Sturm: Decoding Linehan - Bad to Worse

[Idgit]

That's a fair point. Weeden is way too late getting rid of the ball. He can't anticipate guys getting open and he can't see the routes develop in front of him. At the point of the freeze frame, he won't be able to get it in there accurately with enough zip.

Even Belichick was talking about Weeden being too late on his release on some of our plays last week. It had to have been a real problem for us.

 

[kramskoi]

Only ray of light that may come from Romo's injury is the coaching staff realizing some of its own shortcomings. Seems pretty obvious that Tony covered up a lot of flaws throughout the whole organization. Not that I expect them to create a really solid attack until Romo and Dez come back, but if they can learn how to make their attack more diverse then this offense could really strike fear into people when #9 is firing the bullets.

There is no coach in the NFL that has benefited more from a player than Garrett with Romo. In many ways, he made Garrett and he would have been fired otherwise. The sleepwalking "8-8" persona of the Cowboys has made a sneaky return it seems. The nexus of Garrett-Linehan-Weeden looks like a deer in headlights, particularly last Sunday.

Another thing I agree with is the completely quizzical use of Gavin Escobar. His third year and he has only really been used in the red-zone. What the hell is up with this guy? A few years ago, the talk all over town was about how Dallas would soon implement a 2 TE base offense that rivaled the one in New England. We are still waiting...

 

[kramskoi]

That's a fair point. Weeden is way too late getting rid of the ball. He can't anticipate guys getting open and he can't see the routes develop in front of him. At the point of the freeze frame, he won't be able to get it in there accurately with enough zip.

All the look of a man that doesn't trust what he's seeing, reading, or both. He is preoccupied with not making a mistake and there is simply an air of resignation that surrounds him. But when you have known nothing but how to lose, it follows you around. This is a nightmare scenario for Garrett and Linehan...and so far they have not found a way to successfully scheme around Weeden.

 

[gmoney112]

Always good stuff. When you get a drop and a blown up protection, I'm not sure the series at the end of the first half is a coaching problem. We could have run it three times there and taken the 3-and-out that way. I don't recall off-hand how many times the Pats could have stopped the clock.

That still of Street open and heading to the sidelines with Weeden looking at him in position to throw is pretty frustrating.

The Terrence Williams still...I'll take his word for it that that's an easy NFL throw, but that's one where I'm shocked if Weeden's able to put the ball on the spot. Easy or not, he doesn't make a lot of throws like that.

The TD to Terrence was just a horrible throw on Weeden's part, and probably the point where he benched himself. You can't have a struggling offense like we've got and then go in the film room and show plays like that with a 90 game starter sitting right next to you and not expect the coaches to make a change.

Yeah.. I definitely wouldn't say that throw to Terrance is "easy", he's got a step but for most average QB's that isn't really a high percentage throw. That gif does make me think of how many YAC Beasley probably has if Weeden leads him and he has a full head of steam. If he can get away from the trailing DB and get a block downfield, he might get 30 yards.

You have to make the Street throw if you want to win in the NFL, in my opinion. That's about as open as you're going to get most of the time. It is encouraging seeing Street get some separation though, just a basic out route but it's encouraging. I was down on him, so let's just hope he doesn't catch that ball out of bounds.

The series before half wasn't coaching. You can't make players make plays. What's up with Leary anyway? He got embarrassed a few times out there. I saw a LB push him around. That's pretty uncharacteristic, it's making me think he's still nursing an injury. If not, Collins is active against the Giants and Leary is on a short leash.

Usually agree with Sturm, and he's right that playcalling is too conservative right now. Our scheme is fine when you have your playmakers on the field, because it's not cute or gimmicky, it's execution. But when you're missing the two biggest playmakers on offense, and your QB is limited, you simply have to adapt. I wouldn't trust any of these receivers to win 1on1's consistently except for Witten and Beasley, and teams have rightfully started bracketing them. You have to find a way to scheme and get guys open.

Dez back will open things up a lot. He simply has to be accounted for on every snap.

At this point I don't see any way you can start Weeden with a straight face. Cassel isn't a world beater but he's a pro, and I certainly don't think he'd tell the world he was "unlucky". My cousin is a huge Vikings fans so I got to see Cassel play a little bit, and I like him better than Weeden. He's not Tom Brady but he can make the Street out route kind of throws. I don't even know if Bridgewater would have started over him last year if he didn't go on IR. He was basically the only reason they won any games in 2013.

