DCN: What to expect from Scott Linehan's Offense

[jday]

The best Dallas Cowboys acquisition of the offseason may very well prove to be Scott Linehan. He has been the architect of several high-powered offenses throughout his tenure as an offensive coordinator, but history will show that his contributions have often been outweighed by horrible defenses.

Read the rest: http://dallascowboysnation.com/2014/07/what-to-expect-scott-linehan-offense/

 

[EST_1986]

Hopefully the game plan of game planning Dez out of the plays is one.

 

[jazzcat22]

Points....a lot of points....
sorry, can't put it any other way than that.

nice article too.

 

[jday]

Points....a lot of points....
sorry, can't put it any other way than that.

nice article too.

I'm hoping "a lot of points" is the main thing we can expect from Linehan's offense.

 

[Verdict]

I expect us to use Murray even more in the passing game. He is an exceptional talent catching the ball out of the backfield. They should be lining him up all over the place. He is a very difficult match up because of his versatility. It is a waste of his talents to not move him around and exploit his strengths.

This isn't a new phenomenon ..... he was used extensively at OU in the passing game with success.

 

[jday]

I expect us to use Murray even more in the passing game. He is an exceptional talent catching the ball out of the backfield. They should be lining him up all over the place. He is a very difficult match up because of his versatility. It is a waste of his talents to not move him around and exploit his strengths.

This isn't a new phenomenon ..... he was used extensively at OU in the passing game with success.

I could definitely see Murray used more in that capacity. But judging my Linehan's past stops, he will be using every RB he has available in a variety of different ways.

 

[jazzcat22]

I expect us to use Murray even more in the passing game. He is an exceptional talent catching the ball out of the backfield. They should be lining him up all over the place. He is a very difficult match up because of his versatility. It is a waste of his talents to not move him around and exploit his strengths.

This isn't a new phenomenon ..... he was used extensively at OU in the passing game with success.

Would be really nice to see some successful screen plays, and more than a few times a year.
Murray and Dunbar can get some huge yards on this.

 

[jday]

Would be really nice to see some successful screen plays, and more than a few times a year.
Murray and Dunbar can get some huge yards on this.

The reason we didn't see it as much in the past is because we didn't have the Ol to run that a whole bunch. The big uglies aren't ideal for those types of play's - e.g. Leary and Waters from last year. With the addition of Zach Martin, I think we can definitely expect more screens...and like you, I am very much looking forward to it. Personally, I think it is a great way to tire a defense.

 

[AbeBeta]

Two big differences. 1. Murray is going to catch 70+ balls -- we may not run him 20 times a game but he will get 20 touches. 2. We are going to target Dez more.

 

[Frozen700]

Creativity. Actually exploiting a weakness, until a defense dares to stop it. Not just switch it up to be cute.

I also think we will see Dez all over the field, and actually be a main focus in the 2nd half.

Also more fade routes in the red zone to Dez, if not Dez, one of our other tall WR's

 

[jday]

Two big differences. 1. Murray is going to catch 70+ balls -- we may not run him 20 times a game but he will get 20 touches. 2. We are going to target Dez more.

I would set the over/under at 50 for balls caught by Murray this season. If you look at Linehan's previous stops, the most receptions a single RB has ever had was 90 receptions with Stephen Jackson in 2006, but he didn't really have any potential threats behind him. Since 2006, Linehan has spread the wealth, in terms of receptions, fairly evenly over the RB's at his disposal.

 

[jday]

Creativity. Actually exploiting a weakness, until a defense dares to stop it. Not just switch it up to be cute.

I also think we will see Dez all over the field, and actually be a main focus in the 2nd half.

Also more fade routes in the red zone to Dez, if not Dez, one of our other tall WR's

I have read in a few places he wants to go deep more often...but a big reason for that is because it put's the secondary on their heel's, allowing for big gains when the QB throws underneath to the RB.

 

[Frozen700]

I have read in a few places he wants to go deep more often...but a big reason for that is because it put's the secondary on their heel's, allowing for big gains when the QB throws underneath to the RB.

This is Awesome.

I always believed when you take your shots, the Defense get timid, because sooner or later you can connect, and you show them, you are not scared.

 

[percyhoward]

3rd-Down Conversion %
Dallas 25th
Detroit 6th

Avg Distance to go on 3rd down
Dallas 26th
Detroit 6th

Any-Down Conversion %
Dallas 4th
Detroit 9th

Scoring (points per drive)
Dallas 4th
Detroit 14th

Yards per drive
Dallas 12th
Detroit 8th

TOP per drive
Dallas 15th
Detroit 6th

The Cowboys moved the chains more often than the Lions in 2013, and outscored them as well. The obvious problem for Dallas was 3rd down, but Dallas had by far the fewest 3rd-down plays in the league. We were so good at avoiding 3rd downs that we were able to rank 4th in scoring.

