Putting Dak's Numbers in Perspective

[mattjames2010]

The burden of proof is not on me. Its on you my friend. I don't believe that Romo has run many screens at all. If he did where are they?

Lastly, its you that needs to rewatch that screen pass. First, there was a Play action to Zeke. Secondly, the fake sweep play to Lucky Whitehead. Then there was the screen pass to Zeke. All played a very important part in freezing the defense and kept them guessing. If you can't see that happened than I really feel bad for you. I really do.

Now where are those Romo videos running the screens?

LOL you don't understand how burden of proof works, do you? You also have to prove Romo didn't throw screens.

We threw screens to Felix Jones, we threw screens to Dunbar (One of them got a holding flag in the Lions playoff game), we threw screens to Miles Austin, to Dez Bryant, and even threw screens to Witten and Escobar.

All with Romo. Stop posting and rethink your stance.

Also, we do screens more now because that's kinda Linehan's thing. It was with the Lions as well, Matthew Stafford had 490 yards on screen passes in 2013. We didn't do much screen passing in 2013 because, well, it wasn't working. We only averaged 4 yards on screen passes, just didn't have a player that could do it. Wasn't Murray's style, Dunbar was yet to be a big part of our offense, Randle wasn't much of a receiver, Austin was no longer younger self. It just wasn't there.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/screen-game/

 

[JJHLH1]

Weddle said their goal was to force Dak into 3rd and long, so I posted our stats on 3rd and long.

You asked how Romo and Prescott performed against defenses that were expecting pass, which is different.

I specifically asked about 3rd and long as you can see below, which is why I wondered why you showed stats for 3rd and 2+ which weren't as favorable for Dak.

Do you have any stats that compare Dak with Romo on 3rd and long, where defenses are presumably playing the best they can against both to stop the pass?

But no matter. The coaches and management have already made their decision as to which player they think gives the team the best chance to win. I just hope the team continues to play well. They have a tough game coming up on Sunday.

 

[mattjames2010]

LOL its all you man. Your the one saying Romo has thrown plenty of screens. I didn't say that. You did. So where is it?

Uh, you said Romo didn't throw many screen passes. You are making a claim, which needs to be backed up by some kind of evidence as well. We are not discussing the origins of the universe here.

Again, the screen game is more of a Linehan thing. He did this all throughout Detroit. With Romo, he has done more WR screens, specifically to Austin and Dez in the red zone (One specifically being against the Raiders on Thanksgiving in 09)

You can continue trying to LOL your way to a non-argument. Not going to work here.

 

[Alweezy]

We really doing revisionist history here? Romo had a "good" offensive line from 2009-2013?

LOL Romo, in that time span, was sacked over 100 times. We were bottom 5 in pass protection, and if we had a statue QB, he would have been sacked about 50 times. Even in 2014, our pass blocking was inconsistent.

yeah the rankings look all nice and all, but I always remembered it to be what made Romo, "Romo", was his ability to extend plays, often times because the O line had failed him. We may have had decent linemen but it never translated right in my eyes. Only in the last few years has our o line been elite, which is what it really takes to make a difference.

 

[Kevinicus]

The burden of proof is not on me. Its on you my friend. I don't believe that Romo has run many screens at all. If he did where are they?

Lastly, its you that needs to rewatch that screen pass. First, there was a Play action to Zeke. Secondly, the fake sweep play to Lucky Whitehead. Then there was the screen pass to Zeke. All played a very important part in freezing the defense and kept them guessing. If you can't see that happened than I really feel bad for you. I really do.

Now where are those Romo videos running the screens?

My bad on the sweep thing. I thought you were saying Dak acted like he was going to run a sweep. Technically though, it's a fake end around.

That said, none of that is an impressive QB play in any way shape or form. Screens are made by the OL and running back, and great screens are made when they go against the perfect defense.

If you've never seen Romo throw a screen then I have to say you have watched very little of Romo. The Cowboys have not been a screen heavy team for a very long time, but they have run them at times. They don't take great QB to execute. That is one of the most absurd things I have ever seen posted here. Not far behind is the idea that Romo couldn't make to Dez either considering he's made many similar plays.

None of you have made an attempt to prove your claims, and they are pretty extraordinary claims. My claims are general knowledge fact that anyone who has watched the Cowboys much at all would know. Just go watch a few full games since you appear to have never done so.

 

[Alweezy]

LOL you don't understand how burden of proof works, do you? You also have to prove Romo didn't throw screens.

We threw screens to Felix Jones, we threw screens to Dunbar (One of them got a holding flag in the Lions playoff game), we threw screens to Miles Austin, to Dez Bryant, and even threw screens to Witten and Escobar.

All with Romo. Stop posting and rethink your stance.

Also, we do screens more now because that's kinda Linehan's thing. It was with the Lions as well, Matthew Stafford had 490 yards on screen passes in 2013. We didn't do much screen passing in 2013 because, well, it wasn't working. We only averaged 4 yards on screen passes, just didn't have a player that could do it. Wasn't Murray's style, Dunbar was yet to be a big part of our offense, Randle wasn't much of a receiver, Austin was no longer younger self. It just wasn't there.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/screen-game/

1:08:00 - Romo to Murray screen pass.


To the original point, not sure how we can credit the QB on a screen pass, where there's clear individual effort involved with the RB and OL making things happen.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81c1d294/Felix-Jones-71-yard-TD

I ain't giving Kitna credit for this, and I don't think Dak should get too much credit for the screen to Zeke.

