So you'd rather fix the offense

[BlindFaith]

Time for my annual get some things off my chest post.

I've been hard on Romo and Garrett in the past. Basically saying that we won't do much while BOTH of them are running the show offensively. In conjunction that is. Romo had a really good year. The offense as a whole did as well. Looking at the stats it's hard to really point at the offense as the problem. But, to me, there's still just something missing. But I'm not going to turn this into a bash Romo/Garrett thread. To the contrary, for the most part.

Let me throw some stats at you.

15th in scoring
10th in yards
..7th in passing
..18th in rushing
....(24th in attempts, but 9th in ypc)
t14th number of sacks

*17th in red zone scoring attempts
*20th in red zone scoring

So all in all we move the ball. Our running game is better than what the total yardage number has you to believe simply because we still don't run it nearly enough for how successful we are when we do.

We stumble getting into the redzone and when we do, we don't convert like a successful offense should. Who does that fall on? Again, I'm not pointing fingers this time around.

Now to sacks. We gave up 39, ranking us tied for 14th highest. But I'd like to clarify something about that. I've noticed with my own two eyes that Romo doesn't like to throw the ball away - ever. There were several times that he was sacked when he shouldn't have been just because he held on to the ball. So I started digging around for stats showing the number of throw aways for a QB. Found this site. They did a breakdown of the top QBs taking out trowaways, spikes, drops.

http://blogs.nfl.com/2011/12/06/playbook-calculating-true-qbr/

Interesting thing about the breakdown is that Romo had the lowest adjusted rating. Meaning very few drops and throwaways. I think this puts more pressure on the offensive line to protect.

So, what does all this mean? It means that the o-line, while not world beaters, did a fairly descent job last year...especially for how young it was. The offense moved the ball well both passing and rushing (when they tried). Scoring was average and redzone effeciency was bad.

What I wanted to get off my chest was all this talk about how fixing the oline was so much more important than fixing the defense. To me, that's just not the case. This defense needs a complete overhall. Wade couldn't get them to play consistantly, Rob couldn't either. We need new faces in new places on that side of the ball. The whole draft should be focused on that side of the ball. FA should be focused on that side of the ball.

Replacing Kosier is the only real piece I'd be worried about at the moment, if he can't come back. But I don't think we need to focus on the big names in FA or even a top 1 or 2 draft pick. He wasn't that kind of player.

Fix the defense!!!

 

[casmith07]

Nobody's talking about not fixing the defense, but that doesn't change the fact that we need to continue to place a premium on the offensive line.

A strong offensive line will protect a weaker or stopgap QB in the future.

 

[gmoney112]

Nobody's talking about not fixing the defense, but that doesn't change the fact that we need to continue to place a premium on the offensive line.

A strong offensive line will protect a weaker or stopgap QB in the future.

It will also help the redzone offense. When the field shortens and your line is getting absolutely destroyed, the best playcaller in the NFL isn't going to be able to move the ball.

 

[BlindFaith]

Nobody's talking about not fixing the defense, but that doesn't change the fact that we need to continue to place a premium on the offensive line.

A strong offensive line will protect a weaker or stopgap QB in the future.

Maybe not, but there are plenty that feel the offensive line should be the priority. I disagree.

 

[casmith07]

It will also help the redzone offense. When the field shortens and your line is getting absolutely destroyed, the best playcaller in the NFL isn't going to be able to move the ball.

Maybe not, but there are plenty that feel the offensive line should be the priority. I disagree.

See gmoney's post above for exactly why we need to get better on the offensive line.

Why did the Eagles and Giants handle us this year? Because our offensive line was getting handled.

People whine about Garrett's playcalling in the red zone, but when guys like Costa and Kosier are getting blown off the ball like kids playing against adults, your playcalls are going to fail, period.

 

[Doomsday101]

I want to add to the OL and I want to add to the Defensive front and CB.

Who says you have to only deal with one? Between FA and the draft I hope to get much of this accomplished. I guess you could say I want to address the overall team needs to become a better overall team

 

[johnnyd]

Of course we need to fix this defense we all agree on that, But if you dont think this team needs o-line help then you dont watch the games.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Why did the Eagles and Giants handle us this year? Because our offensive line was getting handled.

I'd say their getting up 21-0 on us had something to do with it, too.

I'm with BlindFaith. Sure, improve the OL. But don't put so many of our limited resources towards it that you neglect the defense and then complain next year that our D was the weak link.

 

[Doomsday101]

I'd say their getting up 21-0 on us had something to do with it, too.

I'm with BlindFaith. Sure, improve the OL. But don't put so many of our limited resources towards it that you neglect the defense and then complain next year that our D was the weak link.

I don't think Dallas will use a lot of resources on OL but they do need to add to it. Tackles I think are fine but I would hope to add at least 1 player to the interior line.

No question we have needs on defense and with the likely loss of Newman, James, Brooking and I think Spencer the Cowboys I think will address needs on defense

 

[BlindFaith]

It will also help the redzone offense. When the field shortens and your line is getting absolutely destroyed, the best playcaller in the NFL isn't going to be able to move the ball.

