Harris in game / Williams the lone WR

[vlad]

Is this pretty much a dead giveaway that we're going to run? I can only recall a few times in one or two WR set that Harris was in or that Williams was the only WR that we actually throw. Seems fairly predictable, but that's just observing from the couch. Is there a reason for this or a cost to it?

Thoughts? Thanks

 

[fffiasco]

I don't think we care if the other team knows we're gonna run. Everyone knows it's coming and still can't stop it.

 

[TheFinisher]

I don't think we care if the other team knows we're gonna run. Everyone knows it's coming and still can't stop it.

Philly stopped it twice now. Getting predictable is never a good thing. We also are running on first down at a ridiculously high rate, they stacked the box with 9 man fronts and shut the run game down.

 

[DCBoysfan]

I noticed that too, and when I saw that I formation I knew it was a run. Not sure how much that is going to change moving foward.

 

[dwreck27]

Yall cats need to realize were a running team 1st now and a passing team 2nd...

We have a RB not only leading the league in yards by a mile but also attempts so whatever the formation is they know its a good chance were runnin

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

I was gonna create this post. It's a joke. Not necessarily Harris in game but DEZ OUT OF GAME with any lone WR set. ... we run 100% of the time. If I know this, the defense has to.

 

[Zman5]

I don't know why they don't throw more from tight run formation and run more from spread formation.

Hanna has 4.49 speed. They should try to get him the ball from the jumbo run formation like they did few weeks ago.

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

I really wish they'd cut down on the 2nd and longs (if Murray doesn't get much on 1st down) with an empty backfield.....just makes the D commit to the pass. Why not keep Murray in just to keep the safeties & linebackers unsure of whats coming? Atleast then a play action fake gives Dez and the receivers a bit more time to get open

 

[tyke1doe]

I think it's a setup for down the road. Teams will assume with Harris in the game it's going to be a run, then somewhere this year, we're going to throw the ball and break a play wide open.

 

[LandryFan]

I really wish they'd cut down on the 2nd and longs (if Murray doesn't get much on 1st down) with an empty backfield.....just makes the D commit to the pass. Why not keep Murray in just to keep the safeties & linebackers unsure of whats coming? Atleast then a play action fake gives Dez and the receivers a bit more time to get open

The purpose of going empty on 2nd and long is to spread their defense out. Makes it much easier to know if/where the blitz is coming from. With more receivers, a heavy blitz is less likely (higher risk for the defense). The downside, as you said, is that the defense knows it's pass. What I don't like is going empty on 3rd and short like I've seen happen a few times this year. But basically, there are pros/cons to both. A lot of it has to do with your strengths/weaknesses vs their strengths/weaknesses, too.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

The purpose of going empty on 2nd and long is to spread their defense out. Makes it much easier to know if/where the blitz is coming from. With more receivers, a heavy blitz is less likely (higher risk for the defense). The downside, as you said, is that the defense knows it's pass. What I don't like is going empty on 3rd and short like I've seen happen a few times this year. But basically, there are pros/cons to both. A lot of it has to do with your strengths/weaknesses vs their strengths/weaknesses, too.

We actually have a pretty good draw game from the gun. I think Murray scored off this formation in the Saints game. Our play action out of the gun can be lethal also. We still simply don't play action enough compared to our running success. Run action can be so devestating.

 

[jblaze2004]

we should run from the spread more often. Give them a pass look but actually run the ball of course romo has to be under center or atleast in pistol formation.

 

[xwalker]

Is this pretty much a dead giveaway that we're going to run? I can only recall a few times in one or two WR set that Harris was in or that Williams was the only WR that we actually throw. Seems fairly predictable, but that's just observing from the couch. Is there a reason for this or a cost to it?

Thoughts? Thanks

On a similar thought, check out my spreadsheet in the Parnell/Free thread that shows how predictable the Cowboys are based on the shotgun formation and run/pass. They made it really easy for the Eagles to know when it would be a run.

 

[LandryFan]

We actually have a pretty good draw game from the gun. I think Murray scored off this formation in the Saints game. Our play action out of the gun can be lethal also. We still simply don't play action enough compared to our running success. Run action can be so devestating.

Yes, I'm kind of surprised at the relative lack of PA myself. Just going off of memory, it seems PA has worked well this year.

 

[JD_KaPow]

I really wish they'd cut down on the 2nd and longs (if Murray doesn't get much on 1st down) with an empty backfield.....just makes the D commit to the pass. Why not keep Murray in just to keep the safeties & linebackers unsure of whats coming? Atleast then a play action fake gives Dez and the receivers a bit more time to get open

Seriously? We slaughtered the Eagles from the empty set, to the tune of over 10 yards per play. That was a key part of the game plan against the Eagles, primarily to limit their blitzing, and it worked like a charm.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Yes, I'm kind of surprised at the relative lack of PA myself. Just going off of memory, it seems PA has worked well this year.

Play-action has worked well this season...except against the Eagles. In two games (according to Sturm), we've run 5 PA plays and gone 2/4 for 11 yards and a sack.

In one game against the Bears, we ran PA 7 times, with 5 completions for 85 yards.

It appears to me that they know what they're doing.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

we should run from the spread more often. Give them a pass look but actually run the ball of course romo has to be under center or atleast in pistol formation.

Totally agree. That third and one they stopped us on I was screaming for 3 wide rb draw

 

[jubal]

I think it's a setup for down the road. Teams will assume with Harris in the game it's going to be a run, then somewhere this year, we're going to throw the ball and break a play wide open.

You and i see that it is a set up for misdirection. Like Peyton on the goal line strolling in on left side un touched.

 

[SHAMSzy]

You guys realize we pounded the Eagles at their house... Right?

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Philly stopped it twice now. Getting predictable is never a good thing. We also are running on first down at a ridiculously high rate, they stacked the box with 9 man fronts and shut the run game down.

Philly has one of the best defensive lines in the game. And we were still effective enough the second time around to make them respect our run game.
Colts haven't had a good run d. Ride the horse that got you to the race.