 

[ConstantReboot]

LOL you don't understand how burden of proof works, do you? You also have to prove Romo didn't throw screens.

We threw screens to Felix Jones, we threw screens to Dunbar (One of them got a holding flag in the Lions playoff game), we threw screens to Miles Austin, to Dez Bryant, and even threw screens to Witten and Escobar.

All with Romo. Stop posting and rethink your stance.

Also, we do screens more now because that's kinda Linehan's thing. It was with the Lions as well, Matthew Stafford had 490 yards on screen passes in 2013. We didn't do much screen passing in 2013 because, well, it wasn't working. We only averaged 4 yards on screen passes, just didn't have a player that could do it. Wasn't Murray's style, Dunbar was yet to be a big part of our offense, Randle wasn't much of a receiver, Austin was no longer younger self. It just wasn't there.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/screen-game/

There were very few screens done by Romo. First was he didn't have an athletic of a oline to run it. Secondly, his lack of mobility. Yes I saw that attempt at a screen by Dunbar against the Lions. It looked more like a dumpoff than a screen. Fact is, Romo is not as mobile as Dak to run an effective screen. When was the last time you really saw a play action and a screen by Romo?

As for Dez, Witten and Escobar running screens, quite possibly it was attempted. But failed. Nothing against Romo. But he just not as effective enough running a screen.

 

[percyhoward]

I wondered why you showed stats for 3rd and 2+ which weren't as favorable for Dak.

I'm assuming you really want to know how the two QB performances compare, and you aren't just disappointed because the numbers don't favor Dak.

The goal is to filter out the effect of the run game by looking at how the two QB performed against defenses that were expecting pass. Since the beginning of 2014, the Cowboys have had 47 plays on 3rd and 3 when the game hadn't already been decided, and they've passed 45 times and run twice. That means the defense is expecting pass on anything longer than 3rd and 2. If you just compare 3rd and 6+, you're leaving out fully one-third of all 3rd-down plays when the defense is expecting pass. And that's just 3rd down. There are other obvious passing situations.

Below is a comparison in the last 2:00 of either half on drives that were all passes. I also included all pass attempts when we were past midfield with less than 30 seconds left in the 2nd qtr (and 4th qtr if trailing) and no timeouts, even if they weren't all-pass drives. After that, the 3rd and 3+ situations, leaving out the attempts that were also in the previous category.

2016 Prescott 6 of 18 (33.3%) 111 yd (6.2 ypa) 2 td 0 int 79.4
2014 Romo 29 of 43 (67.4%) 358 yd (8.3 ypa) 2 td 1 int 98.8

3rd down, obvious pass
2016 Prescott 44 of 66 489 yd 2 td 1 int (43.9% conv) 92.3
2014 Romo 72 of 110 987 yd 7 td 2 int (50.1% conv) 107.6

Combining those two, here's my best shot at the two QB's performances in obvious passing situations.

All obvious passing situations
2016 Prescott 50 of 84 (59.5%) 600 yd (7.1 ypa) 4 td 1 int 92.4
2014 Romo 101 of 153 (66.0%) 1345 yd (8.8 ypa) 9 td 3 int 105.1

This is more a comparison of the two seasons than of the two players. The 2014 Romo wouldn't necessarily be the 2016 Romo.

 

[xwalker]

The burden of proof is not on me. Its on you my friend. I don't believe that Romo has run many screens at all. If he did where are they?

Lastly, its you that needs to rewatch that screen pass. First, there was a Play action to Zeke. Secondly, the fake sweep play to Lucky Whitehead. Then there was the screen pass to Zeke. All played a very important part in freezing the defense and kept them guessing. If you can't see that happened than I really feel bad for you. I really do.

Now where are those Romo videos running the screens?

LOL you don't understand how burden of proof works, do you? You also have to prove Romo didn't throw screens.

We threw screens to Felix Jones, we threw screens to Dunbar (One of them got a holding flag in the Lions playoff game), we threw screens to Miles Austin, to Dez Bryant, and even threw screens to Witten and Escobar.

All with Romo. Stop posting and rethink your stance.

Also, we do screens more now because that's kinda Linehan's thing. It was with the Lions as well, Matthew Stafford had 490 yards on screen passes in 2013. We didn't do much screen passing in 2013 because, well, it wasn't working. We only averaged 4 yards on screen passes, just didn't have a player that could do it. Wasn't Murray's style, Dunbar was yet to be a big part of our offense, Randle wasn't much of a receiver, Austin was no longer younger self. It just wasn't there.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/screen-game/

Back during the preseason, before we knew how good Dak was going to be, I said that the one thing I thought Dak definitely did better than Romo was the touch screen passes to the RB. Romo is fine on those WR/TE screens but that's a different throw than the RB screen, especially when it has to go up over a defender.

 

[mattjames2010]

1:08:00 - Romo to Murray screen pass.


To the original point, not sure how we can credit the QB on a screen pass, where there's clear individual effort involved with the RB and OL making things happen.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81c1d294/Felix-Jones-71-yard-TD

I ain't giving Kitna credit for this, and I don't think Dak should get too much credit for the screen to Zeke.

Oh, I agree. I also don't. I don't think with Romo and Zeke, Linehan would have been too shy to throw a screen to Zeke.