Sturm: Decoding Linehan - 3rd and 1

[Sturm1310]

http://sportsday.***BANNED-URL***/d.../12/09/sturm-cowboys-offense-nfls-worst-3rd-1

A) I forgot to post this yesterday and B) contrary to the headline, it has nothing to do with DeMarco.

 

[Jarv]

Another great analysis, thanks Bob! You have to question why we haven't been taking more advantage of play action on 1st down all year? I assume that would eventually also help our running game so the safeties can't cheat up as much. On those 3rd and shorts in the red zone, not having Dez out wide tying up defenders is...well I don't have the words.

 

[LucaBrasi]

I really don't understand why they don't motion somebody out, or put wr's (Dez) out there in these situations. Get some of these damn opposing players out of the box Linehan!

 

[canters]

not hard to see a predictable O that the other teams know well. And then we have one or two breakdowns on blocking and the RB gets stuffed. Plenty of blame to go around among players and coaches.

 

[gmoney112]

I did notice more playaction this week, and with all the film of our tendencies to run on 1st down it's little surprise it was effective. With Cassel behind center, we should be a playaction oriented offense. Period.

There's only one word for the goal line play with Dez out: stupid. I'm pretty sure most of us had the same blank expression of amazement at how you could even call that. Did they honestly try and sell a Lucky jet sweep near the goal line? I have no idea but that was a massive failure. Goal line isn't complicated. Put your playmakers in, so they can make plays and defenses have to play the entire field, and if you fail unless you failed with your best players out there. Taking the guy out with the most red zone TD's last year, or close to it, and allowing a team to put 11 in the box is just not smart.

The 3 and 1 dilemma is surprising too. Didn't realize we were that bad, but then again I have been a bit in awe of how much we've sucked at it. I don't blame coaching a lot, but when you have this OL, Dez Bryant, and a decent receiver in Beasley you have just about 0 excuse for being the league's worst in converting 3 and 1. I'd imagine Linehans seat is getting a little warm right about now.

 

[Aven8]

More and more signs pointing to our lost run game coordinator. It wasn't by accident that when Cally called plays our redzone efficiency went way up than with JG calling plays, and then last year finishing 2nd.

Maddening!

 

[DogFace]

It is hard to argue we aren't getting completely out coached sometimes. In these examples it clear we are. It's a simple numbers game as Bob stated. The coaches choose to put us at a disadvantage and hope the players can overcome it. You'd think since we are dead last they'd stop trying this tactic.

I'd also spread them out and Dez would never be off the field unless he needed a breather. Especially on the goal line. The other teams are clearly happy we make it easier.

A bootleg or fake bootleg with Casell threatening to run or running could be an option.

 

[JohnsKey19]

not hard to see a predictable O that the other teams know well. And then we have one or two breakdowns on blocking and the RB gets stuffed. Plenty of blame to go around among players and coaches.

Time to be creative and use Cassell's mobility to help the running game out some. A play-action bootleg would fool the entire stadium.

 

[vlad]

For years we've telegraphed plays - a) Harris was in the game, it was a run because god forbid you throw the guy a ball or even just a run a route with him. At least he's built in a way to block. Now we take the skinniest guy on team, motion him in to as Bob says, "to do what?" And how you don't have Dez in there at least to pull a guy out of the box. And for that matter a few more WRs to pull guys out.

If you're going to run everyone in like that and you never are going to pass - you might as well just bring your biggest baddest linemen on the field and get rid of the TEs....(which by the way I think would be a big fail too)

ugh. Thanks Bob.

 

[Wolfpack]

Enjoying reading these, thanks. I like the play action calls but why does play action kinda drift in/out of game plans (even with Romo)? Its either a lot of it or none of it?

The entire offense needs to go. The formation selection, the play calls, the route combos, its just not good. Its easy to read, predictable on top of being poor tactical choices as the first 3-1 shows. Look how deep McFadden is lined up and then they run a power run left…thats a long developing play as noted and its always what JG has done. Callahan must of fixed that last year but its now back.

