The big play, Brad Johnson & other musings

[yimyammer]

I’m no expert when it comes to x’s and o’s, but since Garrett took over, I’ve often wondered if our offense has become too dependent upon the big play. It seems like our offense almost gets in a panic when they aren’t hitting the big play. The don't seem to have developed the patience/expertise to just take a long methodical drive full of 4 to 9 yard gains. There have been times when I’ve thought “Yes!! They’re finally getting it and the offense reels off a beautiful, time-consuming drive (See Championship game against the Giants last year).

In the game against the Giants, I was thrilled they were able to have those beautiful clock eating drives. Isn’t that what every team strives for? Yet, somehow, the post mortem was that our offensive line wore down as a result.

When in the history of football has the offense been the one that wore down because they sustained long, clock eating drives that resulted in TD's?

I’m still baffled by this.

I believe we would be a better team if we were not so dependent upon the big play and if we could have long, time consuming drives resulting in TD’s. It puts pressure on the opposing teams offense to keep up, wears down the opposing teams defense (or at least that’s the theory) and keeps our defense fresh (and this is apparently very important considering that Wade said our defense wore down in the first half against the Cardinals after having played all of 11 minutes & 34 seconds, WTH???)

Aside from the importance of keeping Romo healthy, I think having Johnson play the next 2 or 3 games will force our offense to take more of a methodical approach and work the ball up the field slowly with shorter routes, various run plays and the periodic deep ball to keep the defense on its toes. This seems to be right in Check-down Johnson’s wheel house.

If Johnson can successfully manage our offense through long, clock eating drives, they’ll keep our defense off the field and in what I think may be an even greater benefit, Garret may figure out how to establish these types of game plans in the future. Hopefully Romo can learn the value of being a wee bit more conservative as well as protecting the ball in the process.

I’m just not convinced offensive juggernauts are the way to go. Consider what may rank among the three greatest team failures in NFL history (all of them were teams with great offenses):

1. The 2007 New England Patriots lost the only game that really mattered in 07
2. The 1998 Minnesota Vikings went 15-1 in the regular season but lost in the championship game and were never the same again.
3. The 2007 Dallas Cowboys were the first, 1st seed team to ever get knocked out of the playoffs in their 1st game.

Brad Johnson has been a part of 2 out of 3 of the above. Hopefully he can impart some wisdom so Romo and Garret can figure out a way to make this potent offense more consistent, eat more clock, keep our defense off the field and discourage the opponent in the process.

Now if someone can just figure out a way to keep our O-Line from getting winded in the 4th quarter, there may be hope after all.

Just one arm-chair QB’s opinion, but I’m hoping to see Brad play and pull this off.

 

[gmoney112]

i agree but it was the 2nd round last year. just nitpicking

 

[Boysboy]

I’m no expert when it comes to x’s and o’s, but since Garrett took over, I’ve often wondered if our offense has become too dependent upon the big play. It seems like our offense almost gets in a panic when they aren’t hitting the big play. The don't seem to have developed the patience/expertise to just take a long methodical drive full of 4 to 9 yard gains. There have been times when I’ve thought “Yes!! They’re finally getting it and the offense reels off a beautiful, time-consuming drive (See Championship game against the Giants last year).

In the game against the Giants, I was thrilled they were able to have those beautiful clock eating drives. Isn’t that what every team strives for? Yet, somehow, the post mortem was that our offensive line wore down as a result.

When in the history of football has the offense been the one that wore down because they sustained long, clock eating drives that resulted in TD's?

I’m still baffled by this.

I believe we would be a better team if we were not so dependent upon the big play and if we could have long, time consuming drives resulting in TD’s. It puts pressure on the opposing teams offense to keep up, wears down the opposing teams defense (or at least that’s the theory) and keeps our defense fresh (and this is apparently very important considering that Wade said our defense wore down in the first half against the Cardinals after having played all of 11 minutes & 34 seconds, WTH???)

Aside from the importance of keeping Romo healthy, I think having Johnson play the next 2 or 3 games will force our offense to take more of a methodical approach and work the ball up the field slowly with shorter routes, various run plays and the periodic deep ball to keep the defense on its toes. This seems to be right in Check-down Johnson’s wheel house.

If Johnson can successfully manage our offense through long, clock eating drives, they’ll keep our defense off the field and in what I think may be an even greater benefit, Garret may figure out how to establish these types of game plans in the future. Hopefully Romo can learn the value of being a wee bit more conservative as well as protecting the ball in the process.

