Free/Parnell and Cowboys Predictable on Offense

[ActualCowboysFan]

Never...NEVER...roll out. It never works with this team. At least not with the lame play they run with it.

Dropped in a TD on a roll out to Beas last week didn't they? Or was that a broken play?


Honestly, I'm not sure how indicitive that Eagles game is. Their scheme is designed to be high risk. They're running a lot of mixes up front, which can open up the cutback, but they're a divisional opponent and were sitting on it all night. Plus, the whole second half Cox was running through unblocked.

It seems to me that the Cowboys were determined to keep their D fresh while tiring out the Eagles. They accomplished that by forcing the run on first and passing more on second down. It workedin the sense that they dominated TOP in a ridiculous manner and dropped in 38 points against a team that blew them out two weeks ago.

 

[Szczepanik]

I've been screaming for this for a while, but why no HB draws with Murray out of shotgun?

 

[coult44]

Teams know when we are going to run, know when we're going to pass and they still can't stop us most of the time. We have the best rushing game in the NFL.

 

[burmafrd]

Teams know when we are going to run, know when we're going to pass and they still can't stop us most of the time. We have the best rushing game in the NFL.

but think of how much better we could be if we were more unpredictable.

 

[Stash]

This team's predictability and clear tendencies are extremely frustrating, and have been for quite some time.

Not to undermine all that they do right, this is clearly something they have done, and continue to do wrong.

 

[Doc50]

One of the interesting things about Dallas' offense this year is that it is still pretty much as predictable as it has ever been. However, improved line play and perhaps the maturity of some receivers is making the passing game better and there is the constant threat of the run game. Even if you know Dallas is in a passing formation, you can't just leave 5 guys in the box because they can switch to a run.

I've always hated this scheme because its was so reactive to what defenses do. It still is now, but the run game is so good that the defense has to pick their poison, rather than defend the pass and stop the run with fewer guys in the box.

You might conclude that a smart coach is establishing these trends now, so that they can have success in the postseason by deviating from those tendencies. The game plan this week may be a bit different if our OL is still banged up. The staff certainly has the experience to change it up, but they haven't yet had to.

 

[Kaiser]

Teams know when we are going to run, know when we're going to pass and they still can't stop us most of the time. We have the best rushing game in the NFL.

Yup. People forget that the early 1990's teams were the same same way. Predictable but generally unstoppable.

 

[xwalker]

Looks like walker is correct about the play wanting to go inside of Parnell but because of the backside pursuit Murray tries to bounce outside. Problem is, like fuzzy said, Parnell is manhandled and play ends for no gain.

Thanks for posting the Gif. My goal is to get people to debate the actual plays regardless of whether they agree with me. Actually, it's better if people don't agree, otherwise there is no debate.

1. This is the play where Collinsworth said that Murray ran into Parnell because Parnell got pushed back. That much is definitely wrong. The idea is for Parnell to take #72 up as far as possible which means the more Parnell and #72 go backwards and towards the outside the better because Murray is expected to run inside. It is a reach block, which means that Parnell is trying to take a defender that was lined up inside of him and get him to the outside.

2. The play was dead because of #50, not because of Parnell's man. The idea in that play is for Martin to block #50 but Martin was barely able to walk between plays and was late a few times after he injured his leg.

3. It was either #91 or #50 that forced Murray to start to bounce outside and into Parnell.

4. If you view the broadcast angle in slow motion, you can see that Parnell fell because Murray's legs were intertwined with Parnell's. It's difficult to know if #72 could get back to the inside without Parnell falling and if #50 was blocked.

5. Tyron was supposed to block #91 (Cox) but Cox is very quick and Tyron didn't even touch him. This is where the Cowboys predictability works against them, IMO. Murray is the RB with Romo under center which makes is about a 99% probability that it is a run. The Eagles jump in the direction of the run as soon as Romo turns that direction for the hand-off.

Summary: This play is a great example of how broadcasters say something that is wrong and people believe them. Parnell and #72 were in the way of Murray running outside because the play was designed to go inside.

 

[JakeCamp12]

XWalker, what is your grade this year for Tyron? I am interested in your view since you breakdown the tape and really watch the OLine in great detail.

 

[xwalker]

Here is the start of the play in question and the previous play which is similar (same formation and stretch run right), but was a 14 yard gain.

1. Notice that #91 is lined up slightly more inside on the 2nd play. Tyron gets a great block on #91 in the 1st play, but does not touch him in the 2nd play.

2. Notice the #72 is lined up slightly more inside on the 2nd play. It's a reach type block for Parnell in both, but it's a bigger reach in the 2nd play because of where #72 was lined up. This one is not a big issue like the alignment of #91 because it's only a couple of inches and Martin chips him, but just an observation that both #91 and #72 align such that they might be expecting the same run again.

 

[xwalker]

XWalker, what is your grade this year for Tyron? I am interested in your view since you breakdown the tape and really watch the OLine in great detail.

I have not focused on him, but I have noticed while focusing on Free/Parnell, Martin and Leary that there have been more problems coming from Tyron's side than I expected. Having said that LT is the most difficult position. Also, I've outlined in the past (many people don't believe it) that the Cowboys often cheat their blocking scheme to the right to help Free/Parnell which makes it more difficult for Leary and Tyron.

 

[BigStar]

Any thoughts on my 2nd post (predictable offense)?

Does the color formatting make it easy to see what is happening?

All I see is blue people. Honestly though, the color coding is very easy to take in and does magnify how little variance is displayed in shotgun/under center. There were more than a couple of plays I saw the middle was wide open begging for a draw play on 2/3rd and medium.

