Cowboys brass admits NFL is QB-driven league, in words and actions

[eromeopolk]

The Cowboys are often accused of living in the past. The five-time Super Bowl champs haven’t made a conference title game since the 1990s so a special appreciation for the past is understandable for the historic franchise. But that reverence for yesteryear warrants caution because the formula that worked in the past isn’t necessarily the right formula to work in the present. Top Cowboys brass, namely Jerry and Stephen Jones, have been accused of trying to impart their winning formula from the 1990s on the team today. Recent statements from Stephen Jones during the Cowboys training camp presser indicate that is not the case. The winning formula isn’t a run-first attack which the passing game spawns from; and his recent actions appear to back up those words in some regard.


Stephen Jones acknowledged the way to win in the NFL changes and what worked 20 years ago is not what works today. He specifically pointed out the shift from the ground game to the passing game, somewhat putting to bed rumors of him strategically living in the past.

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2023/07/26/cowboys-running-vs-passing-philosophy/

They just don't get it. Go see how many catches Emmitt and Moose had per season from 1991-1995. You do not have to slam a RB into the line of scrimmage without a lead blocker to have a efficient playoff offense/running game. A 4 yard pass is just as good as a 4 yard run on any down. In the 1992 NFC Championship game it was the passing to the RB and FB that opened up SF defense.

Both years Mahomes won the Super Bowl, he had an effective prioritized running game and prioritized passing game that included the running back. Both Super Bowl wins the RBs were the lead of the offense. You pass to score, run to win, and defense wins championships will never change in the NFL.

When you get inside the 20 yard line, defense are not going to give you a lot of passing TDs to the WR (unless you have a Randy Moss or at least a Dez Bryant in his prime))0. You have to run and creatively use the RB and FB in the passing game.
PASS to RUN to the RUNNING BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[KJJ]

Don’t see how anyone could deny it’s not a QB driven league.

 

[buybuydandavis]

For the life of me I don't understand why people think this.

It's impossible to watch other QBs and have this be the takeaway and it also ignores the fact that a lot of balls are thrown away from defenders, not to the WR.

Every Cowboy game, there is another QB opposite Dak. And there was a QB *before* Dak who seemed to place the ball well, short or long.

Lots of short passes to RBs, the ball ends up behind the back shoulder of the RB. It's like Dak is targeting the *body* on a swing pass, instead of the hands which are *downfield* from the body.

You can say he's "throwing it away from the defender, True enough. Throwing it into the stands would be away from the defender too. He's putting the ball in a bad position for the play to succeed.

Used to be *moreso* "throwing it away from the defender" on deep balls. Unfortunately, that was throwing it out of reach of the WR. But Dak pulled back the deep balls to and now throws a nice one. We should use it more.

You wanna defend throwing a swing pass at a RB's back, have at it. I say it's a bad pass.

 

[buybuydandavis]

They just don't get it. Go see how many catches Emmitt and Moose had per season from 1991-1995. You do not have to slam a RB into the line of scrimmage without a lead blocker to have a efficient playoff offense/running game. A 4 yard pass is just as good as a 4 yard run on any down. In the 1992 NFC Championship game it was the passing to the RB and FB that opened up SF defense.

Both years Mahomes won the Super Bowl, he had an effective prioritized running game and prioritized passing game that included the running back. Both Super Bowl wins the RBs were the lead of the offense. You pass to score, run to win, and defense wins championships will never change in the NFL.

When you get inside the 20 yard line, defense are not going to give you a lot of passing TDs to the WR (unless you have a Randy Moss or at least a Dez Bryant in his prime))0. You have to run and creatively use the RB and FB in the passing game.
PASS to RUN to the RUNNING BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The 4 yard pass is better for the RB, but the 4 yard run is better for the team.

The 4 yard run lets the oline tee off and pound the defense.
The 4 yard pass puts the oline on their back heels defending the QB.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Every Cowboy game, there is another QB opposite Dak. And there was a QB *before* Dak who seemed to place the ball well, short or long.

Lots of short passes to RBs, the ball ends up behind the back shoulder of the RB. It's like Dak is targeting the *body* on a swing pass, instead of the hands which are *downfield* from the body.

You can say he's "throwing it away from the defender, True enough. Throwing it into the stands would be away from the defender too. He's putting the ball in a bad position for the play to succeed.

Used to be *moreso* "throwing it away from the defender" on deep balls. Unfortunately, that was throwing it out of reach of the WR. But Dak pulled back the deep balls to and now throws a nice one. We should use it more.

You wanna defend throwing a swing pass at a RB's back, have at it. I say it's a bad pass.

This is just distanced from the reality of quarterback play. Most swing passes - be it to a WR or RB - need to be to the body and not lead them upfield, because they will get killed. It's also a much more difficult ball to catch.

By your logic, the touchdown to CD was a bad throw.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

The trouble I see for Dak as a WC Offense QB is that he doesn't throw a well placed short ball. He just doesn't.
His over the top deep ball isn't used enough. His current deep ball accuracy is especially impressive given that it was a clear weakness early in his career. He turned a weakness into a strength.
But he has yet to do that with short passes, particularly swing passed to the RBs.

