Shotgun at the Goal Line: A Defense

[ScipioCowboy]

A couple years ago, Bob Sturm wrote an article in which he addressed Garrett's propensity to use shotgun on the goal line. As many of you know, Sturm tracks how often the Cowboys use certain formations over the course of a season, and how successful those formations are.

The article (which I no longer have) showed that, despite having one of the biggest offensive lines in football, the Cowboys were least successful when trying to run power running plays, such as dives. By contrast, their most successful running plays were ones that involved pulling linemen.

This is why Garrett was compelled to use so many slow-developing and shotgun running plays in short yardage situations; there was simply no other viable option because the Cowboys were so ineffective with straight power plays.

We witnessed the same problem against the Commanders. Early in the game, facing a third and short, Romo handed off to Fiammetta up the middle, and he was stuffed. The offensive line was bulldozed backwards and Fiametta ran right into their backs -- a recurring theme not only throughout the night but also over the past couple seasons.

One of the most abused phrases on any discussion forum is Albert Einstein's definition of insanity: "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." I've come to loathe it. It's used in such a mindless, reactionary way that it's lost any semblance of impact.

However, as often as people recite it like some kind of incantation that applies to every conceivable circumstance, I would think they would appreciate the fact that the Cowboys have a coach who isn't willing to fall into the trap Einstein described. The Cowboys have a coach who won't a run a play simply because it's what the percentages dictate.

He's willing to be unconventional, which is where innovation begins.

 

[Risen Star]

Listen, this issue needs to die. Jason Garrett knows a little bit about offensive football. There's a reason why we don't go jumbo down at the goal line and I can assure you it's not because you know something he doesn't.

I'm not talking to the OP but the many I read every week flabbergasted by the playcalling.

When we get an actual NFL quality offensive line, you'll see a different play chart.

 

[dboy214]

im tired of hearing this excuse year after year after year.

if Houck cant teach these guys or the old guard how to run block straight power plays then BRING SOMEONE ELSE IN HERE.

Garrett has brought accountability on the players, he must do the same with the coaches.

 

[Risen Star]

im tired of hearing this excuse year after year after year.

if Houck cant teach these guys or the old guard how to run block straight power plays then BRING SOMEONE ELSE IN HERE.

Garrett has brought accountability on the players, he must do the same with the coaches.

I'm tired of not having talent along the offensive line.

 

[dboy214]

I'm tired of not having talent along the offensive line.

Houck has a say on every single lineman that has been brought in since 2008.

 

[shockandroll]

I'm tired of not having talent along the offensive line.

We have talent there now. They are raw but they have talent.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

We have talent there now. They are raw but they have talent.

True.

Garrett is trying to fix this, and to his credit, he's doing unconventional things. How often do teams try to replace three starting linemen in one offseason?

 

[adbutcher]

We are living in the age of Spread Offenses, which is becoming Run and Shoot 2.0.

All of the rules are put in place to throw the ball. Having said that, I am glad that we didn't abandon the run this week even though I think it was more of an act of desperation and an effort to protect Romo.

Red's former QB roots and OC pedigree leads him to believe that he can throw the ball on any down and distance no matter the field position. You see a lot of that from Belicheat. Imo, Red will get better in time. Just be glad that he is not Mike Marx who Cutler should go file a police warrant against for aggravated assault.

 

[sbark]

the Cowboys have to have at least the threat of being able to smashmouth it in at the goaline...........if not, the "misdirection" plays get eaten up....and players Like Austin get dinged up attempting them

I do see it getting better as the OLine gels along with Fiammetta working into the scheme.

I did like the idea of finding Bennett vrs Commanders, they held him once, and the semi-fade to him needed to be more of a jump ball ...the matchup was there vrs a 5'9 guy.......

 

[ShiningStar]

Listen, this issue needs to die. Jason Garrett knows a little bit about offensive football. There's a reason why we don't go jumbo down at the goal line and I can assure you it's not because you know something he doesn't.

I'm not talking to the OP but the many I read every week flabbergasted by the playcalling.

When we get an actual NFL quality offensive line, you'll see a different play chart.

it woudlnt hurt for Garrett to hire somebody thats job is to look at Garrett from time to time and say "are you out of your mind, NO, we are doing this"

wont hurt, many a big names need a guy like that.

 

[SlwSVT]

You can spread the offense out with multiple receivers. But starting in shotgun formation 4-5 yards deep and then handing the ball off was plain dumb. Why not spread the field with mutiple receivers and hand it off in a normal I formation for 1st down. Then maybe play action or another run on 2nd down.

