Garrett's Offensive Simplicity...

[CoCo]

Is that a bad thing? Really?

I will remind you that when Dallas won 3 SB's in the 90's their offense was simple then as well. We repeatedly heard that Dallas never tried to hide what they were doing. They just lined up and dared you to stop it. Most teams could not because our combination of talent and execution overwhelmed.

Its also why Jimmy & Barry both believed that it was talent that determined who won, not coaching. Now to be clear I think Jimmy certainly believed preparation (ie coaching) was critical, but I think his point was that well-prepared talent is going to carry the day most of the time. Not scheme or trickery.

Think its just possible that there is nothing wrong with Garrett's system that preparation and execution wouldn't fix?

I think its a point worth considering given some of our equally obvious struggles with execution and Jimmy's declaration as recent as yesterday that "Dallas is a sloppy team." And FOX & Aikman pointing out Roy Williams poor route-running.

Yet, the sloppy players want to simply point the finger at the system rather refine their execution of it.

I'm not declaring that as truth right now, but I do think it is very worthy of consideration in discussing this mess.

 

[theogt]

You can't be simple in today's NFL. It just doesn't happen. Once teams figure your scheme out and you don't adapt, it's game over.

 

[DasTex]

You can't be simple in today's NFL. It just doesn't happen. Once teams figure your scheme out and you don't adapt, it's game over.

Yup, it's not the 90's anymore.

 

[xWraithx]

Yup, it's not the 90's anymore.

we don't have Aikman, Emmitt, Irvin, and an o-line from another planet anymore.

 

[superpunk]

It doesn't have to be like that, though.

Just watch the Saints one time and you'll see it. Yes, Drew Brees is amazing, much better than Romo has played the last month. But he has receivers WIDE open through play design. Lance Moore and Colston are not blue chip receivers - they're not getting open because physically they are so amazing. But week in and week out, Brees is throwing to receivers who don't have a defender within 8 yards of them. The only time Romo gets that is on dump-offs to a back.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Another key difference between now and then was we had a significant edge in talent from top to bottom against most teams we played.

In todays parity driven NFL, no team has that edge anymore. Hence teams going 13-3 one year, 3-13 the next, 10-6 the next etc.

 

[klee34]

Part of our offensive problem is the fact Owens, Williams and company don't carry out their pass routes. Witten is the only true football player we have at the receiver/tight end position.

 

[CoCo]

You can't be simple in today's NFL. It just doesn't happen. Once teams figure your scheme out and you don't adapt, it's game over.

I'm not sure what I believe yet. But I am resisting the temptation to simply say "Yeah Garrett doesn't know what he's doing."

I just find it hard to believe that with all of Jason's experience (and yes I do consider him experienced given his various roles) he has no clue how to counter defensive strategies to the point that it renders a very talented offense ineffective.

Its a nice pat answer from fans who are upset but I truly question whether it holds water.

No disrespect to Ray Lewis but the implication is that he who has never been a coach sees the situation more clearly than Garrett. I'm not convinced.

 

[xWraithx]

I'm not sure what I believe yet. But I am resisting the temptation to simply say "Yeah Garrett doesn't know what he's doing."

I just find it hard to believe that with all of Jason's experience (and yes I do consider him experienced given his various roles) he has no clue how to counter defensive strategies to the point that it renders a very talented offense ineffective.

Its a nice pat answer from fans who are upset but I truly question whether it holds water.

No disrespect to Ray Lewis but the implication is that he who has never been a coach sees the situation more clearly than Garrett. I'm not convinced.

are you Philip Cocu?

 

[theogt]

I'm not sure what I believe yet. But I am resisting the temptation to simply say "Yeah Garrett doesn't know what he's doing."

I just find it hard to believe that with all of Jason's experience (and yes I do consider him experienced given his various roles) he has no clue how to counter defensive strategies to the point that it renders a very talented offense ineffective.

Its a nice pat answer from fans who are upset but I truly question whether it holds water.

No disrespect to Ray Lewis but the implication is that he who has never been a coach sees the situation more clearly than Garrett. I'm not convinced.

Don't take my word for it. Take Tony's, TO's, Ray Lewis's, and our lack of production from one of the most talented offenses in the NFL.

He was a QB coach before he got here, and not a very good one at that apparently. He had no experience at calling plays. He has no offensive mind guiding him at all right now. He's completely lost and doesn't know how to get better.

You put Tony Sparano on this team in '08 instead of Garrett and we're 13-3 and have a 1st round bye.

 

[Bach]

I guess offensive simplicity could work minus the sloppiness. But who is getting through to the players to run precise routes and stay focused and sharp?

