Sturm: Decoding Linehan - Week 2 - Running, Running, and Romo

[Sturm1310]

"When you can run the ball in pass looks, that's a good thing. When you can run the ball against run looks, that's a better thing. And when you can run the ball against really, hard, difficult run looks by the defense, that's really good for your team and we were able to do that yesterday." - Jason Garrett, Monday, after the Cowboys ran the ball 43 times for 220 yards.

This week, there is little question what the lead story is when we evaluate the offense. We have been cataloguing every offensive snap the Cowboys have taken since 2008, and with the exception of early in 2009, what we have seen nothing close to this during the entire stretch of nearly 100 games of Cowboys football. They have 347 yards on the ground on 66 carries for 5.26 yards PER CARRY.

They have 269 of those yards on 50 carries from what we call "run looks" which are under center runs from 11, 12, 21, or 22 personnel. 5.38 yards PER CARRY. That means what Garrett is referring to above. They are running after per snap run declarations and are still having success. That is the true test and they are passing it with ease so far.

In the first 3 games of 2009 (At Tampa Bay, H New York Giants, H Carolina), we had another period of time where the Cowboys wanted to pound the ball and see what happened. They ran the ball 82 times for 574 yards in those first 3 games, in a season that they ran for 2,103 yards - easily the most they have ever run for in a season since Emmitt Smith was in uniform. That year, 2009, they averaged 131.4 yards per game, ran a balanced offense, and won the NFC East.


Read the rest: http://sturminator.blogspot.com/2014/09/decoding-linehan-week-2-at-tennessee.html

Thanks for Reading!

Bob

 

[CyberB0b]

http://sturminator.blogspot.com/2014/09/decoding-linehan-week-2-at-tennessee.html

Thanks for Reading!

Bob

Thanks Bob. Baby arm.

 

[reddyuta]

the only peple not concerned about Romo is Romo even though we can see he is not right,he can barely throw it to the sidelines now.

 

[elcowboi]

As long as the team can run the ball I'm not concerned about Romo. If they somehow forget to run and put it in Romo's hands right now I would be a little nervous. He still needs game experience since he was coddled during the offseason and training camp. As long as they can keep winning then it was a good decision by the coaching and training staff. Hopefully by game number 4 or 5 he will start to look like his old self.

 

[perrykemp]

Wow, so much great info. So many great insights. So much to process.

When I see one of these articles from Sturm I almost need to get myself in the right frame of mind to read it, process it, and make decisions on the points Sturm is trying to get across.

 

[perrykemp]

As long as the team can run the ball I'm not concerned about Romo.

I think that's a fine attitude if the only goal is the 'make the playoffs'. If you want to get further than that, they'll need more from Romo.

 

[jterrell]

Very good stuff. A ton of work and detail.
Kudos!

 

[jterrell]

the only peple not concerned about Romo is Romo even though we can see he is not right,he can barely throw it to the sidelines now.

Guess you'd have to define "concerned".
Romo is not 100% right that's for sure but what his regression to the mean brings with it is a reliance on a running game and playing more situational football.
Hard to beg for that for years than go crazy when it occurs because you don't also have 400 yard passing days outta Romo.

I left the game feeling good because Romo was better after halftime and when they finally started preventing effortless rushing first downs we could and did pass the ball well on 3rd down.

How Romo and his back handle 16 games is anyone's guess but that is a concern across the league as no QB is guaranteed health.

 

[AsthmaField]

"When you can run the ball in pass looks, that's a good thing. When you can run the ball against run looks, that's a better thing. And when you can run the ball against really, hard, difficult run looks by the defense, that's really good for your team and we were able to do that yesterday." - Jason Garrett, Monday, after the Cowboys ran the ball 43 times for 220 yards.

This week, there is little question what the lead story is when we evaluate the offense. We have been cataloguing every offensive snap the Cowboys have taken since 2008, and with the exception of early in 2009, what we have seen nothing close to this during the entire stretch of nearly 100 games of Cowboys football. They have 347 yards on the ground on 66 carries for 5.26 yards PER CARRY.

They have 269 of those yards on 50 carries from what we call "run looks" which are under center runs from 11, 12, 21, or 22 personnel. 5.38 yards PER CARRY. That means what Garrett is referring to above. They are running after per snap run declarations and are still having success. That is the true test and they are passing it with ease so far.

In the first 3 games of 2009 (At Tampa Bay, H New York Giants, H Carolina), we had another period of time where the Cowboys wanted to pound the ball and see what happened. They ran the ball 82 times for 574 yards in those first 3 games, in a season that they ran for 2,103 yards - easily the most they have ever run for in a season since Emmitt Smith was in uniform. That year, 2009, they averaged 131.4 yards per game, ran a balanced offense, and won the NFC East.