On the second, not having Dez on the field is crazy. Every time you see Street or Whitehead check in for Dez, its always a run play. Always. You can't be that predictable with your tells, the other teams pays a staff a lot of money to break down EVERY single thing about your offense every single week. They know every tendency.

 

[Cas2800]

What ever happened to throwing it up high to Dez in the corner of the end zone? Teams were terrified of that and now we don't even use that as a threat??

Garrett and Co. Are stubborn in thinking we can impose our will with this offensive line and the line is playing nowhere near where they were last year. It's another Reason why I want to see more Turbin, he can move the pile where Mc Fadden can't. If you think the line can win the battle then spread out the defense, use Dez as a threat and run a QB sneak fior 1 yard. How hard can that be??

 

[Zman5]

I never could understand why they take out Dez and bring in Lucky for these short yard situations.

 

[percyhoward]

http://sportsday.***BANNED-URL***/d.../12/09/sturm-cowboys-offense-nfls-worst-3rd-1

A) I forgot to post this yesterday and B) contrary to the headline, it has nothing to do with DeMarco.

We've only converted 6 of 12 running on 3rd and 1, but we've converted 8 of 9 on all our other short-yardage runs.

Short-yardage runs, 2015
3rd and 1: 6 of 12 50%
3rd and 2: 5 of 6 83%
4th and 1: 3 of 3 100%
4th and 2: 0 of 0 --
Short yardage: 14 of 21 (67%)

When Romo isn't playing, this is our play selection in a short-yardage situation in 2015:
19 runs 76%
6 passes 24%

And since the beginning of 2014, here's our play selection in short yardage with Romo:
29 runs 55%
24 passes 45%

Somehow, going into the Commander game, without Romo we had converted on 13 of 17 short-yardage runs. Even though defenses knew exactly what was coming. No, it's not about DeMarco.

 

[DandyDon52]

Enjoying reading these, thanks. I like the play action calls but why does play action kinda drift in/out of game plans (even with Romo)? Its either a lot of it or none of it?

The entire offense needs to go. The formation selection, the play calls, the route combos, its just not good. Its easy to read, predictable on top of being poor tactical choices as the first 3-1 shows. Look how deep McFadden is lined up and then they run a power run left…thats a long developing play as noted and its always what JG has done. Callahan must of fixed that last year but its now back.

On the second, not having Dez on the field is crazy. Every time you see Street or Whitehead check in for Dez, its always a run play. Always. You can't be that predictable with your tells, the other teams pays a staff a lot of money to break down EVERY single thing about your offense every single week. They know every tendency.

true but jason wont change it !!

I hate the 23 or jumbo formation, I think it is ********. but he says JG is very high on it.
What that means is no dez no wr, and defense knows we will run it and can put all 11 in the box !

 

[DandyDon52]

I never could understand why they take out Dez and bring in Lucky for these short yard situations.

it is ********, on the one play shown, lucky came back inside to block !lol he is too small and not even blocking where back will go.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Not playing Dez on any pivotal down is bad management. They had Clutts run a lot in TC.

I really hope they move LC out to RT. He was great on the edge picking up leakage at LSU.

 

[Idgit]

I never could understand why they take out Dez and bring in Lucky for these short yard situations.

I don't know what they're thinking, either. Or bringing in the 13 personnel and not ocassionally throwing to a TE. They must have their reasons, because it's not like it hasn't occurred to them that Dez is an option on 3rd downs, but I sure do wonder what the rationale is.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Romo sees the defense's obvious intentions and calls a different alignment or a different play,,,

 

[Zman5]

I don't know what they're thinking, either. Or bringing in the 13 personnel and not ocassionally throwing to a TE. They must have their reasons, because it's not like it hasn't occurred to them that Dez is an option on 3rd downs, but I sure do wonder what the rationale is.

My brother-in-law who is a Steelers' fan knew what was going to happen on that play. Once he saw Lucky motion in, he said "it's a run". He watched two Cowboys games with me this year.

If someone like he can figure it out, I'm sure the opposing teams know exactly what is going to happen. It boggles my mind they still run that play.

 

[Zekeats]

Run behind RG. There I just decoded it for ya.