Cowboys love the shotgun formation under Schotty

[Rockport]

I hate that we try to run the ball in shotgun formation so often.

In Week 1 of the 2026 season against the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys broke down as follows:

• Shotgun: 71.2%
• Under Center: 28.8%

Week 1 Context​

• Shotgun Heavy: Dallas remained in the upper tier of shotgun usage in Week 1, ranking among the top 10 most shotgun-heavy offenses in the league.
• League Contrast: While the league average shifted back toward under-center plays in Week 1 (42.5%), Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense continued to align predominantly in the shotgun.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. If he’s behind center every run play ………….

 

[DarkVader33]

I just hope there's a quarterback available next year with our top 3 pick.

So the jets can draft one?

 

[fivetwos]

Is this really a Cowboys thing or does the rest of the league operate basically that way?

It’s a trend I don’t like, but that’s the way the game evolved.

 

[blueblood70]

So the jets can draft one?

It's as if some fans don't actually follow what's going on they are highest pick we can't be worried about high draft pics and we are not getting a quarterback and this is ridiculous anyway why the heck we need a quarterback exactly are we still blaming the corner because anyone really woke up yet and realized that we've had defensive problem for two decades that in the biggest games most problems have either been with defense or in trenches or both kind of hard to win football games that center around the trenches and defense in the playoffs and ours just find a way to just lay an egg...

If teams can go out and resurrect careers like say Gina Smith but Sam Darnald's the poster child now, he has a ring and go out and get up here and do that you don't have to worry about drafting a quarterback high and you need one, you go find one,

That's what the Cowboys are going to do they do not need to put one behind Prescott and then groom because we don't know when that's going to happen when Prescott's going to be you wait until you're actually in need of a position and then you go and get it.


Whether you go out and make a trade and find your key like when Manning I mean left Indy and went and got my title over the Broncos we think that happen a few times I mean we've seen it with Matthew Stafford I mean now again we've seen it with Sam Darnold there are many other avenues in which you can find your future quarterback or you can get your bridge quarterback until you find one in the draft.

So I'm not sure why people keep saying go drop a quarterback have we seen how many failures of top 10 quarterbackers been in the NFL even recently and some of them people thought that were great and I just kind of average or above average I mean I see it all the time it this is about finding your quarterback in top five this is wait until you absolutely are desperate for a new starting quarterback and then you start looking for it...

 

[big dog cowboy]

You guys will be begging for Dak when

Hell freezes over.

 

[Coogiguy03]

That’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever said. And there’s plenty. The dummies will agree with you. Haha.

Coming from nevermind

 

[noshame]

So the jets can draft one?

I'm hoping we can trade Dak for a number one.

 

[dogberry]

The most important position in football and how many first round QBs drafted?

 

[OGSixshooter]

Dak loves being in the shotgun. Was primarily in the gun in college.

 

[DarkVader33]

I'm hoping we can trade Dak for a number one.

You know that is wishful thinking. Never gonna happen

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

You know that is wishful thinking. Never gonna happen

Kind of funny people are any him out of here but then want high compensation lol.

 

[noshame]

You know that is wishful thinking. Never gonna happen

Joking

 

[shabazz]

As much as I reject gun violence, they should take that shotgun and shoot the OL. Then go after most of that thing they call a defense.

For those in Rio Linda… this is sarcasm, so don’t get your undies twisted.

Excellent post.

Im on record as advocating all forms of violence as long as it doesn't involve a gun .............or an SUV.

Both operate with or without a human.

 

[visionary]

We don’t use shotgun because of either one of them. We use it because oline is suspect

My God
Go back and look at our shotgun rates when Smith was LOT and Martin was OG and we had one of the top OLs
It is because of Dak and his inability to read and process defenses quickly

 

[G2]

Is this really a Cowboys thing or does the rest of the league operate basically that way?

It’s a trend I don’t like, but that’s the way the game evolved.

It fluctuates from year to year.

 

[DarkVader33]

My God
Go back and look at our shotgun rates when Smith was LOT and Martin was OG and we had one of the top OLs
It is because of Dak and his inability to read and process defenses quickly

I was referring to last year. Also if I remember correctly, MM had ARod in the shotgun quite often. You keep wanting to bang your head on a false narrative, that’s fine. But you have absolutely zero clue about why a coach uses the shotgun more or less. Unless you’re sleeping with the guy and tells you during your pillow talk time.

 

[Pass2Run]

Is Rio Linda near Cape Giradeau

I'm right near Cape, in Jackson. But I work on Cape.

I didn't think anyone knew what cape Girardeau was.

 

[RonWashington]

I'm right near Cape, in Jackson. But I work on Cape.

I didn't think anyone knew what cape Girardeau was.

Rush Limbaugh hometown Cape Girardeau
He worked in radio early in his career Sacramento and Rio Linda was a suburb he said most houses had cars on blocks in the neighborhood.

 

[Whyjerry]

Its the bum QB

Nope. It's the crap owner, his clown son and the carnival culture they created. Put Tom Brady on the Cowboys and he isn't Tom Brady.

Dak is fine. Sucks in the big spots but he is decent.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Yep, went from Romo to Dak So you don't have to go directly to the bottom of the barrel? Why do you keep saying the option is Dak or Drew Henson then?

The point is the FO lucked into Dak and Romo. Dak was a 4th round comp pick they wanted to backup Romo and Romo himself was a UDFA.

This team has not drafted a QB to be "the guy" since Aikman in 1989, and that was a no-brainer.

Do you trust this front office to get starting over at QB done right? This is why we say we will miss Dak when he's gone. Unless Jerry and Cap Boy are suddenly roster creating genuises.