Linehan is the real MVP

[LittleBoyBlue]

And you can do that when teams have to game your running game as well as try to stop Romo and gang. The playbook is complete. NO tried to take away the run and make Romo beat them. As soon as Romo made them back off the LOS and play balanced defense the run game took off and we were off to the races. I think Linehan has definitely brought something to the team but to think he's the reason we look so good on offense finally negates the major influence of the players executing.

The MVP of the team so far, IMO, is the OL.

Even if NO was able to take away the run, you stick with it. It helps with being unpredictable.

No need to argue or disagree here.
We all agree, well most Agee. We are happier with the current results from whoever so system. I don't care.

Win, Cowboys, win!!

 

[Doomsday101]

It is refreshing to see the D set up to blitz and not worry if it's the last hit Romo is going to take. Looks like his jersey will stay some what cleaner this season.

I think so and Fredrick and Zack are still young guys and still learning the tricks of the trade, I expect them to only get better.

 

[WillieBeamen]

Anyone who thinks we would see this balanced offense with Garrett calling plays is delusional. Murray was averaging 8ypc in the GB game and we completely abandoned the run in the second half. That has nothing to do with our line not being able to run block. In addition, we are seeing different formations (Dez being moved around), more screens, more play action etc. i agree that Martin is making a big difference but lets not act like our line was terrible last year. I also read something where Romo said Linehan makes adjustments as the game progresses which is something he (romo) has never experienced.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Anyone who thinks we would see this balanced offense with Garrett calling plays is delusional. Murray was averaging 8ypc in the GB game and we completely abandoned the run in the second half. That has nothing to do with our line not being able to run block. In addition, we are seeing different formations (Dez being moved around), more screens, more play action etc. i agree that Martin is making a big difference but lets not act like our line was terrible last year. I also read something where Romo said Linehan makes adjustments as the game progresses which is something he (romo) has never experienced.

Exactly.

It's such a cop out to blame everything on "execution". Amazing how players just happen to start executing when they get better coaching.

 

[Doomsday101]

Exactly.

It's such a cop out to blame everything on "execution". Amazing how players just happen to start executing when they get better coaching.

True Linehan is sticking with the run more than Garrett did. It is the same offense only difference is play calling and yes execution, this OL has not been taking the penalties they have in the past especially in the red zone where too often a 1st and 10 would become a 1st and 20. Holding normally takes place because you are getting beat right now OL is not losing the battles up front. Same with the offside an OLineman will normally start jumping offside as the defensive player in front of him is beating him off the line

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Exactly.

It's such a cop out to blame everything on "execution". Amazing how players just happen to start executing when they get better coaching.

Exactly! Draw up a play where the defender didn't know exactly how to defend it and receiver has a better go of executing it.

Elementary!

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Anyone who thinks we would see this balanced offense with Garrett calling plays is delusional. Murray was averaging 8ypc in the GB game and we completely abandoned the run in the second half. That has nothing to do with our line not being able to run block. In addition, we are seeing different formations (Dez being moved around), more screens, more play action etc. i agree that Martin is making a big difference but lets not act like our line was terrible last year. I also read something where Romo said Linehan makes adjustments as the game progresses which is something he (romo) has never experienced.

It's mind boggling.
It was irresponsible of Garrett.

I actually expected football intelligence because he is a football guy, former assistant all over, former player.
He is the exact opposite of what I expected.

 

[Idgit]

It's fun watching people trying to reconce their excitement about the offense with their various aversions to Jason Garrett. You guys need to get to the point where you can make a convincing argument they're winning in spite of him for that to work.

Of course, that's harder to do when it's his hand-picked coach you have to tout as your MVP. Or his emphasis on the OL. Either way, it all points back to the head coach.

Heck, I don't even know how our offensive production compared to the production from the start of last season. Are we outscoring that team? Or is it just that our defense has looked better so far?

What I think is really happening is that we're excited after a big win. The same way we were excited last year after dominating the Rams. I'm all for being excited, and I hope it's something we can continue. For my part, I'm still looking to the defense to decide whether or not I think that can happen. If the offense really has improved over the production of the last few seasons, I think that's outstanding. It'll probably mean a nice long extension for a coach I've always liked a lot.

 

[dstovall5]

The OL is the real mvp, a line this good will make any OC look like a genius

Can't it be both? I don't think Linehan is the only reason we're having success, but he's been a huge positive (so far) addition for this team.

