News: Dak Prescott’s Use of Playaction and Shotgun

[CCBoy]

Dak Prescott’s Use of Playaction and Shotgun
http://profootballtalkline.com/nfl-analysis/news/108977/dak-prescots-use-playaction-shotgun.html/

*(a good article to consume)


The Cowboys offense is doing their part: they are 8th in the NFL in total scoring (125 points), having scored 28 or more points in the last three games, yet they are a dismal -7 in point differential. For comparison, Philly has scored 138 points, but they have a point differential of +38. The Cowboys defense has forced just 4 turnovers in the first 5 games (2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries).

I am not sure that missing Sean Lee can explain the defense’s inability to stop drives. Jaylon Smith looked slow, out of place on some plays and weak at the point of attack on others. As impressive as David Irving was in his debut, it is hard to see a silver lining for the Cowboys front 7 on defense.

There is a lot to pleased about with the Cowboys offense, although it still isn’t operating as efficiently as last season. Against the Packers, Dak Prescott was only under pressure on 8 of his 40 drop-backs. Especially encouraging was the play of RT La’el Collins, who only gave up one pressure in pass protection and run blocked well after struggling in the first 3 weeks. PFF still rates the Cowboys o-line as just the 14th best in the NFL. Dak Prescott is playing better. His toal QBR, from ESPN, is up to 79.7 (2nd in NFL to the guy in Houston) from 60.3 a few ago. According to the NFL QB ranking system, Prescott has gone from 88.9 (22nd) to 93.1 (14th). His grade from PFF has risen from 73.6 (23rd) to 79.2 (12th)...

 

[CCBoy]

...converting 42% of their 3rd down attempts (10th in NFL – Philly leads with 53%). They converted just 32% in the first 3 games.

• averaging just 319 offensive yards per game (376 last season).

• averaging 124 yards per game on the ground (down from over 149.8 in 2016).

• up from 28th in the league in time of possession (28:03) to 21st at 29:45. Last season they were 2nd only to Philly (32:25).

• averaging 25 points a game, which is 19th in the league (26.3 in 2016)...

http://profootballtalkline.com/nfl-analysis/news/108977/dak-prescots-use-playaction-shotgun.html/

 

[CCBoy]

...In 2016, the Cowboys ran about 80% of the time when Prescott took the snap from under center and they threw the ball more than 80% of the time when he was in the shotgun. Hence, the Cowboys quest for offensive balance begins with limiting their use of the shotgun to around 50% or less.

In week 4 against the Rams, the Cowboys ran 66 plays from scrimmage. Dak took 31 snaps from under center and 38 snaps in the shotgun. As a general rule for the Cowboys, more snaps from the shotgun is a bad sign: it usually means they haven’t gained much yardage on 1st down...

http://profootballtalkline.com/nfl-analysis/news/108977/dak-prescots-use-playaction-shotgun.html/

 

[Nova]

People are underestimating Lee's value as the brain of the defense.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

People are underestimating Lee's value as the brain of the defense.

Not only that..but if I'm a teammate and you lose the heart and soul of your defense....you start to go into games with a different type of energy. Sean Lee's impact goes deeper than just his play.

 

[Gameover]

Our points allowed is inflated because of two pick 6's and a fumbled punt inside our 20's. That's 21 points there which was mostly out of the defenses control.

The difference between last year and this defense is run defense.

Last years team was number 1 vs the run. This years team is number 20. And if you take out the games vs 29th and 32nd Rush offenses, the Cowboys are giving up 166 yard per game. Which would probably put us at dead last vs the run.

I don't think the Cowboys D was bad vs GB(outside of the run defense)

That pick 6 killed us.

Giving up 166 yards over 14 games would equal 2,324. The Cowboys allowed 1,336 all of last season.

 

[pansophy]

Our points allowed is inflated because of two pick 6's and a fumbled punt inside our 20's. That's 21 points there which was mostly out of the defenses control.

The difference between last year and this defense is run defense.

Last years team was number 1 vs the run. This years team is number 20. And if you take out the games vs 29th and 32nd Rush offenses, the Cowboys are giving up 166 yard per game. Which would probably put us at dead last vs the run.

I don't think the Cowboys D was bad vs GB(outside of the run defense)

That pick 6 killed us.

Giving up 166 yards over 14 games would equal 2,324. The Cowboys allowed 1,336 all of last season.

Part of the reason we were #1 against the run is because we had a big TOP lead and getting leads on teams. So that stat truly means that we gave up the least yards on the ground as opposed to that we were the hardest to run against.

Still it seems like teams are averaging 5 yards a carry against us and we won't win many games that way, never mind that we aren't staying on the field as much either.

 

[Gameover]

Part of the reason we were #1 against the run is because we had a big TOP lead and getting leads on teams. So that stat truly means that we gave up the least yards on the ground as opposed to that we were the hardest to run against.

Still it seems like teams are averaging 5 yards a carry against us and we won't win many games that way, never mind that we aren't staying on the field as much either.

