NeonDeion21
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 2,500
- Reaction score
- 1,065
Hey everybody. I haven't been able to post much the last few weeks because of a busy schedule, but I wanted to post my thoughts after watching the All-22 today. Most of the observations this week came on offense because I haven't had a lot of time to just focus on this group.
First of all, after watching this game a few times again, Dallas' offense reminds me some of the New England Patriots offense late last year. A lot of NE's offense relied on the short passing game to Welker and Gronk and in the Super Bowl, they suffered because there was no apparent deep threat for them. I see Dallas as being a similar offense with Dez running the short to intermediate routes, relying on his YAC ability to create plays, and Witten to make the plays in the seams. But I think for this offense to really start playing at their highest level, Miles Austin needs to start beating one-on-one coverage more consistently. Currently the lack of a deep threat is limiting what Garrett and Romo can do. I believe Austin is the one player who has enough deep speed to put some air in the defense.
As for Romo, I thought he could have had a much better game than he did. The ball just seemed to come out different on Sunday. I don't know if that was because of the wind or something else. Just something to think about moving forward.
If the running game can get it together, there is no reason why Romo can't get back on track. Romo is a stud when he can use play-action and be in a balanced offense. Speaking of the running game, Phil Costa. Wow. That was the best game I have ever seen him play. The one thing he can do much better than Ryan Cook is get to the second level and hit linebackers and create lanes for the RBs. Another thing that was noticeably different was how well the guards played with Costa in the lineup. Both had really solid games as most of the yards in the ground game happened between the tackles. Hats off to the interior line.
As for the RBs, I think the offensive line had more to do with the production than anything DeMarco Murray or Felix Jones did. Don't get me wrong, both of them ran hard and found the right lanes, but the line blew Baltimore off the LOS and Ray Lewis was a big liability and Dallas capitalized on it.
Lance Dunbar only had 2 carries in the game, (1 called back by holding) but I think Dallas might have found something here. He looks explosive, quick to hit the hole, and has some sweet balance. He is another one to watch in the next couple weeks. I would not be surprised if he moves ahead of Tanner by the end of the season. I really like this kid.
Dez Bryant just abuses one-on-one man coverage. On his first catch of the day, the Ravens lineup 2nd year CB Jimmy Smith over him with no safety helping over the top. Smith jams him about a yard after the LOS and Dez does something I haven't seen since Michael Irvin. Dez uses his strength to shove Smith's body towards the sideline, leaving him completely out of position and Dez wide open and getting 14 yards on 3rd and 10. If you get a chance to watch that play (1Q, 5:36)
Baltimore played a lot of single high safety against Dallas, and Dez killed them on slants and outs. I have heard many people rip Dez this week because of the relatively low yardage. Let me just say this; if Baltimore wasn't one of the top 3 tackling teams in the league, Dez would have had a bunch of yardage. I was amazed at how well Jimmy Smith and Cary Williams tackled against Dez.
I have a theory as to why Dallas only ran one play at the end of the game. I believe Jason Garrett and Tony Romo were so confident that Dez would be able to make a play on the slant to gain at least enough yardage to set Bailey up for a 45 yard-ish FG. And the thing is, I think they had the right play called. Dez broke open and had the entire middle of the field to operate, but he had to slow down to almost a complete stop because the throw was behind him. This allowed Williams to make a really nice tackle on Dez and you know the rest. If Romo puts that ball in front of Dez, I am convinced he scores a TD as there was literally no one in the middle of the field or at least gets Dallas to the 25 yard line. Like I said before, Romo was just a little bit off in this game.
On the other side, Miles Austin was having a lot of trouble beating single coverage against Smith and Williams. To me, he just doesn't look as explosive this year as opposed to previous years and that is hurting Dallas' passing game. He is the player that stretches the defense and provides the big plays down the field on 20-25 yard slants in which he excels on the YAC.
Let me start with a positive about John Phillips. On the Felix Jones TD run, Phillips had a nice block where he sealed the edge for Felix to get to the outside. Having said that, Phillips garners no respect in the passing game. None. But I have been really impressed with James Hanna. He has been a much better blocker than I first anticipated and I think the offense would be much better off with Hanna getting more snaps. I am really intrigued by his skill set.
Other Quick Hits
- Morris Claiborne is a stud. Other than Torrey Smith's TD in which Smith pushed off, he was no where to be found.
-Dallas needs to address their DE situation in the off-season. Their is no production and/or push in the pass-rush.
