Kellen Moore has a blind spot. running the ball

[thunderpimp91]

That’s easy to do with no Cooper or Lamb. They covered two on Lamb and not a single other receiver stepped up

Sort of....We had chances I just dont think we took advantage. The opening pass to Gallup that was overthrown. Wilson/Brown dropped multiple passes. We had a chance for points before the half, which would have made it a one possession game in the 4th but Dak forces a bad pass and heavily under throws it.

I'm not saying the OP is wrong here, there is just a lot to break down. Some of it from a game plan & philosophy standpoint, also just a total lack of execution all around.

 

[tyke1doe]

Rex Ryan said, in so many words, Kellen Moore was in over his head.
KC was running slot blitzes, which were elementary to defend, but Moore never adjusted. He also said the Cowboys should have run more with their two top receivers out.
Basically, the Cowboys were outcoached and weren't ready for the big time.

 

[RonnieT24]

I’m so sick of

First down - Run up the gut. Stuffed
Second down - WR screen for no gain or loss
Third down - Sack

Check out this play by play..

2 2:39 1 10 DAL 26 Ezekiel Elliott up the middle for 8 yards (tackle by Anthony Hitchens and Willie Gay) 3 16 0.670 1.210
2 2:16 2 2 DAL 34 Dak Prescott sacked by Chris Jones for -4 yards 3 16 1.210 -0.030
2 2:00 3 6 DAL 30 Dak Prescott sacked by Chris Jones for -9 yards. Dak Prescott fumbles (forced by Chris Jones). Dak Prescott fumbles out of bounds

Notice Zeke ran for 8 yards on first down and we bungled it by passing on 2nd and 3rd and giving up sacks..

How about this drive into the red zone?

3 10:06 1 10 KAN 17 Ezekiel Elliott right end for 5 yards (tackle by Daniel Sorensen) 3 16 4.440 4.690
3 9:33 2 5 KAN 12 Dak Prescott pass incomplete short middle intended for Cedrick Wilson 3 16 4.690 3.880
3 9:29 3 5 KAN 12 Dak Prescott pass incomplete short middle intended for Michael Gallup 3 16 3.880 2.680
3 9:24 4 5 KAN 12 Greg Zuerlein 30 yard field goal good

Again.. run for 5 on first down.. then pass pass kick..

Another one..

3 2:36 1 10 DAL 25 Tony Pollard left end for 4 yards (tackle by L'Jarius Sneed) 6 19 0.610 0.600
3 2:02 2 6 DAL 29 Dak Prescott pass complete short left to Tony Pollard for 6 yards (tackle by Rashad Fenton) 6 19 0.600 1.270
3 1:34 1 10 DAL 35 Dak Prescott pass complete short left to Michael Gallup for 12 yards (tackle by Rashad Fenton) 6 19 1.270 2.060
3 0:55 1 10 DAL 47 Dak Prescott pass complete short right to Cedrick Wilson for 18 yards (tackle by Juan Thornhill and Nick Bolton) 6 19 2.060 3.250


One run.. for 4 yards.. then 3 passes in a row.. Again.. why? Why not try to establish the run.. ever?

Sorry but in your mind we got stuffed every time we ran on first down.. but the reality was much different.. Yes we got stuffed SOME.. but never every damn time.. But you know what DID happen every damn time.. We passed the next play like we DID get stuffed.. whether we actually did or not.

Yep.. blind spot..

 

[jwooten15]

Yeah I can't agree with this take. Anytime we lose people point to the rushing......but never factor in the reason we lost is because the run game couldn't get going. Let's also be honest this offensive line hasn't been good these past few weeks and the run game surely hasn't. Kellen didn't call the best game for sure but I'm going to give him a "excuse". How much blame should he get when his receivers was dropping footballs, Dak wasn't sharp, the offensive line was crap? These guys lost as a unit yesterday.

We did not lose because the run game couldn’t get going. That’s completely false.

 

[Carson]

Check out this play by play..

2 2:39 1 10 DAL 26 Ezekiel Elliott up the middle for 8 yards (tackle by Anthony Hitchens and Willie Gay) 3 16 0.670 1.210
2 2:16 2 2 DAL 34 Dak Prescott sacked by Chris Jones for -4 yards 3 16 1.210 -0.030
2 2:00 3 6 DAL 30 Dak Prescott sacked by Chris Jones for -9 yards. Dak Prescott fumbles (forced by Chris Jones). Dak Prescott fumbles out of bounds

Notice Zeke ran for 8 yards on first down and we bungled it by passing on 2nd and 3rd and giving up sacks..

How about this drive into the red zone?

