-utilized the screen pass. Zeke had really good numbers in the passing game for the year and I think we could expand his route tree, but it felt like we could have run the screen pass where we pulled linemen a bit more often. It certainly didn't seem like it was blown up too often. It's my favorite thing that we did.

3. More Player Input
Cooper's comments postgame said it all. He was getting frustrated with his opponent sitting on the comeback route and we just kept sending him out to run them. It took him getting mad and leaning on Dak to finally get the play call changed that led to the TD and it shouldn't take that much. I get that there can be too many voices, but we need to empower our key players and trust what they're seeing. That doesn't mean everybody shouting to be heard, but if the no.1 WR is seeing something, trust him and make the adjustment. Hopefully, Kellen Moore will be more collaborative in this regard. I suspect Dak will feel more comfortable having an input given their history as peers.

4.Goal Line Play Calling
I feel like we were creative in the wrong way. I get not being predictable, but over the course of the year, Zeke was 20th in the league for rushed TDs (6), and to me that's inexcusable. It's not like he was getting regularly stuffed, he just wasn't getting the ball. Dak also had 6 rushed TD's, which I'm okay with, but I think it should be more like 12 for Zeke and 8 for Dak given how effective Zeke is running between the tackles and my opinion on the Option Read above. Certainly, I want us to stop being cute with plays that wind up targetting Noah Brown or Olawale. I'm okay mixing it up game to game, play to play, but at the end of the season the numbers should be predictable.

5. Tavon Austin
Let's look at how he was used. Austin's stats (excluding ST, targets include carries):
Week 1: 10 snaps, 0 targets
Week 2: 18 snaps, 3 targets, 94 yards, 1 TD
Week 3: 19 snaps, 4 targets, 20 yards, 1 TD
Week 4: 17 snaps, 2 targets, 7 yards
Week 5: 19 snaps, 3 targets, 44 yards
Week 6: 18 snaps, 3 targets, 19 yards

Prior to the injury, Austin was playing less than 35% of snaps and getting less than one carry per game despite 9.0 ypc and pretty good completion percentage (75%). He was only targeted 2.5 times a game (including carries) for an average of 29 yards a game. I don't get it, to me it should have been double that not just for what he was doing with the ball but also what motioning does to the defense. And I'm not saying Tavon Austin should be re-signed either. I am saying we need a sub 4.4 guy that offers an east/west threat, plays more the 30 snaps a game on offense and combine has a total targeted/carries of 5+ a game. I'd actually probably prefer someone else that's not Austin.

6. Draft a TE and Stop the Check Downs
I'm bullish but not yet sold on Jarwin, and IMO Swaim was a list clogging that's average at best for an NFL TE. I don't know how many times we checked down to Zeke and Swaim on 3rd down but it was doing my head in. It was annoying with Witten the torch was carried on by Swaim. I'd guess by November we'd seen 15-20 check-downs with a 75% failed conversions rate between the two of them. Please no more, let's rebuild the TE group, and stop with the check down play calling that TE's with no athleticism short of the 1st down. Note: That does not me Rico Gathers.

We don't need a whole new offense. Just some tweaks of what we've already seen work and change in the way things are used.

Nice, thoughtful post. You’re one of the low key great posters around here.

 

[Romotil45]

What I want to see.

1. Option Read
Why did this get demoted after being so successful in 2016/17? I thought there were some really effective play designs around this concept and then we went cold on it. It should be a staple, maybe not as heavy as it was in 2017 and dial it back when the game is iced as there's no need to risk Dak needlessly, but to me it's still something that we should regularly use.

2. Screen Pass
I think we under-utilized the screen pass. Zeke had really good numbers in the passing game for the year and I think we could expand his route tree, but it felt like we could have run the screen pass where we pulled linemen a bit more often. It certainly didn't seem like it was blown up too often. It's my favorite thing that we did.

3. More Player Input
Cooper's comments postgame said it all. He was getting frustrated with his opponent sitting on the comeback route and we just kept sending him out to run them. It took him getting mad and leaning on Dak to finally get the play call changed that led to the TD and it shouldn't take that much. I get that there can be too many voices, but we need to empower our key players and trust what they're seeing. That doesn't mean everybody shouting to be heard, but if the no.1 WR is seeing something, trust him and make the adjustment. Hopefully, Kellen Moore will be more collaborative in this regard. I suspect Dak will feel more comfortable having an input given their history as peers.

