Offense better than you think

[PA Cowboy Fan]

No logic, just conversation. I was just saying, it would be nice the just enjoy the game. My wife has watched every game with me since 1991 and she watched me coach about 250 games. She would be happy or mad for a bit after the game and then, poof! Just like that she would move on. Come game time she was into it again. We went to all the longhorn home games this year, she's cheering and booing and having a ball, and I'm just sitting there criticizing as if I were breaking down film. I bet she enjoyed the games more than I did. But, at the end of the day, to each their own.

That was me once upon a time. The JG era has ruined football for me. lol

 

[Stash]

Thanks for the compliments...there are socially redeemable features to yourself.

As to discussions, I include a positive view point, and don't apologize for that tendency. I work very hard and improving and expanding on that element. Positive and belief...rule. If not, adversity has to be overcome with even more difficulty. It's tough enough already.

As to handling the pressure, don't worry, the underwear beneath the pants is solidly in tact. Even if they might appear to be crusty old boxers.

I'm glad that we're cool.

 

[CCBoy]

Lol....I get it, but NFL teams like the Rams are using offenses that we have been using Texas HS football for years. I actually think the NFL will eventually go back to more ball control. Protects the defense and extends the life of their QB.

I don't know that I currently fear Dak Prescott having to weather two broken collar bones and a punctured lung...Jerry paid for a strong offensive line and is again shopping for talent players.

 

[Stash]

No logic, just conversation. I was just saying, it would be nice the just enjoy the game. My wife has watched every game with me since 1991 and she watched me coach about 250 games. She would be happy or mad for a bit after the game and then, poof! Just like that she would move on. Come game time she was into it again. We went to all the longhorn home games this year, she's cheering and booing and having a ball, and I'm just sitting there criticizing as if I were breaking down film. I bet she enjoyed the games more than I did. But, at the end of the day, to each their own.

I can dig that!

 

[ClintDagger]

I would argue it’s worse than we think. ATL is a bad defense that is getting worse each week with injuries. And Philly’s D is a dumpster fire as well. Dallas is a lower tier offense despite playing nothing but mediocre to bad defenses. I think many have been lulled into a false sense of security thanks to two road wins against teams with recent success but who in 2019 will probably picking in the 20s come Spring.

 

[Sydla]

I disagree. It’s totally by design. Except that those field goals are supposed to be touchdowns.

By design this offense is supposed to have multiple 12 play, 8 to 10 minute drives that eat the clock and result in touchdowns. They’d ideally score 24 to 27 points a game and dominate time of possession 2:1.

In today's NFL it's tough to consistently be able to mount multiple 12 play, 10 minute drives in a game.

To do that, you have to be ridiculously efficient, fundamentally sound, etc. That's not the Cowboys.

 

[Ranching]

That was me once upon a time. The JG era has ruined football for me. lol

Lol!!! Garrett is the new JR Ewing in Dallas. The man we all love to hate!!

 

[TwentyOne]

You say that like it's a bad thing.

Then you did not read his post or ignoring the context.

To me that is meant positive.

 

[Stash]

I disagree. It’s totally by design. Except that those field goals are supposed to be touchdowns.

By design this offense is supposed to have multiple 12 play, 8 to 10 minute drives that eat the clock and result in touchdowns. They’d ideally score 24 to 27 points a game and dominate time of possession 2:1.

I'll agree to disagree. No offense is designed to be so limited. No team is designed to play everything so close that the margin was winning and losing is so razor thin.

No offense is designed to where a holding penalty is a sure-fire drive killer because you can possibly gain twenty yards on three downs.

Offense are created to stress defenses in all facets. To keep them off balance and guessing, not to be predictable and one dimensional.

And conversely, defenses are more effective whenever an opponent is behind in points and one dimensional and therefore predictable.

It was one thing to protect this defense with the running game two years ago when they needed it. They don't now. No, this is not by design, it's just the one component that's working well, despite the liability with the other component.

 

[CCBoy]

I would argue it’s worse than we think. ATL is a bad defense that is getting worse each week with injuries. And Philly’s D is a dumpster fire as well. Dallas is a lower tier offense despite playing nothing but mediocre to bad defenses. I think many have been lulled into a false sense of security thanks to two road wins against teams with recent success but who in 2019 will probably picking in the 20s come Spring.

As stated, you have a stance...

 

[TwentyOne]

Maybe it’s just frustration because Garrett and/or Dak have clawed their way out of the dumpster, at least temporarily and I get that but I am shocked at this forum the last two days.

Why is there so much hate directed towards our offense after Sunday’s performance?

First let’s break down some numbers...

The Falcons defense, prior to Sunday’s game, was allowing about 28 points a game. We scored 22, even the most pessimistic fan can admit that our offense played good enough for 5 additional points with the Beasley drop and the missed PAT. 27 points puts us on par with what the Falcons typically give up and that number is also in the same ballpark of our 2016 offense.

We were 7/13 on 3rd down which is also a huge improvement. We also did not turn the ball over. Falcons have recorded an interception in 7 of their 9 games before they played us. Obviously we would like to get back to the point where we can trust Dak not to throw interceptions but at this point, we are looking for improvement and 1 over the last 5 games is just that.

Now...I am sure I’ll hear some complaining about check downs and lack of big plays.