He's been here two full seasons and we're as sloppy as ever. Now maybe Garrett is one of the best OC's in the league and we just have some uncoachable, sloppy players - Or....

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I wouldn't go as far as saying we would be 13-3 and have a 1st Round Bye if Tony Sporano was here as he would have had to deal with Brad Johnson and some injuries.

I always felt that when fans and players accused the Offensive Coordinator of being stale and banal that it was just an excuse.

However, if enough people voice their concerns and say the exact same thing, there has to be some truth in it.

It is extremely obvious that Jason Garrett is in over his head.

Having receivers that are not that strong running routes just compounds the problems on Offense.

 

[CoCo]

It doesn't have to be like that, though.

Just watch the Saints one time and you'll see it. Yes, Drew Brees is amazing, much better than Romo has played the last month. But he has receivers WIDE open through play design. Lance Moore and Colston are not blue chip receivers - they're not getting open because physically they are so amazing. But week in and week out, Brees is throwing to receivers who don't have a defender within 8 yards of them. The only time Romo gets that is on dump-offs to a back.

I think there are times when we do indeed have receivers wide open but Romo goes elsewhere with the ball (decision making) or has to eat it because of pressure.

I don't want to take the extreme position at the other end of the spectrum and absolve Garrett completely, and certainly he has a responsibility in player execution, but I am not buying the fact that Garrett has doomed the offense to defeat.

And I'll guarantee you it wasn't the major factor yesterday. Anyone could see it was player mistake after player mistake.

 

[notherbob]

Play calling is a part of the problem but it really is the players who are failing to execute that creates the losses. The great Lombardy Packers and the 70s Steelers weren't complicated, just strong and determined. The Cowboys of the day were the tricky, complicated teams that the simple teams beat for several championships.

It boils down to tough, discliplined players and this team has too few of them and too many glory hog super stars who are out for themselves and who don't care about the team. They are perfect for Jerry's system. Jerry will continue to fail spectacularly, just like he has for the past 12 years. Glitz and glitter are their own reward and do not produce champions, only glorious losers.

I doubt Jerry will be able to sell enough PSLs and tickets to avoid local blackouts next year, but then, like Tex Schramm said, "Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public."

Like Pogo said "We have met the enemy and it is us."

Jerry and his erroneous attitudes are the roots of the problems this team has and will continue to have as long as he gets his way. He isn't going to change voluntarily. A frontal lobotomy or a contract hit? Decisions, decisions.

Funny, I find myself caring less with each succeeding failure.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

You can't be simple in today's NFL. It just doesn't happen. Once teams figure your scheme out and you don't adapt, it's game over.

Exactly. Defenses have gotten so good, and so great at being able to figure things out and adapt to you that you've got to constantly be adapting and changing what you do to win.

we don't have Aikman, Emmitt, Irvin, and an o-line from another planet anymore.

This also makes a huge difference. That O-Line they had, especially, would kick the living piss out of our current one. Troy never seemed to be harassed the way that Tony is now days. Romo always seems to be running for his life back there instead of being able to read the actual play.

Plus one of their bread and butter plays was the quick slant that you simply couldn't stop Michael Irvin on and right now it doesn't seem like any of our recievers, other than Austin, can actually consistently catch the ball on that route.

Don't take my word for it. Take Tony's, TO's, Ray Lewis's, and our lack of production from one of the most talented offenses in the NFL.

He was a QB coach before he got here, and not a very good one at that apparently. He had no experience at calling plays. He has no offensive mind guiding him at all right now. He's completely lost and doesn't know how to get better.

You put Tony Sparano on this team in '08 instead of Garrett and we're 13-3 and have a 1st round bye.

These are two of the most telling things about Garrett and what he lacks. #1 the only real difference between this years offense, and last years, was that last year he had Tony Sparano around helping him out and this offense soared. Now Tony is gone and Jason is too darn simple and easily figured out.

The other thing is that when other teams players start telling the media how easy the Dallas scheme is to figure out then you've got major issues. A defensive player should never be able to say that, ever.

Do you think anyone says "Wow that Colts offense is so simple to figure out." No, they don't because it's not.

We need better offensive direction from the coaching staff if we're ever going to improve and get anywhere and I'm not sure I believe that this is going to happen this offseason, or any offseason anytime soon.

 

[CoCo]

Don't take my word for it. Take Tony's, TO's, Ray Lewis's, and our lack of production from one of the most talented offenses in the NFL.