4.Goal Line Play Calling
I feel like we were creative in the wrong way. I get not being predictable, but over the course of the year, Zeke was 20th in the league for rushed TDs (6), and to me that's inexcusable. It's not like he was getting regularly stuffed, he just wasn't getting the ball. Dak also had 6 rushed TD's, which I'm okay with, but I think it should be more like 12 for Zeke and 8 for Dak given how effective Zeke is running between the tackles and my opinion on the Option Read above. Certainly, I want us to stop being cute with plays that wind up targetting Noah Brown or Olawale. I'm okay mixing it up game to game, play to play, but at the end of the season the numbers should be predictable.

5. Tavon Austin
Let's look at how he was used. Austin's stats (excluding ST, targets include carries):
Week 1: 10 snaps, 0 targets
Week 2: 18 snaps, 3 targets, 94 yards, 1 TD
Week 3: 19 snaps, 4 targets, 20 yards, 1 TD
Week 4: 17 snaps, 2 targets, 7 yards
Week 5: 19 snaps, 3 targets, 44 yards
Week 6: 18 snaps, 3 targets, 19 yards

Prior to the injury, Austin was playing less than 35% of snaps and getting less than one carry per game despite 9.0 ypc and pretty good completion percentage (75%). He was only targeted 2.5 times a game (including carries) for an average of 29 yards a game. I don't get it, to me it should have been double that not just for what he was doing with the ball but also what motioning does to the defense. And I'm not saying Tavon Austin should be re-signed either. I am saying we need a sub 4.4 guy that offers an east/west threat, plays more the 30 snaps a game on offense and combine has a total targeted/carries of 5+ a game. I'd actually probably prefer someone else that's not Austin.

6. Draft a TE and Stop the Check Downs
I'm bullish but not yet sold on Jarwin, and IMO Swaim was a list clogging that's average at best for an NFL TE. I don't know how many times we checked down to Zeke and Swaim on 3rd down but it was doing my head in. It was annoying with Witten the torch was carried on by Swaim. I'd guess by November we'd seen 15-20 check-downs with a 75% failed conversions rate between the two of them. Please no more, let's rebuild the TE group, and stop with the check down play calling that TE's with no athleticism short of the 1st down. Note: That does not me Rico Gathers.

We don't need a whole new offense. Just some tweaks of what we've already seen work and change in the way things are used.

The Zone Read was not very successful in the second half of the season because teams were keyed on it in short yardage situations. What I would like to see are other read plays and QB runs like spread midline and QB Power in short yardage situations so teams cant just key in one one type of QB run.

We definitely need to add a few different screens beside the one or two we saw this year. I would like to see us run a tunnel screen with Austin. Im not sure TE should be a huge priorty I think we are ok with Swaim and Jarwin they came along very well in the second half of the season. We need to find a way to stop teams from putting up so many rushing yrds. So maybe a DT. I would like to see the safety position upgraded.

 

[ShiningStar]

What we need

IF a play works, keep at it.

Play to our players strenghts, not down or up to a team. The opponent should not dictate our play.

get a succesfful running back corp. we do this with quarter backs, play the quarterback til hes dead than use the back up who hasnt had time or experience. We have a full roster, start using it.

Cut the fat, again this team is not good enough to hold players that cant contribute.

get rid of that swing pass that garrett loves so much. it doesnt work for us.

if a player doesnt make a play, dont use that situation again in the same game. its not going to work out. mix it up.

 

[PAPPYDOG]

What I want to see.

1. Option Read
Why did this get demoted after being so successful in 2016/17? I thought there were some really effective play designs around this concept and then we went cold on it. It should be a staple, maybe not as heavy as it was in 2017 and dial it back when the game is iced as there's no need to risk Dak needlessly, but to me it's still something that we should regularly use.

2. Screen Pass
I think we under-utilized the screen pass. Zeke had really good numbers in the passing game for the year and I think we could expand his route tree, but it felt like we could have run the screen pass where we pulled linemen a bit more often. It certainly didn't seem like it was blown up too often. It's my favorite thing that we did.

