Cole Beasley: the cog is missing

[PBCCowboy]

I have noticed that they are pushing the ball to Dez too much,as if there were no other WRs in this team.

 

[NumOneQB]

Beasley’s lost a step and Witten’s probably the slowest person on the team.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Same can be said for ANY professional level QB...

Right....except everyone doesn't have the "best offensive line in football".

 

[Zman5]

And Dak came out after the game, and said they didn't really adjust anything, the team didn't execute. But that's not the point. The poster I responded to said 'it was the Rams that came out in the 2nd half with the adjustments to turn the tide,' and that we did nothing. I wanted to know if he had something specific in mind in terms of the adjustments that he saw. He didn't. He saw some plays that worked, but didn't know if they were the result of an adjustment or not.

For my part, I saw a Rams team that scored on 9 of 11 possessions throughout the day. They only had 2 TDs, though. One before the halftime adjustments when Switzer gave them the short field, and one after the half when Frazier bit way too hard play action and Heath fell down, giving them an easy score. The rest were FGs.

Defensively, the Rams held us to 2-7 on third downs in the 2nd half. Where we'd been 5-7 in the first. Those 2nd half numbers include the low drop by Dez and the drop by Terrence (was that on 3rd down? Either way, it was a first down we didn't get). Throw in Dak missing an open Witten on another 3rd down and again on that fourth down throw to Elliott, and I'm seeing an offense that just didn't make the plays that were right there to be made more than a bunch of defensive adjustments.

You?

We scored on every possession in the first half. We didn't even get to the Ram's side of the field until the 7:55 mark in the 4th quarter. Before that we punted 3 times and thew an INT. There were no injuries on our team. So if the Rams didn't make any adjustments, did our players just forget how to play between the two halfs?

I don't know how you can say that the Rams didn't make any adjustments. And did you ever wonder why our players didn't make the plays that was there? Maybe it had to do with the Rams making adjustments that made it harder for our players to make plays.

 

[Idgit]

We scored on every possession in the first half. We didn't even get to the Ram's side of the field until the 7:55 mark in the 4th quarter. Before that we punted 3 times and thew an INT. There were no injuries on our team. So if the Rams didn't make any adjustments, did our players just forget how to play between the two halfs?

I answered that in the post you just quoted here.

 

[percyhoward]

It's going to be tough until Dak can hit those routes consistently.

The offense has scored 28 and 30 points in the last two games, without the benefit a takeaway by the defense in either game.

There are a lot of things that make winning difficult, but your offense scoring 28-30 points isn't one of them.

 

[khiladi]

Right....except everyone doesn't have the "best offensive line in football".

So because Dak isn't getting all day to sit back and throw the ball, it's everybody else's fault.. got ya.. I mean it's not like they are facing professional defenses.. oh, wait a minute...

 

[khiladi]

The offense has scored 28 and 30 points in the last two games, without the benefit a takeaway by the defense in either game.

There are a lot of things that make winning difficult, but your offense scoring 28-30 points isn't one of them.

Is the offense committing a TO a good play on the defense or a bad play by the offense, such as a crappy throw by the QB?

Also, is there a stat of WRs bailing out a QB for a bad throw that would most likely have gotten intercepted, if the WR didn't put his hand out and hit the poorly thrown ball?

 

[haleyrules]

So because Dak isn't getting all day to sit back and throw the ball, it's everybody else's fault.. got ya.. I mean it's not like they are facing professional defenses.. oh, wait a minute...

Yeah. The Cowboy defense has given up nearly 80 points in the two losses. I mean that's hard to over come even for a veteran QB...Come on. This year, in all fairness, the Club has been up against some tough clubs.

 

[khiladi]

Yeah. The Cowboy defense has given up nearly 80 points in the two losses. I mean that's hard to over come even for a veteran QB...Come on. This year, in all fairness, the Club has been up against some tough clubs.

I agree, but you need to score in this era generally. It's an era catering to high scoring. Defenses give up points any given Sunday more regularly than in the past.

 

[Zman5]

I answered that in the post you just quoted here.

I know. My comment was based on your 3rd down stats which doesn't tell the full story.

 

[Zman5]

People want to put the blame on players and execution but the main issue is the lousy scheme.

Romo is a borderline HOF player and even he had issues playing in this scheme. We supposedly got all the right players now. That's what people were lead to believe from last year. Yet we are seeing the same issues again.

Main issue with our offense is JG's simple scheme that's been exposed and our coach's inability to quickly adjust to the adjustments the other teams have made against us.