This is my concern as well,,, the lack of attempt to significantly upgrade an OL that failed them last January makes me think this Texas Coast offense of short passes replacing the runs will be the new focus,,,, and that requires quick reads and accurate throws. Maybe the added emphasis and practice reps will help (fingers crossed) and I do like that they're at least trying something new.

 

[CCBoy]

This is my concern as well,,, the lack of attempt to significantly upgrade an OL that failed them last January makes me think this Texas Coast offense of short passes replacing the runs will be the new focus,,,, and that requires quick reads and accurate throws. Maybe the added emphasis and practice reps will help (fingers crossed) and I do like that they're at least trying something new.

San Francisco still has a 1200+ runner who receives 600+ yards as well in their West Coast.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

San Francisco still has a 1200+ runner who receives 600+ yards as well in their West Coast.

Not too sure we're going to be matching that...

 

[eromeopolk]

The 4 yard pass is better for the RB, but the 4 yard run is better for the team.

The 4 yard run lets the oline tee off and pound the defense.
The 4 yard pass puts the oline on their back heels defending the QB.

I hear you. But, tell that to the late Bill Walsh. See Bill Walsh's West Coast Offense. It is the very offense McCarthy cut his teeth on in the NFL under Walsh Disciple and Landry throw away, Paul Hackett. Joe Montana was the QB. The Big Blue M&M then was under West Coast Disciple Sherman Lewis as QB coach in Greenbay. M&M then went on to be a OC for the Saints and got his tie in with Jimmy Johnson having the late Miami/Cowboys WR coach Hubbard Alexander on the staff. He also had Pro Bowl RB in Deuce McAllister that average +315 carries per season during the Big Blue M&M days as OC for the Saints and Eddie Lacy with Greenbay.

So, if he has a great big back, he will run him. But that is not Pollard (Deuce, Eddie, and Zeke were big backs). Expect to see a West Coast type offense he had in Greenbay with prioritized passes to the RB, FB, and TE. That is not to say the WRs will not get the ball. Joe Horn, Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, and Devante Adams all were Pro Bowl WR under M&M west coast offense. But the RB and FB caught a lot of balls in the west coast offense.

 

[CCBoy]

Not too sure we're going to be matching that...

Not many do, but there is pretty good talents of a very similar skills group with the Dallas runners in the group at present.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Not too sure we're going to be matching that...

That's fine, SF has a crappy offense.

 

[MyFairLady]

There'll be no one to stop us this time.

 

[CCBoy]

That's fine, SF has a crappy offense.

Crappy? Who's their lead back and how does he consistently produce...controlling time of possession?

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

There are winners and losers. Aikman was a winner, Dak is a loser. It’s that simple.

Zeke is a loser. He is out of the league.

 

[plasticman]

And yet, what actions have the Jones's taken that adequately demonstrate their understanding of the importance of the quarterback position in today's NFL?

Have they been proactive in consistently adding quality talent to the position via the draft?

Since 2010 only one team has drafted fewer QB's overall. The Cowboys are one of only two teams that have not drafted a QB in the top three rounds.

Some of the teams that have been most active in drafting QB's since 2010 are the Patriots (8), Eagles (7), and 49ers (6).

Just another example of their words contradicting their actions.

The advantages of drafting QB's are numerous, including competition, quality depth. contract leverage and trade value.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

Wow.....what a revelation.

In other news, Cowboys admit cigarettes are bad for you.

 

[DandyDon52]

It would seem the Cowboys front office’s words and actions both support the idea the passing game is king, and the run-heavy nature of day’s long past is not something they are trying to recreate.

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2023/07/26/cowboys-running-vs-passing-philosophy/

so why did mike say "I want to run the ball more"
People have been saying that this is a passing league since the 80's lol.

QB driven lol what does that even mean? To be good at passing requires more than a good passing QB.

To me this just says the jones boys dont have a clue.

 

[DandyDon52]

the jones boys are a never ending source of amusement ! lol
Their TC statements are like a standup comedy act before the season starts.

 

[DandyDon52]

as far as passing wins games, check this out, 2 playoff games for GB mike was HC he had a young rodgers.
game 1 wc ( they won this game)
23 of 33 for 250 yds 1 td 0 int 8.3 avg
31 runs for 76 yds 2.5 avg 2 td
top 32.50
_______________________________
game 2 div (they lost this game)
26 of 30 for 248 yds 2 td 1 int 6.6 avg
16 runs for 104 yds 6.5 avg 1 td
top 21.50
__________________
both games passing was about the same, very good qb, but that did not decide who won.
The game they won they ran 31 times, the loss they ran 16 times. won top
Big difference.
look at the top, the top usually goes to the team that runs the most times.
So this to me says run the ball 30 times, dominate top and your probably going to win.

Passing too much stops the clock alot and that isnt good.

you cant say it is qb driven or a passing league, because many things contribute
to winning and losing. It just isnt that simple.

 

[Legend]

Pass the ball to build an early big lead and run the ball to ball control and tire out the opponent’s D while teeing up and going after the opposing team’s QB

Passing the ball a lot works if passing game is working. If it is not and there are a lot of 3 and outs; then the team is in trouble without a good running game