ESPN MacMahon: Passing on hype about Felix's receiving skills

[irishline]

The Cowboys call it the "Razorback" formation since Choice is the guy running it and he came out of Arkansas. Just sayin 'zall.

True except Choice was born and raised in Georgia, then went to University of Oklahoma before tansferring to Georgia Tech (none of which reside in the state of Arkansas). :

 

[percyhoward]

...when you have a guys like Witten, Austin, Roy Williams and Crayton (last yr) dumping the ball to a RB isnt going to be a priority, especially when the other two RB get more 3rd down reps.

The Saints and Chargers have plenty of other options too, but still did a much better job of using their RB's in the passing game in 2009.
RB targets as % of total targets
NO 26.7%
SD 24.9%
Dal 15.3%

RB rec yds as % of gross passing yds
SD 20.7%
NO 19.4%
Dal 10.6%

TD receptions by RB
NO 7
SD 7
Dal 0

Involving the backs in the passing game did not hurt those teams' gross yards per pass (sack yardage not included). Even throwing a higher percentage of passes to backs than we did, they still averaged more yards per pass attempt than we did. Probably because more passes to RB's means more high-percentage passes and fewer incompletions.

Gross Yards/Pass Att
SD 8.7
NO 8.3
Dal 8.2

You would think with so many passes to the backs, those teams would not have been able to run the ball as often. But they even found a way to get the backs involved in the passing game without taking plays away from their running game. They actually ran more than we did.

Ratio
San Diego
run 45%
pass 55%

New Orleans
run 46%
pass 54%

Dallas
run 44%
pass 56%

I'm not blaming OC or QB for lack of trying, or RB for lack of talent, just pointing out that there is a way to get everyone involved in the passing game.

 

[Jarv]

Nice stats...

I just recently re-watched the 1979 final game against the Skins and Rogers last regular season game.

One of the things I saw, which tended to bring back memories was a split backfield in the shotgun. Roger was surrounded by Ron Springs and Preston Pearson. What a deadly formation that was. One back would stay in to block and the other would run a wheel route, typically against a LB.

For those of you old enough to remember, Preston Pearson, who I think we picked up from Pitt, was the consummate 3rd down back. Everyone on the planet knew we were going his way on 3rd down, but he still came through and moved the chains at a tremendous rate.

Maybe JG should be looking at some of that old tape.

By the way, it wasn't like we didn't have other weapons then either, we had Billy Joe at TE...Tony "TD" Hill and Drew Pearson at WR as the other starters.

 

[JohnsKey19]

The key is getting Felix in space. We don't need Felix to be a complex route runner. Just catch a couple swing and screen passes and hope Felix makes magic in the open field. With the addition of Free we now have 2 OL who are very good at making blocks at the 2nd level in Kosier and Free.

 

[Mansta54]

Do you have any idea how stupid this sounds?

It sounds like most of his posts, if you can even understand them.... Stupid!!!!

 

[Rynie]

The Cowboys call it the "Razorback" formation since Choice is the guy running it and he came out of Arkansas. Just sayin 'zall.

felix went to arkansas...choice went to georgia tech.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Often the RB's first responsibility is picking up the blitz and he releases for a pattern only if he is not needed as a blocker.

Barber does this better than Jones.

And that's why Barber gets the third down snaps that so many fans think Jones should get.

...I guess we would need the game tape to prove this. Not only is the 3rd down back looking to take on the blocking assignment and execute it, but the coordinators/quality specialists look to see how a defence reacts to certain personnel.

When Barber is in they might line up with a LB tight and when Jones is in they might split out wider. Who would you throw the wheel route to then?

Certain personnel forces a defence to align in a certain way. This could explain why Barber is in on third downs and why he gets targeted for a greater number of throws out of the backfield.

 

[percyhoward]

What each back was doing when he was in the game in 2009:
includes playoffs

Barber
carry 39%
route 37%
run block 7%
pass block 17%

Jones
carry 44%
route 34%
run block 9%
pass block 13%

Choice
carry 26%
route 40%
run block 8%
pass block 26%