 

[NextGenBoys]

A couple years ago, Bob Sturm wrote an article in which he addressed Garrett's propensity to use shotgun on the goal line. As many of you know, Sturm tracks how often the Cowboys use certain formations over the course of a season, and how successful those formations are.

The article (which I no longer have) showed that, despite having one of the biggest offensive lines in football, the Cowboys were least successful when trying to run power running plays, such as dives. By contrast, their most successful running plays were ones that involved pulling linemen.

This is why Garrett was compelled to use so many slow-developing and shotgun running plays in short yardage situations; there was simply no other viable option because the Cowboys were so ineffective with straight power plays.

We witnessed the same problem against the Commanders. Early in the game, facing a third and short, Romo handed off to Fiammetta up the middle, and he was stuffed. The offensive line was bulldozed backwards and Fiametta ran right into their backs -- a recurring theme not only throughout the night but also over the past couple seasons.

One of the most abused phrases on any discussion forum is Albert Einstein's definition of insanity: "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." I've come to loathe it. It's used in such a mindless, reactionary way that it's lost any semblance of impact.

However, as often as people recite it like some kind of incantation that applies to every conceivable circumstance, I would think they would appreciate the fact that the Cowboys have a coach who isn't willing to fall into the trap Einstein described. The Cowboys have a coach who won't a run a play simply because it's what the percentages dictate.

He's willing to be unconventional, which is where innovation begins.

I think many of us have been saying this for the last three seasons.

He calls the pass plays because he believes they give us the best chance to score. Why? Because our line has been awful in short yardage situations, no matter their size.

It's why I have almost never gotten frustrated at passing near the goal line, especially if the play is open, as it was twice during the Jets game before Romo's fumble on 3rd down.

 

[Idgit]

Listen, this issue needs to die. Jason Garrett knows a little bit about offensive football. There's a reason why we don't go jumbo down at the goal line and I can assure you it's not because you know something he doesn't.

I'm not talking to the OP but the many I read every week flabbergasted by the playcalling.

When we get an actual NFL quality offensive line, you'll see a different play chart.

Holy crap. 1,500 posts, and this might be the first one I even sort of agree with, but I basically do. Not that our line is not NFL quality, but that power running is not something we're going to be successful with in this current incarnation of the offense.

 

[Pokes12]

A couple years ago, Bob Sturm wrote an article in which he addressed Garrett's propensity to use shotgun on the goal line. As many of you know, Sturm tracks how often the Cowboys use certain formations over the course of a season, and how successful those formations are.

The article (which I no longer have) showed that, despite having one of the biggest offensive lines in football, the Cowboys were least successful when trying to run power running plays, such as dives. By contrast, their most successful running plays were ones that involved pulling linemen.

This is why Garrett was compelled to use so many slow-developing and shotgun running plays in short yardage situations; there was simply no other viable option because the Cowboys were so ineffective with straight power plays.

We witnessed the same problem against the Commanders. Early in the game, facing a third and short, Romo handed off to Fiammetta up the middle, and he was stuffed. The offensive line was bulldozed backwards and Fiametta ran right into their backs -- a recurring theme not only throughout the night but also over the past couple seasons.

One of the most abused phrases on any discussion forum is Albert Einstein's definition of insanity: "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." I've come to loathe it. It's used in such a mindless, reactionary way that it's lost any semblance of impact.

However, as often as people recite it like some kind of incantation that applies to every conceivable circumstance, I would think they would appreciate the fact that the Cowboys have a coach who isn't willing to fall into the trap Einstein described. The Cowboys have a coach who won't a run a play simply because it's what the percentages dictate.

He's willing to be unconventional, which is where innovation begins.

So why do we suck at first and goal?

 

[Beast_from_East]

Listen, this issue needs to die. Jason Garrett knows a little bit about offensive football. There's a reason why we don't go jumbo down at the goal line and I can assure you it's not because you know something he doesn't.

I'm not talking to the OP but the many I read every week flabbergasted by the playcalling.

When we get an actual NFL quality offensive line, you'll see a different play chart.

If we were scoring, I dont have a problem with it. But we aint scoring going shotgun either!!!!!

 

[Idgit]

So why do we suck at first and goal?

Do we? I don't know about inside the 10, but I'd bet our red zone percentages were pretty good going into last night, and that they're pretty good, generally, under Garrett. I say that without having direct statistics to support it, but I'd be interested to see the data if someone has access to it or can link to it.

My guess is that it's just harder to have successful offensive plays once the defense gets stacked up, so every teams' fans think they're not good at scoring in the red zone. Since our offense is good generally, I'd guess it's also better than average in the red zone and what we're seeing instead is fans second guessing and not adjusting expectations for the actual game circumstances again.