Improving our offense- Simple advice from Warren Sharp

[Dre11]

Our offense had historic ineptitude in 2017 and Garrett is largely to blame for that. Not even going to touch on the 2015 fiasco or even the dauntingly bad run last year before we signed Coop.

2015 without a capable qb? With your franchise qb going down early in the season? 2017 with your best player gone, your Oline compromised?

 

[Dre11]

It really doesn't. It appears to me that you're seeing what you want to see in this thread.

Being unpredictable is part of being effective.

Most teams have some sort of predictability, they do what they do, they stick to their identity and strength.

 

[buybuydandavis]

This afternoon I heard Warren Sharp, one of the most respected offensive minds in the NFL on Dallas radio station “The Ticket” being interviewed by Bob Storm. It was very insightful to say the least (Here’s a link to Sharp’s website-https://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/)

Sharp is often a consultant to NFL teams using stats and trends to improve offensive performance. He had some fascinating points and ideas on how the Cowboys can improve their performance on offense. Here were some of his major points describing some of the Cowboys offensive problems and how to fix them:

• The Cowboys became way too conservative in the 3rd qtr, especially when they had the lead. They ran the ball on first down nearly 60% of the time, and were usually facing 2nd down and long way too often. He recommends passing more on 1st down, especially in the second half to keep defenses honest. He also said throwing a pass to Zeke on first down was a statistical strong play that Linehan rarely called last year.

• Improving FIRST DOWN playcalling. The Cowboys had THE most predictable offense on first down in the NFL, especially when they had the lead. Sitting on a lead, especially a less than two score lead can kill your momentum and it gives the opponent the edge on being aggressive. The days of being conservative with the lead have become old fashioned. (A real sad trademark of Garrett coached teams)

• Be more aggressive. Throw deep more, especially on first down. Defenses against us typically stack the box and don’t respect any kind of deep threat. Even if you don’t convert a deep ball, two positives can happen- a PI call or if nothing else, the defense now knows you might try to go over the top and may back off a little on the run.

• Red zone improvement? Utilize Dak more as a runner. Dak has been the second best red zone runner in the NFL the past two seasons. Because Zeke is expected to run the ball inside the 10, Sharp said running Dak way more than they have in the red zone keeps defenses more in their heels, especially if Dak is a frequent runner.

• Give defenses more wrinkles in their standard formations. The Cowboys have been extremely conservative in the type of plays they run in certain formations. For example, when running 4 wide and 1 back, they almost always throw, which is fairly predictable. How about running the ball there more? Or with the empty backfield 5 wide sets, how about running a QB draw?

In short:
1. Be more aggressive, especially in the 3rd qtr. (Don’t get so conservative with a lead)
2. Throw deep more.
3. Let Dak run more, especially in red zone.
4. Throw to Zeke more on 1st down.
5. Run less predictable plays from standard formations.

I hope Garrett lets Kellen Moore have the freedom to do these changes. Otherwise, expect another frustrating year on offense.

Our problems are usually a mystery only to our own staff.

 

[kskboys]

Is it, though? I've seen plenty of good teams that just lined up and did what they did and made it really difficult to stop it.

Even this current offense has been a lot more productive than people probably suspect on a points/series basis. We're typically in the bottom of the top-10 under Garrett if I remember correctly (not including years where we have no QB). We just play a style of football that limits possessions for everybody when we can.

And in the midst of doing what they do, there is no way to know if a short pass, a run, or a 20 yard bullet over the middle is coming.

We're talking about mixing it up, doing what works, throwing to different guys. Those plenty of good teams did not line up and run it up the middle 26 times per game.

 

[kskboys]

Most teams have some sort of predictability, they do what they do, they stick to their identity and strength.

Of course. However, they don't run it every first down, they don't run the same guy up the middle 30 times, they don't throw to the same receiver in the same spot, they don't run the exact same routes all the time.

I'm starting to think that people don't understand what being predictable/unpredictable is.

 

[buybuydandavis]

And in the midst of doing what they do, there is no way to know if a short pass, a run, or a 20 yard bullet over the middle is coming.

We're talking about mixing it up, doing what works, throwing to different guys. Those plenty of good teams did not line up and run it up the middle 26 times per game.

Garrett has never grasped the game theoretic value of forcing uncertainty into the opponent. Similar conceptual failure as his "you gotta think about your own score first" as he "justified" not worrying about the time he was giving Roger to make a comeback in our last two losses to GB.

