Inside Cowboys’ plan of attack to limit INTs, where Dak Prescott isn’t the only one with a new set of rules

[big dog cowboy]

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This is a very long article but it really gets into the thinking and decisions the Cowboys are making with their 'new' offense. My favorite line is Prescott saying he “trained his *** off this offseason” working this summer so maybe he knows how important this season is for him.

Inside Cowboys’ plan of attack to limit INTs, where Dak Prescott isn’t the only one with a new set of rules​

Jori Epstein
Senior NFL reporter
Sun, Aug 6, 2023

OXNARD, Calif. — Dallas Cowboys players keep hearing the question about pass plays.

“What’s the step count?” coaches ask, wanting to confirm how many steps quarterback Dak Prescott will take when it’s time to execute the pass concept they’re discussing.

But the question is not being directed only to Prescott, his fellow quarterbacks or even meetings that include at least one QB.

Cowboys receivers, rather, are now tasked with tracking this information.

“This is the first year we’ve really had to key in on how many steps he’s taking so we know how fast the ball is coming out,” sixth-year receiver Michael Gallup told Yahoo Sports. “They harp on that every day.”

The Cowboys are shifting their offensive system more drastically than they have since Prescott earned his starting role in 2016. To say Prescott’s league-high 15 interceptions last season prompted this move would oversimplify the Cowboys’ direction. But as head coach Mike McCarthy assumes play-calling for the first time since arriving in Dallas in 2020, he’s evolving from the principles that he had allowed now-Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to maintain as they prioritized system continuity for Prescott’s development.

Read much more: https://sports.yahoo.com/inside-cow...h-a-new-set-of-rules-184350409.html?.tsrc=364

CeeDee Lamb and the other Cowboys receivers bear some responsibility in the team's potential fixes to their interception issues.

 

[817Gill]

Is it normal for an offense to not teach the WR’s when the ball is supposed to come out?

“This is the first year we’ve really had to key in on how many steps he’s taking so we know how fast the ball is coming out,” sixth-year receiver Michael Gallup told Yahoo Sports. “They harp on that every day.”

 

[DallasEast]

Is it normal for an offense to not teach the WR’s when the ball is supposed to come out?

“This is the first year we’ve really had to key in on how many steps he’s taking so we know how fast the ball is coming out,” sixth-year receiver Michael Gallup told Yahoo Sports. “They harp on that every day.”

Good question. It should be posed to Jason Garrett and Kellen Moore.

 

[blueblood70]

Is it normal for an offense to not teach the WR’s when the ball is supposed to come out?

“This is the first year we’ve really had to key in on how many steps he’s taking so we know how fast the ball is coming out,” sixth-year receiver Michael Gallup told Yahoo Sports. “They harp on that every day.”

Kellen Moore wide open Johny Manziel Offense LOL just go make something happen. lmao

 

[DeaconMoss]

A QB has 1,3,5 step, etc.. drop backs for different plays. And the WR routes are designed to get open when the QB is set. This is pretty much a nothing burger. Dak has always needed work on his pocket awareness and related footwork. He throws really bad passes when he isn't set with a good base. As do most QB's not named Mahomes or Rogers. Two of the best off platform passers ever.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

A QB has 1,3,5 step, etc.. drop backs for different plays. And the WR routes are designed to get open when the QB is set. This is pretty much a nothing burger. Dak has always needed work on his pocket awareness and related footwork. He throws really bad passes when he isn't set with a good base. As do most QB's not named Mahomes or Rogers. Two of the best off platform passers ever.

Except on the run. Some of Daks best passes I’ve seen have been throwing on the run…..

 

[Typhus]

Is it normal for an offense to not teach the WR’s when the ball is supposed to come out?

“This is the first year we’ve really had to key in on how many steps he’s taking so we know how fast the ball is coming out,” sixth-year receiver Michael Gallup told Yahoo Sports. “They harp on that every day.”

Scary when you think about it.

 

[gimmesix]

Is it normal for an offense to not teach the WR’s when the ball is supposed to come out?

“This is the first year we’ve really had to key in on how many steps he’s taking so we know how fast the ball is coming out,” sixth-year receiver Michael Gallup told Yahoo Sports. “They harp on that every day.”

The timing-based offense is more predicated on a receiver getting to where he is supposed to be when the ball comes out. The receiver doesn't worry about the QB's drop. He just worries about his pattern.

My understanding is McCarthy is taking away the flexibility of receivers reading coverage and picking from route options 1, 2 or 3 based on what they see. That led to some miscommunication with the quarterback if he saw the coverage differently.

Making receivers stick to their designated route doesn't always work against what the defense is doing on a given play, so McCarthy is building in the ability of the QB to make adjustments to routes based on what he reads. That makes it more important for the receivers to know what the QB's drop is.

Let's say you were running a go route, but the QB sees that they are going to double the outside, but bring a blitz. He might adjust the receiver to a slant coming off a three-step drop. The receiver needs to know the steps in order to know how quickly to break inside and expect the ball. He might understand the timing off the pass on the go, but the timing changes for the slant and if he's not where he needs to be, then it's probably a turnover.

That's probably oversimplified and inexact, but I believe that is the main difference. If you are just running to spot A, B or C on a given play, you don't really have to think about anything but that. However, if your route may be changed from a long one to a short one or vice versa, you really need to know how long the QB is supposed to hold the ball. Do you need to break in immediately off the snap or throw some footwork/movement at the DB before breaking in?

