Here Are Some Problems I've Found With The Offense

[khiladi]

Is it still Garrett's offense or is it Linehan's now?

Offense remains, play-caller is different. Crayton said, I believe last year in the interview, it doesn't matter if the play-caller changes, they need a new OC. Linehan has done pretty well, but the weaknesses remain. The rift between Callahan and Garrett was because of the different philosophies, according to my take on what Jerry said when they got Linehan. He said it wasn't fair to Callahan to be OC, because of him being from a totally different philosophy and Garrett kept getting his hands involved. When he hired Linehan, Jerry said that it allows for the same terminology in offense, but they would target the best players and run the ball more. To him, Garrett simply wasn't using the talent like he should in the offense.

Our passing route trees, I would assume, are pretty much the same, meaning they are still as easily defensible.

 

[khiladi]

Agreed.

It's as predictable as their 3rd down offense.

Anything more than 3rd and 1 and it's a virtual guarantee that this team is passing.

In fact, most of the time they advertise it with an empty backfield.

This empty backfield was the staple with Garrett, but they've moved away from it more so with Linehan. They've also done more play-action, but really, when your 3rd and 3, why do you have all your guys running down field with vertical routes? No motion, no quick slants... no flare routes up the middle by Murray...

 

[khiladi]

My honest unadulterated opinion is comparing Tony to Rodgers is an exercise in futility. Comparing Romo to anybody else is fine by me, however, at this point no QB in the league really compares to Aaron Rodgers. Rodger is playing at such a ridiculous level that you pretty much have to put him in a category by himself.

Yes the Packers WRs are good, however, everybody on that offense shines brightly from Aaron Rodger's glow. Rodger's pinpoint accuracy seems to be as good on deep throws as it is in short throws.

That isn't a slam on Romo.

GB just plugs in receivers and dude's just keep moving up the statistical categories among WRs when Rodgers is throwing them the ball.

 

[khiladi]

No

Jerry needs to step upstairs and let Stephen run things

with Daddy's help of course.

Stephen needs to grow a pair.

and hire a GM and HC who knows professional football talent in the 2000's..

not like Garrett is trying to reinstall from the 90s which is antique..

compared to the offenses we are asking them to beat.

For once we need to get. AHEAD of the curve instead of hopelessly behind it

Garrett and Stephen are probably closer than Jerry and Garrett... Stephen has been in personnel with Jim Garrett and Lacewell since 1997. I actually think Stephen may be worse than Jerry.

 

[Alexander]

I actually think Stephen may be worse than Jerry.

No way. He might actually hire a GM that is accountable.

And yes, I am trying to keep a straight face.

 

[CCBoy]

Possibly, but not necessarily.




Well, our ratio isn't 6 to 4, it's 6.6 to 3.4. Maybe 6 to 4 would be better. And I'd say it's fair to ask why the team that averages the most yards per pass on first downs has attempted the fewest first-down passes. Also, note that even though we're No. 1 in the league in yards per pass play on first down AND No. 1 in the league in yards per rushing play on first down AND No. 1 in the league in overall yards per play on first down, we're only 19th in first-down percentage on first downs.

Still, regardless of whether the optimal first-down ratio is 66 percent runs or 60 percent runs or 50 percent runs or whatever, I'm fairly confident in saying that the optimal mix when you're losing a game isn't 13 consecutive runs and 0 passes.

There is a long termed a possibly positive element also. Once Dallas does alter the formula used for the first two-thirds of a season, it could create a short run of success to defenses not expecting the changed formula during a game. If used against Philadelphia and continued through the final two games, with a changed team direction...three victories might be won with more first down passes. Also, it could put in question the direction to be utilized by Dallas at the start of the playoffs.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Good stuff.

They are way too predictable early in the game and on first downs.

A big play can grab an early lead which THEN the running game can take over.

The only game we lost when we had more than a one-score lead is Arizona (up 10-0) and that was Weeden time.

I say shake things up go for the big plays early

Been saying for a while we are too predictable on offense. Teams are sitting on the run on first down and the pass on second. Predictable.

 

[Zman5]

If JG is so smart, why the heck would you copy Nick Saban's coaching style? He failed miserably as a HC in the NFL.
I know he's great college coach but last time I checked the Cowboys play in the NFL.

 

[Stash]

This empty backfield was the staple with Garrett, but they've moved away from it more so with Linehan. They've also done more play-action, but really, when your 3rd and 3, why do you have all your guys running down field with vertical routes? No motion, no quick slants... no flare routes up the middle by Murray...

I'm still seeing empty backfield way too much for my own liking.

And despite a quality line and the league's leading rusher, there is no consideration to running on 3rd down.

 

[khiladi]

I'm still seeing empty backfield way too much for my own liking.

And despite a quality line and the league's leading rusher, there is no consideration to running on 3rd down.

I am not a fan of it either and I think the less is better, and unless your going in a five WR spread, it's essentially pointless to me. Considering our problems with the blitz, I don't like it at all.