Detroit had just about as many sacks as we did and were tops in the NFL in redzone TD scoring. And besides, we are only average at scoring, redzone or not. We are top 10 in yards. That means we can move the ball and put up big numbers but lack the "whatever" to score.

 

[Hostile]

I guess I must be the blind one. I don't remember anyone, not a single person, saying we need to neglect the Defense.

 

[Hoofbite]

Yes, I want the offense fixed.

Yes, I want the defense fixed.

And hell, call me greedy, but I want a real KR too.

 

[BlindFaith]

Of course we need to fix this defense we all agree on that, But if you dont think this team needs o-line help then you dont watch the games.

Well sir, I do watch the games. And have been for a very long time. But I don't watch EVERY team play. Its easy to say our line sucks, but compare it to others. How do you do that, with stats. The stats say we move the ball very well, but cant score as well.

And stats say our defense just out right sucks.

 

[gmoney112]

Detroit had just about as many sacks as we did and were tops in the NFL in redzone TD scoring. And besides, we are only average at scoring, redzone or not. We are top 10 in yards. That means we can move the ball and put up big numbers but lack the "whatever" to score.

What does sacks allowed have anything to do with our terrible offensive line? You're comparing apples to motor oil.

Anyways, the "whatever" you're talking about is the interior of our offensive line getting blown 5 yards into the backfield while the defense is only rushing 4 and sending 7 guys into coverage while only having to cover 20 yards of turf.

 

[BlindFaith]

I guess I must be the blind one. I don't remember anyone, not a single person, saying we need to neglect the Defense.

No, you're right. But there are plenty that want to make fixing the oline a priority. Getting Nicks and drafting a guard in the first? Not the right way to do it as far as I'm concerned.

 

[johnnyd]

Well sir, I do watch the games. And have been for a very long time. But I don't watch EVERY team play. Its easy to say our line sucks, but compare it to others. How do you do that, with stats. The stats say we move the ball very well, but cant score as well.

And stats say our defense just out right sucks.

violent agreement on fixing the defense from every poster in your thread so stop .

but you dont need stats you just need to watch our o-line get abused . a better line will help protect romo and the red zone offense .

 

[tupperware]

If you believe that the defense could even be fixed in one off-season, sure, I'll agree.

But.. I think this defense has a long long way to go. Much longer than the offense. I would rather have the OL solidified for several years to come and one of the top offenses in the league over having another wreck of an OL, meaning average offense and then an average defense. I don't think we can hope to make this defense actually GOOD in one off-season from what it was last year. It's possible, I guess, but I'm not banking on it.

As an elite team, you need a consistent, elite offense. Or, you need a consistent, elite defense. We're so much closer to the elite offense it's not funny.

#1 DeCastro
#2 Nicks
#3 FA or drafted center maybe?
#4 If not, all out battle for the C spot. Churn, battle, churn, battle. Go in to the season with the best C possible.

Then, rest of the picks and FA on defense.

 

[BlindFaith]

What does sacks allowed have anything to do with our terrible offensive line? You're comparing apples to motor oil.

Anyways, the "whatever" you're talking about is the interior of our offensive line getting blown 5 yards into the backfield while the defense is only rushing 4 and sending 7 guys into coverage while only having to cover 20 yards of turf.

So other than your keen eye on o line efficiency, how would you go about determining how good the oline is?

Then why doesn't the "whatever" affect us by limiting the number of yards we put up? Only scoring and redzone efficiency?

 

[Doomsday101]

So other than your keen eye on o line efficiency, how would you go about determining how good the oline is?

Then why doesn't the "whatever" affect us by limiting the number of yards we put up? Only scoring and redzone efficiency?

I would say Redzone is pretty big it is the differance between settleing for 3 or putting up 7. I would say to get the most out of the talent we have invested on offense going out and getting interior line help is important.

As for OL draft picks in the 1st rd if DeCastro is the highest rated player on my board then yes I would take him because it would fit 2 things that I think is important in a draft and that is BPA who fits a need.

As for defense I agree we have to make some investments in the draft and likely in FA

 

[gmoney112]

So other than your keen eye on o line efficiency, how would you go about determining how good the oline is?

Then why doesn't the "whatever" affect us by limiting the number of yards we put up? Only scoring and redzone efficiency?

Because I don't sugarcoat things and I'm objective as hell. I also watch a ton of football so I can have a realistic comparison, I wouldn't be typing this if I didn't have a reasonable and informed opinion. I can say without a doubt that we had one of the worst interior offensive lines in the NFL. It was laughable. If Romo wasn't one of the best QB's in the league at avoiding pressure the OL would have graded out in the bottom 5 of the league statistically, easily.

When we aren't in the redzone we can stretch the field. We have talented pass catchers and Romo can get them the ball. When the field shortens and they have 6-7 players in coverage while only having to cover 20 yards of turf, it make coverage infinitely easier because there just isn't much room to navigate. Combine this with the fact that teams were consistently getting pressure while only rushing 4 and you have a redzone disaster of an offense. If you want to score in the redzone consistently you have to be able to block. We couldn't.