Interesting tidbit on Cassel's 2013 Vikings stint: "He would remain the starting quarterback the rest of the season where the Vikings finished at 5-10-1 and Cassel either played the whole game or came in to rally the Vikings from behind in all five victories".

He can win some games, something I'm not sure Weeden can do. Yeah, they had AD, but that was a passing offense that centered around Jerome Simpson and Jennings. I'd put Cassel in with this offense, and this OL, and take my chances. I don't think he's going to set the world on fire, but he very well could be a pleasant surprise.

 

[TheDude]

I have to disagree with Sturm on this one. This isn't NFL open. This is a pick 6. That defender is trailing and Weeden is on the run, and likely won't get enough on the ball to zip it in there.

This is College Open. Street has 3 steps. if the ball leads him to the sideline, it is impossible to pick
It is only a pick if that is a dig route. The whole play was a rollout and a sideline out by street

 

[Idgit]

Yeah.. I definitely wouldn't say that throw to Terrance is "easy", he's got a step but for most average QB's that isn't really a high percentage throw. That gif does make me think of how many YAC Beasley probably has if Weeden leads him and he has a full head of steam. If he can get away from the trailing DB and get a block downfield, he might get 30 yards.

You have to make the Street throw if you want to win in the NFL, in my opinion. That's about as open as you're going to get most of the time. It is encouraging seeing Street get some separation though, just a basic out route but it's encouraging. I was down on him, so let's just hope he doesn't catch that ball out of bounds.

The series before half wasn't coaching. You can't make players make plays. What's up with Leary anyway? He got embarrassed a few times out there. I saw a LB push him around. That's pretty uncharacteristic, it's making me think he's still nursing an injury. If not, Collins is active against the Giants and Leary is on a short leash.

Usually agree with Sturm, and he's right that playcalling is too conservative right now. Our scheme is fine when you have your playmakers on the field, because it's not cute or gimmicky, it's execution. But when you're missing the two biggest playmakers on offense, and your QB is limited, you simply have to adapt. I wouldn't trust any of these receivers to win 1on1's consistently except for Witten and Beasley, and teams have rightfully started bracketing them. You have to find a way to scheme and get guys open.

Dez back will open things up a lot. He simply has to be accounted for on every snap.

At this point I don't see any way you can start Weeden with a straight face. Cassel isn't a world beater but he's a pro, and I certainly don't think he'd tell the world he was "unlucky". My cousin is a huge Vikings fans so I got to see Cassel play a little bit, and I like him better than Weeden. He's not Tom Brady but he can make the Street out route kind of throws. I don't even know if Bridgewater would have started over him last year if he didn't go on IR. He was basically the only reason they won any games in 2013.

Interesting tidbit on Cassel's 2013 Vikings stint: "He would remain the starting quarterback the rest of the season where the Vikings finished at 5-10-1 and Cassel either played the whole game or came in to rally the Vikings from behind in all five victories".

He can win some games, something I'm not sure Weeden can do. Yeah, they had AD, but that was a passing offense that centered around Jerome Simpson and Jennings. I'd put Cassel in with this offense, and this OL, and take my chances. I don't think he's going to set the world on fire, but he very well could be a pleasant surprise.

Agree with all of this. I do hope Cassel's an improvement. I can see how he would be. He's been on the roster long enough to be effective, anyway, given his familiarity with Norv's offense to begin with.

 

[chicago JK]

I really like Sturm. I think he is almost always spot on and really helps me understand the game better. We are lucky he spends a lot of time with his writing.

I do think it is dangerous looking at stills on who may be open. Heck it is hard to even to see in live video. Truth is, these defenders are so quick when a QB begins his throwing motion, they can move so fast that using stills to factor in who is open is very tricky.

 

[kramskoi]

This is College Open. Street has 3 steps. if the ball leads him to the sideline, it is impossible to pick
It is only a pick if that is a dig route. The whole play was a rollout and a sideline out by street

Romo makes this play blindfolded.

