Cowboys Going Big Body on Offense

[T-RO]

When looking at the snaps for the first two games it reveals something about how "heavy" Dallas wants to go this season.

The Cowboys have run 145 plays this season. The tight ends + Hunter have had 222 snaps. So Dallas is averaging over 1.5 big boy playmakers per snap. Let's keep in mind that many teams in the league feature 3 or 4 WRs in a lot of plays. Not so much in Dallas right now. I don't think this is a huge departure from last year as Kellen loved his tight ends too, but it's a bit of a departure from league trends.

 

[AbeBeta]

Like I said in another thread. We blew the Giants out and the snap counts are all weird because of it. These data really don't tell us anything because we had a game where we dominated, allowing us to shield some guys from injury. You usually try to slow things down there which is why we went so much bigger. Saw it in the Jets game as well to a lesser extent.

These are not new personnel decisions. They are decisions based on how we played.

 

[big dog cowboy]

We can see why Schoon was drafted. Blocking and receiving.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

That's interesting....felt like I saw a lot of sets where they had Gallup, Lamb and Tolbert out there.

 

[links18]

And yet they are trying to find ways to use Vaughn and Turpin.

 

[T-RO]

And yet they are trying to find ways to use Vaughn and Turpin.

No doubt they aren't hesitant to use little peeps to carry the ball. They do like additional big bodies as optional blockers.

 

[CowboyRoy]

When looking at the snaps for the first two games it reveals something about how "heavy" Dallas wants to go this season.

The Cowboys have run 145 plays this season. The tight ends + Hunter have had 222 snaps. So Dallas is averaging over 1.5 big boy playmakers per snap. Let's keep in mind that many teams in the league feature 3 or 4 WRs in a lot of plays. Not so much in Dallas right now. I don't think this is a huge departure from last year as Kellen loved his tight ends too, but it's a bit of a departure from league trends.

Some of that is small sample size situational.

a rain storm blowout and then a jets defense blowout. They have been heavy running situation games.

 

[T-RO]

That's interesting....felt like I saw a lot of sets where they had Gallup, Lamb and Tolbert out there.

There sure were some. Not a lot.

 

[Momanpr100]

McCarthy wants to get physical

 

[T-RO]

Dang. Just watched a Commanders play with ***five** wide receivers. Zero tight ends, zero backs.

Not saying it's better or worse. Just saying: not what we trying to do.

 

[Jarntt]

That's interesting....felt like I saw a lot of sets where they had Gallup, Lamb and Tolbert out there.

We did. going off the OPs stat if we averaged ‘1.5 big boys per snap’ that means half the snaps one big boy and half the snaps two (ignoring the 3TE and no TE packages for arguments sake). So on the half of the snaps when we had 1 big boy, that means we had 3 WRs. I suspect this is not very different than what we normally did the last couple of years. So according to this stat you are right and we were in 3 WR sets half the time. Now if the games weren’t blowouts we likely might be in 3 WR sets even more often.

 

[T-RO]

We did. going off the OPs stat if we averaged ‘1.5 big boys per snap’ that means half the snaps one big boy and half the snaps two (ignoring the 3TE and no TE packages for arguments sake). So on the half of the snaps when we had 1 big boy, that means we had 3 WRs. I suspect this is not very different than what we normally did the last couple of years. So according to this stat you are right and we were in 3 WR sets half the time. Now if the games weren’t blowouts we likely might be in 3 WR sets even more often.

Spicy. I love a good challenge or counter-point, even if it proves me wrong. As I'm on a different sleep schedule than most everyone...will look to explore (for what me is) tomorrow.

 

[DanA]

I think the league average is something like

• 3 WR or more: 80%
• 2 TE or more: 10%
• Other: 10%

So far, we are more like

• 2 TE or More: 50%
• 3 WR or more: 40%
• Other: 10%

It's a very small sample size and skewed by conditions and us controlling the clock with a big lead. Then Cooks being out also has an impact. I would expect us to regress back closer to the league average but I still think 2 TE sets are going to be more than twice the league average.

 

[Jarntt]

Spicy. I love a good challenge or counter-point, even if it proves me wrong. As I'm on a different sleep schedule than most everyone...will look to explore (for what me is) tomorrow.

We probably need a few non blowouts to get a good feel for the game plan

 

[Bobhaze]

When looking at the snaps for the first two games it reveals something about how "heavy" Dallas wants to go this season.

The Cowboys have run 145 plays this season. The tight ends + Hunter have had 222 snaps. So Dallas is averaging over 1.5 big boy playmakers per snap. Let's keep in mind that many teams in the league feature 3 or 4 WRs in a lot of plays. Not so much in Dallas right now. I don't think this is a huge departure from last year as Kellen loved his tight ends too, but it's a bit of a departure from league trends.

Nice work T. These are interesting numbers for sure and worth watching all year. But it may fluctuate as we face different opponents with various defensive schemes. By mid-season we will have a much better indication of trends. Look forward to seeing this info in late October.

 

[doomsday9084]

As others are getting to, I suspect the formations would change if Dallas was behind. The good thing is that the NFL has no tape on Dallas in this regard.

I would like to see more results from the "big" formations. A 200 yard rushing game would be nice to see.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

We did. going off the OPs stat if we averaged ‘1.5 big boys per snap’ that means half the snaps one big boy and half the snaps two (ignoring the 3TE and no TE packages for arguments sake). So on the half of the snaps when we had 1 big boy, that means we had 3 WRs. I suspect this is not very different than what we normally did the last couple of years. So according to this stat you are right and we were in 3 WR sets half the time. Now if the games weren’t blowouts we likely might be in 3 WR sets even more often.

Good points.

 

[OmerV]

When looking at the snaps for the first two games it reveals something about how "heavy" Dallas wants to go this season.

The Cowboys have run 145 plays this season. The tight ends + Hunter have had 222 snaps. So Dallas is averaging over 1.5 big boy playmakers per snap. Let's keep in mind that many teams in the league feature 3 or 4 WRs in a lot of plays. Not so much in Dallas right now. I don't think this is a huge departure from last year as Kellen loved his tight ends too, but it's a bit of a departure from league trends.

I don't really see the point of having ST snaps factor into this - that's not that really about the offense.

I'm wondering how this compares with the past. I suspect we would find it's not notably different. Certainly 2 TE's have been commonly used for years, and 3 on given plays isn't new either. Having a dedicated FB like Luepke hasn't been common for awhile, but the Cowboys have often used OG's or TE's to fill that role.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

This doesn't seem like a lot, given the blowout nature of the two gams.

ST is irrelevant. Offensive snaps per game for this group is basically the same as it was last year

2022:
Schultz 76%
Ferg 40%
Hendershot 26%
Mckeon 14%

2023:
Ferguson 65%
Hendershot 41%
Schoonmaker 32%
Luepke 15%

 

[jazzcat22]

Defense travels. As well a good run game especially in colder weather, and bad conditions.
We all know this.
So keep this up and get that run game going. Keep working it. As they had no PS snaps together.