 

[WillieBeamen]

Can't it be both? I don't think Linehan is the only reason we're having success, but he's been a huge positive (so far) addition for this team.

Cosign. I will acknowledge that Linehan ran a pass happy offense in Detroit, but no one will convince me that our line was that terrible last year that we couldnt run the ball more often. At one point, Brian Waters was starting at guard for us and the play calling was still pass happy.

 

[Doomsday101]

Cosign. I will acknowledge that Linehan ran a pass happy offense in Detroit, but no one will convince me that our line was that terrible last year that we couldnt run the ball more often. At one point, Brian Waters was starting at guard for us and the play calling was still pass happy.

I think running game is getting fewer negative plays than last year where backs are getting hit in the back field and I think we are seeing fewer penalties along the OL that can take you to a down and distance where it becomes harder to run.

 

[Wolfpack]

Everything on offense is different. The play calls, the formations and the tendencies. Plus there are now adjustments during a game, not panic shotgun leave it up Romo mode.

Jason is removed from entire offense per his GM so it's clear what is different. Does Jason the HC get credit for allowing a significant change in the offense under his "leadership"? Yes he does but it also shows how poor / green of an OC he really was.

 

[cml750]

We had a good offensive line last year, we were averaging over 5 yards a carry and went way to pass happy with Callahan.

Linehan is a difference maker, he gets it. I like what he is doing, looks like Cowboy Football.

Add Zach Martin and this offense has a chance to dominate.

Agree to an extent but Garrett was calling the offense most of last year no matter what title they gave Callahan.

 

[Doomsday101]

Everything on offense is different. The play calls, the formations and the tendencies. Plus there are now adjustments during a game, not panic shotgun leave it up Romo mode.

Jason is removed from entire offense per his GM so it's clear what is different. Does Jason the HC get credit for allowing a significant change in the offense under his "leadership"? Yes he does but it also shows how poor / green of an OC he really was.

Garrett is still involved with the game plan they implement through out the week.

 

[Brooksey]

Agree to an extent but Garrett was calling the offense most of last year no matter what title they gave Callahan.

I can't dispute that based on what we did offensively the previous year.

 

[jobberone]

Even if NO was able to take away the run, you stick with it. It helps with being unpredictable.

No need to argue or disagree here.
We all agree, well most Agee. We are happier with the current results from whoever so system. I don't care.

Win, Cowboys, win!!

No. You don't get running into an eight or nine man box. You take advantage of that and they will back out of it themselves. You can't play 8/9 in the box and give up a lot of passing yardage for it. You take away the run hoping YOU can take advantage of the other team's offense. Romo made them pay for it and they went to a more balance approach. That's when you saw the running game beat them up.

As others said, you hope they throw the blitz and crowded boxes at you so you can defeat it. If you can still run with 8/9 in the box great but that's a rare sight.

 

[Hoov]

I disagree with this partly because of one reason: the only change to the o-line was zach martin.

I do think linnehan has been the bigger difference. The o-line was already good....it just improved one position.

I think you would have to consider that T Smith is young and has improved every year so is probably playing better this year than last (even though he was good last year) and i think in the same fashion R Leary and Frederick are also improved this year. So, there is the addition of Martin but also the development of 3 young players to consider.

 

[Bleu Star]

It's funny how some people want to claim the clock struck midnight and this OL suddenly went from lousy to unstoppable. It was really good last year.

I guess some don't want to admit that because it means Linehan gets credit and not Garrett?

Nailed it straight center.

 

[Bleu Star]

Just running the ball makes you better pass blockers because the D has to defend both aspects, plus the OL aren't on their heels all game.

Regarding the first part of your post, it is clear to me that you have a strong understanding of the science behind the game. I played on the oline for several years and, you once again nailed it. We absolutely loved to run block because it made pass pro so much easier. If you're firing out regularly during the course of a game, the pass blocking game will be a piece of cake.

 

[Bleu Star]

Anyone who thinks we would see this balanced offense with Garrett calling plays is delusional. Murray was averaging 8ypc in the GB game and we completely abandoned the run in the second half. That has nothing to do with our line not being able to run block. In addition, we are seeing different formations (Dez being moved around), more screens, more play action etc. i agree that Martin is making a big difference but lets not act like our line was terrible last year. I also read something where Romo said Linehan makes adjustments as the game progresses which is something he (romo) has never experienced.

Lost in all this salivating over our newly discovered run game identity is the fact that TWill is thriving in his role which places him in an assortment of different areas on the field.

Advantage: Linehan