These three Cowboys- one coach and two players- literally changed the way the NFL game was played for decades to come. All three of course are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Tom Landry- One of the most innovative coaches in football history on both sides of the ball. Landry was credited with several innovations that literally changed the way Football was played:
- He invented the 4-3 defense while an assistant coach in NY. which became the base defense for most NFL teams for decades.
- While in Dallas, he developed what became known as “multiple formation offense“, which had multiple offensive players moving to non traditional places on the field. Like TEs lining up in a slot, or RBs moving into multiple places. It also featured having the OL stand up while players were shifting, making it difficult for the defense to see where players were moving. Now known as “the Landry shift”.
- In 1975, Landry reintroduced the “shotgun formation”, moving the QB five yards behind the center. It has become the most common snap formation in football. Landry didn’t invent the shotgun, but he’s the one that made it work and stick around.
- Bob Hayes- one of the few players in NFL history that was so unstoppable as a speed receiver, NFL defensive coaches had to change coverage schemes from man to zone. Before Bob Hayes, man coverage was the dominant way secondaries covered receivers. Bob Hayes shattered that. Look at his numbers in his career:
- In 1965, ‘67, ‘70 and ‘71, Hayes averaged over 20 yards per catch, including two of those years averaging 26 and 24 yards per catch.
- Retired with a 20 yard per reception avg. Unbelievable.
- Hayes had 6 TD receptions of 85 yards or more.
- The modern NFL speed receiver began with Bob Hayes.
- Roger Staubach- he was already a very successful QB when in 1975, Tom Landry reintroduced the shotgun formation and Roger used it so effectively, eventually all NFL teams use it today. In fact, over 60% of NFL plays today are from the shotgun.
- In the 1975 season, Staubach used the shotgun to devastating effect in the playoffs, including the famous “Hail Mary” pass to Drew Pearson against the Vikings in the divisional round on the way to an NFC championship.
- Staubach was so effective in the shotgun, his completion % increased 5 points and he was able to see passing and running lanes much quicker.
- Staubach’s success in the shotgun paved the way for the modern use of it in the now common “spread offenses”.
Here’s an interesting 2017 article about the installation of the shotgun by Landry in 1975:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...andry-installed-shotgun-for-cowboys/96558584/
Not many NFL teams can say they have three people that literally changed the game of football and how it is played.
One of the most frustrating statements I ever heard as a football fan was, "The game just passed Tom Landry by".
My response is always, Really? Then explain why half of what we still see during NFL games was invented by Tom Landry?
Everything he was given credit for inventing is still used today.
In addition, Landry was the first to want defensive players that were taller, leaner, and could cover more area in a pass rush than the stockier players other teams used. Today that is a standard for most defenses.
Landry was the first to introduce a formal method of gameplanning opponents by creating the coaching position of Quality Control. This coach would look over the opponents, note tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses to give the Cowboys an edge.
The suggestion that the game passed Tom Landry by is ludicrous. He would have just changed the game to his liking. in fact, he had terminated his DC and was working on a new defense, the story goes that it was some type of 3-4/4-3 hybrid. Everyone knew the Cowboys going to draft Troy Aikman, Landry went to one of his games. Brandt went to more than one.
A lot of people seem to forget that there were just as many Landry players starting in the Super Bowls as there were Johnson players. Irvin, Newton, Tuinei, Gogan, Norton Jr, Jeffcoat, Martin, Bates,....all drafted prior to 1989.
I would submit that Tony Dorsett was an innovator. Looking at him, you would conclude that Tony who was 5'11 and weighed 190 was a "speed merchant" who typically used the sidelines to gain the majority of his yardage, leaving the "gruntwork" like 3rd and short yardage to the fullback or someone else. He appeared to be built like a receiver and many were concerned about his durability before the draft.
On the contrary, Dorsett thrived in the middle, his running posture and smooth acceleration caused LB's to lose sight of him until his speed made it too late. He was one of the first to "hide" in a crowd before making his break.
Mel Renfro, the 3rd HOFer drated by the Cowboys in 1964 should also be considered the 3rd innovator for the Cowboys in that draft class
These three Cowboys- one coach and two players- literally changed the way the NFL game was played for decades to come. All three of course are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Tom Landry- One of the most innovative coaches in football history on both sides of the ball. Landry was credited with several innovations that literally changed the way Football was played:
- He invented the 4-3 defense while an assistant coach in NY. which became the base defense for most NFL teams for decades.
