Should the Cowboys spread it out Sunday? per DMN cowboys blog

[cowboyjoe]

Should the Cowboys spread it out Sunday?
3:14 PM Fri, Dec 11, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer/Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips


Martellus Bennett is out with concussion-like symptoms and Wade Phillips says the Cowboys could use more three-wide receiver formations to compensate.

OK. But how much will the Cowboys miss Bennett? The coaches credit his blocking for helping the running game, but to me the ground game has been hit or miss most of the season. In the passing game, Bennett has 15 catches and no touchdowns. His numbers have not been what he and everybody thought after what we saw inside the Alamodome in training camp.

Rookie John Phillips takes over the No. 2 tight end role behind Jason Witten but he is not much of a passing-game threat.

So on Sunday we should expect to see more of Patrick Crayton over the extra tight end. And against San Diego, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The Chargers have the 26th ranked third-down defense, generally playing against multiple wide receiver formations. The Chargers use safeties Steve Gregory and C.J. Spillman as their nickel and dime backs, not last year's No. 1 pick, cornerback Antoine Cason. If the Cowboys want to spread the ball around, then this could be a good time to do it.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Whatever they do, they should do it from the shotgun formation.

 

[Doomsday101]

Should the Cowboys spread it out Sunday?
3:14 PM Fri, Dec 11, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer/Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips


Martellus Bennett is out with concussion-like symptoms and Wade Phillips says the Cowboys could use more three-wide receiver formations to compensate.

OK. But how much will the Cowboys miss Bennett? The coaches credit his blocking for helping the running game, but to me the ground game has been hit or miss most of the season. In the passing game, Bennett has 15 catches and no touchdowns. His numbers have not been what he and everybody thought after what we saw inside the Alamodome in training camp.

Rookie John Phillips takes over the No. 2 tight end role behind Jason Witten but he is not much of a passing-game threat.

So on Sunday we should expect to see more of Patrick Crayton over the extra tight end. And against San Diego, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The Chargers have the 26th ranked third-down defense, generally playing against multiple wide receiver formations. The Chargers use safeties Steve Gregory and C.J. Spillman as their nickel and dime backs, not last year's No. 1 pick, cornerback Antoine Cason. If the Cowboys want to spread the ball around, then this could be a good time to do it.

I don't think going 3 wide will hurt us even in the running game where the draw plays could be even more effective as you spread the defense out. In short yardage situation if Dallas needs a 3rd TE they can alway bring in an extra Olineman

 

[utrunner07]

Whatever they do, they should do it from the shotgun formation.

I hope this is a joke.

 

[NextGenBoys]

Should the Cowboys spread it out Sunday?
3:14 PM Fri, Dec 11, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer/Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips


Martellus Bennett is out with concussion-like symptoms and Wade Phillips says the Cowboys could use more three-wide receiver formations to compensate.

OK. But how much will the Cowboys miss Bennett? The coaches credit his blocking for helping the running game, but to me the ground game has been hit or miss most of the season. In the passing game, Bennett has 15 catches and no touchdowns. His numbers have not been what he and everybody thought after what we saw inside the Alamodome in training camp.

Rookie John Phillips takes over the No. 2 tight end role behind Jason Witten but he is not much of a passing-game threat.

So on Sunday we should expect to see more of Patrick Crayton over the extra tight end. And against San Diego, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The Chargers have the 26th ranked third-down defense, generally playing against multiple wide receiver formations. The Chargers use safeties Steve Gregory and C.J. Spillman as their nickel and dime backs, not last year's No. 1 pick, cornerback Antoine Cason. If the Cowboys want to spread the ball around, then this could be a good time to do it.

I said a few weeks ago I'd like to see more spread formations with more speed on the field in the passing game, AND the running game.

I know this is an un-popular belief around this board right now, as everybody is all about their power runs, and non-shotgun.

I like what we have in Hurd and Ogletree and I think their speed could help open things up for our offense underneath as opposed to MartyB and Witten...although I still want Witten on the field as much as possible.

 

[AsthmaField]

I said a few weeks ago I'd like to see more spread formations with more speed on the field in the passing game, AND the running game.

I know this is an un-popular belief around this board right now, as everybody is all about their power runs, and non-shotgun.

I like what we have in Hurd and Ogletree and I think their speed could help open things up for our offense underneath as opposed to MartyB and Witten...although I still want Witten on the field as much as possible.

I've been thinking this a little bit myself. The whole reason for the two TE package on the field is to have the ability to run or pass out of the same personnel grouping. That is nice to have and you can get some serious match-up problems for the defense that way.

However, if the run game just can't get going and it isn't much of a threat to the defense... what you have at that point in the game is a passing offense that has Witten and Bennett as a receiver and blocker, respectively. It would be nice to take out a TE and to put in a WR in some of those situations. It would add a lot of speed and quickness to the offense.