 

[Idgit]

I know. My comment was based on your 3rd down stats which doesn't tell the full story.

They kind of do, though. Our 2nd drive in the 2nd half was killed by Terrence's drop (2nd and 7; 3rd down play was to Beasely who was forced out). Next series was killed by Dez' drop (3rd and 6). Both WRs were open, both balls catchable, so you can't blame those drives stalling on one of Wade's adjustments.

The sack-interception play was the next series, and that was a good play by the Rams, and not a blitz. That was the result of Martin and Collins both getting beat and Martin's man getting to Dak's arm while he was trying to step up and throw. That was on 3rd and 9.

The last series was where we turned it over on downs when Dak missed an open Witten, so also not the result of a defensive adjustments.

For comparison, in the first half we converted 3rd downs of 5, 7, 7, (1), 7, 7, 3, and 4 on the way to scoring points. So, it's not like we were in a lot of situations where it was easier to convert the 3rd downs in the first half. We just did a better job with it. In the 2nd half, we had the drops, and that was the difference.

 

[Zman5]

They kind of do, though. Our 2nd drive in the 2nd half was killed by Terrence's drop (2nd and 7; 3rd down play was to Beasely who was forced out). Next series was killed by Dez' drop (3rd and 6). Both WRs were open, both balls catchable, so you can't blame those drives stalling on one of Wade's adjustments.

The sack-interception play was the next series, and that was a good play by the Rams, and not a blitz. That was the result of Martin and Collins both getting beat and Martin's man getting to Dak's arm while he was trying to step up and throw. That was on 3rd and 9.

The last series was where we turned it over on downs when Dak missed an open Witten, so also not the result of a defensive adjustments.

For comparison, in the first half we converted 3rd downs of 5, 7, 7, (1), 7, 7, 3, and 4 on the way to scoring points. So, it's not like we were in a lot of situations where it was easier to convert the 3rd downs in the first half. We just did a better job with it. In the 2nd half, we had the drops, and that was the difference.

The 3rd down stats don't tell the whole story because if you have a drive where you never have a 3rd down, it doesn't get counted toward that stat. Bottom line is the most important stat to look at is how many points you scored off of each possession. That will tell you how good or bad your offense did. Also the fact that we didn't get to the Ram's side of the field until 7:55 mark in the 4th quarter should tell you most of our drive ended up as a short posession.

 

[Idgit]

The 3rd down stats don't tell the whole story because if you have a drive where you never have a 3rd down, it doesn't get counted toward that stat. Bottom line is the most important stat to look at is how many points you scored off of each possession. That will tell you how good or bad your offense did. Also the fact that we didn't get to the Ram's side of the field until 7:55 mark in the 4th quarter should tell you most of our drive ended up as a short posession.

Points/drive tell you how effective you've been. It doesn't tell you anything about what's stopping you when you're ineffective.

But the point is, we had 7 3rd down drives in the first half, too. Converted 5. And another on 4th down. The yards-to-go weren't all that different in the 2nd half. The difference was the drops...and Dak missing an open Witten.

And if you're getting into the same number of 3rd down situations, and there's not a real distance in the yards-to-go, and the difference in conversion rate is largely due to unforced errors on Cowboys players part, which I think is pretty believably the case here, then it's hard to credit the defensive adjustments with the change. Now, sure, had we not had the unforced errors, it's possible the adjustments would present themselves later in those drives the way they did with the drive-ending interception. We just don't know because they ended due to mistakes on our part, first. Three of them, did, anyway. And that's pretty much the difference between going 5-7 in the first half and 2-7 in the 2nd.

 

[Frosty]

If that is true, then it is pretty sad in regards to respect for Dez.

The ingredients for the Cowboys Secret Sauce is out..... a little shut the Run down, mixed in with force Dak to throw deep...= 3 and out. Teams are making DEZ or any WR make a play. Curious, How many of DAKs INTs are to players not named Beasley or Witten.

 

[Frosty]

Having Switzer and Cole out there at the same time probably tips off that it's a pass. Also, Switzer got zero playing time due to injury.

I'm not exactly pleased with the offense, but I think we are fretting over it too much. When your offense dominates the game in the first half and time of possession and your defense gives up 22 points at home in the 2nd half, I'd rather focus on that.




YR

Well said, but No one expects the Defense to hold up or do much. The defense is best when the Offense is clicking and winning TP. The GM/Owners have not invested in veteran players to help out....they are going to struggle with all the youth on D. They knew that coming into the season.

 

[Zman5]

Points/drive tell you how effective you've been. It doesn't tell you anything about what's stopping you when you're ineffective.

