One thing that almost everybody here seems to agree on

[jazzcat22]

Weren't they working on the slants in OTA's and mini camps? I know it wasn't with Romo to get the timing down. But seems we didn't hear much then in TC.
I was all pumped to see this with Dez.
Not sure what happened, if they abandoned it, or just don't use it. I know it's worked when they do use it.
Pick up those 1st downs.

 

[anava]

They used to dink and dunk and every one complained. Now it's all stretch plays and every ones complaining.
They need a good middle ground lol.

That is exactly it. It is one or the other we need to sprinkle in both to keep teams guessing.

 

[Gaede]

Seems to me we used to throw slants and short passes over the middle. To TO and Terry Glenn, I believe.

I know Romo occasionally lost a LB over the middle leading to INTs, but not nearly enough to justify abandoning the play altogether.

It's an excellent question. I haven't watched any full games other than the Boys this year, so I can't be sure, but it does seem that we don't do it as much as others

 

[Plankton]

Weren't they working on the slants in OTA's and mini camps? I know it wasn't with Romo to get the timing down. But seems we didn't hear much then in TC.
I was all pumped to see this with Dez.
Not sure what happened, if they abandoned it, or just don't use it. I know it's worked when they do use it.
Pick up those 1st downs.

Keep in mind that Romo works with these guys one day per week less than normal due to his back rehab. Timing type routes require time on the field. They are working one day fewer per week together. This is detrimental to keeping timing between all parties.

 

[jazzcat22]

Keep in mind that Romo works with these guys one day per week less than normal due to his back rehab. Timing type routes require time on the field. They are working one day fewer per week together. This is detrimental to keeping timing between all parties.

Good point.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Keep in mind that Romo works with these guys one day per week less than normal due to his back rehab. Timing type routes require time on the field. They are working one day fewer per week together. This is detrimental to keeping timing between all parties.

There is that.

 

[crashintonickdm]

i think you'll see a change at least during the 2nd eagle game.

 

[Alexander]

I think that it is turnover avoidance

The high amount of back shoulder fades where the ball is put away from the defender could be a function of this.

 

[Alexander]

Keep in mind that Romo works with these guys one day per week less than normal due to his back rehab. Timing type routes require time on the field. They are working one day fewer per week together. This is detrimental to keeping timing between all parties.

Excellent point. Also, a lot of the dig routes might require Romo to drive the ball differently, maybe his back is affecting that.

 

[DenCWBY]

Call 10-15 slants a game and watch Dez BEAST the defense.

Cole Beasley, too.

Yes and guess who gets rid of the ball quicker to save his back instead of waiting for a WR to run a 13 yard sideline route with CB's riding the receivers back against the sideline.The ball is in the air a long time on those routes. Seen this for years.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Wow. What honesty. Truth be told, most of us don't know what we're talking about when it comes to the intimate and intricate details of football. But that's why we're fans, Monday Morning Quarterbacks and couch potatoes.

Honest, yes, but it's not like I can hide it. LOL

There are, maybe, two people on this entire board who have worked for an NFL organization or get paid to offer opinions about football. GMs aren't trolling CZ for advice. I'm constantly amazed by how seriously some posters take themselves and their opinions.

 

[Gridiron Man]

Could be the teams we've played recently. The favorable match ups, and style of play by the defenses, may have dictated a trend away from passes over the middle. Stretching the field helps to open up the run.

 

[Dodger12]

Both the scheme and the QB are to blame, IMO. The scheme uses long developing patters that rely on timing and the QB's ability to put the ball where it needs to be. It may not be a popular opinion, but Romo no longer has the arm strength for those deep outs and comeback patters along the sideline. Having said that, the HC needs to understand what his QB does well and tailor the scheme for the QB.

The most shocking thing I saw against Philly was not necessarily the loss, but just how poorly Romo played and some absolute ducks he threw downfield.....and I mean lollipops. That was concerning........

 

[yimyammer]

I do not think it is playcalling but design. The routes outside of the numbers, the back shoulder fades, etc. those are integral parts of the design and probably what we spend the majority of the time practicing. The structure of the playbook is what is in question to me, not the playcalling. The reason why we tend to struggle late in seasons is that there is not a lot of diversion from the installed offense. It works early, teams adjust, we are unable to compensate.

if true, that's scary as hell and grounds for dropping the system and every coach associated with it

 

[percyhoward]

Not an employee of any football organization, but I know that option routes can cause problems. Could be that the when we run slants and hot routes in practice, the receivers don't make the same sight adjustments that the QB makes, and it results in a train wreck. So we know better than to try very many of them in the actual games, and we're predictable as a result.

That said, we've been outstanding on targets inside of 15 yards this year. Maybe most of that is on 10-15 yard passes.

 

[31smackdown]

It seems like slants have ended a few too many seasons and games in the last few years.. especially that slant with the under over option. I expected more bubble screens against the Eagles. I think in general we don't match up well against them outside of our TE's and their weakness does appear to be their safeties deep coverage. It is odd though that every once in a while we see these game plans with very linear mid-range routes. Maybe this happens when they think the O-line will just dominate and pressure won't be an issue so their solution becomes, just block better instead of get it out quicker.

 

[morasp]

Watching the Packers last night, Rogers was buying some time in the pocket moving around or even running when it was open. Unfortunately Romo doesn't have that mobility as much as he used to. I definitely don't want to go back to the "small ball play calling" Callahan was doing last year.

 

[cowboys1981]

I'm thinking they don't trust the slant route with most of our receivers in fear that they may just get it tipped up to the defenders to take. Williams is a body catcher, and when we do throw to receivers its typically when their patterns lead them to the sidelines. On top of that we target alot of comeback routes and back shoulder passes to the sideline as well. Maybe those sideline routes are a safe haven in the event it's not on point it sails out of bounds vs on a slant route it can end up in the hands of a defender.

 

[DFWJC]

I agree with the OP

 

[Plankton]

I'm thinking they don't trust the slant route with most of our receivers in fear that they may just get it tipped up to the defenders to take. Williams is a body catcher, and when we do throw to receivers its typically when their patterns lead them to the sidelines. On top of that we target alot of comeback routes and back shoulder passes to the sideline as well. Maybe those sideline routes are a safe haven in the event it's not on point it sails out of bounds vs on a slant route it can end up in the hands of a defender.

To be fair, Michael Irvin was a body catcher, and no one ran or caught a slant with more effectiveness than him.