Read the rest: http://sturminator.blogspot.com/2014/09/decoding-linehan-week-2-at-tennessee.html

Thanks for Reading!

Bob

This is just great work Bob. So different from most other writing out there. It is much appreciated.

 

[Idgit]

This is just great work Bob. So different from most other writing out there. It is much appreciated.

It really is so much more detailed than other sources. He's got the formula down, too, for decoding the games, and taught most of his audience how to interpret it. It's a really nice departure for the ESPN Dallas stuff we'd otherwise be stuck with. Because it's smarter.

 

[Aikmaniac]

I think it's interesting that Romo put up Aikman-like numbers on Sunday yet the majority of the board is still up in arms. Goes to show we've been somewhat spoiled with the vertical passing attack of the last few years.

The game reminded me of the "good" years. Romo was efficient (although not as accurate as we would want) and the running game was unstoppable. Maybe they've found something, but I'm still waiting until after the Saints game to form a solid opinion.

Thanks for the interesting info.

 

[DandyDon1722]

Agree with most of you guys. I don't necessarily think it's bad that Romo has been more horizontal in the passing game as long as he is efficient on 3rd down (which he was 4-5). Then I kind of worry that if Romo's vertical game comes back we'll get a little pass happy.

I really liked Bob's line about they are still trying to learn to play with all their toys. If that's true, Escobar is still wrapped up in his box.

 

[Staubacher]

Agree with most of you guys. I don't necessarily think it's bad that Romo has been more horizontal in the passing game as long as he is efficient on 3rd down (which he was 4-5). Then I kind of worry that if Romo's vertical game comes back we'll get a little pass happy.

I really liked Bob's line about they are still trying to learn to play with all their toys. If that's true, Escobar is still wrapped up in his box.

Agreed. Two games in and people are calling Escobar a bust, Dunbar stinks, Romo's done etc. The first game everything was thrown off by the early turnovers. Game 2 was so dominant on the ground we didn't need to do much else.

Romo will never be 2007 or even 2011 again. Back issues or not, he gets older like every QB. Funny how now everyone realizes the amazing production he gave us in his prime. He can still win us games and I may be in the minority but I think he will be fine barring a new injury this season.

I also think Escobar and Dunbar will make big plays for us as the season develops.

 

[Crown Royal]

I will take a lesser Romo if it means more effective balance and better third down efficiency. I'm a big Romo fan, but I never like a strategy that relies on a single person more than a team performance.

 

[Doomsday101]

I will take a lesser Romo if it means more effective balance and better third down efficiency. I'm a big Romo fan, but I never like a strategy that relies on a single person more than a team performance.

I agree. Troy was not one of the big 300 yard QB of his days but that team was dominate we did not rely on 1 and Aikman was more than happy to win SB as opposed to passing titles.

 

[Crown Royal]

I agree. Troy was not one of the big 300 yard QB of his days but that team was dominate we did not rely on 1 and Aikman was more than happy to win SB as opposed to passing titles.

I don't want to say that Romo is as good as Manning, but there is a reason that he falters in the post season and is 1-2 in super bowls. Offense is still a team sport and when you make it about one guy, you get burned. And that's with Manning. Why would we try to do the same with Romo?

 

[Doomsday101]

I don't want to say that Romo is as good as Manning, but there is a reason that he falters in the post season and is 1-2 in super bowls. Offense is still a team sport and when you make it about one guy, you get burned. And that's with Manning. Why would we try to do the same with Romo?

I think it is hard no matter who the QB is

 

[rags747]

I still say that Romo comes around this year, will only make us even more dangerous.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

As long as the team can run the ball I'm not concerned about Romo. If they somehow forget to run and put it in Romo's hands right now I would be a little nervous. He still needs game experience since he was coddled during the offseason and training camp. As long as they can keep winning then it was a good decision by the coaching and training staff. Hopefully by game number 4 or 5 he will start to look like his old self.

Any defense worth it's salt can stop the run by committing more players to the LOS, at that point Romo will have to make them pay,,, whether or not he can is the big question!

 

[CCBoy]

What a base of information to grow with. Thank you Mr. Sturm...

I'm wondering just where our new Offensive Coordinator will lead this team towards.

Head count at the line of scrimmage is an easy matter, especially in a system that always pushes the time and it's own agenda at changing looks.

I'm anxious to watch the changes with opponents coming up...and some early successes by other teams against current 'favorites' will add to the concealed ambushes that the Cowboys will be launching theirselves.