3. More Player Input
Cooper's comments postgame said it all. He was getting frustrated with his opponent sitting on the comeback route and we just kept sending him out to run them. It took him getting mad and leaning on Dak to finally get the play call changed that led to the TD and it shouldn't take that much. I get that there can be too many voices, but we need to empower our key players and trust what they're seeing. That doesn't mean everybody shouting to be heard, but if the no.1 WR is seeing something, trust him and make the adjustment. Hopefully, Kellen Moore will be more collaborative in this regard. I suspect Dak will feel more comfortable having an input given their history as peers.

4.Goal Line Play Calling
I feel like we were creative in the wrong way. I get not being predictable, but over the course of the year, Zeke was 20th in the league for rushed TDs (6), and to me that's inexcusable. It's not like he was getting regularly stuffed, he just wasn't getting the ball. Dak also had 6 rushed TD's, which I'm okay with, but I think it should be more like 12 for Zeke and 8 for Dak given how effective Zeke is running between the tackles and my opinion on the Option Read above. Certainly, I want us to stop being cute with plays that wind up targetting Noah Brown or Olawale. I'm okay mixing it up game to game, play to play, but at the end of the season the numbers should be predictable.

5. Tavon Austin
Let's look at how he was used. Austin's stats (excluding ST, targets include carries):
Week 1: 10 snaps, 0 targets
Week 2: 18 snaps, 3 targets, 94 yards, 1 TD
Week 3: 19 snaps, 4 targets, 20 yards, 1 TD
Week 4: 17 snaps, 2 targets, 7 yards
Week 5: 19 snaps, 3 targets, 44 yards
Week 6: 18 snaps, 3 targets, 19 yards

Prior to the injury, Austin was playing less than 35% of snaps and getting less than one carry per game despite 9.0 ypc and pretty good completion percentage (75%). He was only targeted 2.5 times a game (including carries) for an average of 29 yards a game. I don't get it, to me it should have been double that not just for what he was doing with the ball but also what motioning does to the defense. And I'm not saying Tavon Austin should be re-signed either. I am saying we need a sub 4.4 guy that offers an east/west threat, plays more the 30 snaps a game on offense and combine has a total targeted/carries of 5+ a game. I'd actually probably prefer someone else that's not Austin.

6. Draft a TE and Stop the Check Downs
I'm bullish but not yet sold on Jarwin, and IMO Swaim was a list clogging that's average at best for an NFL TE. I don't know how many times we checked down to Zeke and Swaim on 3rd down but it was doing my head in. It was annoying with Witten the torch was carried on by Swaim. I'd guess by November we'd seen 15-20 check-downs with a 75% failed conversions rate between the two of them. Please no more, let's rebuild the TE group, and stop with the check down play calling that TE's with no athleticism short of the 1st down. Note: That does not me Rico Gathers.

We don't need a whole new offense. Just some tweaks of what we've already seen work and change in the way things are used.

Any offense is as good as the players involved....expect another anemic same old same old offense esp in the long passing game.
The only difference will be that Kellen will be the new scapegoat here......

 

[Chuck 54]

Scheme scheme scheme

There’s nothing wrong with the scheme. It’s the OC’s job to use the scheme and adapt it to fit the players and the opponent and the situation.

• What in the scheme best fits the talents of our players?
• What in the scheme works best to take advantage of the defense and personnel this particular week?
• How, within the scheme, can you run the same play from several different looks and run a variety of different plays from each look?
• Can you get a feel on game day for what the defense and coordinator is doing to you in various formations so you can call the right play to take advantage of the defense?
• Can you change it up during the game to keep the defense on their heels, uncertain of what you will do in each formation, shift, motion, personnel group, and situation?
• Do you just have a weekly game plan, or do you also have a season plan that starts week one by running various run and pass plays from each formation to either avoid predictability or promote it with the plan to change it up the next week?

In my opinion, this is a partial list of what you need in your coordinator/play caller. These bullet points are far more important than whether you run west coast offense, an RPO, power run offense, deep passing game, short passing game, inside-out or outside-in. Every offense can be predictable; every offense can be deceptive. Every offense can be stopped cold; every offense can be successful.

It all depends on the OC and his ability to not only understand X’s and O’s, but also understand his own players, the other team’s players, tendencies, and the man across the field calling the defense. Scheme is actually very minor unless you are trying to run a scheme without the key personnel needed for it.

 

[Point-of-the-Star]

I’ll just take plain old deception.

The rams seem to make it work for them.