I think one of the problems on 3rd down now is teams are stacking the line and forcing us in 3rd and longs more than on the beginning of the season. That's my perception and until we overhaul the passing game, we are going to see long droughts IMO.

 

[khiladi]

If JG is so smart, why the heck would you copy Nick Saban's coaching style? He failed miserably as a HC in the NFL.
I know he's great college coach but last time I checked the Cowboys play in the NFL.

I'm beginning to think reporters justane things up to fill up space. Garrett had one year with Norv, yet he is supposedly a disciple. He spent more years through bad coaching with guys who were done, like Zampese and the offense started struggling. I can't remember if he played under Coslett, but he wasn't under a great team with the Giants. He was on a horrible team, with horrible QBs in Miami and had as much time under Cad Cameron's coaching style than guys like Saban. And Cad Cameron's offense in Baltimore resembles what he did here. Cameron was bashed for the same things Garrett is here.

 

[Stash]

I am not a fan of it either and I think the less is better, and unless your going in a five WR spread, it's essentially pointless to me. Considering our problems with the blitz, I don't like it at all.

I think one of the problems on 3rd down now is teams are stacking the line and forcing us in 3rd and longs more than on the beginning of the season. That's my perception and until we overhaul the passing game, we are going to see long droughts IMO.

I'm not seeing any creativity offensively. It looks extremely predictable to me. Essentially two wide receivers, one on each side, running sideline routes straight down the field over and over and over again.

And early season contributors like Williams and then Escobar, have effectively disappeared, and the wide receiver productivity as a whole has been wildly inconsistent.

 

[conner01]

I'm not sure what to make of the 1st down stats. Is the passing average on 1st good because defenses are playing run due to their tendency to run?

that would be most likely. but when you are avg nearly 6 yards per carry there is no reason not to run the ball. most fans wanted us to run more and thats part of running more. it's not like you can run on 3rd and 7 and be successful very often. there are times we need to play action more on 1st but for the most part running those nearly 6 yards makes 2nd down so much easier and so hard to predict

 

[CATCH17]

that would be most likely. but when you are avg nearly 6 yards per carry there is no reason not to run the ball. most fans wanted us to run more and thats part of running more. it's not like you can run on 3rd and 7 and be successful very often. there are times we need to play action more on 1st but for the most part running those nearly 6 yards makes 2nd down so much easier and so hard to predict

We need to stick to the run but we need better designs on the playactions and normal passing plays.

We need checkdowns and plays that allow Dez to gets some easy catches and YAC opportunities.


Im tired of watching Romo get pressured and nobody for him to get rid of the ball too because they have their backs turned trying to get open 30 yards down field.

Then all we here is "the OL can't pass block" blah blah. We could help them out but we just don't. It's become pathetic and it's gone on for years.

 

[Frozen700]

It's simple.....

We have no creativity. I know Linehan can be creative, I seen him in Detroit. They are hand cuffing him and telling him run 1st.

All we do is run, run, run, and if they bring a safety in the box, we just try and throw a back shoulder fade to Dez, or a deep pass to Dez. 0 Creativity.

Then when they bracket Dez, we try to find Williams, who can't get separation, or extend for the ball.

 

[DoctorChicken]

Damn. Who would have thought in July that we would be asking the Cowboys to run less?

 

[mahoneybill]

We need to stick to the run but we need better designs on the playactions and normal passing plays.

We need checkdowns and plays that allow Dez to gets some easy catches and YAC opportunities.


Im tired of watching Romo get pressured and nobody for him to get rid of the ball too because they have their backs turned trying to get open 30 yards down field.

Then all we here is "the OL can't pass block" blah blah. We could help them out but we just don't. It's become pathetic and it's gone on for years.

Agree. The other QB's ( Eli, Rodgers, Brady, Sanchez) all seem to get the ball out in around 2 seconds. Tony seems to take 3 at times , with the exception of a blown coverage throw that he releases quickly.

One of his assets ( pre back injury) was supposedly a quick release. Combine that with some shorter routes/slants/bunch formations ( yes even the legal 5 yard pick) and we will cause D's to not be able to be so predictive

 

[Stash]

Damn. Who would have thought in July that we would be asking the Cowboys to run less?

My stance isn't to 'run less', but to be less bland, predictable, and as uncreative as they have been.

In fact, unlike this staff, I don't think it's giving up to run the ball on 3rd down. As it has been for years, 3rd and 2 or longer = 'must pass!' around here.

That tendency, along with the empty backfield nonsense that we get all too often, are what many of us take issue with.

 

[DFWJC]

I'm not sure what to make of the 1st down stats. Is the passing average on 1st good because defenses are playing run due to their tendency to run?

That's what I was thinking.
If so, then increasing passing on 1st down would help in the very short term.
Better than nothing though.

Also, I suspect the overwhelming running on 1st down in Q1 vs Philly had to with the Eagles opening the game with two long drives and going up 14-0...and us trying to give the defense a breather and keep Philly off the field.

 

[Smith22]

Other than that, we ran the ball on our first 13 first-down plays of the game. That is ridiculously predictable.

AMEN!