But the point is, we had 7 3rd down drives in the first half, too. Converted 5. And another on 4th down. The yards-to-go weren't all that different in the 2nd half. The difference was the drops...and Dak missing an open Witten.

And if you're getting into the same number of 3rd down situations, and there's not a real distance in the yards-to-go, and the difference in conversion rate is largely due to unforced errors on Cowboys players part, which I think is pretty believably the case here, then it's hard to credit the defensive adjustments with the change. Now, sure, had we not had the unforced errors, it's possible the adjustments would present themselves later in those drives the way they did with the drive-ending interception. We just don't know because they ended due to mistakes on our part, first. Three of them, did, anyway. And that's pretty much the difference between going 5-7 in the first half and 2-7 in the 2nd.

What? And how the heck would 3rd down efficiency tell you what's stopping you when you're ineffective?
Also, talking about 3rd down efficiency without mentioning distance to go and field position is useless.

You are trying to say that the Ram's defense didn't make any adjustments based on only the 3rd down conversion rate. This is ridiculous. You need to see how the offense did on all downs to see how well it performed.

In the first half we converted on 2nd down multiple time. This is how we sustained our drive without getting to the 3rd down. We weren't able to do that in the 2nd half. This is important point yet it will not show up on your 3rd down stat.

 

[Idgit]

What? And how the heck would 3rd down efficiency tell you what's stopping you when you're ineffective?
Also, talking about 3rd down efficiency without mentioning distance to go and field position is useless.

You are trying to say that the Ram's defense didn't make any adjustments based on only the 3rd down conversion rate. This is ridiculous. You need to see how the offense did on all downs to see how well it performed.

In the first half we converted on 2nd down multiple time. This is how we sustained our drive without getting to the 3rd down. We weren't able to do that in the 2nd half. This is important point yet it will not show up on your 3rd down stat.

I wasn't talking 'efficiency.' I walked through the drive-ending situations in the second half since we were talking about adjustments that were supposedly made at halftime. And I did mention yards-to-go for each. I didn't mention field position because it's not particularly relevant.

And I'm not saying anything of the sort. I'm saying that the 2nd half drives we did have ended for reasons that didn't have anything to do with whatever adjustments they did or didn't make. Dropped passes, or missed open receivers. How is that not clear?

And why do you need to see how the offense performed on all downs when you have the data in terms of yards-to-go to know that the situations were largely similar?

We obviously didn't have as many conversions in the 2nd half, because the drives ended earlier, largely due to unforced errors on our part, so it stands to reason we'd have fewer first and second down conversions. But that's not the point. I'm talking about the Rams stopping us. If they didn't do it at a higher rate in the 2nd half (i.e., if we were stopping ourselves), then the adjustments just weren't all that significant a factor in the outcome of the game.

And keep in mind, these 'adjustments' we're talking about so far aren't anything more than appearing to have blitzed less often. Which they also didn't have to do since we were ending the drives early ourselves with drops and missed opportunities.

 

[Zman5]

I wasn't talking 'efficiency.' I walked through the drive-ending situations in the second half since we were talking about adjustments that were supposedly made at halftime. And I did mention yards-to-go for each. I didn't mention field position because it's not particularly relevant.

And I'm not saying anything of the sort. I'm saying that the 2nd half drives we did have ended for reasons that didn't have anything to do with whatever adjustments they did or didn't make. Dropped passes, or missed open receivers. How is that not clear?

And why do you need to see how the offense performed on all downs when you have the data in terms of yards-to-go to know that the situations were largely similar?

We obviously didn't have as many conversions in the 2nd half, because the drives ended earlier, largely due to unforced errors on our part, so it stands to reason we'd have fewer first and second down conversions. But that's not the point. I'm talking about the Rams stopping us. If they didn't do it at a higher rate in the 2nd half (i.e., if we were stopping ourselves), then the adjustments just weren't all that significant a factor in the outcome of the game.

And keep in mind, these 'adjustments' we're talking about so far aren't anything more than appearing to have blitzed less often. Which they also didn't have to do since we were ending the drives early ourselves with drops and missed opportunities.

Some of the things you are saying are true but it doesn't tell the whole story. You can't just look at 3rd down and come to a conclusion that the offense performed as well in the second half as the first had Dez and Twill caught their passes.

The biggest difference between the two halves is how we performed on 1st and 2nd down. Not 3rd down. So if you are comparing how well the Rams defense did against us between the halves, you need to look at 1st and 2nd down more so than 3rd down plays.