Not all the time, of course... but when the running game is stagnant and the defense isn't going to worry much about the run anyway, you might as well have more explosive players in the game. The defense isn't going to be worrying about the run, so the benefit of the two TE set (run/pass threat) is gone anyway.

At least some of the time.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Not unless the oline starts picking up blitzes better. If not Kitna will be playing.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

They use safeties as nickel backs? That would seem like suicide for a defense which is where the 26th ranking on 3rd down comes in. I would hope the Cowboys would go IN on that.

 

[NextGenBoys]

Not unless the oline starts picking up blitzes better. If not Kitna will be playing.

Valid point, but my thinking is with smaller quicker receivers, we can get the ball out quick on shorter routes and let them have some room for potential YAC.

That is of course if Garrett is expecting blitz. 4 wides with all receivers running deep/intermediate routes is indeed going to get Romo killed.

 

[LandryFan]

Should the Cowboys spread it out Sunday?
3:14 PM Fri, Dec 11, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer/Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips


Martellus Bennett is out with concussion-like symptoms and Wade Phillips says the Cowboys could use more three-wide receiver formations to compensate.

OK. But how much will the Cowboys miss Bennett? The coaches credit his blocking for helping the running game, but to me the ground game has been hit or miss most of the season. In the passing game, Bennett has 15 catches and no touchdowns. His numbers have not been what he and everybody thought after what we saw inside the Alamodome in training camp.

Rookie John Phillips takes over the No. 2 tight end role behind Jason Witten but he is not much of a passing-game threat.

So on Sunday we should expect to see more of Patrick Crayton over the extra tight end. And against San Diego, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The Chargers have the 26th ranked third-down defense, generally playing against multiple wide receiver formations. The Chargers use safeties Steve Gregory and C.J. Spillman as their nickel and dime backs, not last year's No. 1 pick, cornerback Antoine Cason. If the Cowboys want to spread the ball around, then this could be a good time to do it.

You can just about bet that Phillips will have a TD Sunday.

 

[VACowboy]

You can just about bet that Phillips will have a TD Sunday.

He was a pretty darn good receiver at UVA.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

Valid point, but my thinking is with smaller quicker receivers, we can get the ball out quick on shorter routes and let them have some room for potential YAC.

That is of course if Garrett is expecting blitz. 4 wides with all receivers running deep/intermediate routes is indeed going to get Romo killed.

We don't go to quick developing routes with 3 step drops very often if ever. When we do, it's just hitting the RB out of the backfield it seems like.

 

[ddh33]

I feel the same way.

For all of the fans talk about a dominant running game, I just don't see it. I've seen glimpses of it, but nothing really consistent. I still think this is a team that goes as far as Romo takes them.

Because of that, I'd rather spread the field and add some more speed and quickness. Crayton isn't the greatest player in the world, but if I'm the defensive coordinator going against this offense, I know he scares me more than Martellus Bennett. Sam Hurd and Kevin Ogletree both scare me more than Deon Anderson too...

I still think Dallas has to run the ball effectively. I just think they would be a better offense if they spread the field a little more.

 

[Rampage]

We don't go to quick developing routes with 3 step drops very often if ever. When we do, it's just hitting the RB out of the backfield it seems like.

also who are our smaller quicker wrs?

 

[Bolt4Life]

They use safeties as nickel backs? That would seem like suicide for a defense which is where the 26th ranking on 3rd down comes in. I would hope the Cowboys would go IN on that.

When Weddle wasn't injured, we had Steve Gregory (a safety) as the nickle back. Now that Weddle is hurt, Gregory is the safety, and Cason is back in the nickle role.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

When Weddle wasn't injured, we had Steve Gregory (a safety) as the nickle back. Now that Weddle is hurt, Gregory is the safety, and Cason is back in the nickle role.

What's the deal with Cason? He had a lot of fans in here last year at draft time.

 

[Bolt4Life]

What's the deal with Cason? He had a lot of fans in here last year at draft time.

In the beginning of the season, when we struggled, he was a main cause. He was trying to do jobs that weren't his responsibility. Example: It would be man coverage in the red zone, and the QB would roll out so he would break away from his man to go for the QB, when there were already two linebackers ready to get the QB. So therefor the QB throws to the man Cason just abandoned. He does the same with zone defense

Or against the Steelers, he tried jumping a route, then the WR took it up field for a long TD. Basically he has been trying to do too much all season. Last season he was great in his discipline, but not this season. But after being benched he seems to have come around mentally. Al though against the Eagles he did the same crap as example one, but other than that he's been improving.

Did my examples make sense? I can try to reiterate.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Makes perfect sense. Sounds not unusual for a young player. Thanks for the info.

 

[NextGenBoys]

We don't go to quick developing routes with 3 step drops very often if ever. When we do, it's just hitting the RB out of the backfield it seems like.

That's my point.

If we go spread and get more speed on the field, I think we'd be able to, and potentially open up the offense a little bit.