Snaps - statistical look at shotgun vs. under center

[OmerV]

https://www.sharpfootballstats.com/snap-rates--shotgun-v-under-center--off-.html

There has been a lot of talk about this, and a lot of criticism of Dak for not being able to throw when taking a snap under center, so I started looking for stats. The attached is the best site I found for a comparison of the teams on snaps from the shotgun and under center. I made the thread title pretty generic for the topic, and I won't comment in the beginning, because I want people to look at the stats rather than comment based on a thread title or the initial comments.

 

[conner01]

I seen that a couple weeks ago and commented that most would be surprised at ours compared to the league
We actually are slightly below the league avg of shotgun snaps

 

[Jarv]

We look about average.

 

[conner01]

Pretty much
We are at 62% and league is 63%

 

[OmerV]

I seen that a couple weeks ago and commented that most would be surprised at ours compared to the league
We actually are slightly below the league avg of shotgun snaps

That's what caught my eye too.

 

[conner01]

That's what caught my eye too.

That’s plays from under center
I’d like to see more passing from under center
It’s kinda obvious when we go under center it’s likely a run or quick pass

 

[OmerV]

That’s plays from under center
I’d like to see more passing from under center
It’s kinda obvious when we go under center it’s likely a run or quick pass

I agree, and frankly I'm not sure Zeke doesn't run better when we go under center. His strength seems to be, well, his strength, and not so much picking and choosing the seams to run through, so handing off with a full head of steam often seems to serve him better than the delayed, take the ball from a standstill style when we are in the shotgun.

 

[Number1]

play with the down & yardage ... we still look average

and it's copy cat NFL

that's dumb - we have heck of n RB and a heck of a play action QB and deep speed

more play action from under center is kinda obvious for this crew

 

[conner01]

I agree, and frankly I'm not sure Zeke doesn't run better when we go under center. His strength seems to be, well, his strength, and not so much picking and choosing the seams to run through, so handing off with a full head of steam often seems to serve him better than the delayed, take the ball from a standstill style when we are in the shotgun.

From the shotgun he doesn’t get that running start
I know with rpo offenses it’s gonna be lots of shotgun but I’d like a little less and more passing from under center
You want to fool a defense then pass from under center. It’s rare enough it should fool all teams

 

[OmerV]

From the shotgun he doesn’t get that running start
I know with rpo offenses it’s gonna be lots of shotgun but I’d like a little less and more passing from under center
You want to fool a defense then pass from under center. It’s rare enough it should fool all teams

That's what I'm saying - that Zeke often seems better with the running start he gets when Dak is under center rather than the start from a standstill when he is handed the ball in the shotgun.

But yeah, I agree a few more passes from under center makes some sense, The more you can keep the defense guessing the better.

Part of what prompted me to look for this info was a poster in another thread was upset that when we do go under center that on the rare occasion we pass we go with play action rather than a straight drop back. Since we almost always are in a running situation when we go under center, I can't understand why we wouldn't go with play action on those rare occasions. But part of his take was that somehow that mean Dak was unable to throw the ball well without the play action, but that doesn't make any sense in my mind. Faking a handoff doesn't somehow make a person throw better.

 

[Dallasfann]

I agree, and frankly I'm not sure Zeke doesn't run better when we go under center. His strength seems to be, well, his strength, and not so much picking and choosing the seams to run through, so handing off with a full head of steam often seems to serve him better than the delayed, take the ball from a standstill style when we are in the shotgun.

This is my biggest problem with our offense. I feel like I see way too many delayed half back runs out of shotgun. It's such a ****** play call to begin with and I think it takes away everything that Zeke is as a RB.

 

[CowboyRoy]

https://www.sharpfootballstats.com/snap-rates--shotgun-v-under-center--off-.html

There has been a lot of talk about this, and a lot of criticism of Dak for not being able to throw when taking a snap under center, so I started looking for stats. The attached is the best site I found for a comparison of the teams on snaps from the shotgun and under center. I made the thread title pretty generic for the topic, and I won't comment in the beginning, because I want people to look at the stats rather than comment based on a thread title or the initial comments.

play with the down & yardage ... we still look average

and it's copy cat NFL

that's dumb - we have heck of n RB and a heck of a play action QB and deep speed

more play action from under center is kinda obvious for this crew

apparently our RB needs the 2016 Oline to be great.

 

[gjkoeppen]

https://www.sharpfootballstats.com/snap-rates--shotgun-v-under-center--off-.html

There has been a lot of talk about this, and a lot of criticism of Dak for not being able to throw when taking a snap under center, so I started looking for stats. The attached is the best site I found for a comparison of the teams on snaps from the shotgun and under center. I made the thread title pretty generic for the topic, and I won't comment in the beginning, because I want people to look at the stats rather than comment based on a thread title or the initial comments.

Here's the first thing that jumped out at me. They say the cowboys take 31% of their snaps under center and 79% in shotgun. Here's the problem 31% + 79% = 110%. Now the other 2 categories add up to 100% so this leaves me to believe not to count on that stat too much.
.

 

[exciter]

Pretty much
We are at 62% and league is 63%

But the rest of the league doesn't have Zeke!

 

[JustChip]

Pretty much
We are at 62% and league is 63%

What’s stuck out to me is we’re virtually the same as Green Bay, both in % of plays under center & % of runs under center.

 

[conner01]

What’s stuck out to me is we’re virtually the same as Green Bay, both in % of plays under center & % of runs under center.

True but I bet we run more from under center
I read an article about half way thru the season that we only threw 3-4 times a game from under center. I get the whole rpo thing but play action from under center should open up some stuff down field

 

[JustChip]

True but I bet we run more from under center
I read an article about half way thru the season that we only threw 3-4 times a game from under center. I get the whole rpo thing but play action from under center should open up some stuff down field

Well, if I read the chart right, we pass from under center 31% (and run 69%) vs. GB passing from under center 33% (and running 67%). Don’t know why, but it just seems odd we’re on par with GB.

The high % of run from under center should make play-action a formidable weapon, particularly in conventional wisdom running downs and distances. I would’ve loved to see us the first play after Lewis’ INT go jumbo formation, run play action and go to Amari on a fly route. I remember Aikman to Rocket on a 3rd and short in OT against Washington for 70 yard game winner.

 

[conner01]

Well, if I read the chart right, we pass from under center 31% (and run 69%) vs. GB passing from under center 33% (and running 67%). Don’t know why, but it just seems odd we’re on par with GB.

The high % of run from under center should make play-action a formidable weapon, particularly in conventional wisdom running downs and distances. I would’ve loved to see us the first play after Lewis’ INT go jumbo formation, run play action and go to Amari on a fly route. I remember Aikman to Rocket on a 3rd and short in OT against Washington for 70 yard game winner.

That chart is snaps
Not passes
Most of our snaps under center or either runs or quick passes to the edge

 

[VaqueroTD]

LOL @ Baltimore. 5% total snaps under center.

Does that answer the question?

 

[Doomsday]

LOL @ Baltimore. 5% total snaps under center.

Does that answer the question?

I would be curious to see what percent of the time they are in the pistol formation vs normal shotgun. Their run game is pretty unique, and pistol still gives you the option to run both directions.

I would love to see what Dallas' yards per carry is in shotgun vs under center. It might be my imagination but it feels like the run game is more effective UC.