Twitter: Silva: 'Predictable playcalling' criticism is a little goofy

[Crown Royal]

Our "predictability" directly lead to our dominance in December. By the last months, teams were finally convinced that we were committed to running the ball. And we stayed committed to running the ball. So teams decided to heck with it, we are loading the box and playing tight man and selling out against the run.

And we stayed within our offense, but all of a sudden Romo had the easiest secondary looks of maybe his career and punished every single team for doing it.

 

[Risen Star]

Our "predictability" directly lead to our dominance in December. By the last months, teams were finally convinced that we were committed to running the ball. And we stayed committed to running the ball. So teams decided to heck with it, we are loading the box and playing tight man and selling out against the run.

And we stayed within our offense, but all of a sudden Romo had the easiest secondary looks of maybe his career and punished every single team for doing it.

Those 90's offenses were very predictable.

It's always been about execution.

 

[Crown Royal]

"I predict that you are going to run a power play to the left side."

"OK. We are. I predict that Tyron is going to flatten you, that Martin is going to pull and bulldoze someone else, and by the time you get your hands on Murray after picking up 5 yards, he's going to drag you for another two. SET HUT"

 

[Alexander]

What play caller isn't prone to situational criticism? Hey, that pass didn't work, should have ran it. It's nonsense. You look at the entire body of work and quickly realize there is no issue with play calling in Dallas. The offense was tremendously productive.

For the record, I had very little issue with the play calling.

It was as stable and focused as it has been in years, mainly because for the first time in forever, and especially in Garrett's tenure as coordinator and head coach, we had an identity that could be relied upon. That was always my biggest problem with Garrett. Too much of a "passing team" with far too much pressure being placed squarely on Romo's shoulders. The one year we decide to seriously look at fixing the OL problem and get over Garrett's trust issues we became an elite offense. Weren't before when there was a reliance on the passing game to execute. Execution becomes easier when there is balance.

Sure there were times where the 5 WRs on the two yard line was grating, or the reliance on the Bryant fade but that is minimal when you look at the overall picture.

 

[Sportsbabe]

Like to the 10th power.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

And the team on the opposite side of the field? The New England Patriots, one of if not the most unpredictable team in the league.

Sorry, but I disagree with Silva's opinion here. While a case can surely be made for execution (as well as talent), keeping an opponent guessing is an undeniable advantage as well, in an ultra-competitive league where every advantage counts.

again, it comes down to execution. new England maybe good at it, but they have a slew of schemes and plays that they simply execute and other teams just can't stop. they throw in some wrinkles at different times to take advantage in key situations/games.

on the other hand, Kelly's offense is trying to be unpredictable and seems to have regressed since last year. they lost to predictable defenses like seahawks, AZ, SF.

its simple. execute. and to execute even the unpredictability you need talent. new England has talent. probably one of the top 3 QBs ever and when all said and done, the best TE ever.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Both methods work, as long as you're able to execute. Silva's right, though, that being predictable is not necessarily something to criticize automatically.

I think Silva's point is that if you have the talent, you don't need to be gimmikie. you line up and tell the other team, stop me (or in the case of defense, beat me).

 

[Alexander]

I think Silva's point is that if you have the talent, you don't need to be gimmikie. you line up and tell the other team, stop me (or in the case of defense, beat me).

That is correct, but there has to be the talent to make that approach work. It goes back to the OL, which is why it has been mystifying to see it took so long to make that happen especially since Garrett saw it all first hand during his playing career.

Very few teams can line up and say, "we are going to beat you with the passing game, try and stop us". Those that try will eventually fail in the long run. San Diego in the 1980s failed and they had perhaps the most dynamic collection of talent. The problem was flexibility.

There is a reason that teams that have made a living throwing the ball 40-50 times a game like New England and Denver eventually start running the football. The key is sticking to it, even when they are ugly yards. That was what was so pleasing about our approach this year. We finally stuck with it as a core philosophy even when it was not exactly looking spectacular.

 

[Idgit]

I think Silva's point is that if you have the talent, you don't need to be gimmikie. you line up and tell the other team, stop me (or in the case of defense, beat me).

I agree. And he's right, if you have the talent.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

That is correct, but there has to be the talent to make that approach work. It goes back to the OL, which is why it has been mystifying to see it took so long to make that happen especially since Garrett saw it all first hand during his playing career.

Very few teams can line up and say, "we are going to beat you with the passing game, try and stop us". Those that try will eventually fail in the long run. San Diego in the 1980s failed and they had perhaps the most dynamic collection of talent. The problem was flexibility.

There is a reason that teams that have made a living throwing the ball 40-50 times a game like New England and Denver eventually start running the football. The key is sticking to it, even when they are ugly yards. That was what was so pleasing about our approach this year. We finally stuck with it as a core philosophy even when it was not exactly looking spectacular.

I don't think it took that long. since garrett has been the head coach, we drafted 3 first round OL men, which had never happened before but once in cowboys history. it takes time to put a team together and I don't believe drafting for need (draft 4 OL men so at least 2 stick). you make your draft board, you draft according to it and not reach, else compare/contract trades and how far and what would be left on the board, etc. ala what we did with Fredrick.

but with that said, its obvious there is definite approach to building/rebuilding this team, which is inside out. we built the OL, we now know why Murray was drafted, and probably the next focus is on the DL.