Ray Lewis says Cowboys Offense doesn't scare anyone

[perrykemp]

Except that's not the concern people are expressing. They're complaining that the offense is too predictable and not creative enough, and that it's too easy to stop once teams figure it out. "Plodding" and "slow" are criticisms being made in this thread.

But the meat-grinder you're talking about is exactly the boring, predictable-but-you-can't-stop-it, plodding, slow offense that others are decrying.

You can't criticize the offense for being plodding, slow and predictable, and also complain that we're scoring a ton of points but we're scoring them too fast. It's one or the other.

I loved the slow plodding meat grinding offense from last year!

The issue it was heavily dependent on the Cowboys OL being better than every front 7 in the NFL. Right now the OL is just good, not great.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Not particularly. Had the running game not been leaving us in such bad downs and distances I might.

I have a much bigger issue with the drive killing drops and the missed opportunities to get the ball to Witten in the passing game.

But generally, I put this game more on the defense again.

You dont see an alarming trend over the Garrett era of abandoning the run in the 2nd half at the first sign of trouble after dominating with it in the first half? Of course you wouldn't.

Drive killing drops by Dez and the ones that go off his hands into the defense? Yes I agree.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

There are definitely issues on offense. But it's basiacally the same system few teams could stop last season. The issue isn't with its design. It's with execution right now.

Did we win a playoff game? Garrett and his 'system' has one playoff win...a game we were lucky to win. That is reality! He has been afforded more rope than most...so I am in wait and see mode. The nightmare season from 2 years ago affirmed what I thought of him as a head coach. So I just watch waiting for a miracle these days

 

[Idgit]

Its a feast or famine on offense. 24 points in the first half, 6 in the second.

The differential between halves is trivial on a points basis-one extra rushing TD's difference through four games.

Iirc, though, all of Dak's picks did come in the 2nd half so far. Some of that was the game situation in Denver. I guess the Rams pick would qualify, too.

 

[JW82]

Is that even debatable?

 

[TheCoolFan]

It all comes down to how the current Cowboys offense has been built. Because Garrett's offense is so simplistic, it requires great individual talent on the OL and RB. That's why they had to spend three first rounders on Tyron, Frederick, and Martin. They were lucky to get Collins the way they did because he was probably a 1st round talent as well. Also, his offense is dependent on a GREAT RB, that's why it needs a workhorse like Demarco Murray or Zeke.

Unfortunately, this hasn't really been the winning formula for Super Bowl offenses in the last 10 years. SB teams don't usually spend so many resources on building the OL like that, they can manage to turn lesser-known players into serviceable starters. Same thing with RB - outside of Seattle and Marshawn, how many of the other recent SB winners had a great RB?

I'm not saying that drafting heavily on the OL and Zeke were bad moves - in fact, they were necessary for Garrett's offense. The problem is that due to Garrett's philosophy/scheme, we had to invest in those positions at the expense of defense over the last 7 years. Recent history shows that if your coaching/player development is worth a damn, you can win without a bunch of 1st rounders on the OL and a workhorse RB.

It's much easier to scheme to make average OL players into decent players. It's not as easy to do the same on defense...which seems to be the approach the Cowboys have taken. You spend the 1st round picks building your defense and then you can still win with the OL equivalents of the Benson Mayowas, Jack Crawfords, Terrell McClains, David Irvings, Tyrone Crawfords of the league. Instead, the Cowboys have done it backwards and now we have great individual talent on the OL that do not look so great vs. good defenses and mediocre talent on defense.

 

[Idgit]

You dont see an alarming trend over the Garrett era of abandoning the run in the 2nd half at the first sign of trouble after dominating with it in the first half? Of course you wouldn't.

Drive killing drops by Dez and the ones that go off his hands into the defense? Yes I agree.

You asked about one game, and not about any "alarming trend." Try to remember your own questions.

We ran 21 or so plays before the two-minute possession? Ran it 7 times, for little or no yardage on 5 of those runs, leading to tougher situations in the passing game. And we were having legitimate trouble run blocking a four man line. And none of us knows again how many run options Dak was given but didn't take, not that that bothers you when you're counting 'runs' and realize you didn't even have to take your shoes off. Let's just get mad at the number 7, because it seems low.

Nobody with any sense would have an issue with the number of running plays called in that situation.

You didn't ask if I had issues with the execution of the run blocking Sunday. Probably because that would be the smarter question.

Oh, and Jason Garrett does not call the plays in Dallas.

Other than that, you nailed it.

Yes, I have an issue with the drops. Both Dez' and Terrence's. I have an issue with Dak missing Witten twice and killing two more of our 7 second half possessions in the process.

 

[Idgit]

Did we win a playoff game? Garrett and his 'system' has one playoff win...a game we were lucky to win. That is reality! He has been afforded more rope than most...so I am in wait and see mode. The nightmare season from 2 years ago affirmed what I thought of him as a head coach. So I just watch waiting for a miracle these days

It's like bailing the ocean.

How many points did we give up in that home playoff loss last year again? What was the second to last play of the game again?

How you guys continually miss the issue in Dallas is beyond me. We've gone from "historically bad" to "not good enough to stop Aaron Rodgers," but the problems are still the same, only with higher stakes.

The offnense has been playing at pretty much the same level of effectiveness since 2013 or so. And being predictable has never gotten in the way of being fairly productive.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

It's like bailing the ocean.

How many points did we give up in that home playoff loss last year again? What was the second to last play of the game again?

How you guys continually miss the issue in Dallas is beyond me. We've gone from "historically bad" to "not good enough to stop Aaron Rodgers," but the problems are still the same, only with higher stakes.