The effect of being so bad on 3rd down, and so good on 1st and 2nd, is that you won't win the time of possession battle very often. So even though it only accounted for 18% of Dallas' offensive plays in 2013, 3rd down is still important, and it's the one thing Detroit did better than Dallas offensively in 2013.

Ideally, you'd like the offense to keep doing the things that led to the Cowboys' 1st- and 2nd-down (and red zone) success, and hope Linehan brings that 3rd-down magic just to add to the formula. That said, one of the things the Lions did well (keeping 3rd-down distances manageable) has nothing to do with the actual 3rd-down play.

Two other reasons for their 3rd-down success--that have everything to do with actual 3rd-down plays--can be seen in the facts that follow:

• In 2013, Detroit's 3rd-down pass rating was 70.4 to Johnson, and 107.4 to the next 3 most-targeted players.
• Dallas' 3rd-down pass rating was 106.3 to Bryant, and 83.5 to the next 3 most-targeted players.
• 10.4% of Dallas' 3rd-down drop backs resulted in sacks, compared to 3.6% of Detroit's.
• 4.9% of Detroit's 3rd-down targets (and 8.2% of Johnson's) resulted in an INT, compared to 2.6% of Dallas' (and 0% of Bryant's)

The Lions took more risks with their #1 WR than the Cowboys (fewer sacks, more turnovers) on 3rd down, and they were able to get more receivers involved. Those are the two things I'd like to see Linehan bring to 3rd down this year.

 

[CCBoy]

I love the production items...as does Jerry.

My problem here, is that the guts of a team doesn't show up as well...and 3rd downs plus worst defense proves this out.

 

[jday]

3rd-Down Conversion %
Dallas 25th
Detroit 6th

Avg Distance to go on 3rd down
Dallas 26th
Detroit 6th

Any-Down Conversion %
Dallas 4th
Detroit 9th

Scoring (points per drive)
Dallas 4th
Detroit 14th

Yards per drive
Dallas 12th
Detroit 8th

TOP per drive
Dallas 15th
Detroit 6th

The Cowboys moved the chains more often than the Lions in 2013, and outscored them as well. The obvious problem for Dallas was 3rd down, but Dallas had by far the fewest 3rd-down plays in the league. We were so good at avoiding 3rd downs that we were able to rank 4th in scoring.

The effect of being so bad on 3rd down, and so good on 1st and 2nd, is that you won't win the time of possession battle very often. So even though it only accounted for 18% of Dallas' offensive plays in 2013, 3rd down is still important, and it's the one thing Detroit did better than Dallas offensively in 2013.

Ideally, you'd like the offense to keep doing the things that led to the Cowboys' 1st- and 2nd-down (and red zone) success, and hope Linehan brings that 3rd-down magic just to add to the formula. That said, one of the things the Lions did well (keeping 3rd-down distances manageable) has nothing to do with the actual 3rd-down play.

Two other reasons for their 3rd-down success--that have everything to do with actual 3rd-down plays--can be seen in the facts that follow:

• In 2013, Detroit's 3rd-down pass rating was 70.4 to Johnson, and 107.4 to the next 3 most-targeted players.
• Dallas' 3rd-down pass rating was 106.3 to Bryant, and 83.5 to the next 3 most-targeted players.
• 10.4% of Dallas' 3rd-down drop backs resulted in sacks, compared to 3.6% of Detroit's.
• 4.9% of Detroit's 3rd-down targets (and 8.2% of Johnson's) resulted in an INT, compared to 2.6% of Dallas' (and 0% of Bryant's)

The Lions took more risks with their #1 WR than the Cowboys (fewer sacks, more turnovers) on 3rd down, and they were able to get more receivers involved. Those are the two things I'd like to see Linehan bring to 3rd down this year.

Great response. Very nice breakdown; enjoyed very much.

Having said that, I really like the Cowboys overall talent compared to the Lions and I honestly believe the one thing Linehan will do much better than Garrett/Callahan is getting more production from guy's like Dunbar, Beasley, Escobar, Hanna, and Harris. The one thing I feel very confident predicting this year is that the Cowboys offense will be unpredictable.

 

[CCBoy]

Great response. Very nice breakdown; enjoyed very much.

Having said that, I really like the Cowboys overall talent compared to the Lions and I honestly believe the one thing Linehan will do much better than Garrett/Callahan is getting more production from guy's like Dunbar, Beasley, Escobar, Hanna, and Harris. The one thing I feel very confident predicting this year is that the Cowboys offense will be unpredictable.

Touchdown City!

Now, a linebacker will fear having his jock hung out to dry by a Dunbar in the flat.