I’m just not convinced offensive juggernauts are the way to go. Consider what may rank among the three greatest team failures in NFL history (all of them were teams with great offenses):

1. The 2007 New England Patriots lost the only game that really mattered in 07
2. The 1998 Minnesota Vikings went 15-1 in the regular season but lost in the championship game and were never the same again.
3. The 2007 Dallas Cowboys were the first, 1st seed team to ever get knocked out of the first round of the playoffs.

Brad Johnson has been a part of 2 out of 3 of the above. Hopefully he can impart some wisdom so Romo and Garret can figure out a way to make this potent offense more consistent, eat more clock, keep our defense off the field and discourage the opponent in the process.

Now if someone can just figure out a way to keep our O-Line from getting winded in the 4th quarter, there may be hope after all.

Just one arm-chair QB’s opinion, but I’m hoping to see Brad play and pull this off.

1) MB3 wasn't nearly as effective in the 2nd half. No-we didn't abandon the run like everyone thought we did, it was that the difference b/w the 1st and 2nd halves were that Barber was gaining 2-3(at most) yds/carry, instead of 5-6 or so.

Also-the pass rush was killed Romo in the 2nd half, UNLIKE the 1st half.

BTW-the BIGGEST criticism was NOT going after the Giants' depleted secondary.

2) Minny not making it had nothing to do with their O-it had alot to do with Gary Anderson missing his ONLY kick of the season...in the NFC Title game when it would have put them up by 2 scores late in the game. Afterwards, Atlanta tied it, and then won it in OT.

3) "The Greatest Show on Turf" Rams won it in '99.

Just a couple of points to counter your argument(which is good overall), that's all.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Sometimes I do believe that Garrett relies a bit too much on the big play and the passing game. But you are what you are in this league, I suppose, and we live and die by those sort of things.

 

[yimyammer]

1) MB3 wasn't nearly as effective in the 2nd half. No-we didn't abandon the run like everyone thought we did, it was that the difference b/w the 1st and 2nd halves were that Barber was gaining 2-3(at most) yds/carry, instead of 5-6 or so.

Also-the pass rush was killed Romo in the 2nd half, UNLIKE the 1st half.

BTW-the BIGGEST criticism was NOT going after the Giants' depleted secondary.

2) Minny not making it had nothing to do with their O-it had alot to do with Gary Anderson missing his ONLY kick of the season...in the NFC Title game when it would have put them up by 2 scores late in the game. Afterwards, Atlanta tied it, and then won it in OT.

3) "The Greatest Show on Turf" Rams won it in '99.

Just a couple of points to counter your argument(which is good overall), that's all.

No sweat, that's why I used the word may (and bolded and italicized it).

Doesn't the fact Barber was ineffective and Romo rushed give credibility to the claim that our O-Line wore down?

Why were we the ones wearing down, when it's typically the other way around?

 

[yimyammer]

i agree but it was the 2nd round last year. just nitpicking

fixed, I suck at writing. Whats the correct way to phrase this?

 

[ghst187]

i keep thinking that we're too much like the Indy Colts prior to finally getting over the hump and winning one. The Colts were too finesse, like us now. They dominated in the regular season with a high octane offense and a ton of weapons but the defense couldn't stop too many people and the offense couldn't deal with teams hitting them in the mouth, which only seemed to happen come playoff time. They couldn't play any power football. It wasn't until they learned how to play some power football on O and play tougher on defense that they finally won in the post season. We could probably take some lessons from the hard ones Indy had to learn before they could succeed in the playoffs.

 

[Boysboy]

i keep thinking that we're too much like the Indy Colts prior to finally getting over the hump and winning one. The Colts were too finesse, like us now. They dominated in the regular season with a high octane offense and a ton of weapons but the defense couldn't stop too many people and the offense couldn't deal with teams hitting them in the mouth, which only seemed to happen come playoff time. They couldn't play any power football. It wasn't until they learned how to play some power football on O and play tougher on defense that they finally won in the post season. We could probably take some lessons from the hard ones Indy had to learn before they could succeed in the playoffs.

Bob Sanders, who missed most of the season, came back for the playoffs-his presence made a HUGE difference for them. Not only their run D, but their entire D played inspired football.

Aside from that, I was surprised by how much they overcame the losses of their 2 DTs(Reagor and Simon)-for ANY team to lose TWO DL is very significant.