3 10:06 1 10 KAN 17 Ezekiel Elliott right end for 5 yards (tackle by Daniel Sorensen) 3 16 4.440 4.690
3 9:33 2 5 KAN 12 Dak Prescott pass incomplete short middle intended for Cedrick Wilson 3 16 4.690 3.880
3 9:29 3 5 KAN 12 Dak Prescott pass incomplete short middle intended for Michael Gallup 3 16 3.880 2.680
3 9:24 4 5 KAN 12 Greg Zuerlein 30 yard field goal good

Again.. run for 5 on first down.. then pass pass kick..

Another one..

3 2:36 1 10 DAL 25 Tony Pollard left end for 4 yards (tackle by L'Jarius Sneed) 6 19 0.610 0.600
3 2:02 2 6 DAL 29 Dak Prescott pass complete short left to Tony Pollard for 6 yards (tackle by Rashad Fenton) 6 19 0.600 1.270
3 1:34 1 10 DAL 35 Dak Prescott pass complete short left to Michael Gallup for 12 yards (tackle by Rashad Fenton) 6 19 1.270 2.060
3 0:55 1 10 DAL 47 Dak Prescott pass complete short right to Cedrick Wilson for 18 yards (tackle by Juan Thornhill and Nick Bolton) 6 19 2.060 3.250


One run.. for 4 yards.. then 3 passes in a row.. Again.. why? Why not try to establish the run.. ever?

Sorry but in your mind we got stuffed every time we ran on first down.. but the reality was much different.. Yes we got stuffed SOME.. but never every damn time.. But you know what DID happen every damn time.. We passed the next play like we DID get stuffed.. whether we actually did or not.

Yep.. blind spot..

I was speaking more so in our losses as not directly in correlation to this game alone. Denver comes to mind as well

 

[RonnieT24]

Yeah I can't agree with this take. Anytime we lose people point to the rushing......but never factor in the reason we lost is because the run game couldn't get going. Let's also be honest this offensive line hasn't been good these past few weeks and the run game surely hasn't. Kellen didn't call the best game for sure but I'm going to give him a "excuse". How much blame should he get when his receivers was dropping footballs, Dak wasn't sharp, the offensive line was crap? These guys lost as a unit yesterday.

The run game is NEVER going to get going when you will only run it once every 4th or 5th play. I'm sorry but your post here misses the entire point. Part of the reason you run is to do physical damage to the defensive front. What damage do you think it being done by having our linemen drop back and catch blows 50 times a game? No one is saying it was not a team loss.. No one is saying this one aspect of the game was the reason.. What I AM saying is that running the ball when the passing game is off and the line is failing to protect the QB HELPS in a situation such as this. As long as the score stays within shouting distance you stick with the run because it takes a toll on the defensive front, it emboldens your offensive line and maybe most importantly, it keeps your QB from getting killed.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

The run game is NEVER going to get going when you will only run it once every 4th or 5th play. I'm sorry but your post here misses the entire point. Part of the reason you run is to do physical damage to the defensive front. What damage do you think it being done by having our linemen drop back and catch blows 50 times a game? No one is saying it was not a team loss.. No one is saying this one aspect of the game was the reason.. What I AM saying is that running the ball when the passing game is off and the line is failing to protect the QB HELPS in a situation such as this. As long as the score stays within shouting distance you stick with the run because it takes a toll on the defensive front, it emboldens your offensive line and maybe most importantly, it keeps your QB from getting killed.

So if you are the OC how many times should you watch the offensive line fail to block of your running backs in order for you to abandon the run? Or do you just keep running it and pray for the best and hope something opens up?

 

[nightrain]

16 run attempts yesterday was ridiculous. The Chiefs were not even respecting run, knowing exactly what Moore's DNA would present.

 

[CATCH17]

I mean I can’t imagine it’s tough to shut down Gallup, Brown and Wilson. Gallup is a one trick pony.

Reminds me of the Jets game we lost with basically Tavon Austin at WR

We needed that trick yesterday.

Yesterday was a Dez Bryant go up and get it game and we didn’t have that.

If Dak could run that would’ve helped too.

 

[thunderpimp91]

So if you are the OC how many times should you watch the offensive line fail to block of your running backs in order for you to abandon the run? Or do you just keep running it and pray for the best and hope something opens up?

I'm torn on this because they werent exactly tearing it up throwing the ball either. I understand the why behind throwing it so much given the fronts KC was showing....but the results just weren't there. Seems like running the ball more is the easy answer, but it also feels like thats a simple answer in a more complex problem.

