Changes to the Offense

[Bardley1985]

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.

Put Zeke in the wild cat in goal line situations. Pointless to do a hand off when he can take direct snap.

 

[ItzKelz]

Execution in the redzone offensively and pass protection. I personally think playcalling can help both. We will see how it plays out.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

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.

I don't like the option read as a staple, since it puts the QB in danger. even Newton got hurt and he is a big dude. occasionally, strategically, yes, but not as a staple of the offense.

I think we did use the screen pass a lot this year, we did find some success, but given lack of success in other passing areas, teams started to notice that's become our go to pass play when we struggle passing. then you become predictable and ineffective. I assume screen pass will be used, but only if the rest of passing game is successful.

Do other teams take player input? Linehan was incompetent. Dak and Cooper changed a play and it was successful, but we can't have players decide in the middle of the game to do their own thing. that's not all being on the same page. it will lead to chaos and lack of cohesiveness and impair the game plan and leads to disaster. Perhaps in game planning, but on game day, follow your orders.

goal line is tricky. that's where you really need to be accurate as a passer. windows are tight. not a lot of room. you can't run all the time. I think lack of TE play hurt us in the redzone. I also think we weren't creative in the redzone, so better pass play designs would certainly help.

 

[OmerV]

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.

He has the ability to slide and be protected

 

[CowboysExchange]

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 tes are leading the charge on Every passing snap but they aren't effective at moving the ball through the air. They basically put up zeros all year in receiving categories. Our lack of potency and rotation at the te
And running back positions has sunk this offense to almost unwatchable levels.

But jerrah And puppetface are gonna mastermind every passing play around a couple of 1 td a year tes who simply cannot compete as receivers on Passing plays without reducing EVERYONES offensive potency TO PATHETIC ROCK BOTTOM LEVELS THAT ARE UNEASY ON THE EYES.

Now its time to dramatically increase our offensive potency from worst to first and the only way we're gonna do that is to Aquire and Assemble the most depth of complete skilled day 1 wrs, tes and running backs.

We have 1 Elite outside wr and we need a minimum of 2
We have 1 Elite Rb an we need a minimum of 2
We have 0 Elite Tes and need a minimum 1

We have 0-1 Elite Spot played Slot wr but Beasley and Austin are going to move on to a team that has a more lucrative role than just a 3rd down spot wr.

We have 1 emerging Slot/ outside wr who may be able to emerge as an Elite scoring slot wr next year but probably needs 1 more year to develop before he could morph into an (Elite Outside Wr)

Potent offenses have a depth of Elite
Skilled players.

We haven't addressed not having 2 Elite outside wrs, 2 Elite Rbs, or even 1 elite te in so long that one would just assume they are ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL.



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[CATCH17]

Isn’t Tavon a free agent?

 

[CowboysExchange]

We have plenty of 2019 and 2020 Draft picks and plenty of current tradable players to go from Worst to First if someone will just Wake up the Puppet Master.