Tanier: Tuesday Morning Digest: The Art of Postseason Peaking

[JD_KaPow]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ots-packers-and-the-art-of-postseason-peaking

Not a lot of Cowboys content, but I sure do agree with this:

• "Injuries are real. Fatigue is real. Momentum is magical fairytale storytelling nonsense, especially when talking about events that take place weeks apart, like football games (as opposed to, say, back-and-forth possessions in a college basketball game). Risking important starters to injury in the name of "momentum" is like driving without your seat belt because your parents did it without getting seriously injured and you hope to keep the streak going.

• "The two most important Cowboys players were in college last year. College players are accustomed to not playing for several weeks, then ramping back up for bowls or championship games. They are not used to the fatigue of a 16-game season or playing into late January and February. Exposing both of them to injury and exhaustion because you like the "rhythm" of your offense is old-school silliness. But you do you, Jason Garrett."

And there's this...

"Offensive Line of the Year: Dallas Cowboys

"By the way, "Offensive Line of the Year" is an NFL Honors award now, with Ford as the official sponsor. Someone should get these guys a fleet of F-150s, but Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott are still in the John Deere 4x4 tax bracket. Paging Tony Romo!"

 

[percyhoward]

Tanier hated this play call too.

 

[btcutter]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ots-packers-and-the-art-of-postseason-peaking

Not a lot of Cowboys content, but I sure do agree with this:

• "Injuries are real. Fatigue is real. Momentum is magical fairytale storytelling nonsense, especially when talking about events that take place weeks apart, like football games (as opposed to, say, back-and-forth possessions in a college basketball game). Risking important starters to injury in the name of "momentum" is like driving without your seat belt because your parents did it without getting seriously injured and you hope to keep the streak going.

• "The two most important Cowboys players were in college last year. College players are accustomed to not playing for several weeks, then ramping back up for bowls or championship games. They are not used to the fatigue of a 16-game season or playing into late January and February. Exposing both of them to injury and exhaustion because you like the "rhythm" of your offense is old-school silliness. But you do you, Jason Garrett."

And there's this...

"Offensive Line of the Year: Dallas Cowboys

"By the way, "Offensive Line of the Year" is an NFL Honors award now, with Ford as the official sponsor. Someone should get these guys a fleet of F-150s, but Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott are still in the John Deere 4x4 tax bracket. Paging Tony Romo!"

From a guy who's never coached ? Ever?

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

Tanier hated this play call too.

Did seem a bit of a waste to trot it out in a meaningless game in which the team was already leading. Putting it on tape will likely prevent its use in a more meaningful context. Like, say, the playoffs.

 

[MSCowboyFan]

BINGO:

• "Injuries are real. Fatigue is real. Momentum is magical fairytale storytelling nonsense, especially when talking about events that take place weeks apart, like football games (as opposed to, say, back-and-forth possessions in a college basketball game). Risking important starters to injury in the name of "momentum" is like driving without your seat belt because your parents did it without getting seriously injured and you hope to keep the streak going.

I've been saying this for two weeks and LOTS of guys in here think the opposite. Narrowly missed a devastating injury to T. Smith last night and Brown apparently got a concussion. Nice win, now with Smith out next week lets see what Sanchez, DMC, Morris and ALL our 2nd and 3rd stringers can do vs. the Eagles.

 

[MSCowboyFan]

Did seem a bit of a waste to trot it out in a meaningless game in which the team was already leading. Putting it on tape will likely prevent its use in a more meaningful context. Like, say, the playoffs.

Disagree....gives them something else to prep for and worry about.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

• "The two most important Cowboys players were in college last year. College players are accustomed to not playing for several weeks, then ramping back up for bowls or championship games. They are not used to the fatigue of a 16-game season or playing into late January and February. Exposing both of them to injury and exhaustion because you like the "rhythm" of your offense is old-school silliness. But you do you, Jason Garrett."

And you do you, Tanier. Obviously you have a better feel for how exhausted Dak and Zeke are. Unlike Garrett, you get to see them practice every day, right?

 

[JakeCamp12]

Did seem a bit of a waste to trot it out in a meaningless game in which the team was already leading. Putting it on tape will likely prevent its use in a more meaningful context. Like, say, the playoffs.

My guess is the reason they did it now is that there are also other variations on that play that they will use later if the situation presents itself.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

Disagree....gives them something else to prep for and worry about.

It will be justified if a called reverse to Dez results in a big play because opponents are overplaying the possibility of a pass. Linehan sometimes puts things on tape in order to exploit an overreaction by future opponents. Still, the play worked so beautifully that it seems a shame it was used in an essentially meaningless situation.

 

[CATCH17]

I think post season peaking is a bunch of BS and I would love to see how it has correlated in the past with post season success.

I know it didn't help us in 2014.


What matters is creating the opportunity and performing in the actual playoff game. We've done that. Last night was great but I don't believe for 1 second it matters a bit against whoever we play in a few weeks.

 

[DoctorChicken]

Did seem a bit of a waste to trot it out in a meaningless game in which the team was already leading. Putting it on tape will likely prevent its use in a more meaningful context. Like, say, the playoffs.

The Cowboys haven't revealed their real secret weapon yet, though - the deadly screen pass to Doug Free.

 

[NextGenBoys]

Anyone who thinks momentum and rhythm isn't real never played or coached.

It's real and it's one of the biggest factors to success

 

[Seven]

Tanier hated this play call too.

GREAT call but I kinda wished they'd have saved that for the playoffs.

Oh well....Maybe they'll disguise it differently.

 

[percyhoward]

GREAT call but I kinda wished they'd have saved that for the playoffs.

Oh well....Maybe they'll disguise it differently.

Or run something else out of that same look.

 

[percyhoward]

Linehan sometimes puts things on tape in order to exploit an overreaction by future opponents. Still, the play worked so beautifully that it seems a shame it was used in an essentially meaningless situation.

Dez said they'd run the play four times in practice and it only worked twice. For all we know, this play sets up a different play that has worked every time they've practiced it.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

Dez said they'd run the play four times in practice and it only worked twice. For all we know, this play sets up a different play that has worked every time they've practiced it.

Think it's likely that this play does set up one or more variations. Just would have preferred to benefit meaningfully both from the play itself and from whatever other play(s) it sets ups.

 

[percyhoward]

Think it's likely that this play does set up one or more variations. Just would have preferred to benefit meaningfully both from the play itself and from whatever other play(s) it sets ups.

He might have been taking advantage of the fact that it was a meaningless game though.

 

[Gameover]

Tanier hated this play call too.

I would actually agree with him on this play. I wouldn't label it as "pulling out all the stops"... but I would've saved it for a Championship game.

And I cant stand this guy.

 

[slomoxn]

Anyone who thinks momentum and rhythm isn't real never played or coached.

It's real and it's one of the biggest factors to success

Agreed, they should go back and look at the Giants last two Super Bowl runs.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Agreed, they should go back and look at the Giants last two Super Bowl runs.

For every example like that (and those are usually much more about health than anything else), there are plenty like the Ravens team that lost four of their last five, limped into the playoffs and won the SB.