 

[Brax]

I have been screaming this since he took over. He simply has no feel for how to use the running game to settle things down when the wheels are coming off. He does not understand that 2nd and 6 is better than 2nd and 10 or 2nd and 13 when your line is not pass blocking worth a damn. He fails to acknowledge when they are overmatched and adjust accordingly. The absolute BEST way to slow down a pass rush is to let the offensive line fire out into the d-line and take some of the starch out of it. Not keep dropping back and saying "Hail Mary don't let Dak get killed." Yesterday's game never got to more than two scores difference and the running game was averaging at least 4 yards a pop.. Yet we went 50 pass 16 run.. Friggin three to one ratio!!! Moore seems to have forgotten that when this offense was rolling it was closer to 50/50. I am discouraged by this because I honestly thought that the three game stretch when we killed people by being balanced he had figured it out. But these last 4 games show me he hasn't.. and if he hasn't by now.. he probably never will. Somebody needs to hire him as head coach somewhere.. Soon.

I think KM is a work in progress and this is where MM should be stepping in and changing plays or guiding him, problem is MM is passing guy also, all the pieces are there, I think MM is the limiting factor and I believe Dak needs to take the next step and adjust plays as he sees them, no need to worry at this point I believe Dak will start to take over game management like great QB's do, if not Jerry needs to decide what way to go coaching wise after the season unless the results are a lot different than the last 20 odd years.

 

[RonnieT24]

So if you are the OC how many times should you watch the offensive line fail to block of your running backs in order for you to abandon the run? Or do you just keep running it and pray for the best and hope something opens up?

I just posted three examples from the play by play yesterday where the run gained 8,5 and 4 yards on first down and each time the next three plays were passes. It didn't matter what we did on first down Moore had made up his mind already that we were passing on 2nd. That displays a lack of commitment to the run.. And before someone chimes in with "well maybe Dak audibled out of the runs" .. That's a copout.. especially since at least half the time we come out with empty backfield on 2nd down ..

 

[Big_D]

Playcalling was terrible yesterday. This offense missing peices needs to be much more methodical. Making big splash plays, they're not happening. Time to readjust to that reality. We'll see if he can do that?

 

[buddieluver]

I could tell Troy wa frustrated by the lack of running.

 

[Croomraider]

Kellen has done a good job finally throwing to Zeke in space, I'd say that's a massive improvement. However, the run scheme's aren't as creative as our passing schemes. We definitely could use more swing blocks, misdirections, designed QB draws, and HB counter's.

 

[G2]

The O line sucked a fat one. Plain and simple. The line was like a screen door. When they did run the ball, there were no running lanes to be excited about. I would much rather have Moore's approach than Garretts who ran a similar, unsuccessful running play 4 times in a row.

 

[lukin2006]

Teams are just lining up to hire Garrett 2.0. Please hire him…

 

[RonnieT24]

Playcalling was terrible yesterday. This offense missing peices needs to be much more methodical. Making big splash plays, they're not happening. Time to readjust to that reality. We'll see if he can do that?

The last time we went to a more balanced attack was after Jerry hinted not so subtly that we needed to run the ball more. It might be time for Coach Jerry to "meddle" again.. because Moore has wandered off into the pass every down wilderness again.. The pass/run ratio has gotten way out of whack.. as it always seems to with Moore..

 

[VaqueroTD]

I agree with everything in this thread except one point... Kellen Moore DID know how to run. We had a streak of 2-3 games where we ran Pollard and Zeke into the ground. I can't even point to a game where the run wasn't working and teams figured us out. It's like Kellen just gave up on it. Or maybe he thought Dak and the WRs were good enough to run the whole show? Who knows, but the same discussion McCarthy had with himself on knowing when to be aggressive and when to kick the FG, he should have had with Kellen. Sometimes you gotta adjust to the game. Dak and the OL were panicing out there. Zeke turned his ankle 180 degrees, shook it off and went back in. You have a stud at RB, use him! And instead of getting cute with WRs, just use Pollard's speed on the outside.

 

[RonnieT24]

The O line sucked a fat one. Plain and simple. The line was like a screen door. When they did run the ball, there were no running lanes to be excited about. I would much rather have Moore's approach than Garretts who ran a similar, unsuccessful running play 4 times in a row.

The running backs averaged over 4 ypc yesterday.. even if you take out the 31 yarder on the gadget play they were still over 3.5. If you run that "unsuccessful running play" 3 times in a row you move the chains. Sorry but people get too caught up in the whole "the running game was getting stuffed" narrative.. No it wasn't.. Was it running wild? Absolutely not.. but it was getting positive yards more often than not.. And every time we ran it did two things.. it let our linemen actually hit the d linemen and it kept our QB from getting hit.. That's a win win even if the yards are meager.