Interesting stat

[Outlaw Heroes]

I'll pull up the play by play for you if you need a refresher. They never made an honest effort to run the ball. You, me, and everyone else knows how a running game works. Small run, small run, big run. It requires patience sometimes. Patience Linehan lacks.

He showed that patience against the Rams. A disproportionate number of Zeke's carries went for minimal yardage. He managed to get a respectable (but still subpar) average per carry by busting a few big ones.

Thinks it's fair to view the Denver game as aberational.

 

[Idgit]

He showed that patience against the Rams. A disproportionate number of Zeke's carries went for minimal yardage. He managed to get a respectable (but still subpar) average per carry by busting a few big ones.

Thinks it's fair to view the Denver game as aberational.

Linehan did talk a bit last week about how the Broncos got them out of their plan. It's not the case that we didn't go in wanting to run the ball. Sometimes, a good defense or a bad game situation just make it really difficult to do.

Had we just run into a bunch of disadvantageous situations, the criticism would be regarding the 'failure to adjust.'

The Broncos just whooped us.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Last year Dallas ran the ball 43% even when behind.
After 3 games this season there at 28%.

Have to get back to our bread an butter.

We trailed by two scores twice all last year. Once in the PHI game for one drive and 5 minutes. Once in the PIT game for one drive and 1 minute. That's right: we were down by two scores for a total of 6 minutes all season. We were never down by two scores in the 4th quarter. (I'm ignoring week 17 here).

This season, we've been down by two scores for 31.5 minutes.

This may have a wee bit to do with those numbers.

 

[Stash]

I pulled the play by play already when illustrating what the problems actually were, but knock yourself out if you want to point out where we should have run instead of thrown it.

Here's the ugly, disgusting truth for anyone with the stomach strong enough to look at it:

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/20170...p3000000847079&tab=analyze&analyze=playbyplay

I don't even need to criticize running just one time on the opening drive.

But down just 7-0, the run game was already out the window.

1. DAL 0 DEN 7 Plays: 8 Possession: 3:45
2. Dallas Cowboys at 09:25
3. 8-B.McManus kicks 65 yards from DEN 35 to end zone, Touchback.
4. 1-10-DAL 25(9:25) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 88-D.Bryant to DAL 37 for 12 yards (25-C.Harris, 31-J.Simmons).
5. 1-10-DAL 37(8:46) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 11-C.Beasley ran ob at DAL 43 for 6 yards.
6. 2-4-DAL 43(8:14) 21-E.Elliott up the middle to DAL 46 for 3 yards (99-A.Gotsis, 48-S.Barrett).
7. 3-1-DAL 46(7:30) 73-J.Looney reported in as eligible. PENALTY on DAL-79-C.Green, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at DAL 46 - No Play.
8. Timeout #1 by DAL at 07:04.
9. 3-6-DAL 41(7:04) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 21-E.Elliott to DAL 40 for -1 yards (26-D.Stewart) [95-D.Wolfe].
10. 4-7-DAL 40(6:31) 6-C.Jones punts 54 yards to DEN 6, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, out of bounds.

1. Dallas Cowboys at 02:24
2. 1-10-DAL 39(2:24) (Shotgun) 21-E.Elliott up the middle to DAL 41 for 2 yards (99-A.Gotsis; 48-S.Barrett).
3. 2-8-DAL 41(1:50) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 88-D.Bryant to DAL 45 for 4 yards (25-C.Harris).
4. 3-4-DAL 45(1:14) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 82-J.Witten to DEN 46 for 9 yards (26-D.Stewart).
5. 1-10-DEN 4638) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass incomplete deep left to 88-D.Bryant.
6. The game has been suspended. Game halted due to the weather at 2:56 PM
7. The game has resumed. Game re-started at 3:58 PM
8. 2-10-DEN 4633) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass incomplete short right to 83-T.Williams.
9. 3-10-DEN 4628) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott scrambles right end to DEN 39 for 7 yards (48-S.Barrett).
10. END QUARTER 1

The problem with your assumption about how a running game works is that it ignores all the times when the running game doesn't actually work.

It doesn't "Ignore" anything. The running game never works all the time. Neither does the passing game. But you know what play never works? The one you never use.

Like when your'e playing a team that can essentially lock down your three best WRs with their 3 best CBs and then make you beat them running the ball against everybody else when you're spotting them 9 plays that go nowhere and 5 that go backwards and 2 turnovers in your 12 legitimate possessions.

So your solution to competing against "a team that can essentially lock down your three best WR's with their 3 best CB's" is to go pass happy against them?

Abandon your running game and put your offensive line on their heels all day and take arguably your best offensive weapon out of the game?

A truly awful plan.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

Linehan did talk a bit last week about how the Broncos got them out of their plan. It's not the case that we didn't go in wanting to run the ball. Sometimes, a good defense or a bad game situation just make it really difficult to do.