Cowboys last two first half performances are better than anything they did last season.

TOP GB: 24:54 Dal: 35:06

GB rushed for 166 yards

Most rushing yards Cowboys allowed last season was 114. The last game of the season

Steelers game from 2016

TOP Pitt 29:24 Cowboys: 30:36
All Pro back: 17 car 57 yards

 

[SSoup]

Speaking of Dak...

What do people think about the pre-snap move Dak has been using where he turns his whole body around so his back is to the defense in order to use his body to shield the hand-signs he is flashing to tell the receivers what to do?

I've heard QBs, discussing the shotgun formation, how they think it's risky to take your eyes off the defense (you have to look away for a split second to field the snap in the shotgun), because they might be moving the chess pieces around the board while you're looking away, and it's disorienting to have to look away and then look back and figure out what changed while you weren't looking.

So... is it a great idea to have the QB turn all the way around while calling audibles, giving the defense a chance to shift the pieces around without the QB watching?

I feel like we'll eventually have a game where defenses completely change their look when Dak turns around and adjusts the receivers' routes, and it'll really hurt us. Kind of like how, in the 2003 season, Mike Zimmer kept calling that all-out blitz, once or twice a game, and it wasn't until halfway through the season when the Patriots played us and they perfectly burned the blitz, and suddenly everybody was like, "Oh, so that's why you're not supposed to do that dumb thing we've been doing. I was wondering why. Huh. How come it took so long for somebody to bust us up like that when we did that?"

 

[xwalker]

Speaking of Dak...

What do people think about the pre-snap move Dak has been using where he turns his whole body around so his back is to the defense in order to use his body to shield the hand-signs he is flashing to tell the receivers what to do?

I've heard QBs, discussing the shotgun formation, how they think it's risky to take your eyes off the defense (you have to look away for a split second to field the snap in the shotgun), because they might be moving the chess pieces around the board while you're looking away, and it's disorienting to have to look away and then look back and figure out what changed while you weren't looking.

So... is it a great idea to have the QB turn all the way around while calling audibles, giving the defense a chance to shift the pieces around without the QB watching?

I feel like we'll eventually have a game where defenses completely change their look when Dak turns around and adjusts the receivers' routes, and it'll really hurt us. Kind of like how, in the 2003 season, Mike Zimmer kept calling that all-out blitz, once or twice a game, and it wasn't until halfway through the season when the Patriots played us and they perfectly burned the blitz, and suddenly everybody was like, "Oh, so that's why you're not supposed to do that dumb thing we've been doing. I was wondering why. Huh. How come it took so long for somebody to bust us up like that when we did that?"

I only see it as a problem if he takes too long doing it. As long as he has time to look at the defense again, then it should not be a problem.

 

[xwalker]

Cowboys last two first half performances are better than anything they did last season.

TOP GB: 24:54 Dal: 35:06

GB rushed for 166 yards

Most rushing yards Cowboys allowed last season was 114. The last game of the season

Steelers game from 2016

TOP Pitt 29:24 Cowboys: 30:36
All Pro back: 17 car 57 yards

Their gameplan against GB was to ignore the run and totally focus on the pass. Considering Rodgers is a top 2 QB and the RB is an unknown, it was a reasonable plan and almost worked.

If they had Lee on the field and Jaylon off the field it probably would have worked.

 

[Gameover]

Their gameplan against GB was to ignore the run and totally focus on the pass. Considering Rodgers is a top 2 QB and the RB is an unknown, it was a reasonable plan and almost worked.

If they had Lee on the field and Jaylon off the field it probably would have worked.

I would never ignore the run

 

[erod]

Dak likes that high school offense crap.

That's easy for good defenses to manhandle.

 

[Gameover]

People are underestimating Lee's value as the brain of the defense.

I think you're overestimating what one man could do when those up front are unleashing the flood gates

 

[Gameover]

Dak likes that high school offense crap.

That's easy for good defenses to manhandle.

Someone misses the good old days when every snap was a live fire drill.

You miss the 8-8 dynasty!

I can't believe the entire league missed the chance to sign this Super Bowl waiting to happen quarterback

They all let the bum run to the booth when he desperately wanted to play

 

[Gameover]

which is 19th in the league (26.3 in 2016)...

9th in the league

 

[CCBoy]

9th in the league

That is a quoted article.

 

[erod]

Someone misses the good old days when every snap was a live fire drill.

You miss the 8-8 dynasty!

I can't believe the entire league missed the chance to sign this Super Bowl waiting to happen quarterback

They all let the bum run to the booth when he desperately wanted to play

Uh, ok?

 

[Proximo]

Dak likes that high school offense crap.

That's easy for good defenses to manhandle.

LOL

Your post literally makes no sense. Our offense has been one of the best in the league since Dak's been our QB.

 

[Direwolf63]

Dak likes that high school offense crap.

That's easy for good defenses to manhandle.

Except that this high school offense with the inept QB has scored 28, 30 and 31 points the last 3 games.

People focusing on the offense are completely missing where the problems on this team is.