 

[reddyuta]

This is College Open. Street has 3 steps. if the ball leads him to the sideline, it is impossible to pick
It is only a pick if that is a dig route. The whole play was a rollout and a sideline out by street

If a journalist and laymen like us on the zone see it then the coaches see it too but they still put him in there for 3 games.

 

[Zordon]

http://beta.sportsdaydfw.com/dallas...nehan-offenses-desperate-situation-gets-worse

Bob I was listening yesterday. Did you say the Top 5 offenses from this year or last year run a lot of rubs and picks?

 

[Wolfpack]

Is it a coaching mistake? If you think you can convert on the series, but likely only if you pass the ball, don't you try for the conversion there? Giving Brady even 30 seconds and a short field at the end on purpose of a half isn't smart.

Then you get a drop.

Then you get your interior OL beaten, despite the fact that it's supposed to be the strength of your team.

That's an offensive team just getting out-executed. And with Beasley and Leary we're talking some of our solid players here.

It's a perfect example of the kind of thing that gets called a coaching error in hindsight but which is really not executing well. Had we run it three times and gotten stonewalled, the coaches would be facing the same exact criticism for opposite reasons, and we both know it.

Right…I forget that its all the players fault. JG was right either way he called it. You drain the clock then punt…thinking it was a good time to let Weden try to pick up his second first down of the half at that point was a dream.

Sturm is clear in his opinion in that article and I agree totally with that. Feel free to disagree.

 

[dallasdave]

Couldn't agree more with Bob Strum's comments, so frustrating watching Garrett stubbornly do the same thing week after week while the results get worse and worse...Status Quo is not working.


"I also want to make this point - the coaching staff must do better as well. There is absolutely no reasonable argument that tells you that Jason Garrett should be kicking a field goal from the 5-yard line in the 2nd half of a game where his offense hasn't put anything together all day. He had to go for the score to try to light that same spark I am talking about with a QB change. Sure it is desperate and maybe won't work, but what do you have to lose?

In other words, why are Garrett and Linehan still coaching this thing like they are the favorite? They aren't. And sometimes underdogs need to roll the dice and take a chance. Sometimes you need to be bold and riskier, because close to the vest is not working. Again, they will be underdogs moving forward, but for Pete's sake, cross up tendencies and try to ambush your opponent. You need to steal a TD or two to win these games and instead they are running on almost every 1st down until they are down double-digits and they are kicking a Field Goal on 4th and 2.

If "Fortune favors the bold", it is time the coaches stop "Laying up at the Masters." I am not suggesting it is one trick play after another, but the only thing more conservative than the QB play in the last 3 weeks might be the play-calling behind it. I am sure crossing up tendencies is a risky proposition if you are trying to cut down on the 3-and-outs, but these 3 games have taught us that the talent on hand cannot win a fair fight.

They are going to need help. The defense needs to help them. The special teams needs to help them. The infirmary needs to help them. And yes, the coaches need to help get through this as well."

http://beta.sportsdaydfw.com/dallas...nehan-offenses-desperate-situation-gets-worse

Things need to change !!!

 

[Sturm1310]

Just a couple things here i wanted to add to the conversation. First, here are a few shots of Tebow making that throw that I said was an "easy NFL throw" to Williams. https://vine.co/v/e1T2Zx2VvA6 and https://vine.co/v/e1TP61B1TZn if Tebow can make them, they are easy throws. Quincy also wasn't bad at this. It is against man coverage and you simply loft it to space. Next, here is Andy Benoit's view on the Street play:

Anyway, thanks for reading it!

Bob

 

[TheDude]

I really like Sturm. I think he is almost always spot on and really helps me understand the game better. We are lucky he spends a lot of time with his writing.

I do think it is dangerous looking at stills on who may be open. Heck it is hard to even to see in live video. Truth is, these defenders are so quick when a QB begins his throwing motion, they can move so fast that using stills to factor in who is open is very tricky.