He's played a game for a living for decades, and clearly doesn't understand Game Theory 101.

Unserious.

 

[kskboys]

Garrett has never grasped the game theoretic value of forcing uncertainty into the opponent. Similar conceptual failure as his "you gotta think about your own score first" as he "justified" not worrying about the time he was giving Roger to make a comeback in our last two losses to GB.

He's played a game for a living for decades, and clearly doesn't understand Game Theory 101.

Unserious.

While he appears to motivate well and the players appear to respond to him, he just doesn't appear to understand the flow of the game. He's unaffected by things that should affect him.

 

[Idgit]

And in the midst of doing what they do, there is no way to know if a short pass, a run, or a 20 yard bullet over the middle is coming.

We're talking about mixing it up, doing what works, throwing to different guys. Those plenty of good teams did not line up and run it up the middle 26 times per game.

I never suggested there weren’t. There are a ton of teams that use unpredictability to their advantage and are successful with it. My point is that not all teams do. So if it’s not necessary to be unpredictable in order to be effective, you can’t just fault an offense for being predictable if it’s also good.

And you don’t necessarily improve by eliminating every tendency. If they know you’re going to likely run on first downs in the third quarter, but they can’t stop you anyway, calling more running plays in those situations doesn’t necessarily help an offense be more effective.

 

[Idgit]

Garrett has never grasped the game theoretic value of forcing uncertainty into the opponent. Similar conceptual failure as his "you gotta think about your own score first" as he "justified" not worrying about the time he was giving Roger to make a comeback in our last two losses to GB.

He's played a game for a living for decades, and clearly doesn't understand Game Theory 101.

Unserious.

What’s crazy is he’s somehow managed to win more games than other NFC coaches over the last three seasons, even with that inability to grasp the obvious and while being hamstrung with a mediocre QB.

 

[Floatyworm]

I've followed the NFL for 40+ years..never heard of him.

 

[Dre11]

Of course. However, they don't run it every first down, they don't run the same guy up the middle 30 times, they don't throw to the same receiver in the same spot, they don't run the exact same routes all the time.

I'm starting to think that people don't understand what being predictable/unpredictable is.

Neither do the Cowboys. Exaggeration.

 

[Dre11]

What’s crazy is he’s somehow managed to win more games than other NFC coaches over the last three seasons, even with that inability to grasp the obvious and while being hamstrung with a mediocre QB.

They just don't know how dumb that sound. What do they want flash or results. Results are wins.

 

[kskboys]

I never suggested there weren’t. There are a ton of teams that use unpredictability to their advantage and are successful with it. My point is that not all teams do. So if it’s not necessary to be unpredictable in order to be effective, you can’t just fault an offense for being predictable if it’s also good.

And you don’t necessarily improve by eliminating every tendency. If they know you’re going to likely run on first downs in the third quarter, but they can’t stop you anyway, calling more running plays in those situations doesn’t necessarily help an offense be more effective.

In today's NFL, I'd have to disagree. At least some unpredictability is required.

 

[kskboys]

Neither do the Cowboys. Exaggeration.

Hey, you noticed!!! Exaggeration to make a point!!!! I am soooooooooooooo proud of you!!!!

 

[Idgit]

In today's NFL, I'd have to disagree. At least some unpredictability is required.

Why?

 

[kskboys]

Why?

Players are too fast and athletic, and D's are way to complicated.

 

[buybuydandavis]

What’s crazy is he’s somehow managed to win more games than other NFC coaches over the last three seasons, even with that inability to grasp the obvious and while being hamstrung with a mediocre QB.

Garrett isn't on the field.
He isn't calling the plays.
He isn't Director of Personnel.

He claps well.
His one clear responsibility, game management, he's clearly bad at.

 

[Idgit]

Garrett isn't on the field.
He isn't calling the plays.
He isn't Director of Personnel.

He claps well.
His one clear responsibility, game management, he's clearly bad at.

And yet... his teams somehow magically win. Without a QB. Some things just have no easy explanation.

 

[buybuydandavis]

And yet... his teams somehow magically win. Without a QB.

What's Dak? A turnip?

 

[Batman1980]

He is a large part of the reason this team has 0 wins past the divisional round in the last 24 years. For clarification, I mean Garrett. Still think he should've been fired with Phillips in 2010.