The offnense has been playing at pretty much the same level of effectiveness since 2013 or so. And being predictable has never gotten in the way of being fairly productive.

I have not missed the issue. The investment on offense is enormous. Fred is highest paid center in the history of the NFL. About to make Martin the highest paid guard in the history of the NFL. Tyron was the highest paid LT when we did his deal. Ripped up Collins deal and gave him a new one before he had proved ANYTHING at RT. #4 overall pick at RB. Gave Dez a huge deal. Allowing Witten to play almost 100% of the snaps WELL past his most productive days. Should have started decreasing his snaps 4 years ago. Beasley was re-signed. Williams was re-signed. Carried Romo as a BACKUP making a TON of money last year...but then would not even play him in the last game of the season...this carrying 3 QBs! Garrett has more tenure around here than anybody outside of the Jones family. This is an organization BUILT on Garrett and his offense. So I recognize the defense is a work in progress...but this offense should NOT be. Especially when you consider the attention and resources invested.

 

[JD_KaPow]

I loved the slow plodding meat grinding offense from last year!

Me too. And yet, after every loss, even if we scored 30, people are in here saying we need to be more creative on offense, more like the Patriots, have a completely different offense, when the defense is always the issue.

The issue it was heavily dependent on the Cowboys OL being better than every front 7 in the NFL. Right now the OL is just good, not great.

I'm less concerned about that. In our first four games, we've played last year's best 3 defenses and another team with a great DL. I think what we're seeing is much more about the opponents we're facing than any major problems we have on the offensive side. That said, Dak's airmailing of passes from the pocket is making me nervous.

 

[lostar2009]

Nothing new here.

 

[JD_KaPow]

I have not missed the issue. The investment on offense is enormous. Fred is highest paid center in the history of the NFL. About to make Martin the highest paid guard in the history of the NFL. Tyron was the highest paid LT when we did his deal. Ripped up Collins deal and gave him a new one before he had proved ANYTHING at RT. #4 overall pick at RB. Gave Dez a huge deal. Allowing Witten to play almost 100% of the snaps WELL past his most productive days. Should have started decreasing his snaps 4 years ago. Beasley was re-signed. Williams was re-signed. Carried Romo as a BACKUP making a TON of money last year...but then would not even play him in the last game of the season...this carrying 3 QBs! Garrett has more tenure around here than anybody outside of the Jones family. This is an organization BUILT on Garrett and his offense. So I recognize the defense is a work in progress...but this offense should NOT be. Especially when you consider the attention and resources invested.

And the offense just scored 58 points against two of the better defenses in the NFL, without the benefit of a single defensive takeaway.

 

[CowboyGil]

It seemed to scare his precious Ravens last season.

 

[perrykemp]

And the offense just scored 58 points against two of the better defenses in the NFL, without the benefit of a single defensive takeaway.

49ers scored 39 points against the Rams the week before.

Not sure it's one of the "better" defenses in the league at this point.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

And the offense just scored 58 points against two of the better defenses in the NFL, without the benefit of a single defensive takeaway.

When we needed to get a SIMPLE 1st down...against the Rams...at home....to at least try to halt the momentum and give our well known average defense a rest....we had like 3 straight 3 and outs. That CANNOT happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Idgit]

When we needed to get a SIMPLE 1st down...against the Rams...at home....to at least try to halt the momentum and give our well known average defense a rest....we had like 3 straight 3 and outs. That CANNOT happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Drop by Dez. Drop by Terrence. And a pick when Dak's arm was hit.

I completely agree those things can't happen to winning teams. Which is why I said the issues were with execution and not necessarily with the scheme.

 

[JD_KaPow]

49ers scored 39 points against the Rams the week before.

Not sure it's one of the "better" defenses in the league at this point.

Two of their scoring drives started deep in Rams territory, but you make a fair point.

 

[JD_KaPow]

When we needed to get a SIMPLE 1st down...against the Rams...at home....to at least try to halt the momentum and give our well known average defense a rest....we had like 3 straight 3 and outs. That CANNOT happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had one 3-and-out in the second half.

And of course it can happen. Even the very best offenses go two or three drives in a row without doing much from time to time. What you need to have is a defense that doesn't give up points on every single drive when that happens. Oh, and our defense isn't "average." Not remotely so, without Lee in there.

 

[NeonNinja]

It’s true and I’m sick of hearing it. Thanks Jerry and Garrett.

 

[DiResta]

hes praised Dallas so i dont think hes trolling lol to who say that
watching that Denver game, terrible game. but it wasnt a simple plan that lost the offense. it was dudes not execute each run, each run somebody lost against the guy they were blocking. the very first run Witten got beat VERY badly and his guy was able to hit Zeke in the backfield. the next run Chaz lost then Travis or La el each time they had a guy who made a play and beat our guy, stopping Zeke as he got the ball. it killed the run. we cant run on them. so they stopped the run our defense was very bad that day to so we get down in score.
now we really play to the Dever strength with 3 great corners, because we kept killing our run they dont respect it.

its not the scheme, Zeke hisself SAID we only run 4 plays, but you cant stop us! find the video!
but guess what, if you dont block your dude, hes gonna stop you. especially when the defense is great and you got to be excellent execute to beat them.

and guess what 90s Cowboys said you know what we gonna do, but you cant stop it.
we had great line play last year, this year not playing well
but they might still

I FIND THE VIDEO
WATCH IT AND SEE THE ATTITUDE
http://www.dallascowboys.com/video/2017/09/13/ezekiel-elliott-getting-used-being-pro