He was a QB coach before he got here, and not a very good one at that apparently. He had no experience at calling plays. He has no offensive mind guiding him at all right now. He's completely lost and doesn't know how to get better.

You put Tony Sparano on this team in '08 instead of Garrett and we're 13-3 and have a 1st round bye.

I am certainly not willing to absolve Garrett completely. But lets just say that I am highly suspicious that our problems run MUCH deeper than changing out our OC.

And kudo's to Sparano and his role in Miami's success but I think I'll wait another year or two before declaring him a genius. Payton hasn't been quite the same genius his last two years that he was in his rookie HC season.

 

[theogt]

I am certainly not willing to absolve Garrett completely. But lets just say that I am highly suspicious that our problems run MUCH deeper than changing out our OC.

And kudo's to Sparano and his role in Miami's success but I think I'll wait another year or two before declaring him a genius. Payton hasn't been quite the same genius his last two years that he was in his rookie HC season.

Sparano called a top 5 offense here too don't forget. You can wait and keep holding out hope for Garrett, but that just seems silly at this point.

 

[Bach]

I am certainly not willing to absolve Garrett completely. But lets just say that I am highly suspicious that our problems run MUCH deeper than changing out our OC.

You couldn't be more right about that. It goes MUCH deeper and MUCH higher.

 

[casmith07]

Is that a bad thing? Really?

I will remind you that when Dallas won 3 SB's in the 90's their offense was simple then as well. We repeatedly heard that Dallas never tried to hide what they were doing. They just lined up and dared you to stop it. Most teams could not because our combination of talent and execution overwhelmed.

Its also why Jimmy & Barry both believed that it was talent that determined who won, not coaching. Now to be clear I think Jimmy certainly believed preparation (ie coaching) was critical, but I think his point was that well-prepared talent is going to carry the day most of the time. Not scheme or trickery.

Think its just possible that there is nothing wrong with Garrett's system that preparation and execution wouldn't fix?

I think its a point worth considering given some of our equally obvious struggles with execution and Jimmy's declaration as recent as yesterday that "Dallas is a sloppy team." And FOX & Aikman pointing out Roy Williams poor route-running.

Yet, the sloppy players want to simply point the finger at the system rather refine their execution of it.

I'm not declaring that as truth right now, but I do think it is very worthy of consideration in discussing this mess.

No, it's not a bad thing to have a simple offense. Good teams run a very simple offense, but they run it well. They could run their routes and know their progressions and make plays while wearing a blindfold.

Poorly prepared teams and poorly managed teams can't capitalize. You play how you practice, period.

 

[isawoj]

Is that a bad thing? Really?

I will remind you that when Dallas won 3 SB's in the 90's their offense was simple then as well. We repeatedly heard that Dallas never tried to hide what they were doing. They just lined up and dared you to stop it. Most teams could not because our combination of talent and execution overwhelmed.

Its also why Jimmy & Barry both believed that it was talent that determined who won, not coaching. Now to be clear I think Jimmy certainly believed preparation (ie coaching) was critical, but I think his point was that well-prepared talent is going to carry the day most of the time. Not scheme or trickery.

Think its just possible that there is nothing wrong with Garrett's system that preparation and execution wouldn't fix?

I think its a point worth considering given some of our equally obvious struggles with execution and Jimmy's declaration as recent as yesterday that "Dallas is a sloppy team." And FOX & Aikman pointing out Roy Williams poor route-running.

Yet, the sloppy players want to simply point the finger at the system rather refine their execution of it.

I'm not declaring that as truth right now, but I do think it is very worthy of consideration in discussing this mess.

IMHO, you answer your own questions pretty much.

The Super Bowl teams of the 90's had the horses to line up, tell you exactly what they were going to run (i.e. fairly simple gameplan, no trickeration or variety needed) and you still couldn't stop it.

This team offensively isn't as talented across the board on offense.

Garrett was part of those 90's teams, albeit a backup, and I think he has the same philosophy and only got creative when this season was on the line.

Was last year's 13 wins an anomaly and this team is actually a 9-7 team based on a sample of the last 3-4 years?

IMHO, the worst thing that could have happened to this team was all the pro-bowlers from last year. Notice this year there were only 5. Guys got paid, extended or just had so many people telling them how great they were, they didn't play up to their ability this season or last year was a fluke.

Now, if Garrett is as smart as he should be, he spends the offseason reevaluating his personnel, gets in Jerry's ear and tells him exactly what he needs to run the offense he is comfortable with and changes in personnel are made OR Garrett scraps a good part of his offensive philosophy and comes up with a gameplan that plays to the strengths of the team.