Sturm - Decoding Linehan - At Giants

[Sturm1310]

http://sportsday.***BANNED-URL***/d...g-linehan-collective-effort-needs-improvement

 

[Bleu Star]

http://sportsday.***BANNED-URL***/d...g-linehan-collective-effort-needs-improvement

Thanks for sharing... Great stuff. A few takeaways for me...

• The Quarterback play was as poor as we have seen this season. Dak Prescott may have only "looked like a rookie", but he did play the type of game that will get a team sent home quickly in the playoffs if he repeats it. He was unsure of himself, uncommitted to his throws, and unwilling to use his "dual threat" component by making the Giants chase him down the field. This is something that really bailed out his performance in Minnesota, and if he (or the coaches) think he can throw his way out of problems without using his feet, they are probably making a poor choice.
• The Offensive Line was not good enough on many occasions. This includes pass protection, but more importantly, it describes a running game that demonstrated very poor work after halftime. As the game went along, the OL (including tight ends) could have grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck by taking over with a few successful runs in a row, but they had their hands full with a New York front that won as much as they lost. The Cowboys don't look across the line after three hours and concede defeat, but the tape reveals that the Giants were winning in the late rounds on my scorecard.
• The Wide Receivers as a group did not uncover in situations that required it. The Giants have appropriate personnel to stay on top of Dez Bryant, in particular, and Janoris Jenkins won the day. There was not much to look at downfield as Dak Prescott was trying to keep a play alive. Again, as the game went along, it was pretty clear that the offense had rare opportunities to capitalize on New York shortcomings.
• The Coaching Staff fell into a predictable rut of conservative play-calling that served to allow the Giants to sit on each and every tendency. There was no help given in a situation where the slightest change-up might have been welcomed. Instead, they kept ramming their heads against a brick wall
  .

 

[fifaguy]

I was especially surprised that Dak did not try to scramble down the field (when the opportunity arose) given how successful he has been at this all year.

 

[lothos05]

I was especially surprised that Dak did not try to scramble down the field (when the opportunity arose) given how successful he has been at this all year.

I think Linehan may have had something to do with that. Just listening to 105.3, it's been mentioned that Linehan doesn't like it when he runs. Haven't seen it in print yet, though.

 

[jwooten15]

I was especially surprised that Dak did not try to scramble down the field (when the opportunity arose) given how successful he has been at this all year.

I said it earlier, but it nearly looked like he was bound and determined to prove he is a pocket QB, at all costs. And it killed us.

 

[Go Big D!]

I think Linehan may have had something to do with that. Just listening to 105.3, it's been mentioned that Linehan doesn't like it when he runs. Haven't seen it in print yet, though.

It has to be something because he made some drive extending runs and now we just don't see it. And if that's the case, then Linehan has effectively handicapped him.

 

[jwooten15]

My Lord. Looking at the pass chart of Dak....

Out of 37 throws-- 37!!... Not ONE was inside the hash marks. Not one.

With a grand total of 6 passes attempted over 15 yards.

That is embarrassing.

 

[BigD16]

So bad coaching comes back to haunt us? Nothing new. I just hope they get something figured out.

 

[jwooten15]

I think Linehan may have had something to do with that. Just listening to 105.3, it's been mentioned that Linehan doesn't like it when he runs. Haven't seen it in print yet, though.

If that's the case, then Romo should be our QB. Right now. Because Dak's mobility is a massive weapon. And if we aren't going to use it, Romo is 10000X the thrower Dak is.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

If that's the case, then Romo should be our QB. Right now. Because Dak's mobility is a massive weapon. And if we aren't going to use it, Romo is 10000X the thrower Dak is.

It's funny when a qb scrambles you start to get excited right? But if they pick up like 4 yards and dive/slide it feels meh. But that's a tremendous down. Dak looks somewhat indestructible and could you imagine if he had to be given the spy treatment ?

 

[Doomsday]

The coaching staff fell into a predictable rut of conservative play-calling that allowed the Giants to sit on each and every tendency. There was no help given in a situation when even the slightest changeup might have been welcomed. Instead, they kept ramming their heads against a brick wall.

This is something that bugs the heck out of me. Their lack of in game adjustments when the offense is struggling is staggering.

 

[Clove]

Dak clearly was rattled this game and was just uncertain of making passes into tight windows, unsure of a lot of things. I'm glad this game happened when it did. He was just awful and did nothing to carry a struggling offense on his back, but again, he's a rookie.
And rookies have to get baptism by fire sometimes and he's definitely seeing the difference between College and the pros. In the pros, teams study you and your tendencies down to a T. Any sign of weakness will be exploited and the same goes for your team. He needs a massive come back game this week. Having said all of that, I still keep Romo on the bench the rest of the season. The rook nweds to learn.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

Can someone tell me one negative repercussion of starting romo? Sure yes romo will get hurt and he's a choker we get it. So then you go back to dak right? Are you afraid of him losing his confidence? For one he has the it factor he wouldn't. And two? So what anyway. He should be losing his confidence he can't throw for 200 yards in 3 straight games that's about as bad as qb play gets among willing passers who actually are attempting to win and not playing not to lose. Which is what he's been doing.

 

[xwalker]

I was especially surprised that Dak did not try to scramble down the field (when the opportunity arose) given how successful he has been at this all year.

I say if Dak had run for one 3rd down and if Dez didn't fumble, then the Cowboys probably win the game. It was that close.

 

[xwalker]

Dak clearly was rattled this game and was just uncertain of making passes into tight windows, unsure of a lot of things. I'm glad this game happened when it did. He was just awful and did nothing to carry a struggling offense on his back, but again, he's a rookie.
And rookies have to get baptism by fire sometimes and he's definitely seeing the difference between College and the pros. In the pros, teams study you and your tendencies down to a T. Any sign of weakness will be exploited and the same goes for your team. He needs a massive come back game this week. Having said all of that, I still keep Romo on the bench the rest of the season. The rook nweds to learn.

He did hit some key throws including the 3rd down conversion that Dez fumbled.

 

[xwalker]

My Lord. Looking at the pass chart of Dak....

Out of 37 throws-- 37!!... Not ONE was inside the hash marks. Not one.

With a grand total of 6 passes attempted over 15 yards.

That is embarrassing.

They had a similar passing chart with Romo in the past. I always thought it was just Romo's preference to avoid the middle because they started doing it after he had some INTs against the Niners and Detroit a few years ago.

 

[xwalker]

I think Linehan may have had something to do with that. Just listening to 105.3, it's been mentioned that Linehan doesn't like it when he runs. Haven't seen it in print yet, though.

They did run a read-option with Dak keeping the ball but it was not well executed. If Linehan was dead-set against running I'm not sure he would call a read-option play.

 

[xwalker]

I said it earlier, but it nearly looked like he was bound and determined to prove he is a pocket QB, at all costs. And it killed us.

Yes, I wanted him to run, but on many plays the Giants did a good job of playing contain on the ends.

 

[fifaguy]

I say if Dak had run for one 3rd down and if Dez didn't fumble, then the Cowboys probably win the game. It was that close.

yep, we stank but so did the Giants. Church makes that tackle on Odell also different outcome (perhaps)...

 

[Bleu Star]

I think Linehan may have had something to do with that. Just listening to 105.3, it's been mentioned that Linehan doesn't like it when he runs. Haven't seen it in print yet, though.

I hope this isn't true. You don't handcuff one of the most impactful traits of a Quarterback's tool set. That's just dumb.