 

[xwalker]

ESPN has Murray with 31 runs out of the shotgun formation and Romo with 94 pass attempts from under center.

Thanks. Is there a breakdown per game. I'm curious to know what they did in the 1st game against the Eagles.

That would be 8.8% of Murray's runs (about 1 in 12).

 

[xwalker]

The second play in the fourth quarter sees Parnell at the point of attack. The reason the backside pursuit caught up was because Parnell failed to get his hands on the DE and allowed penetration at the bloody poa. His guy did get in on the tackle. I've gotten to the point where I have hard time taking your play by play seriously.

I think we've been through this before where you can't or won't look at how a play was intended to be executed. If Murray cut inside which is the obvious intention of this play, then the more "penetration" out and up by the DE, then better. Obviously, Parnell's guy was in on the tackle after Murray tried to bounce outside and ran into the back of Parnell. If that play was intended to go outside, Martin would not have been help blocking Parnell to take the DE to the outside.

I'm also having a hard time taking your game reviews seriously after you posted that Parnell was getting killed in the run game by Cox, but I can only find 1 instance of Parnell even blocking Cox and Cox was not involved in that play as a backside defender.

 

[JakeCamp12]

I have not focused on him, but I have noticed while focusing on Free/Parnell, Martin and Leary that there have been more problems coming from Tyron's side than I expected. Having said that LT is the most difficult position. Also, I've outlined in the past (many people don't believe it) that the Cowboys often cheat their blocking scheme to the right to help Free/Parnell which makes it more difficult for Leary and Tyron.

Thanks. My impression is that he has gotten "lazy" when the play is going to the other side and at times doesn't stay on his backside block long enough. I have no analysis to back this up, just an impression. I think overall his play has been a bit down for his talent this year.

 

[xwalker]

Thanks. My impression is that he has gotten "lazy" when the play is going to the other side and at times doesn't stay on his backside block long enough. I have no analysis to back this up, just an impression. I think overall his play has been a bit down for his talent this year.

He did have an ankle injury around mid-season that was probably an issue in some games. If I have time, I'll review him in a game or two.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I think we've been through this before where you can't or won't look at how a play was intended to be executed. If Murray cut inside which is the obvious intention of this play, then the more "penetration" out and up by the DE, then better. Obviously, Parnell's guy was in on the tackle after Murray tried to bounce outside and ran into the back of Parnell. If that play was intended to go outside, Martin would not have been help blocking Parnell to take the DE to the outside.

I'm also having a hard time taking your game reviews seriously after you posted that Parnell was getting killed in the run game by Cox, but I can only find 1 instance of Parnell even blocking Cox and Cox was not involved in that play as a backside defender.

I said that he had problems getting his hands on Cox or anyone else for that matter. He did. You say he didn't get pushed back but the play starts at the 31 and he ends up on the ground at the 29. You do the math.

The play was design to be off tackle. Note how Murray is running behind Parnell all the way to the bitter end? You can see Parnell trying to hook the DE inside and fail. You certainly like to make up crap to excuse your pet cats failure. Only you will take a play that a guy misses his block clearly and ends up on the turf and ignore it and blame someone else.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I think we've been through this before where you can't or won't look at how a play was intended to be executed. If Murray cut inside which is the obvious intention of this play, then the more "penetration" out and up by the DE, then better. Obviously, Parnell's guy was in on the tackle after Murray tried to bounce outside and ran into the back of Parnell. If that play was intended to go outside, Martin would not have been help blocking Parnell to take the DE to the outside.

I'm also having a hard time taking your game reviews seriously after you posted that Parnell was getting killed in the run game by Cox, but I can only find 1 instance of Parnell even blocking Cox and Cox was not involved in that play as a backside defender.

1) You have no proof of the play call. You mistake me not buy your unprovable stories with a refusal to 'see.' I've even demonstrated how that works both ways.
2) It's a zone play and their is no 'hole' the RB takes no matter what. Look up what an off tackle run is and get back to me.
3) By watching Parnells hands you can see him miss his block. That is not a matter of play call as the DE knocks his hands away and pushes him backwards, sets the edge, and pinches the line..
4) He ended up on the ground which is a cardinal sin.

 

[Noryb]

1) You have no proof of the play call. You mistake me not buy your unprovable stories with a refusal to 'see.' I've even demonstrated how that works both ways.
2) It's a zone play and their is no 'hole' the RB takes no matter what. Look up what an off tackle run is and get back to me.
3) By watching Parnells hands you can see him miss his block. That is not a matter of play call as the DE knocks his hands away and pushes him backwards, sets the edge, and pinches the line..
4) He ended up on the ground which is a cardinal sin.

He ends up on the ground because Murray pushes him in the back and knocks him off balance. I'm no film guru but I see exactly what xWalker sees and Parnell is no pet of mine. 91 and 50, both unblocked, made the play.

 

[xwalker]

He ends up on the ground because Murray pushes him in the back and knocks him off balance. I'm no film guru but I see exactly what xWalker sees and Parnell is no pet of mine. 91 and 50, both unblocked, made the play.

Yes, this play goes beyond any bias I have towards Parnell or any bias Fuzzy has against him or me. It is a very interesting play for discussion. I would have the same opinion if it was Free making this block.

I don't see how it is not obvious that Murray intended to cut inside but #50 and #91 caused him to try to bounce outside.

Martin's help block on Parnell's man is more evidence that it was intended to go inside.

I very interested in some unbiased opinions like yours.