- While in Dallas, he developed what became known as “multiple formation offense“, which had multiple offensive players moving to non traditional places on the field. Like TEs lining up in a slot, or RBs moving into multiple places. It also featured having the OL stand up while players were shifting, making it difficult for the defense to see where players were moving. Now known as “the Landry shift”.
- In 1975, Landry reintroduced the “shotgun formation”, moving the QB five yards behind the center. It has become the most common snap formation in football. Landry didn’t invent the shotgun, but he’s the one that made it work and stick around.
- Bob Hayes- one of the few players in NFL history that was so unstoppable as a speed receiver, NFL defensive coaches had to change coverage schemes from man to zone. Before Bob Hayes, man coverage was the dominant way secondaries covered receivers. Bob Hayes shattered that. Look at his numbers in his career:
- In 1965, ‘67, ‘70 and ‘71, Hayes averaged over 20 yards per catch, including two of those years averaging 26 and 24 yards per catch.
- Retired with a 20 yard per reception avg. Unbelievable.
- Hayes had 6 TD receptions of 85 yards or more.
- The modern NFL speed receiver began with Bob Hayes.
- Roger Staubach- he was already a very successful QB when in 1975, Tom Landry reintroduced the shotgun formation and Roger used it so effectively, eventually all NFL teams use it today. In fact, over 60% of NFL plays today are from the shotgun.
- In the 1975 season, Staubach used the shotgun to devastating effect in the playoffs, including the famous “Hail Mary” pass to Drew Pearson against the Vikings in the divisional round on the way to an NFC championship.
- Staubach was so effective in the shotgun, his completion % increased 5 points and he was able to see passing and running lanes much quicker.
- Staubach’s success in the shotgun paved the way for the modern use of it in the now common “spread offenses”.
Here’s an interesting 2017 article about the installation of the shotgun by Landry in 1975:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...andry-installed-shotgun-for-cowboys/96558584/
Not many NFL teams can say they have three people that literally changed the game of football and how it is played.
One of the most frustrating statements I ever heard as a football fan was, "The game just passed Tom Landry by".
My response is always, Really? Then explain why half of what we still see during NFL games was invented by Tom Landry?
Everything he was given credit for inventing is still used today.
In addition, Landry was the first to want defensive players that were taller, leaner, and could cover more area in a pass rush than the stockier players other teams used. Today that is a standard for most defenses.
Landry was the first to introduce a formal method of gameplanning opponents by creating the coaching position of Quality Control. This coach would look over the opponents, note tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses to give the Cowboys an edge. In other words, Tom Landry was the first to scout opponents and
formally construct a gameplan based on the information he received like injuries, tendencies, weaknesses, etc
The suggestion that the game passed Tom Landry by is ludicrous. He would have just changed the game to his liking. in fact, he had terminated his DC and was working on a new defense, the story goes that it was some type of 3-4/4-3 hybrid. Everyone knew the Cowboys going to draft Troy Aikman, Landry went to one of his games. Brandt went to more than one.
A lot of people seem to forget that there were just as many Landry players starting in the Super Bowls as there were Johnson players. Irvin, Newton, Tuinei, Gogan, Norton Jr, Jeffcoat, Martin, Bates,....all drafted prior to 1989.
I would submit that Tony Dorsett was an innovator. Looking at him, you would conclude that Tony who was 5'11 and weighed 190 was a "speed merchant" who typically used the sidelines to gain the majority of his yardage, leaving the "gruntwork" like 3rd and short yardage to the fullback or someone else. He appeared to be built like a receiver and many were concerned about his durability before the draft.
On the contrary, Dorsett thrived in the middle, his running posture and smooth acceleration caused LB's to lose sight of him until his speed made it too late. He was one of the first to "hide" in a crowd before making his break.
Mel Renfro, the 3rd HOFer drated by the Cowboys in 1964 should also be considered the 3rd innovator for the Cowboys in that draft 1964 class. He was not the first, but one of a small group of the first CB's to advance the concept of a shutdown corner. The others were Paul Krause, drafted drafted concurrently after Renfro, and Herb Adderly. Both Adderly and Renfro had speed. In fact, if Hayes had never played football in the 1960's. then Adderly would have been the fastest player in his time.
Speaking of Bob Hayes as an innovator, he was drafted in the 7th round, the 88th pick overall. The guy drafted next at #89 overall was another NFL innovator who helped the Cowboys at some point in his career. The Detroit Lions selected an offensive tackle out of Wichita State by the name of Bill Parcells.