play-by-play... more evidence against Garrett...

[Nightshade]

I'm down to trade Choice this year if we arn't going to use him. I'd rather use that pick to help get a safety or LT.

Yeah let's trade our one healthy and most versatile back for a 3rd or 4th rounder. whoohoo.

You don't think we'd get anthing higher than that for Choice do you?

 

[AdamJT13]

Worse than 1 in six times is absurdly bad even if it ranks near the 50th percentile (it's still in the bottom half of the league).

We used to be much better at converting 3 and long (thinking of 2007).

We converted seven out of 44 in 2007, which is 15.9 percent -- even worse than our "absurdly bad" percentage this year.

 

[jobberone]

We converted seven out of 44 in 2007, which is 15.9 percent -- even worse than our "absurdly bad" percentage this year.

7 out of 44 whats? Your definition of 3rd and long isn't mine. We are not converting 3rd downs as well as 2007 and that's without looking at a single stat. And I don't mean overall either. I'm talking about a stagnant offense at times which very well may average out the same as 07. I have no idea what the stat is.

But I can see with my eyes this offense is getting squashed at times despite the fact its at the top of the league.

You can't take games and halfs off and make up for it in other games. There is a problem with our offense and its not just 3rd and long either.

 

[Doomsday101]

7 out of 44 whats? Your definition of 3rd and long isn't mine. We are not converting 3rd downs as well as 2007 and that's without looking at a single stat. And I don't mean overall either. I'm talking about a stagnant offense at times which very well may average out the same as 07. I have no idea what the stat is.

But I can see with my eyes this offense is getting squashed at times despite the fact its at the top of the league.

You can't take games and halfs off and make up for it in other games. There is a problem with our offense and its not just 3rd and long either.

Maybe in some of these situations Romo is just trying to be more careful with the ball instead of taking the big risk of throwing into nickel and dime coverage in these 3rd and long situations?

 

[NextGenBoys]

And yet, some people around here still blindly defend the guy as if we have players who are simply incapable of executing his flawless gameplan

Dude you're taking my and others support for Garrett as OC to the extreme.

People on here think that they're geniuses because they can second guess when something didnt go right.

All I'm saying is if the players would execute better when he DOES have a few good play calls, we're not even having this discussion.

I, nor did anyone ever say his gameplans were perfect. But everyone second guesses everything that doesnt go right, but where are they when we are winning with the exact same formula?

We're an aggressive, pass first team. That's our identity. That's not going to change. And when we throw on 2nd down from here on out and score a TD, I dont want to here a damn thing from you guys whining at Garrett about "not running the ball on back-to-back occasions.

 

[casmith07]

I understand the thought process, but right now I'm not sure that Choice isn't our best hope for a consistent RB. Barber and especially Felix are end up injured some, and both are specialists in a way, whereas while Choice may not have that one noticeable quality that gets your attention, he seems to be productive no matter what role he needs to play at the time.

Agree. Barber unfortunately probably doesn't have much tread left on the tires and Felix hasn't shown he can stay on the field. Choice is the best back for future investment at this time.

If you move anyone, you move Barber in hopes of salvaging some picks and then try to get another workhorse style back through the draft or free agency - another lower round draft pick looking for his second contract (LeRon McClain, etc)

 

[NextGenBoys]

I'm down to trade Choice this year if we arn't going to use him. I'd rather use that pick to help get a safety or LT.

And what happens when Felix and Barber get hurt again?

Depth at RB is critical.

 

[Stautner]

Agree. Barber unfortunately probably doesn't have much tread left on the tires and Felix hasn't shown he can stay on the field. Choice is the best back for future investment at this time.

If you move anyone, you move Barber in hopes of salvaging some picks and then try to get another workhorse style back through the draft or free agency - another lower round draft pick looking for his second contract (LeRon McClain, etc)

I think this makes some sense. Barber probably would bring the most value anyway, and we can find a lower priced guy to play the power role when that is needed.

 

[TwoDeep3]

...caught this on bloggin the boys...thanks to DavidH22 for his data-mining...

http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2009/11/18/1164071/garrett-does-have-a-running-problem

Garrett DOES Have a Running Problem

by DavidH22 on Nov 18, 2009 10:02 PM CST

61 comments
Specifically, he never gives the running game a chance! Let me explain...

I went through the play-by-play of every Dallas game so far this season. And aside from seeing penalty after penalty called on the offense during the most inopportune moments, I also noticed that Garrett hardly ever calls two running plays in a row. Particularly on 1st and 2nd downs. I think that it could be worth it to run twice in a row on those downs. Even if you only gain a total of 4-5 yards total on thos two plays, that is still a manageable 3rd down. And chances are that Barber, Jones or Jones or a combination thereof would game 6-8 yards on two straight carries, further opening up possibilities on 3rd down. But after reviewing every offensive play, I could only find six plays when the Cowboys followed up a 1st down run of 5 yards of less (making it 2nd and 5 or greater) with another run, not counting plays inside the opponents 5-yard line or in run-out-the-clock circumstances. SIX TIMES!!! And two of those six plays were direct snaps to Choice! All the other playcalls were, of course, Romo pass attempts. Now, I'm not certain what the success rate was on those pass plays, but I'd guess they weren't wildly successful. All I know is that many times on these 2nd and 5 or greater, Romo would either throw incomplete, get sacked or there would be a penalty, putting the offense in a very difficult 3rd down situation. I suppose it is possible that Garrett has called consecutive runs but Romo audibled out, but we may never know exactly. All I'm saying is, our line seems to be big and strong and capable of just driving forward. Why not hand the ball off several straight times when the game is still close and see what happens?...

