MySa Blog: Cowboys unveil new offensive formation

[WoodysGirl]

By Tom Orsborn on Aug 5, 09 08:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)



Cowboys PR director Rich Dalrymple asked the media yesterday not to report on any new plays or formations the team uses in practice this week. Coach Wade Phillips later said he fears such information would give early season opponents a competitive edge.

The Express-News isn't adhering to that policy, primarily because all practices are open to the public and the crowds include uncredentialed bloggers who write about the team on a daily basis for Web sites that draw plenty of traffic.

So here goes...

Yesterday at practice, the Cowboys unveiled a play that saw RB Felix Jones start out in the slot and then motion into the backfield behind Marion Barber and Tashard Choice.

Just another case of the team trying to create mismatches and utilize the unique talents of the speedy, shifty Jones.

 

[tchoice23]

Ban mySA reporters for 162 years

 

[ScipioCowboy]

By Tom Orsborn on Aug 5, 09 08:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)



Cowboys PR director Rich Dalrymple asked the media yesterday not to report on any new plays or formations the team uses in practice this week. Coach Wade Phillips later said he fears such information would give early season opponents a competitive edge.

The Express-News isn't adhering to that policy, primarily because all practices are open to the public and the crowds include uncredentialed bloggers who write about the team on a daily basis for Web sites that draw plenty of traffic.

So here goes...

Yesterday at practice, the Cowboys unveiled a play that saw RB Felix Jones start out in the slot and then motion into the backfield behind Marion Barber and Tashard Choice.

Just another case of the team trying to create mismatches and utilize the unique talents of the speedy, shifty Jones.

I actually agree with the SA Express News. Dalrymple's request was befuddling to me. If he's so concerned with secrecy, he needs to close Cowboys practices to the public.

 

[dallasfaniac]

Just a stunning ploy by Dalrymple. We will never run that formation in the regular season but him saying not to report on it will make every blogger from here to Tokyo report on it and defenses will spend more time than usual game planning it since it's our secret play we don't want them practicing. Brilliant!

 

[DCBoysfan]

I actually agree with the SA Express News. Dalrymple's request was befuddling to me. If he's so concerned with secrecy, he needs to close Cowboys practices to the public.

But the flip side to that is if they choose to close practice then us fans, are left out in the cold as to how practice went.

 

[cobra]

Stunningly stupid move by SAEx.

I understand their point, and, as a practical matter, they are correct that it is impossibility to keep things secret. Somehow or another, we would have heard what it was from a fan like BTB.com or something.

But still a stupid move by SAEx as they just gave the middle finger to the front office. And I'm quite certain the team will remember when SAEx seeks access or credentials or something in the future. What was the advantage to SAEx? Very little in reporting that. The downside? Potentially big.

Really dumb move on their part.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Just a stunning ploy by Dalrymple. We will never run that formation in the regular season but him saying not to report on it will make every blogger from here to Tokyo report on it and defenses will spend more time than usual game planning it since it's our secret play we don't want them practicing. Brilliant!

That thought crossed my mind as well. It was kind of like when we ran the Razorback on one of the OTA days where the media had full access. It's almost too fishy.

Wade even said yesterday that they'd wait to run the really secret stuff until they were back home when practice was closed.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

The real shame is that SA Express equates itself with amateur bloggers.

 

[burmafrd]

They would have to raise the level of their work.

 

[Primetime42]

Someone here had pics of this formation yesterday... Think it was theogt?

 

[Alexander]

I actually agree with the SA Express News. Dalrymple's request was befuddling to me. If he's so concerned with secrecy, he needs to close Cowboys practices to the public.

Absolutely.

But since Jerry Jones is so hellbent on having exposure and so on, the practices are open.

You can't have it both ways.

A normal team would simply wait and run the plays in closed practices.

The "bad guy" here isn't the mean media out to expose the Cowboys' intentions.

It is the organization itself at fault. It is strange to do it and then have the ridiculous notion to wink and tell the media to keep quiet about it.

 

[YosemiteSam]

The real shame is that SA Express equates itself with amateur bloggers.

Thats what they are I mean, it's San Antonio. :

 

[theogt]

Report about it? Hell, we have pictures of this very formation posted on the forum.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I actually agree with the SA Express News. Dalrymple's request was befuddling to me. If he's so concerned with secrecy, he needs to close Cowboys practices to the public.

You think he brought it up for nothing? The practices are open for a reason. Because the fans demand access. They ask the media to not share the information for a reason. The Cowboys are well aware that some information will get out.

I think it's asinine that you would be befuddled at the request. All they are doing is trying to limit how much information is conveyed by telling the media to not openly post the information.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Absolutely.

But since Jerry Jones is so hellbent on having exposure and so on, the practices are open.

Do any teams have completely closed training camps?

 

[DEZBRYANT x88x]

Damn a 3 back setup.

Nice.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Damn a 3 back setup.

Nice.

Wishbone

 

[Alexander]

You think he brought it up for nothing? The practices are open for a reason. Because the fans demand access. They ask the media to not share the information for a reason. The Cowboys are well aware that some information will get out.

I think it's asinine that you would be befuddled at the request. All they are doing is trying to limit how much information is conveyed by telling the media to not openly post the information.

Then schedule some closed practices and do it then. It is extremely naive that with today's world with bloggers and fans alike "reporting" as well or even better than the mainstream media that they would expect total secrecy. What next? Make an announcement to the crowd "Shhh. Don't tell anyone what you see, its our little secret." It is equally naive to believe that teams rely strictly on the news media to find out things like this.

If you are worried about information leaking out, close the practices. Done.

Do any teams have completely closed training camps?

It is irrelevant if they do or not. The team is not mandated by anyone to have complete access as far as I am aware. In previous years under Coach Parcells, we had open and closed practices. We all know why that's different now.

Regardless, we had closed practices at the minicamps and OTAs. Why we are compelled to have open practices like this and then demand secrecy from the press is beyond me. Why? Because the fans "demand" open practices? Please. It is a choice. Again, you can't have it all, but apparently we want the media to be our partner in that. It is ridiculous.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Pretty sure every single day of Parcells' training camps was open to anyone.

And it's relevant whether other teams close off camp because if none of the others do, then we aren't at a disadvantage to anyone else in that regard.

If you want to be really paranoid, I'd say probably the secrecy factor is what we'll miss most about not having a practice bubble this year. I'm sure that's why Parcells really wanted it -- not for protection from the weather, but so outsiders couldn't watch what we were doing.

 

[VACowboy]

Do any teams have completely closed training camps?

Not that I'm aware of, and they all ask the media not to run blabbing about every formation they see. The Cowboys aren't doing anything the rest of the League isn't doing.