While this is a fair statement on its face, Sturm is watching the All-22 that came up last night. The stills are not cherry picked. You can make an argument that the TWill play was not an easy pass, but there were many more routes in the game that would make you want to puke. 1 was a seam route from Beasley where he had no one within 20 yards and the throw was to Witten (who was in the sight line of Beasley just 5 yards from the LOS)

 

[Doomsay]

Just a couple things here i wanted to add to the conversation. First, here are a few shots of Tebow making that throw that I said was an "easy NFL throw" to Williams. https://vine.co/v/e1T2Zx2VvA6 and https://vine.co/v/e1TP61B1TZn if Tebow can make them, they are easy throws. Quincy also wasn't bad at this. It is against man coverage and you simply loft it to space. Next, here is Andy Benoit's view on the Street play:

Anyway, thanks for reading it!

Bob

LOL, Tebow limbo bar threshold!

 

[Idgit]

Right…I forget that its all the players fault. JG was right either way he called it. You drain the clock then punt…thinking it was a good time to let Weden try to pick up his second first down of the half at that point was a dream.

Sturm is clear in his opinion in that article and I agree totally with that. Feel free to disagree.

Sigh. I hate to even respond to this, but, I guess I ought to. Let's start with the Beasley play. It's a 7 yard throw, on target, to an open receiver. From our 12 to about the 19 on first down. Catching it puts us in 2nd and short. It's blocked well, read right, the throw is on target. You really think that's a bad call at that down/distance/field position?

Let's put aside for a fact that it obviously wasn't Garrett who called it, anyway. How in the world can you look at it and blame the play call with a straight face?

 

[chicago JK]

While this is a fair statement on its face, Sturm is watching the All-22 that came up last night. The stills are not cherry picked. You can make an argument that the TWill play was not an easy pass, but there were many more routes in the game that would make you want to puke. 1 was a seam route from Beasley where he had no one within 20 yards and the throw was to Witten (who was in the sight line of Beasley just 5 yards from the LOS)

I don't want to be labeled defending Weeden or doubting Sturm either. I am sure there are some a lot better watching tape than others. Although it can be very tricky. My statement was more of a general statement anyway. I see still all the time of running plays and passing plays by posters here. The stills seem to show that if a player cut one way or the ball was thrown to this receiver, that the play was an easy touchdown. I find that is very rarely accurate. These guys move so fast that video doesn't do it justice.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

http://beta.sportsdaydfw.com/dallas...nehan-offenses-desperate-situation-gets-worse

Awesome job. I think Weeden did fine against the Falcons and Saints, but I can't excuse his terrible play here. Good to see that our WR's did get open downfield on occasion. At this point it's going to be easy for other teams to defend Weeden...just double underneath and take away Beasley and Witten and force him to show he can beat somebody downfield.




YR

 

[CATCH17]

Don't ever look at a still photo to determine if a guy is really open or not.


That could have been a very brief moment that guy was open like that.



What bothers me is all of the downfield reads we are wanting Weeden to do.. The guy can't read a defense and make a sound decision throwing the ball downfield consistently.



BTW, there is nothing to decode. It's like decoding a middle school offense.

 

[TheDude]

Sigh. I hate to even respond to this, but, I guess I ought to. Let's start with the Beasley play. It's a 7 yard throw, on target, to an open receiver. From our 12 to about the 19 on first down. Catching it puts us in 2nd and short. It's blocked well, read right, the throw is on target. You really think that's a bad call at that down/distance/field position?

Let's put aside for a fact that it obviously wasn't Garrett who called it, anyway. How in the world can you look at it and blame the play call with a straight face?

I dont have a problem with that call. But, I asked in the game day thread, why no onside kick in the 3rd quarter? Why dont you go for it at the 5? It's 20-3 and 20-6 is meaningless. Everything is by the textbook. Also, there is a serious issue in using and understanding the personnel. We actually did run a pick route with TWIL and Witten on 3rd and 4. The problem - Witten was the one who was freed on the pick only to run horizontal to e the LOS 3 yards short of the 1st down (My all time throw objects at the TV route). Couple this with the Bootlegs they try to get Weeden in space to see better. Sounds good, but when you are late on throws and every receiver and defender is within 15 yards, it is a horrible play for him. Add that to the Michel and Escobar usage/or lack thereof, and I dont see how

There is also an amazing lack of any double moves with the WRs. In addition, many underneath routes run players into the same area and stop. It looks odd compared to the opponents and will move a chain every now and then, but that is all the opponent wants you to do a a Weeden or backup.

There are no quick counts, hard counts, rarely any motion (which should tip Weeden off as to man or zone and give the WR a better release),