Dallas offensive progression in 2009

[Wood]

Records broke:
* Season yardage total 5,996 (previous record 1979)

Other Offensive facts:
* Romo broke his previous passing yards record (4,483 in '09)
* Second time ever Cowboys QB passed for over 4,000 yards
* Dallas had 4th lowest giveaways in league at 19
* Dallas was in top 7 for passing/rushing/total yards


Clear indication there was coaching and player progression at work in '09. From coaching prospective Garrett simplifying playbook for Romo paid dividends. Romo reminder to himself before each snap to not throw interception worked. Miles Austin maturation also factors in. I believe Witten had almost career numbers as well. If anything needs fixing...it would be Marion Barber returning to form in red zone...everything else improved.

 

[Eskimo]

While the offense was very good in some ways, we need to be able to score more points, especially against good defenses. There were four games where the offense almost forgot to show up altogether: Denver, GB, 1st game against Washington, Minnesota. All of these defenses attacked our OL with impunity as we couldn't get blocked and didn't have WRs who could threaten downfield.

While everyone does rightfully criticize the OL for their play on these days, the WRs have to make defenses pay for this overaggressiveness. Minnesota was a bit of a different situation than some of the others in that they didn't have to blitz to generate a near jailbreak type rush.

One thing we need to continue to develop to make DLs pay for this kind of aggression is a more diversified screen game. Hopefully we see even more RB screens next year with Felix as the primary back.

 

[ZeroClub]

Records broke:
* Season yardage total 5,996 (previous record 1979)

Other Offensive facts:
* Romo broke his previous passing yards record (4,483 in '09)
* Second time ever Cowboys QB passed for over 4,000 yards
* Dallas had 4th lowest giveaways in league at 19
* Dallas was in top 7 for passing/rushing/total yards


Clear indication there was coaching and player progression at work in '09. From coaching prospective Garrett simplifying playbook for Romo paid dividends. Romo reminder to himself before each snap to not throw interception worked. Miles Austin maturation also factors in. I believe Witten had almost career numbers as well. If anything needs fixing...it would be Marion Barber returning to form in red zone...everything else improved.

The short yardage game needs improvement. But I'm far from sold that Barber is the solution.

IMO, the Cowboys need to find a true short yardage power back.

 

[MONT17]

When the 5-11ers rip Garrett and demand his job, they forget to mention these records along with a viable replacement!

 

[Longboysfan]

While the offense was very good in some ways, we need to be able to score more points, especially against good defenses. There were four games where the offense almost forgot to show up altogether: Denver, GB, 1st game against Washington, Minnesota. All of these defenses attacked our OL with impunity as we couldn't get blocked and didn't have WRs who could threaten downfield.

While everyone does rightfully criticize the OL for their play on these days, the WRs have to make defenses pay for this overaggressiveness. Minnesota was a bit of a different situation than some of the others in that they didn't have to blitz to generate a near jailbreak type rush.

One thing we need to continue to develop to make DLs pay for this kind of aggression is a more diversified screen game. Hopefully we see even more RB screens next year with Felix as the primary back.

All well written.

But this point out a weakness on the O line for the next year.
Old and slow and we did not improve it with another year on the books for the unit as a whole.

 

[THUMPER]

The short yardage game needs improvement. But I'm far from sold that Barber is the solution.

IMO, the Cowboys need to find a true short yardage power back.

I agree, Barber is NOT a short-yardage runner. He is too tentative and does not go over the top when there is no hole. A short-yardage guy needs to either hit the hole fast or be willing to go over the top and not dance around looking for an opening. Either make one or go over!

Our inability to convert on short yardage, both for first downs and at the goalline, really hurt us this year. Fix that and we should score a lot more TDs next year.

People just don't realize how great Emmitt was at that! All they remember is the Philly game.