CFZ The Cowboys and Complimentary Football

[kskboys]

It’s only trending that way lately because of all the folks with a lot more knowledge than most here start coming out and saying what I, and several others, have been saying for a long time now.

Nope. Most fans agree it was both, you must be listening to the Dakspatters, those who just go on and on and on complaining and whining about what others think.

 

[thunderpimp91]

And it was so predictable. We had a comp back as our main back. Just so dumb.

And now we have the back we didn’t even want and lost our starting C and LT. I just don’t see it improving much this year.

 

[Chuck 54]

I would also add that there’s a complimentary football component within the 3 phases.

On offense, if you can’t pass, it’s harder to run because the defense can stack the box. If you can’t run, it’s harder to pass because the defense anticipates and loads up on the pass.

On defense, what good is a stout run defense if you can’t cover (Eagles last year)? What good is an excellent secondary and pass rush, if you can’t stop the run (Dallas last year)?

On special teams, how much does a great punter who flips the field help you if your kicker can’t make field goals.

Drilling down, what good is an elite QB if your receivers stink or your OL can’t protect? What good is having an elite RB if the OL can’t open holes or an elite receiver if the OL can’t provide time or the QB can’t deliver the ball?

You are 100% correct on CF, and it relates to every facet and even every play the coordinator calls on offense or defense.
Football is the ultimate team sport. You cannot defeat the best teams, especially in the playoffs, when your offense and defense are one dimensional because a one dimensional defense will not hold up when you need them, and a one dimensional offense will not deliver consistently vs good teams. Last year we had no run game or run defense. That put a ton of pressure on both the offense and defense vs top, more balanced teams.

I think we finally took steps in the draft to fix this with multiple OL picks and defensive selections targeting the run defense, but we are likely still a year away from real complementary football.

 

[Cowboys5217]

And now we have the back we didn’t even want and lost our starting C and LT. I just don’t see it improving much this year.

It will be very bad this season, and I suspect Jerry will make a panic trade of high picks for a mid level back because of it.

As it stands right now teams should just take away the passing game and dare the Cowboys to beat them with the run.

 

[Bobhaze]

I would also add that there’s a complimentary football component within the 3 phases.

On offense, if you can’t pass, it’s harder to run because the defense can stack the box. If you can’t run, it’s harder to pass because the defense anticipates and loads up on the pass.

On defense, what good is a stout run defense if you can’t cover (Eagles last year)? What good is an excellent secondary and pass rush, if you can’t stop the run (Dallas last year)?

On special teams, how much does a great punter who flips the field help you if your kicker can’t make field goals.

Drilling down, what good is an elite QB if your receivers stink or your OL can’t protect? What good is having an elite RB if the OL can’t open holes or an elite receiver if the OL can’t provide time or the QB can’t deliver the ball?

You are 100% correct on CF, and it relates to every facet and even every play the coordinator calls on offense or defense.
Football is the ultimate team sport. You cannot defeat the best teams, especially in the playoffs, when your offense and defense are one dimensional because a one dimensional defense will not hold up when you need them, and a one dimensional offense will not deliver consistently vs good teams. Last year we had no run game or run defense. That put a ton of pressure on both the offense and defense vs top, more balanced teams.

I think we finally took steps in the draft to fix this with multiple OL picks and defensive selections targeting the run defense, but we are likely still a year away from real complementary football.

Chuck your statement is SO TRUE:, “You cannot defeat the best teams, especially in the playoffs, when your offense and defense are one dimensional because a one dimensional defense will not hold up when you need them, and a one dimensional offense will not deliver consistently vs good teams.“

 

[Diehardblues]

It’s only trending that way lately because of all the folks with a lot more knowledge than most here start coming out and saying what I, and several others, have been saying for a long time now.

I think it’s always been there . At least for most fans I’m close to or follow. I stay away from most of the noise which often dominates the airwaves which usually represents a vocal minority.

 

[jazzcat22]

Coaching can't make a 200 pound LB suddenly weigh 250.

Wow, ridiculous.
The 200 pound LB’s left with Quinn.

 

[Diehardblues]

Chuck your statement is SO TRUE:, “You cannot defeat the best teams, especially in the playoffs, when your offense and defense are one dimensional because a one dimensional defense will not hold up when you need them, and a one dimensional offense will not deliver consistently vs good teams.“

Yea, our offense and defense were ranked high mostly because of our lopsided wins.

There were many fans who warned that we weren’t a legit 2nd seed. And our hype was based mostly on these wins against lesser teams.

I wasn’t surprised GB beat us. Just disappointed we were blown out.

 

[Diehardblues]

It will be very bad this season, and I suspect Jerry will make a panic trade of high picks for a mid level back because of it.

As it stands right now teams should just take away the passing game and dare the Cowboys to beat them with the run.

Or if we don’t sign Dak , just let him and MM crash and burn supporting not getting a deal done.

Now if we resign Dak then he could make a desperate trade like he did in 2018 to try and save the season.

My hunch is running game will sputter and will be placed on Dak and passing game. He gets hurt and season over.

 

[Typhus]

This.
Times 100.
If we are not gonna get back to effective running on offense in order to rest a defense that lacks physicality, then we will continue to lose the way we always have when facing above .500/playoff level teams.
The team's history of statistical numbers reflect how when we are able to run effectively directly influences wins.

If we can run the ball and sustain TOP and thus therefore keep it out of strong opponent offenses, we can win with a just "good enough" defense.

The primary reason we can't do this is the coaching/run blocking of this o-line. All the while telling us the lie of Run the damn ball and rest the defense.

To me, too much emphasis of this OP's complimentary term is ignoring how much better an average defense like ours would look so much h better if the offense complimented the defense with effective running.

