It’s the details that make the difference

[Bobhaze]

In a league where the talent margins are much thinner than in college football, details matter a ton. The difference between a good team and a great team is often in the details. Like penalties and poor execution at critical moments. That is especially true in close games where one play can be the difference in winning and losing.

In the Cowboys 5 losses this year, sloppiness and a lack of attention to details have been a big contributor to those losses.
Here are a few examples:

• The Cowboys are 2nd in the league with 108 penalties. (For the “refs are against us“ crowd, we have been the beneficiary of 96 penalties)
• The Cowboys are 3rd in pre-snap penalties which is the first indicator of undisciplined play.
• In the Arizona loss, the Cowboys had 13 penalties, 4 of which were pre-snap.
• In the critical loss to the eagles in the game at Philly, in that last drive with a chance to win, we had a false start and amazingly, a delay of game penalty, both in the red zone.
• In the 2 pt loss to the dolphins loss last week, the handoff fumble at the goal line on the first drive was a poorly executed play. Again - Lack of attention to details.
• Also in the 3rd qtr of Mia game, on a critical 3rd and 11 from the Mia 25, Dak scrambled for a first down at the Mia 11. Was called back because of an illegal shift where Lamb was called for moving right before snap. We ended up with a FG there instead of a first and ten from their 11. Again, small details matter.

As we approach the playoffs, being sharp, focused, making the execution of every play with precision is often the difference between winning and losing. If we can just tighten up the details, we’re a much better team. That’s a big if.

 

[Corso]

I hear the devil's in it.

 

[stiletto]

the execution of every play with precision is often the difference between winning and losing. If we can just tighten up the details, we’re a much better team. That’s a big if.

Hopefully, everyone is smart enough to see that these things aren't getting fixed anytime soon. No crappy performance should surprise anyone. It's more of a surprise if they play even half way good vs a decent team. No one cares about the bottom feeder victories at this point.

 

[Bobhaze]

The most frustrating aspect of watching the Cowboys this year is how many times sloppy play kills drives or poor execution at a critical moments can be the difference between winning and losing.

 

[JoeKing]

The best plays ever can be called at the best opportune times, but the players still have to execute. When that doesn't happen, these fans blame the play caller.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

I'm really sick of penalties being indicative of being sloppy - except for basically Dante Fowler.

The idea that this team commits significantly more holdings than their opponents to the degree we've seen over the last 8 weeks or so is preposterous.

 

[Bobhaze]

The best plays ever can be called at the best opportune times, but the players still have to execute. When that doesn't happen, these fans blame the play caller.

IMO - Play calling - just the decision on what play to run is the most overrated part of what fans see. Because a play can be called and if it works well, it’s a “great call”. If it doesn’t it’s a “terrible call”.

When actually the success of any play hinges on how well all players execute it. Secondly, the QB changes the play call at the los at least 30% of the time.

 

[leeblair]

In a league where the talent margins are much thinner than in college football, details matter a ton. The difference between a good team and a great team is often in the details. Like penalties and poor execution at critical moments. That is especially true in close games where one play can be the difference in winning and losing.

In the Cowboys 5 losses this year, sloppiness and a lack of attention to details have been a big contributor to those losses.
Here are a few examples:

• The Cowboys are 2nd in the league with 108 penalties. (For the “refs are against us“ crowd, we have been the beneficiary of 96 penalties)
• The Cowboys are 3rd in pre-snap penalties which is the first indicator of undisciplined play.
• In the Arizona loss, the Cowboys had 13 penalties, 4 of which were pre-snap.
• In the critical loss to the eagles in the game at Philly, in that last drive with a chance to win, we had a false start and amazingly, a delay of game penalty, both in the red zone.
• In the 2 pt loss to the dolphins loss last week, the handoff fumble at the goal line on the first drive was a poorly executed play. Again - Lack of attention to details.
• Also in the 3rd qtr of Mia game, on a critical 3rd and 11 from the Mia 25, Dak scrambled for a first down at the Mia 11. Was called back because of an illegal shift where Lamb was called for moving right before snap. We ended up with a FG there instead of a first and ten from their 11. Again, small details matter.

As we approach the playoffs, being sharp, focused, making the execution of every play with precision is often the difference between winning and losing. If we can just tighten up the details, we’re a much better team. That’s a big if.

In other words, there is too much dancing, and not enough marching.

 

[Bobhaze]

In other words, there is too much dancing, and not enough marching.

