The playcalling is so much better right now

[DC Cowboy]

More than anything, it is simply the execution. We aren't having multiple busts on every play. Guys are doing their assignments and everyone looks better. Linnehan's playcalling has been inspired at times...there were a few weird series though. What I am liking is that he is not just giving in and playing everything by the book. The plays to Lucky were just flat out great calls. Seems like we are adding a new wrinkle every week as well. A lack of dumb penalties has been a big deal as well....we are not shooting ourselves in the foot generally speaking.

man I really like that diamond formation to the left and trying to hit Butler on the slant. Now it didn't work BUT it forced the whole secondary to shift away from Butler and that is something we never seen before. IF Dak would have made a better throw it would have worked to perfection.

 

[DallasCowboys2080]

Running definitely makes the play-calling easier, but I've been impressed with some of the creativity. Take near the end of the half. We're backed up near our goal line with two minutes left and it looks like we're going to pit our running game against Green Bay's front to try to run the clock out and not give the ball back to the Packers. After two runs get us near a first down, we pop a quick jet sweep to Whitehead and it breaks to the 40-yard line, giving us a chance to go for points at the end of the half.

The conservative call would have been to just hand it off again. The Garrett call, if Romo were in, would have been to put it on him to pass for a first down. The call Linehan was great and clearly unexpected. We've seen a lot of those this year both because the running game sets them up and because Linehan doesn't just choose to play it safe.

Of course, like you said, this isn't really new. If anybody looks back at 2014 when we were running the ball this well, Linehan also was making great calls.

linehan (and whoever else) used misdirection/deception and xploited bad matchups on that play. they xploited GB'sNo. 36, LaDarius Gunter. " The Cowboys saw the Packers did not have Sam Shields. They also did not have Quinten Rollins. They then lost Damarious Randall on that play in the second quarter. So Gunter is their fourth corner and the Baylor basketball player, Demetri Goodson, is their fifth -- and both were playing all day."

they took advantage of that on that series and scored quick n easy

 

[zrinkill]

Its better because Tony is not changing the play.

 

[ejthedj]

Cmon my man. We are getting up early instead of down 10. We come out at half time and actually make adjustments. We are setting people up. All this with a rookie QB and with Dez out.

None of this was happening or being done well while Garrett was in control of the offense the first 8 years with Garrett.

What is it exactly that you think Garrett is doing well? What is Garrett's role on game day?

What has Garret done well? How about -- He built this whole thing. The organizational culture. The identity. We know who we are for the first time in 2 decades. Everyone speaks Garrett-talk. And it rubs off. The players fight. They bounce back. They get better. They practice hard. They love one another. Even last year, it was amazing the team didn't implode worse. They fought and came a bounce or two away from a shot at the playoffs anyway. Any other cowboy team of the past 2 decades would have imploded, going into that season with such high expectations.

In the past three years, the proof is in the pudding. Garret is the answer.

 

[ConstantReboot]

We started Kellen Moore last year way after Garrett went out and got Cassel, after his bum Weeden looked lost. Moore himself, in the game planning, was doing a lot more by design than either the other two. Moore was a Linehan guy. Beasley was actually better the last half of the season last year and was awful the first half, when Cassel and Weeden were in. We are clearly different, not only in the amount of play-action we run, but with Zeke lining up on the outside multiple times.

That being said, to emphasize once again, with Romo coming back, this will technically be his second year in a Linehan offense. 2013 was effectively the year from which they started the move away from Garrett and Romo started to get involved in game-planning. Linehan come in 2014 and Romo had a record year in his first year with Linehan. Last year he was injured early, but our OL also was hurt with Martin and they played awul the first two games. They also looked pretty average the beginning of this season, particularly run-blocking and Free absolutely sucked. They've definitely settled into their groove with Leary back as well.

We will see how it goes now...

Finally...

Garrett's playcalling had certainly hampered this offense for a long time including Romo. This is why Romo kept changing the plays before the snap - because Garrett never seemed to have a sense of what the defense is doing and how to take advantage of it.

We are fortunate that Linehan is calling the plays and that Garrett is nothing more than a walk around coach - giving praises to players and butt slaps when they do a good job. I prefer him to be just that and let Linehan and Marinelli run the show.

 

[CATCH17]

Its better because Tony is not changing the play.

They said after last offseason that they were going to add wrinkles to the offense based on the performance of the 2015 season.


Romo needed to change plays last year because they were lost without him.

They finally decided this year that they may actually have to coach.

 

[CowboyRoy]

What has Garret done well? How about -- He built this whole thing. The organizational culture. The identity. We know who we are for the first time in 2 decades. Everyone speaks Garrett-talk. And it rubs off. The players fight. They bounce back. They get better. They practice hard. They love one another. Even last year, it was amazing the team didn't implode worse. They fought and came a bounce or two away from a shot at the playoffs anyway. Any other cowboy team of the past 2 decades would have imploded, going into that season with such high expectations.

In the past three years, the proof is in the pudding. Garret is the answer.

So Garrett does everything here?

Who knew?

 

[ejthedj]

So Garrett does everything here?

Who knew?

He built the structure, the organizational identity. He created a team atmosphere where everyone can thrive

 

[dallasdave]

On Mike and Mike just now, a guest they had (forgot who his name was, some analysist) said that with Romo out, the coaching staff is now having to actually coach -- as Romo did his own thing, and the coaching staff could sit back -- That Dak even makes the staff better. Not just his players. This is so true, Dak is transcendent across our team, improving everybody, whether directly, or by osmosis, players and coaches, alike.

In the GDT thread yesterday, I thought the game balls should have gone to Linehan and Marinelli (one poster scoffed).

Great OP, @CATCH17. Credit where it is due, brother.

 

[CowboyRoy]

He built the structure, the organizational identity. He created a team atmosphere where everyone can thrive

Yah whatever. If you want to believe that, enjoy. Did he build it all last year too?

Im not going to rain on your parade.