I'm really struggling with Big Mike.
Here's why.
To start the year, he insisted on running a very outdated version of his West Coast offense. Quick passing game, run heavy, 90s offense that was rather pedestrian.
They got smoked by the 9ers with it, BUT he changed. He went much more heavy with Brian Schottenheimer's offense, that features TE's and a more vertical passing game. Similar to what you saw in Seattle with Russ but he is truely letting Dak "Cook".
This offense is so, soooo, much better that Kellen's. Especially mid game. In season's past we'd be great on our first 15 of the 1/2 but really stall out mid game. This offense is always attacking. I love it. Watching the QB school and the all 22, it's really impressive on how they are attacking defenses and Dak is really humming along with it.
But for all that positive from Big Mike, he still makes TERRIBLE decisions with "in-game management". e.g. Passing up on FGs when he should take the points, passing when he should run, clock management stuff, just bone head stuff that will cost us in the playoffs or against good teams.
I know other teams hire guys to help the HC with this stuff, do we not have someone, can we get someone?
It's a real killer!
to your point, the offense is so much better, although there are elements of Moore offense in there. however, I have always argued, its not about the individual routes, etc. as every offense runs every route, but its the combination of routes you run to stress a defense. with Moore offense we weren't stressing the defense, now with play calling, route combination and pre-snap we are really stressing the defense. we are attacking all 9 passing zones (not every play of course) but we are attacking as many zones as possible with the recievers in each play, which spreads the defense and stresses a defense.
I also like what I have seen in these past few games. they really stress a defense by attacking deep, forcing defenders to play with their backs to LOS. but last night they showed something different. in the past teams dared dallas to drive length of the field having long drives and knowing Dallas will fail more than succeed. but now, specially against Seattle and somewhat against Philly, we showed patience. we still attacked deep and all over the field, but took a lot of underneath stuff, drove length of the field with 10,12, 14 play drives. and cashed in. that makes this offense even harder to defend.
with all that said, I hated the brain farts against Seattle. not calling a time out, when clock was running down. that's Coaches job. he called it, but called it too late. I mean come on. and then on the 3rd and 3, with less than 2 minutes to go and the lead, he called a pass play instead of a run play killing the clock as much as possible. I didn't mind the 4th down call so much. it would have worked if your best WR wouldn't drop the pass.
perhaps he was thinking to go for the kill and not settle. maybe it was a message to the team. but it wasn't very smart.
yeah, his in game management needs some work.
