Last second snaps

[Stautner]

Is anyone else tired of worring every offensive down about whether we will get the play off in time? I know we rarely get penalized for not getting a play off, but it happens, as it did last night, and it probably contributed to Austin's key false start penalty as well. Seems to me that timing would become easier for defensive pass rushers as well because they will know when the ball has to be snapped. It also seems like it would help Romo stay a little more focused if he wasn't having to watch the play clock right up to the last second every down.

 

[joseephuss]

My memory may be poor, but I don't recall these issues during the first few games of the 2007 season. It was about midway through that year and until now that it seems to be a problem. I don't worry if they make a conscious decision to snap the ball with 1 or 2 seconds on the play clock, but on many plays it seems they are in a rush to make sure they get the snap off at all. It is something that needs to be addressed.

 

[Stautner]

My memory may be poor, but I don't recall these issues during the first few games of the 2007 season. It was about midway through that year and until now that it seems to be a problem. I don't worry if they make a conscious decision to snap the ball with 1 or 2 seconds on the play clock, but on many plays it seems they are in a rush to make sure they get the snap off at all. It is something that needs to be addressed.

I don't recall when it first started, but it has been going on for some time now. Maybe the team is comfortable doing it, but I can't see how it wouldn't at least occassionally cause some problems.

 

[Muhast]

I don't recall when it first started, but it has been going on for some time now. Maybe the team is comfortable doing it, but I can't see how it wouldn't at least occassionally cause some problems.

I know it started last year. I dont mind it when we are leading, but I don't like using it the entire game. Eating the clock up is good when your up. But switching the tempo up can throw defenses off. The way we are set up, the defense can pretty much guess the snap count every play and pin their ears back. I have a feeling if we switch up the pace that we'll see a drastic improvement in our OL.

If you know we snap the ball within the final 4 seconds of every play it's pretty easy to time.

Notice how we almost NEVER get offsides penalties on the other team.

 

[rkell87]

last season it seemed to happen a lot cause Bennett needed to be told where to line up. last night however i am just guessing romo was making sure ever body knew what they were doing be it dez, barron, or holland(once again just guessing) if it still happens when all the starters are back then i just don't know

 

[SDCowboy]

Part of it is some of these guys take an eternity to line up. Other's Romo has to keep instructing what to do or they'd probably run backwards.

 

[Yeagermeister]

It drives me crazy but most of the time it's because someone doesn't know where to line up.

 

[Stautner]

I know it started last year. I dont mind it when we are leading, but I don't like using it the entire game. Eating the clock up is good when your up. But switching the tempo up can throw defenses off. The way we are set up, the defense can pretty much guess the snap count every play and pin their ears back. I have a feeling if we switch up the pace that we'll see a drastic improvement in our OL.

If you know we snap the ball within the final 4 seconds of every play it's pretty easy to time.

Notice how we almost NEVER get offsides penalties on the other team.

For the reasons you mentioned and more, waiting until the last second has the potential to cause problems, so why would it be okay with the lead and not when behind. It's not just the use of the time on the clock that is a problem, and on some plays the game clock isn't even moving while the play clock is.

 

[skinsscalper]

If I were a pass rushing DE playing against the Cowboys, I'd watch that clock at the opposite end of the field and go as it ticks off "1", I'd be right more often than not and get a quick first step.

It's absolutely stupid to tip a defense off like that.

 

[TD-33]

They were better about it towards the end of last year, it used to bug me so I started paying more attention to it but last night vs Washington they were corner blitzing like crazy and Romo was prob trying to prepare for it- using extra time.

 

[Oh_Canada]

It drives me crazy but most of the time it's because someone doesn't know where to line up.

Well if that's the case it says even more about our coaches than it does anything else.

 

[Idgit]

I like it. We wait until the last second to see what the defense is going to do right before the snap. It's a tradeoff, but it's well worth it when you have a player who can make the right reads as a result.

 

[Stautner]

It drives me crazy but most of the time it's because someone doesn't know where to line up.

I don't think so. We had a little problem with that last night, but it happens way more often than when there is confusion. It's on almost every play.

 

[craig71]

Is anyone else tired of worring every offensive down about whether we will get the play off in time? I know we rarely get penalized for not getting a play off, but it happens, as it did last night, and it probably contributed to Austin's key false start penalty as well. Seems to me that timing would become easier for defensive pass rushers as well because they will know when the ball has to be snapped. It also seems like it would help Romo stay a little more focused if he wasn't having to watch the play clock right up to the last second every down.

I would say that Dallas is not the only team that seemed to struggle getting the play off yesterday. I watched part of the Colts/Toxins game and the great Peyton Manning himself was strugging at times getting his team set and the ball snapped. Now what is troublesome is that Romo and Co. had some issues last year getting lined up in a timely manner and it seems to have carried over.

Craig

 

[bbgun]

Curiously, there were nine seconds on the 25-second clock when Tony took that last snap. Maybe we were trying to surprise the Skins. Fail.

 

[dcfanatic]

Well Romo has to go over the 'rocket science' plays that Garrett has in this offense.

Some one needs to let him know that these are football players, not coaches.

And certainly not rocket scientists.

 

[VietCowboy]

Well Romo has to go over the 'rocket science' plays that Garrett has in this offense.

Some one needs to let him know that these are football players, not coaches.

And certainly not rocket scientists.

yeah, I was going to say having someone like Red, the play is probably overly complicated and requires time.

 

[Stautner]

Well Romo has to go over the 'rocket science' plays that Garrett has in this offense.

Some one needs to let him know that these are football players, not coaches.

And certainly not rocket scientists.

yeah, I was going to say having someone like Red, the play is probably overly complicated and requires time.

What are you guys talking about? Do you think the players are all lined up, frozen in place at their positions, taking the full 25 seconds while they all try to get their assignments straight in their heads? You're kidding right?

 

[CowboyStar88]

Also don't forget the fact that Red doesn't script his plays at all so he is flying around his game card looking for a play to call.

 

[Stautner]

Also don't forget the fact that Red doesn't script his plays at all so he is flying around his game card looking for a play to call.

Flying around his game card? Do you really think he doesn't know exactly what is on that card and have an idea what plays are on their for particular situations? He may not have made the right choice, but it wasn't because he was searching his game card frantically hoping something might catch his eye.