If we can't stop the run BUT can still be effective running ourselves, it changes the whole dynamic of not stopping the run AND not being able to run.
That's my definition of complimentary football for this team especially.

This coach already preached on this aforementioned blueprint to complimentary team success.
Him and his assistants just don't know how to coach it, ie proper run game.

jmo
 

Yes indeed, having advantage in TOP requires a solid running offense, without it and poor 3rd down execution, a decent DL gets worn down.
With a solid running game and good execution resulting in TOP = rested DL, even an average DL plays decent enough.

 

[SlammedZero]

Chiefs are absolutely stacked on D.

Definitely, but Spagnuolo definitely deserves his flowers. He's had several defenses heat up through the NFL playoffs.

 

[kskboys]

And now we have the back we didn’t even want and lost our starting C and LT. I just don’t see it improving much this year.

For that to happen we'd have to have several rooks play at a high level.

 

[kskboys]

Definitely, but Spagnuolo definitely deserves his flowers. He's had several defenses heat up through the NFL playoffs.

Not to mention that they Chiefs were ranked 2nd on D during the season. The Chiefs went to more of a ball control O/D team, and BLAM!!! 2 consecutive super bowl wins.

 

[kskboys]

Wow, ridiculous.
The 200 pound LB’s left with Quinn.

Not sure what you mean by ridiculous. I thought we were discussing coaching?

 

[GMO415]

Apparently there are multiple definitions of the term “complimentary football”. For purposes of this discussion, I’m going to define CF as the ability of the three phases of the team - offense, defense and STs - to help each other to do whatever it takes to win football games.

Here are some examples of what I mean:

• If your offense is stalled early in the game and cannot move the ball, the defense must step up their game to keep the the opposing offense from scoring, getting a turnover or at least holding them to FGs.
• If the defense is playing well early, it should inspire the other two phases to play well.
• If the offense takes the opening kickoff and scores a TD, the defense can compliment that by forcing a punt from the opponent.
• If the offense is struggling, STs can step up and make plays on punt coverage, cause a TO or even make a long FG to give the team momentum when most needed.

A great example of complimentary football was provided in last year’s SB:

• The chiefs 5 possessions in the first half were - punt, punt, punt, fumble then a FG at end of the half.
• The chiefs defense stepped up. Despite getting gashed early by the niners offense, the chiefs D kept them in the game by forcing an early fumble and holding the niners to only 10 points, giving Mahomes and the chiefs offense time to get it together.
• In the second half the chiefs offense outscored the niners 22-12.
• Without that defensive performance, the chiefs don’t win the SB.

The Cowboys had 6 losses last season including the playoff embarrassment to the pack, and in 4 of those losses, the games got out of hand early because none of the three phases could help the other to get out of their funk. In the packer game, GB took the opening KO and drove 75 yards in 12 plays. The Cowboys offense responded with a three and out. Then after forcing a packers punt, Dak threw a pick, and it’s 14-0. The offense HAD to respond. They punted.

In the second half, the Cowboys first possession resulted in a FG making it 27-10. The pack then went 75 yards in 5 plays to make it 34-10. That was a classic case of all phases of a team failing. Dak was awful. The defense was awful. STs did nothing special. No complimentary football.

The screams for a new HC, a new QB, upgrades at certain other positions won’t matter if this team cannot get better at complimentary football.

BULLET!
I can see Jerry keeping MM and letting Dak walk. MM will then pick his own QB that can run his offense. Could be Lance at this point.

 

[cowboyed]

Complimentary football will never work. It's too gentrified and patronizing. Can you imagine. CeeDee in the huddle stating to Dak: "My, your breath smells fresh and minty today."

However playing complementary football is most effective if you control the line of scrimmage on defense and offense against your opponent in any given game.

 

[75boyz]

Yes indeed, having advantage in TOP requires a solid running offense, without it and poor 3rd down execution, a decent DL gets worn down.
With a solid running game and good execution resulting in TOP = rested DL, even an average DL plays decent enough.

Yep, exactly.
You said it better and in less words, lol.
THIS is the primary problem of the team's inability to play complimentary football.

This defense CAN play good enough to win against the better teams.
But NOT if we can't run the ball.
Period.

 

[nhcowboysfan]

Ooooh, Karlaftis. I wanted him in the draft so badly, but we needed OL. As usual, Jerry had failed to keep the OL strong so we were forced yet again to go OL in the 1st. Which left beastly Karlaftis for KC to merrily jump on.

I too would have liked him on Dallas. I am of the opinion that if you have two needs - a DL and and OL - I always choose DL first, especially in the 1st round. Solid OL can be picked in later rounds. Consider the Chiefs. Not one of of their starting 5 on the OL was drafted in the 1st round. Three of them were drafted in the 2nd round, one in the 3rd round, and one in the 6th round. In Dallas, however, we seem to think that everyone on the OL has to be a first round future all-pro.

 

[kskboys]

I too would have liked him on Dallas. I am of the opinion that if you have two needs - a DL and and OL - I always choose DL first, especially in the 1st round. Solid OL can be picked in later rounds. Consider the Chiefs. Not one of of their starting 5 on the OL was drafted in the 1st round. Three of them were drafted in the 2nd round, one in the 3rd round, and one in the 6th round. In Dallas, however, we seem to think that everyone on the OL has to be a first round future all-pro.

That's because we fail badly picking them anywhere else. When was the last time we had a good OL that wasn't a first rounder?

 

[Bobhaze]

That's because we fail badly picking them anywhere else. When was the last time we had a good OL that wasn't a first rounder?

According to a USA Today article earlier this year, OL is the most likely position for success in round one with an overall success rate of over 70%. Hitting on a DT in round one is about 40%

Heres the article: https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2024...rates-from-the-best-centers-to-the-worst-wrs/