The early conundrum facing Cowboys coaches

[erod]

Now is when this defense is going to rear its ugly head.

Cowboys coaches have a dilemma. They've got to dumb down this offense to a rookie level and figure out a way to run the ball and win. Pittsburgh did that with Roethlisberger when he was a rookie by giving him about a 18-pitch limit in the passing game. The Cowboys must do the same.

On one hand, this is the PERFECT offense to accomplish this. A tremendous offensive line and two formidable running backs should make this doable. Then, when Dak drops back, he's got Dez and Witten to lean on, and he's got his legs.

Sounds like a solid plan.

However, unlike Roethlisberger, Dak doesn't have a defense to lean on. He's going to have to probably outscore his opponents, so he doesn't get the luxury of a rookie gameplan as much. And he's NEVER seent the types of defenses he's about to. Defensive coordinators can break a QB down to his weaknesses pretty readily until they have none.

If Dallas can't churn out first downs in mass early in the running game, Dak isn't ready for a Romo game where he's calling out defensive blitzes at the line of scrimmage and reading coverages. Dak will be very limited, and he's ripe for the bear trap laid out for him.

These first 4-6 games will rest on Rod Marinelli to pull a rabbit out of his backside. His unit won't have Romo to cover up all the ugly on that side of the ball.

 

[phildadon86]

Now is when this defense is going to rear its ugly head.

Cowboys coaches have a dilemma. They've got to dumb down this offense to a rookie level and figure out a way to run the ball and win. Pittsburgh did that with Roethlisberger when he was a rookie by giving him about a 18-pitch limit in the passing game. The Cowboys must do the same.

On one hand, this is the PERFECT offense to accomplish this. A tremendous offensive line and two formidable running backs should make this doable. Then, when Dak drops back, he's got Dez and Witten to lean on, and he's got his legs.

Sounds like a solid plan.

However, unlike Roethlisberger, Dak doesn't have a defense to lean on. He's going to have to probably outscore his opponents, so he doesn't get the luxury of a rookie gameplan as much. And he's NEVER seent the types of defenses he's about to. Defensive coordinators can break a QB down to his weaknesses pretty readily until they have none.

If Dallas can't churn out first downs in mass early in the running game, Dak isn't ready for a Romo game where he's calling out defensive blitzes at the line of scrimmage and reading coverages. Dak will be very limited, and he's ripe for the bear trap laid out for him.

These first 4-6 games will rest on Rod Marinelli to pull a rabbit out of his backside. His unit won't have Romo to cover up all the ugly on that side of the ball.

I agree with almost everything, but listening to interviews of both Romo and Fredbeard, it seems that a lot of things are told to Romo by our All-Pro center. So hopefully Dak isnt in a position to make all of those reads and adjustments on his own. Now im not taking anything away from Romo because he is great at getting players in the right positions and changing plays to get first downs, I am just saying Fredbeard is good as well. To be honest, i dont really think our D is going to be all that bad. Our 1s stopped a very good seattle offense. With all of that being said, one thing i have to be happy about is that there really isnt a whole lot of NFL tape on Dak to dissect him and figure out his weaknesses unless they go to college tape, in which case he was almost unstoppable at times. So for the first few weeks, teams wont really have a book on him to form defensive gameplans. Just my opinion.

 

[Aven8]

If Dak can do half as well as he has this PS we should score a lot. I think he's scored on 10 of his 11 possessions. That is nuts!

 

[The Quest for Six]

If this offensive line is so "tremendous", then why is our starting quarterback suffering broken bones constantly

 

[CouchCoach]

We are going to have to score points because of our defense and the need to put pressure on their offense to take risks.

This game will all come down to mistakes. We have to make the mouth breather make more than Dak. Their OL is not good so long drives will be a challenge. But their skill players can make the quick scores and if we give him time, he will find the receivers.

The real dilemma, to me, lies with Marinelli. Does he play it safe, bend don't break, and make them make long drives and hope they make a mistake or does he get more aggressive and try and force the mistakes with blitzes and leave his secondary exposed. Obviously, the flow of the game will dictate some of that and it's not an easy decision.

That said, with the problems on that OL, I would crash that party with blitzes out the wazoo and take my chances with them getting some scores but I would not let the mouth breather catch his breath. This wouldn't work against every team, like the Skins for instance, but against the Giants and that OL, I'd bring it all day long.