Had we just run into a bunch of disadvantageous situations, the criticism would be regarding the 'failure to adjust.'

The Broncos just whooped us.

Yeah. In general I agree. But I do think we helped them whoop us.

Your arguments against banging your head against a wall when the run game isn't working are intuitively appealing. But I think sometimes you have to view the running game much as a boxer views body-blows. The damage done by any given blow may be minimal, but each body blow is an investment in wearing the opponent down.

Easier said than done when you quickly fall behind, of course. But even if you waver from that approach because of game context I don't know why you don't go back to it when it turns out that passing the ball instead is netting you a whole bunch of nothing.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

We trailed by two scores twice all last year. Once in the PHI game for one drive and 5 minutes. Once in the PIT game for one drive and 1 minute. That's right: we were down by two scores for a total of 6 minutes all season. We were never down by two scores in the 4th quarter. (I'm ignoring week 17 here).

This season, we've been down by two scores for 31.5 minutes.

This may have a wee bit to do with those numbers.

Nicely done. I think, generally speaking, that a number of this year's stats may suffer by comparison to last year not so much because of current failings but because last year was so charmed.

 

[Stash]

He showed that patience against the Rams. A disproportionate number of Zeke's carries went for minimal yardage. He managed to get a respectable (but still subpar) average per carry by busting a few big ones.

Thinks it's fair to view the Denver game as aberational.

I don't. He did the same thing in the playoff game they lost to Green Bay.

That's two out of the last four they've played.

After week two, Dak was second in the league in pass attempts. On pace for second most all time. There's no excuse for that screwed-up ratio, especially for this team. But that's Linehan. You want to know who is #1 in attempts for a season? Or who his offensive coordinator was? It's a problem.

 

[Stash]

Yeah. In general I agree. But I do think we helped them whoop us.

Your arguments against banging your head against a wall when the run game isn't working are intuitively appealing. But I think sometimes you have to view the running game much as a boxer views body-blows. The damage done by any given blow may be minimal, but each body blow is an investment in wearing the opponent down.

Easier said than done when you quickly fall behind, of course. But even if you waver from that approach because of game context I don't know why you don't go back to it when it turns out that passing the ball instead is netting you a whole bunch of nothing.

Why make such an investment in offensive line and a 4th overall pick on a running back?

Why carry four TE's?

Why carry a fullback?

No, Linehan played exactly the game the Broncos wanted him to play. Right to their strengths and not ours.

 

[Idgit]

Yeah. In general I agree. But I do think we helped them whoop us.

Your arguments against banging your head against a wall when the run game isn't working are intuitively appealing. But I think sometimes you have to view the running game much as a boxer views body-blows. The damage done by any given blow may be minimal, but each body blow is an investment in wearing the opponent down.

Easier said than done when you quickly fall behind, of course. But even if you waver from that approach because of game context I don't know why you don't go back to it when it turns out that passing the ball instead is netting you a whole bunch of nothing.

Well, if we had an adjustment to suggest to change things up that still involved running the ball, I'd be all for it. Similar to how we changed up the defense this week when what we started with wasn't working. Maybe that wrinkle with Switzer in the backfield, or bringing in Swaim and running a few 3TE sets, I don't know. But I have a hard time saying we should have just 'run it more' when when we did run it there was absolutely nowhere to go.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

Why make such an investment in offensive line and a 4th overall pick on a running back?

Why carry four TE's?

Why carry a fullback?

No, Linehan played exactly the game the Broncos wanted him to play. Right to their strengths and not ours.

And we draft Switzer to use with Beasley in the offense, but haven't done that yet.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

I don't. He did the same thing in the playoff game they lost to Green Bay.

That's two out of the last four they've played.

After week two, Dak was second in the league in pass attempts. On pace for second most all time. There's no excuse for that screwed-up ratio, especially for this team. But that's Linehan. You want to know who is #1 in attempts for a season? Or who his offensive coordinator was? It's a problem.

I don't see it.

After two games, we'd had the Denver debacle. Since I view it as aberational I don't trust projections that are largely based upon that game (50 attempts).

I have a problem finding fault with the play calling in the GB game. We needed to pass to get back in it. Zeke still got his, as I recall. And in the end we lost, not because of the offensive play calling but, because our D let us down again.

Linehan had Stafford, Megatron and no RB to speak of the year that Stafford set the attempts record. I recall it being a great concern when he was hired. He proceeded to turn Murray into a workhouse RB and essentially established our offensive identity

 

[Stash]

Linehan did talk a bit last week about how the Broncos got them out of their plan. It's not the case that we didn't go in wanting to run the ball. Sometimes, a good defense or a bad game situation just make it really difficult to do.

Had we just run into a bunch of disadvantageous situations, the criticism would be regarding the 'failure to adjust.'