 

[CowboyFrog]

I think ive heard this hear.. who said it "They want to attack players and spots with quick developing plays and motion.. 1 read 2 read Throw it/run it/put it in the stands"...who said this???

The diference we will see will be moving CD around looking for matchups to set up big plays, the running game will be the same its picking at a weakness until the defense has to adjust then attacking the adjustment... KM designs every play to score somewhere but you have to take the time to find it and the WR and QB have to choose the correct option..thats asking for mistakes.

 

[gimmesix]

​

This is a very long article but it really gets into the thinking and decisions the Cowboys are making with their 'new' offense. My favorite line is Prescott saying he “trained his *** off this offseason” working this summer so maybe he knows how important this season is for him.

Inside Cowboys’ plan of attack to limit INTs, where Dak Prescott isn’t the only one with a new set of rules​

Jori Epstein
Senior NFL reporter
Sun, Aug 6, 2023

OXNARD, Calif. — Dallas Cowboys players keep hearing the question about pass plays.

“What’s the step count?” coaches ask, wanting to confirm how many steps quarterback Dak Prescott will take when it’s time to execute the pass concept they’re discussing.

But the question is not being directed only to Prescott, his fellow quarterbacks or even meetings that include at least one QB.

Cowboys receivers, rather, are now tasked with tracking this information.

“This is the first year we’ve really had to key in on how many steps he’s taking so we know how fast the ball is coming out,” sixth-year receiver Michael Gallup told Yahoo Sports. “They harp on that every day.”

The Cowboys are shifting their offensive system more drastically than they have since Prescott earned his starting role in 2016. To say Prescott’s league-high 15 interceptions last season prompted this move would oversimplify the Cowboys’ direction. But as head coach Mike McCarthy assumes play-calling for the first time since arriving in Dallas in 2020, he’s evolving from the principles that he had allowed now-Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to maintain as they prioritized system continuity for Prescott’s development.

Read much more: https://sports.yahoo.com/inside-cow...h-a-new-set-of-rules-184350409.html?.tsrc=364

CeeDee Lamb and the other Cowboys receivers bear some responsibility in the team's potential fixes to their interception issues.

I'm just glad that they seem to be making a pretty significant shift from the Garrett system. I was concerned that McCarthy was going to try to keep it mostly intact and just add a few elements. It seems instead that they are only keeping a few elements.

 

[75boyz]

The pile on It was all Kellen's fault hysteria is in full swing. Only a matter of time before the trusty Scapegoat lays claim to his 3rd Dallas playcaller.

 

[CowboyFrog]

The pile on It was all Kellen's fault hysteria is in full swing. Only a matter of time before the trusty Scapegoat lays claim to his 3rd Dallas playcaller.

or it works i guess it all depends on what your hoping for?

 

[phildadon86]

or it works i guess it all depends on what your hoping for?

Its pretty sad but some posters here would rather the team does poorly to prove they are right. As opposed to hoping for the best. Imagine cheering against the team you claim to support to be right on a message board.

 

[Tabascocat]

Thank goodness! I was hoping that their plan wasn’t to increase his INT’s……..

 

[Rock423]

A QB has 1,3,5 step, etc.. drop backs for different plays. And the WR routes are designed to get open when the QB is set. This is pretty much a nothing burger. Dak has always needed work on his pocket awareness and related footwork. He throws really bad passes when he isn't set with a good base. As do most QB's not named Mahomes or Rogers. Two of the best off platform passers ever.

But yet his completion percentage is near the top of the league historically.

 

[CowboyFrog]

But yet his completion percentage is near the top of the league historically.

They dont like facts in this argument, being rational makes you irrational to them because you dont "use your eye's!" to see these completions... i guess, its really strange how they argue. Now if the facts (stats) help them then they are totally usable...

 

[McKDaddy]

As do most QB's not named Mahomes or Rogers. Two of the best off platform passers ever.

Add Burrow IMO. He get's accurate passes off when it doesn't appear possible.

 

[LysleE]

I think Kellen Moore had his faults, but the Cowboys were among the league leaders in points scored for a couple of years, so I didn’t think the offense needed a complete overhaul. But if MM is now responsible for the offensive production, then he should install his own system. I find it hard to believe that any NFL coach/coordinator would not call plays, either offensively or defensively, to take advantage of favorable match-ups and/or exploit weaknesses…that is common sense.
Let’s hope our WRs, TEs and RBs are capable of beating their defender and making their adjustments on-the-fly and arrive to the appropriate spot at the appropriate time; and of course the QB has to put the ball on-target in rhythm. I’ve always thought that quick slants and quick-hitting routes with CD and MG kind of disappeared over the last few seasons and when run were effective.
So color me skeptical…but hope to be proven wrong.

 

[CowboyFrog]

Add Burrow IMO. He get's accurate passes off when it doesn't appear possible.

Burrow actually leads all QB's in comp% for a career, he is doing something right.. he also has maybe the best WR corpse in the league..that probably helps a bit.

 

[McKDaddy]

Except on the run. Some of Daks best passes I’ve seen have been throwing on the run…..

Being on the run doesn't automatically preclude a good throwing platform though.