 

[Daillest88]

If this offensive line is so "tremendous", then why is our starting quarterback suffering broken bones constantly

Because Romo is fragile. The play in Seattle he didn't get hit until 9 seconds into the play. Romo doesn't know how to slide or throw the ball away.

 

[erod]

I agree with almost everything, but listening to interviews of both Romo and Fredbeard, it seems that a lot of things are told to Romo by our All-Pro center. So hopefully Dak isnt in a position to make all of those reads and adjustments on his own. Now im not taking anything away from Romo because he is great at getting players in the right positions and changing plays to get first downs, I am just saying Fredbeard is good as well. To be honest, i dont really think our D is going to be all that bad. Our 1s stopped a very good seattle offense. With all of that being said, one thing i have to be happy about is that there really isnt a whole lot of NFL tape on Dak to dissect him and figure out his weaknesses unless they go to college tape, in which case he was almost unstoppable at times. So for the first few weeks, teams wont really have a book on him to form defensive gameplans. Just my opinion.

Frederick doesn't read coverages.

 

[JDSmith]

Because Romo is fragile. The play in Seattle he didn't get hit until 9 seconds into the play. Romo doesn't know how to slide or throw the ball away.

He was hit 4 seconds after the ball was snapped.

 

[NEODOG]

It''s all about getting off the field on 3rd down with this D, last year we were terrible in the 4th

 

[DoctorChicken]

If this offensive line is so "tremendous", then why is our starting quarterback suffering broken bones constantly

If you're insinuating that our offensive line isn't tremendous, then you're kinda wrong.

 

[Daillest88]

He was hit 4 seconds after the ball was snapped.

True but he still doesn't know how to slide

 

[noshame]

Dak will be running plays that Romo hasn't been able to , we'll score early and often

 

[Crown Royal]

Everything I hear about Dak is that he is committed to learning, which is good. Weeden had all the passing talent in the world but couldn't make a pre-snap read or understand coverage. If Dak can at least be trusted to make a single play check at the line, we're in better shape.

 

[DFWJC]

Because Romo is fragile. The play in Seattle he didn't get hit until 9 seconds into the play. Romo doesn't know how to slide or throw the ball away.

 

[DallasCowboys2080]

i hope they don't play too conservative with DAK. they played in safe mode with the other QBs other than Romo last season and looked what happened.

The coaching staff needs to adjust the offense around DAK. not the other way around. This is on JG not Marinelli. If JG can't get it done he need to go. But the cowboys will probably singled out another scapegoat and can Marinelli if this doesnt work out. No more canned excuses for JG. This is put up or shut up time. JG apologists have no more excuses.

 

[erod]

Dak will be running plays that Romo hasn't been able to , we'll score early and often

Wow, Dak has absolutely no idea how to read an NFL defense. Everything is disguised. In college, it's as vanilla as can be. Dak doesn't understand the zone concepts of the NFL quite yet. He will, but not yet.

I expect a lot of packages for quick throws. Look for Zeke and Morris/Dunbar to be in the game at the same time. Get the ball out in space to backs and run a lot of screens. Defenses can't scheme that with anything elaborate.

 

[erod]

i hope they don't play too conservative with DAK. they played in safe mode with the other QBs other than Romo last season and looked what happened.

The coaching staff needs to adjust the offense around DAK. not the other way around. This is on JG not Marinelli. If JG can't get it done he need to go. But the cowboys will probably singled out another scapegoat and can Marinelli if this doesnt work out. No more canned excuses for JG. This is put up or shut up time. JG apologists have no more excuses.

Uh, Linehan is the offensive coordinator, not Garrett.

The defense has to hold opponents under 24. Period.

 

[RS12]

ugly head.

Cowboys coaches have a dilemma. They've got to dumb down this offense to a rookie level and figure out a way to run the ball and win.

I think they only need to have balance. This is where a really skilled play caller comes in handy to keep the other side guessing.

 

[DogFace]

This offense will be explosive. Then we will have the welcome problem of a mini QB controversy. It'll work itself out.

 

[DallasCowboys2080]

Uh, Linehan is the offensive coordinator, not Garrett.

The defense has to hold opponents under 24. Period.

i know this. but Garrett is the HC. It should all fall on him. He is the one consistent in this team other than the GM. If you can't get your team in a position to win its on your HC no matter how many parts you move underneath you.