I get that...but I also believe the team made a decision to play that way. The only way the Falcons were going to beat us is by throwing the football to their big play receivers. The goal was to control the flow of the game which our offense and especially our defense did well. Duke Johnson and Nick Chubb combined for 7 receptions and 2 scores the week before..once Deion Jones was listed as out, a game plan emphasizing the short passing game seemed like a good option. Even the most brilliant offensive minds would agree to that.

Now I get that there will be a time when we need more than 22 or maybe even 27 points. Most of us thought it would have been against the Falcons. I am making no wild predictions of offensive greatness or fantasy football worthy performances from anyone not named Zeke but that is just not how this offense is designed...maybe you hate it and that’s okay.

My observations from the game were that the offense looked a lot like 2016. The game flowed through Zeke and Dak managed the game. The offense didn’t turn the ball over, concerted 3rd downs and “closed the game” when it came time. The fact is we are a run first team that is playing good defense. This is not an exciting or flashy offense BUT....when they are playing up to their potential and Linehan doesn’t cal the plays like a HS coordinator, they are very efficient and compliment the defense nicely.

I like our offense.

If we had a better QB i think this offense would take off. I dont think we could score 40+ points in every game but i think we would be hard to be stopped.

I dont wanna beat Dak here. But for me it is important to point out again: this offense has all the tools for being a really really good one. Its only lacking at one position.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Rankings (last three games ) https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl

Total yards per game: #18
Passing yards per game: #18
Yards per pass attempt: #21
Passing TD per game: #24
Third down conversion %: # 7
Red Zone scoring % (TD only): #29

 

[CCBoy]

I'll agree to disagree. No offense is designed to be so limited. No team is designed to play everything so close that the margin was winning and losing is so razor thin.

No offense is designed to where a holding penalty is a sure-fire drive killer because you can possibly gain twenty yards on three downs.

Offense are created to stress defenses in all facets. To keep them off balance and guessing, not to be predictable and one dimensional.

And conversely, defenses are more effective whenever an opponent is behind in points and one dimensional and therefore predictable.

It was one thing to protect this defense with the running game two years ago when they needed it. They don't now. No, this is not by design, it's just the one component that's working well, despite the liability with the other component.

Stash, granted...we all like more Dallas points.

 

[CCBoy]

Rankings (last three games ) https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl

Total yards per game: #18
Passing yards per game: #18
Yards per pass attempt: #21
Passing TD per game: #24
Third down conversion %: # 7

Thanks for the current, last game added, stats.

Let's hope that the rankings continue to improve now that the offense has changed and a wider diversity and better execution are also added.

 

[Stash]

Rankings (last three games ) https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl

Total yards per game: #18
Passing yards per game: #18
Yards per pass attempt: #21
Passing TD per game: #24
Third down conversion %: # 7
Red Zone scoring % (TD only): #29

That Red Zone scoring is the biggest concern for me.

 

[Denim Chicken]

That Red Zone scoring is the biggest concern for me.

Way too many FGs in the RZ this year.

 

[Sydla]

Again, just look at the Atlanta game.

We ran for over 130 yards. Had zero turnovers. Won time of possession at nearly 32 minutes for that game. Converted 54% of our 3rd downs. Dak completed 69% of his passes. In other words, we were pretty damn efficient in that game, the recipe that many here are calling for.

And yet we managed 22 points against a bottom third of the league defense. Or 26 points if you want to look the other way on Cole's dropped TD.

The offense is just not as good as people had hoped it would be and even when things go pretty much to script, we still struggle to score consistently.

 

[gimmesix]

The Falcons defense, prior to Sunday’s game, was allowing about 28 points a game. We scored 22, even the most pessimistic fan can admit that our offense played good enough for 5 additional points with the Beasley drop and the missed PAT. 27 points puts us on par with what the Falcons typically give up and that number is also in the same ballpark of our 2016 offense.

Looking at the average number of points a team gives up can be misleading because the average depends on the offenses a team faces. For example, Atlanta gave up 43 points to New Orlenas (in an overtime game) and 41 to Pittsburgh. Only three of the 10 teams they faced scored fewer against them than we did. (All three of them were from the low-scoring NFC East.) If you want to give us 27 points, then still only three teams scored fewer against them.

I agree with your observation, though, that we play ball-control, which means we're not going to score as much as some of the more wide-open offenses, and that's going to help keep those more wide-open offenses from scoring more against us if we have long drives like we did against Atlanta. My only issue with it is you end up with a lot of close games like this one where it comes down to having to make a last-second field goal.

 

[CCBoy]

In today's NFL it's tough to consistently be able to mount multiple 12 play, 10 minute drives in a game.

To do that, you have to be ridiculously efficient, fundamentally sound, etc. That's not the Cowboys.

One has to admit, that Dallas drives are tending to get longer and more efficient. At least until the Red Zone appears...

 

[CCBoy]

Again, just look at the Atlanta game.

We ran for over 130 yards. Had zero turnovers. Won time of possession at nearly 32 minutes for that game. Converted 54% of our 3rd downs. Dak completed 69% of his passes. In other words, we were pretty damn efficient in that game, the recipe that many here are calling for.

And yet we managed 22 points against a bottom third of the league defense. Or 26 points if you want to look the other way on Cole's dropped TD.

The offense is just not as good as people had hoped it would be and even when things go pretty much to script, we still struggle to score consistently.

I'm content with a +5 point victory margin for every game.