Or…if you’re going to dance, don’t step on anyone’s feet.

 

[Bobhaze]

I'm really sick of penalties being indicative of being sloppy - except for basically Dante Fowler.

The idea that this team commits significantly more holdings than their opponents to the degree we've seen over the last 8 weeks or so is preposterous.

I agree that Holding calls are certainly subjective. But false starts, delay of game, lining up offsides, illegal shifts….those are what I’m mostly referencing. As well as executing plays with precision.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

I agree that Holding calls are certainly subjective. But false starts, delay of game, lining up offsides, illegal shifts….those are what I’m mostly referencing. As well as executing plays with precision.

Right, and outside of Fowler, that hasn't really been an issue.

 

[Bobhaze]

Right, and outside of Fowler, that hasn't really been an issue.

Pre-snap penalties haven’t been an issue?

 

[Montanalo]

Over the past 5 years, the Cowboys are the 2nd most penalized team in the NFL with 550 penalties. Only the Arizona Cardinals with 560 have more penalties. Going back 10 years, the Cowboys are the 5th most penalized team.

Dallas and penalties have become synonymous. While there are a lot of conjecture, it basically boils down to a lack of discipline... both on the part of the players and of the coaches.

Food for thought... had Jimmy Johnson or Bill Parcells been the coach for the Miami game, do you think Edoga would have continued at OT after whiffing a couple of obvious blocks during passing situations? No, he would have been pulled for Asim Richards... at least for a series of plays.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Pre-snap penalties haven’t been an issue?

No. They're 10th in fasle starts (15), t-13 in delay (with 4, leader has 1), t-2 in illegal shift (1)

The only problematic thing is defensive offsides, which is mostly Fowler and is also subjective in the sense that refs don't always call it.

 

[Bobhaze]

No. They're 10th in fasle starts (15), t-13 in delay (with 4, leader has 1), t-2 in illegal shift (1)

The only problematic thing is defensive offsides, which is mostly Fowler and is also subjective in the sense that refs don't always call it.

Wow. Ok. So attention to those details that cause false starts, offsides, delay of game, etc don’t really matter? Well Mac I’m just going to agree to disagree witcha brother.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Wow. Ok. So attention to those details that cause false starts, offsides, delay of game, etc don’t really matter? Well Mac I’m just going to agree to disagree witcha brother.

No, they don't matter, becuase it's the entire league. Do you think a team is going to go an entire season without a false start? lol

 

[FanofJerry]

I remember players chasing Jimmy down and cussing him out after we beat Miami in the 90's...

I dont know if professional athletes these days care about being verbally abused all season for a $157,000 bonus, trophy and parade.

Its just a sport.

Now...a brain surgeon being hard on his understudies because if they make a mistake it could have serious consequences on the patient...sure. But Football? eh.

I agree with you...they are paid well and should be grown up enough to shake it offf. Im just saying...its players leagues these days.

 

[Bobhaze]

No, they don't matter, becuase it's the entire league. Do you think a team is going to go an entire season without a false start? lol

No. But having a false start and a delay of game penalty in the last 20 seconds of a critical game, inside the red zone (as did happen in Philly back in Nov) is exactly the kind of sloppy play that can kill you in the playoffs. Details matter.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

No. But having a false start and a delay of game penalty in the last 20 seconds of a critical game, inside the red zone (as did happen in Philly back in Nov) is exactly the kind of sloppy play that can kill you in the playoffs. Details matter.

They didn't really matter. They're also not things - especially the false start - that you can coach or teach.

Nobody is arguing that details don't matter. But the idea that the Cowboys are so much worse than anyone else to the point of it being a unique problem is myth.

 

[Bobhaze]

They didn't really matter. They're also not things - especially the false start - that you can coach or teach.

Nobody is arguing that details don't matter. But the idea that the Cowboys are so much worse than anyone else to the point of it being a unique problem is myth.

Really? You can’t coach players not to jump early? I know a ton of coaches who would disagree with that.

Yes, of course all NFL teams have problems with pre-snap penalties. But saying that doesn’t matter is just crazy to me. To me having a stupid pre-snap penalty is the same as poor execution like a RB not protecting the ball while running, a lineman missing a key block, a center calling out the wrong protection package, any player forgetting the audible code, a defensive player lining up offsides…they are all sloppy inattention to details that can literally cause you to lose a game.

That’s not a myth.