New Silent Count Method Helps Cowboys Avoid False Starts

[drawandstrike]

Most of the time we'd be false starting out of the shotgun formation on the road. That's solved by going to a silent count method where Frederick at center stays motionless while it's Martin at the guard position who turns and observes Dak until he sees the signal [the foot raise] for the snap. Martin then slaps Frederick on the hip to begin the silent count.

For years I've watched the center call out blocking schemes and then suddenly have to try to look between his legs or even look back over his shoulder to see if the QB is calling for the snap. It had gotten so we've been used to seeing 2-3 false starts a game by the Cowboy's offensive line. They seem to have tried something new the past 3 games and it looks like it's working flawlessly.

It's far easier for the guard to see the QB, so why more teams don't do this is a mystery.

 

[Redball Express]

Most of the time we'd be false starting out of the shotgun formation on the road. That's solved by going to a silent count method where Frederick at center stays motionless while it's Martin at the guard position who turns and observes Dak until he sees the signal [the foot raise] for the snap. Martin then slaps Frederick on the hip to begin the silent count.

For years I've watched the center call out blocking schemes and then suddenly have to try to look between his legs or even look back over his shoulder to see if the QB is calling for the snap. It had gotten so we've been used to seeing 2-3 false starts a game by the Cowboy's offensive line. They seem to have tried something new the past 3 games and it looks like it's working flawlessly.

It's far easier for the guard to see the QB, so why more teams don't do this is a mystery.

Terribly interesting post..

Thanx..

Now how does that go?

One one thousand..two one thousand..slap?

I think I have it.

 

[pavalley]

Most of the time we'd be false starting out of the shotgun formation on the road. That's solved by going to a silent count method where Frederick at center stays motionless while it's Martin at the guard position who turns and observes Dak until he sees the signal [the foot raise] for the snap. Martin then slaps Frederick on the hip to begin the silent count.

For years I've watched the center call out blocking schemes and then suddenly have to try to look between his legs or even look back over his shoulder to see if the QB is calling for the snap. It had gotten so we've been used to seeing 2-3 false starts a game by the Cowboy's offensive line. They seem to have tried something new the past 3 games and it looks like it's working flawlessly.

It's far easier for the guard to see the QB, so why more teams don't do this is a mystery.

cept the defense can see it as well....

 

[Alexander]

Most of the time we'd be false starting out of the shotgun formation on the road. That's solved by going to a silent count method where Frederick at center stays motionless while it's Martin at the guard position who turns and observes Dak until he sees the signal [the foot raise] for the snap. Martin then slaps Frederick on the hip to begin the silent count.

For years I've watched the center call out blocking schemes and then suddenly have to try to look between his legs or even look back over his shoulder to see if the QB is calling for the snap. It had gotten so we've been used to seeing 2-3 false starts a game by the Cowboy's offensive line. They seem to have tried something new the past 3 games and it looks like it's working flawlessly.

It's far easier for the guard to see the QB, so why more teams don't do this is a mystery.

It is common across the league if you watch closely.

Dallas has done this for a couple of years though. I distinctly recall it happening first in Frederick's rookie season and Brian Waters would do the hip slap.

 

[DogFace]

This means at least one false start next game.

 

[bark]

cept the defense can see it as well....

True but with our other system people complain that we ran the play clock down to zero thus giving the defense the advantage. At least here were aren't taking a timeout or a delay penalty

 

[Swanny]

cept the defense can see it as well....

That's on Frederick at that point. He gets the slap then has to vary the amount of time after the slap to the snap

 

[Yakuza Rich]

The play where Williams fumbled the ball against the Bears was even more impressive. He recognized the blitz, set the blocking, he looked left to draw the MIKE and safety and then fired to Williams on the right which required a tricky touch on the pass because he had hit the right window to get over a leaping defender, but had to have enough mustard on the ball or the pass would be late. He threw it perfectly recognizing the defender in the passing lane and hit Williams right in stride. All of it...the pre-snap read, looking off the receiver against the blitz, recognizing the defender in the passing lane, the throw, etc....very difficult to do and he did it like a 10-time All Pro QB.




YR

 

[Idgit]

cept the defense can see it as well....

He slap triggers the count, but the defense still doesn't know what the count actually is.

This is a cool thread. Thanks for the vid, btw.

 

[Reality]

It is common across the league if you watch closely.

Dallas has done this for a couple of years though. I distinctly recall it happening first in Frederick's rookie season and Brian Waters would do the hip slap.

I was just about to post this. This is not a "Cowboys" thing as other teams, including the Cowboys, have been doing it the past few years.

 

[Proximo]

The play where Williams fumbled the ball against the Bears was even more impressive. He recognized the blitz, set the blocking, he looked left to draw the MIKE and safety and then fired to Williams on the right which required a tricky touch on the pass because he had hit the right window to get over a leaping defender, but had to have enough mustard on the ball or the pass would be late. He threw it perfectly recognizing the defender in the passing lane and hit Williams right in stride. All of it...the pre-snap read, looking off the receiver against the blitz, recognizing the defender in the passing lane, the throw, etc....very difficult to do and he did it like a 10-time All Pro QB.




YR

Is it just me or does this post seem oddly out of place in this thread?

 

[RedLine]

Is it just me or does this post seem oddly out of place in this thread?

I think it was suppose to go in this thread: http://cowboyszone.com/threads/the-play-that-sold-me-on-dak-as-the-cowboys-future.358207/

 

[JDSmith]

It is common across the league if you watch closely.

Dallas has done this for a couple of years though. I distinctly recall it happening first in Frederick's rookie season and Brian Waters would do the hip slap.

While it's true that Dallas and other teams have been doing it for years, I think we're just seeing it more with the Cowboys now for 2 reasons. First is that Dak runs out of the shotgun so frequently. Second is that the NFL has emphasized calling false starts when the center moves the football. So having the guard look back rather than the center minimizes the chance of picking up one of the ticky tack calls.

 

[drawandstrike]

While it's true that Dallas and other teams have been doing it for years, I think we're just seeing it more with the Cowboys now for 2 reasons. First is that Dak runs out of the shotgun so frequently. Second is that the NFL has emphasized calling false starts when the center moves the football. So having the guard look back rather than the center minimizes the chance of picking up one of the ticky tack calls.

I think this slap method is something they only do on the road. I don't think I saw it at all at home vs. the Giants or the Bears. Will be interesting to see if it's used today on the road vs the 49ers when Dak is in the shotgun.