The Broncos just whooped us.

Linehan can "say" whatever he wants. His playcalls show otherwise. The plays I showed were from the second and third possessions of the game.

Nobody "got him out of his game plan" . His gameplan was simply awful.

 

[Stash]

And we draft Switzer to use with Beasley in the offense, but haven't done that yet.

I credit them for starting to on Monday night. Now maybe a jet sweep this week?

 

[Stash]

I don't see it.

After two games, we'd had the Denver debacle. Since I view it as aberational I don't trust projections that are largely based upon that game (50 attempts).

What do you think about "50 attempts" against the best secondary in the league? Is that a good gameplan or good playcalling?

I have a problem finding fault with the play calling in the GB game. We needed to pass to get back in it. Zeke still got his, as I recall. And in the end we lost, not because of the offensive play calling but, because our D let us down again.

And we were behind in the first place because we weren't running the ball and exposing our suspect defense. The exact plan that got us there and to 13 wins was abandoned. Everyone and their brother said the plan was to run the ball, control the clock, and keep the defense off the field.

Come playoff time? The man abandoned that.

Linehan had Stafford, Megatron and no RB to speak of the year that Stafford set the attempts record. I recall it being a great concern when he was hired. He proceeded to turn Murray into a workhouse RB and essentially established our offensive identity

He's always been considered pass happy. My position is nothing new. Google Linehan and pass happy and you'll find plenty of support.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

I credit them for starting to on Monday night. Now maybe a jet sweep this week?

My point is using him at wr with Beasley. He was getting rave reviews in camp at wr, but now they refuse to use him and that speed.

 

[Stash]

My point is using him at wr with Beasley. He was getting rave reviews in camp at wr, but now they refuse to use him and that speed.

It's a process...

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

What do you think about "50 attempts" against the best secondary in the league? Is that a good gameplan or good playcalling?

We're in violent agreement on the Denver game. The only difference between us is that I view it as aberational whereas as you view it as emblematic.

He's always been considered pass happy. My position is nothing new. Google Linehan and pass happy and you'll find plenty of support.

That was certainly his reputation before coming here. His work in Dallas installing the league's most intimidating (and, in my view, committed) running game should be changing that perception.

 

[Stash]

We're in violent agreement on the Denver game. The only difference between us is that I view it as aberational whereas as you view it as emblematic.

I see not only Linehan's past history like I mentioned, but recent history as well. Going back to the Green Bay playoff game. Pass happy. It wasn't just the 50 against Denver, that was ridiculous. But he had 39 against the Giants in week 1 too.

Dak's development as a quarterback has been both blessing and curse. Because as he's gotten more comfortable, pass happy Linehan has returned. The playbook was smaller and more run reliant while he was learning the ropes. Now that he has? Pass happy.

That was certainly his reputation before coming here. His work in Dallas installing the league's most intimidating (and, in my view, committed) running game should be changing that perception.

In many cases, yes. This is certainly not an absolute claim I'm making. But take notice, when things get tough, when push comes to shove, the man abandons the run. Show me the last time this team consistently ran on third down and more than 2 yards.

 

[Stash]

Well, if we had an adjustment to suggest to change things up that still involved running the ball, I'd be all for it. Similar to how we changed up the defense this week when what we started with wasn't working. Maybe that wrinkle with Switzer in the backfield, or bringing in Swaim and running a few 3TE sets, I don't know. But I have a hard time saying we should have just 'run it more' when when we did run it there was absolutely nowhere to go.

I think you've said it yourself here. Run the 3TE stuff. Get the fullback involved. Play to your strengths not theirs. If they want their great 3rd corner out there, let him deal with a TE or fullback in the running game.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

I see not only Linehan's past history like I mentioned, but recent history as well. Going back to the Green Bay playoff game. Pass happy. It wasn't just the 50 against Denver, that was ridiculous. But he had 39 against the Giants in week 1 too.

Dak's development as a quarterback has been both blessing and curse. Because as he's gotten more comfortable, pass happy Linehan has returned. The playbook was smaller and more run reliant while he was learning the ropes. Now that he has? Pass happy.



In many cases, yes. This is certainly not an absolute claim I'm making. But take notice, when things get tough, when push comes to shove, the man abandons the run. Show me the last time this team consistently ran on third down and more than 2 yards.

Interesting. Could be, as you suggest, that Linehan reverts to old habits under pressure (like the rest of us). Could be, too, that there isn't a coordinator in the league (maybe you and I should be submitting applications league-wide) that wouldn't abandon the run the way Linehan did when the team was getting stomped in the Denver game (or in GB, if what happened there can be called "abandoning the run").

On that point, I don't think there are too many coordinators, if any, that view 3rd and 3 (or more) as a running down. So I don't fault Linehan for not "consistently" treating it as such.