Is it me or do we run every first down play for zero or 1 yard

[Nova]

I've noticed that on those first downs it's Zeke and is designed to go up the middle and everything is jambed up and he just runs it there anyways when he could bounce it outside to an open hole if his vision would see that.

Zeke's vision is not a problem in the slightest bit. He just knows what he can and can't physically accomplish. Space closes down quick in the NFL.

 

[Surfguy]

I am left wondering whether even Pollard would have been able to find any holes to get through. Zeke was almost running in place half the night. That was an excellent test against a great run D for playoff preparation. I mean...1.9 YPC. Yikes!

 

[Gonzomandela01]

They really should run more off tackle, reverses, delayed attractions, WR coming around, RB screens... all that stuff on 1st.

It just seem like "Zeck go and ram your head on the guard's butt for less than 1 yard" is our favorite 1st down play.

 

[DUO_CORE]

I just looked at every play from last nights game:
First half, 8 runs, 11 passes on first down.
Second half: 12 runs, 3 passes on first down.

Total 20 runs, 14 passes on first downs.

 

[shabazz]

I bet we pass more on first down in the playoffs.

when and if a team like the Niners stuff the run, our passing will be early and often…..nothing changes a teams playbook like getting punched in the mouf

 

[RonnieT24]

I mean, fans be yelling about running so…. Yeah, balanced or run the perfect amount or whatever.

Here is the thing; if people want to be a running team then you’re going to be running on first down a lot. Because if you pass and it’s incomplete, you probably should pass again. And then people will be upset about that.

Anyway, the real issue is that the running game isn’t doing its job, not the play calling.

It's both actually. Because I believe the play calling is one of the reasons the running game is failing. When defenses can key on what you're doing it's a lot easier to stop you. I believe and have always believed that defenses have the book on this offense. We have been hearing defenders tell us that they know what's coming for 15 years. Then there is the matter of the play choices in the run game. We run almost exclusively up the middle and when we do try to run wide we don't block anybody on the edges. We know our tight ends as a group are a minus in the blocking department, yet a lot of our running plays count on them to make the key block.

Then there is the infernal shotgun delay handoff where we don't block the backside end and just hope he's too stupid not to just watch the ball and come get the back. And just in case the backside end doesn't see the ball we pull the tackle from his side providing a wonderful key for him to read. All he has to to is follow that tackle and it will take him right to the hole where we want to run the ball.

 

[fifaguy]

Yes. That or screen pass for 1-3 yards.

 

[Reid1boys]

Remember in prior years we would hear reports of opposing defenses calling out our plays before we ran them? Has their been any mentions of this happening this year?

well if teams know our plays, then they just flat sucks since we are scoring more points than any team in the league since Dak returned.

 

[Romo_To_Dez]

The entire offensive game plan(Dink+Dunk) is contingent on getting to a 3rd and minimal 4 as our QB is pretty much a major liability if the down requires additional yardage.
Who do you think we have under center Burrows or Herbert?
Might want to mention it's the most boring offense the Cowboys have ever had....zzzzzzz....wake up PAPPY wake up.....

Hey Poppy Dog, remember when you predicted for the Cowboys to finish the season at 10-7.

 

[RonnieT24]

well if teams know our plays, then they just flat sucks since we are scoring more points than any team in the league since Dak returned.

That's because regardless of what the softheads tell you.. Dak, Zeke, CeeDee, TP and Co are pretty damn good.

 

[Bagman]

They really should run more off tackle, reverses, delayed attractions, WR coming around, RB screens... all that stuff on 1st.

It just seem like "Zeck go and ram your head on the guard's butt for less than 1 yard" is our favorite 1st down play.

I was gonna say the same thing. Im mad about the results we get but Im even more disgusted with the play designs. Simple dive plays DO NOT WORK on 1st down against a base run defense.

 

[Mannix]

What's on Junior's chart stays on Junior's chart.

 

[d_cowboy31]

It's a carry-over from Garrett. We have zero creativity in our run game and still very predictable play-calling.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Kellen is committed to the run and so am I. But running the ball inside on every first down play appears to be repetitive and predictable, to the point that the opponent's defense is just sitting and waiting on it.

Could we have a play action, or a screen or a wide receiver screen. Are Kellen and Mike playing possum and will save the best play calling for the playoffs? I am hopeful, but tend to doubt that theory, it would be something Jimmy Johnson might do, but not these two.

Thoughts? I am baffled by the predictability of our first down play calling.

The problem is giving the ball to Zeke.

 

[CowboyRoy]

It's just execution.

If we pass on first down, we'll blame Kellen for abandoning the run.

If we run and get no yards, we complain that we didn't pass.

Not we, just the clowns.

 

[Gonzomandela01]

I was gonna say the same thing. Im mad about the results we get but Im even more disgusted with the play designs. Simple dive plays DO NOT WORK on 1st down against a base run defense.

Exactly, they act like we have Larry Allen and prime Travis Fred in front of our RBs and we will just plow the defense, I really hope they are saving some stuff for the postseason but I highly doubt it.

 

[fansince68]

Kellen is committed to the run and so am I. But running the ball inside on every first down play appears to be repetitive and predictable, to the point that the opponent's defense is just sitting and waiting on it.

Could we have a play action, or a screen or a wide receiver screen. Are Kellen and Mike playing possum and will save the best play calling for the playoffs? I am hopeful, but tend to doubt that theory, it would be something Jimmy Johnson might do, but not these two.

Thoughts? I am baffled by the predictability of our first down play calling.

Kellen has been doing this at least the last 2 years

 

[john van brocklin]

Kellen is committed to the run and so am I. But running the ball inside on every first down play appears to be repetitive and predictable, to the point that the opponent's defense is just sitting and waiting on it.

Could we have a play action, or a screen or a wide receiver screen. Are Kellen and Mike playing possum and will save the best play calling for the playoffs? I am hopeful, but tend to doubt that theory, it would be something Jimmy Johnson might do, but not these two.

Thoughts? I am baffled by the predictability of our first down play calling.

That's part of our offensive identity

 

[RonnieT24]

I was gonna say the same thing. Im mad about the results we get but Im even more disgusted with the play designs. Simple dive plays DO NOT WORK on 1st down against a base run defense.

Sorry bro but this is not true. Base run defense is a 7 man box. You have 5 linemen and a tight end to block so in base the defense has you outnumbered to the weak side. But on the TE side you have the advantage. There will be a DT, a DE and a linebacker to that side. The guard, the tackle and the tight end have to make their blocks and the center has to get out and cut the inside backer off from the play and you have a hole. Our problem is that more often than not our center is not getting that inside backer and our tight ends are getting punked. As an added bonus we really only have one wide receiver who blocks worth a damn so as soon as the DBs read run they charge up there and get in the mix too.

But to your point about the play design I keep coming back to the delay shotgun handoff where we pull the backside tackle across the formation and leave the backside end unblocked. Like clockwork the end sees the man in front of him pulling and follows him to the hole. At that point the play has about a .5% chance of succeeding. I really hope we have some kind of misdirection off that which we are saving for the playoffs because I puke every time we run it and it gets blown up.

 

[Praxit]

...I'm all for it, but try DIFFERENT run plays. Delay-draws, outside runs, pitch-backs etc.