Run blocking (4 games in)

[Toruk_Makto]

Here's the thing.......Leary was good, damn good. Did we really think we replace his performance with a player whose never play G at NFL level and retain the same standards? Green/Cooper is huge drop-off and it's showing. That's on Garrett.....

You cannot pay everyone.

You. Just. Can't.

If 3 all pros on the line isn't enough then these guys are overrated.

Also last year we were 2nd in expected points added from rushing. Through 4 games this year we are 5th. Hardly the sign of a team that's struggling to move the ball on the ground. We've simply faced a buzz saw in Denver and are looking at a small sample size.

 

[xwalker]

Mine too. Filter out players like Montgomery who don't have a lot of carries.

https://cowboyszone.com/threads/run-blocking-4-games-in.387196/page-2#post-7574853

So your point is that Zeke faced less stacked boxes because the Cowboys passing game is a bigger threat than the 5 you listed?

 

[visionary]

True but it is his job to his players' talent level. I have a hard time believing Green best position for this unit is G. What's crazy is, Chaz Green the RT, is a solid player. His biggest issue was he couldn't stay on the field. Green the G is going through a learning curve. Remember Cooper saying right before the season started he was still trying to get all his keys down w/o making any mistakes. Think about that for a second.......Cooper has played the G position entire career. Imagine how much Green head is spinning playing the position for the first time ( in NFL ). I know the unit may need more time but ............

You forget that Garrett is such an offensive genius that we had to give play calling to linehan and get Garrett out of the offense room and put him in the room with defense.

 

[percyhoward]

So your point is that Zeke faced less stacked boxes because the Cowboys passing game is a bigger threat than the 5 you listed?

Intermediate-to-deep passing game to be more specific. There's no reason not to stack the box when you aren't worried about anything being thrown over your head.

 

[TheHerd]

Except for Freeman, it's probably due to the mediocre QBs the rest of the RBs on that list plays with. The defenses probably don't respect the passing game of those teams. I'm bit surprised about Freeman with the Falcons' potent passing game.

And the definition of heavy is more defenders than box blockers. My guess is those teams rarely out the TEs in line. We often bring players in line for our running plays. Even WRs sometimes.

And yes, I said the same thing last year. It's easier to not even have to block your man, but take him out of the play through formation.

 

[TheHerd]

It could just be that this line is still finding their rhythm. Hopefully as they work together more and more than can find themselves some unity. Problem is, haven't we seen Cooper in the line as well? Probably hard to find cohesion when you're swapping out players so much.

Welcome to life with Chaz Green in the lineup.

 

[xwalker]

Welcome to life with Chaz Green in the lineup.

The run game was only terrible against Denver.

 

[StylisticS]

I suggested the Cowboys should consider drafting Dalvin Cook. People said I was insane. In retrospect he would be a great compliment to Zeke. Cook is deadly on the outside.

On the True Box stats he is saying that Ty Montgomery is seeing the most loaded boxes?

So on an offense with the best or 2nd best QB in the league and RB that basically half WR (#88) the defenses are loading up against the run and taking their chances against the pass?

Unless I'm mis-understanding those stats, it might be a time to consider the stats don't really mean what they seem to mean.

My guess is that when Montgomery does run that defenses know he's going to run.

Based on his stats I don't think defenses would be overly worried about stopping him.

It would be better to know how many total times per game there were extra defenders in the box to know how much that team's running game helps their passing game.

The Cowboys tend to audible out of run plays when the see a stacked box.

Montgomery's number of carries each game:
19
10
12
5

His average per carry each game.
2.8
3.5
2.9
5.6

I don't think Dallas was ever in the running to get him. But I think that's why they had their eyes set on Donnell Pumphrey.

 

[TheHerd]

The run game was only terrible against Denver.

That wasn't a comment about the effectiveness of our running game. It was a response to cohesion based on a consistent lineup.
If Chaz is part of the expected OL, we'll never have a consistent 5 on game day. He's very good, but he simply isn't the guy who will put a bunch of games together.

 

[percyhoward]

My guess is those teams rarely put the TEs in line.

These numbers are from 2016, as ESPN no longer provides data on offensive formation.

Percentage of carries with at least one TE in offensive formation
McCoy 98%
Ajayi 95%
Freeman 94%
Miller 94%

 

[TheHerd]

These numbers are from 2016, as ESPN no longer provides data on offensive formation.

Percentage of carries with at least one TE in offensive formation
McCoy 98%
Ajayi 95%
Freeman 94%
Miller 94%

TE in the field, but not in the box? Most TEs are now just oversized WRs.

 

[percyhoward]

TE in the field, but not in the box? Most TEs are now just oversized WRs.

That's formation, as opposed to personnel. TE lined up in slot = 0 TE.

Unless Witten was not on the field for 124 of Dak's attempts last year.

 

[TheHerd]

That's formation, as opposed to personnel. TE lined up in slot = 0 TE.

Unless Witten was not on the field for 124 of Dak's attempts last year.

You sure? You might be right, but it's hard to believe Buffalo had a TE in line every time Shady ran but 4 or 5 all season.

 

[percyhoward]

You sure? You might be right, but it's hard to believe Buffalo had a TE in line every time Shady ran but 4 or 5 all season.

No idea about the Bills, but Witten played 96% of offensive snaps last year.

 

[canters]

This might get me in trouble, but Free was excellent as a run blocker as well. Pass protection not so much, but run blocking, yes.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

The run game was only terrible against Denver.

OK.........but what about pass protection? Part of OL job too, you know LOL

 

[TheHerd]

No idea about the Bills, but Witten played 96% of offensive snaps last year.

Again, I'm not questioning TE in the field. But that stat would say 229 out of 234 times Shady ran last year the TE was in line. That just seems hard to believe.

I'm not really that interested, but I do believe stats are mungeable. Like Mark Twain said....

 

[Afigueroa22]

I suggested the Cowboys should consider drafting Dalvin Cook. People said I was insane. In retrospect he would be a great compliment to Zeke. Cook is deadly on the outside.

On the True Box stats he is saying that Ty Montgomery is seeing the most loaded boxes?

So on an offense with the best or 2nd best QB in the league and RB that basically half WR (#88) the defenses are loading up against the run and taking their chances against the pass?

Unless I'm mis-understanding those stats, it might be a time to consider the stats don't really mean what they seem to mean.

My guess is that when Montgomery does run that defenses know he's going to run.

Based on his stats I don't think defenses would be overly worried about stopping him.

It would be better to know how many total times per game there were extra defenders in the box to know how much that team's running game helps their passing game.

The Cowboys tend to audible out of run plays when the see a stacked box.

Montgomery's number of carries each game:
19
10
12
5

His average per carry each game.
2.8
3.5
2.9
5.6

When ty is in the backfield I can't imagine him being much of a blocker. So I think your right, they probably do anticipate when they run.

 

[xwalker]

OK.........but what about pass protection? Part of OL job too, you know LOL

It's hard to isolate statistically. Some pressure is due to coverage. Also, the less the run is a threat, the more pressure on the pass generally.

The receivers are not getting open consistently which is a big part of the problem.

 

[percyhoward]

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