---------------------------------------------------

...that's some interesting analysis to consider, given current events...

When's the trial?

 

[AdamJT13]

7 out of 44 whats?

Converting on third-and-11 or more.

Your definition of 3rd and long isn't mine.

What's your definition?

We are not converting 3rd downs as well as 2007 and that's without looking at a single stat.

It's because we're not as good on third-and-short, not because we're worse on third-and-long. We're slightly better at converting third-and-long than we were in 2007, we've just had too many of them (another reason we're slightly worse overall).


OVERALL THIRD-DOWN CONVERSIONS
2007 -- 42.2 percent
2009 -- 39.8 percent

THIRD-AND-1 or 2
2007 -- 77.8 percent
2009 -- 68.8 percent

THIRD-AND-3 TO 5
2007 -- 50.0 percent
2009 -- 47.4 percent

THIRD-AND-6 TO 10
2007 -- 38.0 percent
2009 -- 42.6 percent

THIRD-AND-11 OR MORE
2007 -- 15.9 percent
2009 -- 16.1 percent

 

[Dodger]

We're an aggressive, pass first team. That's our identity. That's not going to change.

Then we're probably going to struggle and/or lose games to the better teams this year, at least the teams that have strong defenses and good defensive coorinators. In my opinion, what Garrett wants to run and what fits this team's personnel aren't the same thing. They don't have the talent to pull off his pass first philosophy, at least against the better competition. Sure, they'll stick it to some teams, but I'm very concerned about upcoming games against New York, San Diego, and New Orleans, not to mention playoff caliber teams if this team even makes it that far.

 

[Stautner]

Then we're probably going to struggle and/or lose games to the better teams this year, at least the teams that have strong defenses and good defensive coorinators. In my opinion, what Garrett wants to run and what fits this team's personnel aren't the same thing. They don't have the talent to pull off his pass first philosophy, at least against the better competition. Sure, they'll stick it to some teams, but I'm very concerned about upcoming games against New York, San Diego, and New Orleans, not to mention playoff caliber teams if this team even makes it that far.

Romo used to be damned good throwing deep on a play action fake. Play action doesn't work without a threat of running the ball though.

 

[khiladi]

We're right about average at converting third-and-11 or more. We've converted five out of 31, which ranks 17th percentage-wise. The problem is that we've had 31 of them, which is the fourth-most. The Colts have had only nine of them all season, and the Patriots have had only 10.

We're sixth-best in converting third-and-11 to third-and-15, at 29.4 percent (five of 17). We haven't converted a single third-and-16 or more, which isn't unusual (13 other teams haven't either, and 12 more teams have converted only one). But again, the problem is that we've had the fourth-most of them (14).

So, yes, staying out of third-and-long would help greatly, as it does any offense. But it's not because we're "absurdly bad" at getting out of those situations, we're just really bad at getting INTO those situations.

This is the most significant and telling stat, which actually shows nothing really has changed from last year. Garrett has an uncanny ability to force himself into situations of 3rd and long, which puts Romo in situations of trying to make something happen. Garrett just isn't an efficient coach and cannot manage the yardage game. Against Denver, Romo had to make a play on 4th and long to even put them in a position to score in the red-zone, though Romo threw an INT.

 

[iceberg]

And yet, some people around here still blindly defend the guy as if we have players who are simply incapable of executing his flawless gameplan

and yet some people attack him and just make stuff up to go WOW THIS IS BAD cause they hate the guy.

 

[khiladi]

When Romo first became the starting QB I remember always having confidence we were going to convert on 3rd and long. That was something we did so well at that time. Now I never feel good about it.

Because you can't always be Superman. It was bound to happen...

 

[AdamJT13]

This is the most significant and telling stat, which actually shows nothing really has changed from last year.

We didn't have that problem last year or the year before, so something has changed.

 

[Stautner]

Because you can't always be Superman. It was bound to happen...

I disagree. I'm not saying it's all on Romo, and of course I know stats aren't always the same every year, but consistent QB's and consistent offenses and consistent teams maintain a certain level every year, and we aren't doing that.

 

[Rampage]

Because you can't always be Superman. It was bound to happen...

we also had a real coaching staff in 2006

 

[SLATEmosphere]

And what happens when Felix and Barber get hurt again?

Depth at RB is critical.

We can pick one up in the 4th. They arn't that hard to find. It's not like we'll use that 3rd RB unless Barber and Felix get injured anyway.

 

[Arch Stanton]

6-3 ....the most telling stat.