-Sean Lee got fooled by Ray Rice on the 43 yard gain on the Flacco dump off. Lee got caught blitzing after he thought Rice was only pass-protecting. Even the great ones make mistakes.
First of all, after watching this game a few times again, Dallas' offense reminds me some of the New England Patriots offense late last year. A lot of NE's offense relied on the short passing game to Welker and Gronk and in the Super Bowl, they suffered because there was no apparent deep threat for them. I see Dallas as being a similar offense with Dez running the short to intermediate routes, relying on his YAC ability to create plays, and Witten to make the plays in the seams. But I think for this offense to really start playing at their highest level, Miles Austin needs to start beating one-on-one coverage more consistently. Currently the lack of a deep threat is limiting what Garrett and Romo can do. I believe Austin is the one player who has enough deep speed to put some air in the defense.
As for Romo, I thought he could have had a much better game than he did. The ball just seemed to come out different on Sunday. I don't know if that was because of the wind or something else. Just something to think about moving forward.
If the running game can get it together, there is no reason why Romo can't get back on track. Romo is a stud when he can use play-action and be in a balanced offense. Speaking of the running game, Phil Costa. Wow. That was the best game I have ever seen him play. The one thing he can do much better than Ryan Cook is get to the second level and hit linebackers and create lanes for the RBs. Another thing that was noticeably different was how well the guards played with Costa in the lineup. Both had really solid games as most of the yards in the ground game happened between the tackles. Hats off to the interior line.
As for the RBs, I think the offensive line had more to do with the production than anything DeMarco Murray or Felix Jones did. Don't get me wrong, both of them ran hard and found the right lanes, but the line blew Baltimore off the LOS and Ray Lewis was a big liability and Dallas capitalized on it.
Lance Dunbar only had 2 carries in the game, (1 called back by holding) but I think Dallas might have found something here. He looks explosive, quick to hit the hole, and has some sweet balance. He is another one to watch in the next couple weeks. I would not be surprised if he moves ahead of Tanner by the end of the season. I really like this kid.
Dez Bryant just abuses one-on-one man coverage. On his first catch of the day, the Ravens lineup 2nd year CB Jimmy Smith over him with no safety helping over the top. Smith jams him about a yard after the LOS and Dez does something I haven't seen since Michael Irvin. Dez uses his strength to shove Smith's body towards the sideline, leaving him completely out of position and Dez wide open and getting 14 yards on 3rd and 10. If you get a chance to watch that play (1Q, 5:36)
Baltimore played a lot of single high safety against Dallas, and Dez killed them on slants and outs. I have heard many people rip Dez this week because of the relatively low yardage. Let me just say this; if Baltimore wasn't one of the top 3 tackling teams in the league, Dez would have had a bunch of yardage. I was amazed at how well Jimmy Smith and Cary Williams tackled against Dez.
I have a theory as to why Dallas only ran one play at the end of the game. I believe Jason Garrett and Tony Romo were so confident that Dez would be able to make a play on the slant to gain at least enough yardage to set Bailey up for a 45 yard-ish FG. And the thing is, I think they had the right play called. Dez broke open and had the entire middle of the field to operate, but he had to slow down to almost a complete stop because the throw was behind him. This allowed Williams to make a really nice tackle on Dez and you know the rest. If Romo puts that ball in front of Dez, I am convinced he scores a TD as there was literally no one in the middle of the field or at least gets Dallas to the 25 yard line. Like I said before, Romo was just a little bit off in this game.
On the other side, Miles Austin was having a lot of trouble beating single coverage against Smith and Williams. To me, he just doesn't look as explosive this year as opposed to previous years and that is hurting Dallas' passing game. He is the player that stretches the defense and provides the big plays down the field on 20-25 yard slants in which he excels on the YAC.
Let me start with a positive about John Phillips. On the Felix Jones TD run, Phillips had a nice block where he sealed the edge for Felix to get to the outside. Having said that, Phillips garners no respect in the passing game. None. But I have been really impressed with James Hanna. He has been a much better blocker than I first anticipated and I think the offense would be much better off with Hanna getting more snaps. I am really intrigued by his skill set.
Other Quick Hits
- Morris Claiborne is a stud. Other than Torrey Smith's TD in which Smith pushed off, he was no where to be found.
-Dallas needs to address their DE situation in the off-season. Their is no production and/or push in the pass-rush.
-Sean Lee got fooled by Ray Rice on the 43 yard gain on the Flacco dump off. Lee got caught blitzing after he thought Rice was only pass-protecting. Even the great ones make mistakes.
