The problem with our pass routes

[NorthwestDallas40]

If you've watched a lot of Cowboys games, you can see that most of the routes our WRs run are "horizontal" out or crossing routes, or "comeback" routes, like curls and square ins. We run very few "vertical" routes or routes running "away" from the line of scrimmage, line posts, seams, slants. I think this needs to change for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, we never get "chunk" plays because the WRs are always running back towards the LOS. Second, we never put any stress on opponent's safeties. They can always be creeping up to stop Zeke and bracketing Dez and Beas. They just don't have to worry about turning their hips and heads and having to run vertical.

We have a running game and O line that would allow vertical routes and a playaction game that would make it work. We do need some speed at WR. But if you look at SEA passing offense, they always have guys running open down the field. And that a without an OL or running game.

Fixing this offense should not be that hard. I just hope someone can see that we need a new passing system.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

Mods, please change thread name to the problem with "our" pass routes

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Mods, please change thread name to the problem with "our" pass routes

Done.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

Done.

Thx

 

[Reality]

If you've watched a lot of Cowboys games, you can see that most of the routes our WRs run are "horizontal" out or crossing routes, or "comeback" routes, like curls and square ins. We run very few "vertical" routes or routes running "away" from the line of scrimmage, line posts, seams, slants. I think this needs to change for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, we never get "chunk" plays because the WRs are always running back towards the LOS. Second, we never put any stress on opponent's safeties. They can always be creeping up to stop Zeke and bracketing Dez and Beas. They just don't have to worry about turning their hips and heads and having to run vertical.

We have a running game and O line that would allow vertical routes and a playaction game that would make it work. We do need some speed at WR. But if you look at SEA passing offense, they always have guys running open down the field. And that a without an OL or running game.

Fixing this offense should not be that hard. I just hope someone can see that we need a new passing system.

I've been complaining about this for years. Our receivers run horizontal or come back routes which make it much easier on the defense to defend against. It also allows the defense to creep toward the line as they know most routes will happen within 10-12 yards of the line of scrimmage.

 

[Nova]

Pardon my French, but our pass offense design is doo doo

 

[Clove]

I've been complaining about this for years. Our receivers run horizontal or come back routes which make it much easier on the defense to defend against. It also allows the defense to creep toward the line as they know most routes will happen within 10-12 yards of the line of scrimmage.

Staple of the 90s offense with Irvin leading the charge. However, this is 2017

 

[sbark]

Staple of the 90s offense with Irvin leading the charge. However, this is 2017

was always just enough alvin harper over the top, or M.Irvin going vertical along sidelines to keep them honest.......

 

[Clove]

was always just enough alvin harper over the top, or M.Irvin going vertical along sidelines to keep them honest.......

Yes, but the difference is, and Garrett doesn't understand this, they would run their offense from under center and not from the shotgun. You never knew what they were going to do from that alignment. You NEVER saw Aikman in an empty set and you never would. Back then, the team running that specialized offense was Buffalo, and they were high-scoring. So how in the world did Dallas crucify them 52-17?

When you run these shotguns, these empties, they hurt when you are a run first team.

 

[sbark]

Yes, but the difference is, and Garrett doesn't understand this, they would run their offense from under center and not from the shotgun. You never knew what they were going to do from that alignment. You NEVER saw Aikman in an empty set and you never would. Back then, the team running that specialized offense was Buffalo, and they were high-scoring. So how in the world did Dallas crucify them 52-17?

When you run these shotguns, these empties, they hurt when you are a run first team.

I can buy that, but is that a shortcoming of Dak and his college days as a system QB from the shotgun..........footwork deficiency?

 

[jobberone]

I thought we ran more vertical than horizontal routes now.

 

[xwalker]

I can buy that, but is that a shortcoming of Dak and his college days as a system QB from the shotgun..........footwork deficiency?

They did the same stuff with Romo.

 

[Clove]

I can buy that, but is that a shortcoming of Dak and his college days as a system QB from the shotgun..........footwork deficiency?

Hard to tell if you're not teaching him or staying on top of his deficiencies. Obviously they are not because it's quite apparent that Romo was Dak's QB coach last year. Remember, Dak was throwing down field way more last year than this with Romo behind him.

 

[sbark]

They did the same stuff with Romo.

Dak, for now, has lost the ability, the instinct to see a receiver that is going to break into a Open zone before it happens, he doesnt trust what the scheme is giving him (clearout routes etc).......he either has lost confidence in the scheme or in himself.........

Many stories of Romo "sandlotting" inside the scheme to get what he wanted.......

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

I've seen better design in college intramural flag football leagues, and I am being totally serious.

 

[TheHerd]

I've seen better design in college intramural flag football leagues, and I am being totally serious.

I play in a huge touch football tournament every Thanksgiving weekend, and the route combos are far more sophisticated than the Cowboys. At least we run a few rub routes.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

If you've watched a lot of Cowboys games, you can see that most of the routes our WRs run are "horizontal" out or crossing routes, or "comeback" routes, like curls and square ins. We run very few "vertical" routes or routes running "away" from the line of scrimmage, line posts, seams, slants. I think this needs to change for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, we never get "chunk" plays because the WRs are always running back towards the LOS. Second, we never put any stress on opponent's safeties. They can always be creeping up to stop Zeke and bracketing Dez and Beas. They just don't have to worry about turning their hips and heads and having to run vertical.

We have a running game and O line that would allow vertical routes and a playaction game that would make it work. We do need some speed at WR. But if you look at SEA passing offense, they always have guys running open down the field. And that a without an OL or running game.

Fixing this offense should not be that hard. I just hope someone can see that we need a new passing system.

You need a real coach for that

 

[xwalker]

Dak, for now, has lost the ability, the instinct to see a receiver that is going to break into a Open zone before it happens, he doesnt trust what the scheme is giving him (clearout routes etc).......he either has lost confidence in the scheme or in himself.........

Many stories of Romo "sandlotting" inside the scheme to get what he wanted.......

I do think the theory that Romo helped the OC/Dak last season has some merit.

I'm convinced that a big problem is that the majority of play designs have Dez as the primary target. Dez rarely gets open and Dak then has limited time to find other options.

When TWill is the primary they tend to have success but TWill can't catch short passes because the ball is on him before he can react.

Beasley can beat single man coverage or zone for about 5 yards when the other routes keep his area clear of defenders; however, on 3rd downs defenses started playing him man with a help defender inside. Normally the slot CB has to try to cover either an inside or outside route (2-way go) but with inside help can just break on the outside route. Beasley's success was because he could win on those 2-way go options against slot CBs but defenses took that away.

On 3rd and long defenses are not worried about Witten and Beasley catching it short and getting Yards After the Catch. There was a play (Raiders game IIRC) where the defender in man coverage on Witten completely dropped Witten in the flat to get back and double the WR behind him. That would not happen if the defender had any concern about Witten getting YAC. It's similar with Beasley.

 

[Nightman]

If you've watched a lot of Cowboys games, you can see that most of the routes our WRs run are "horizontal" out or crossing routes, or "comeback" routes, like curls and square ins. We run very few "vertical" routes or routes running "away" from the line of scrimmage, line posts, seams, slants. I think this needs to change for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, we never get "chunk" plays because the WRs are always running back towards the LOS. Second, we never put any stress on opponent's safeties. They can always be creeping up to stop Zeke and bracketing Dez and Beas. They just don't have to worry about turning their hips and heads and having to run vertical.

We have a running game and O line that would allow vertical routes and a playaction game that would make it work. We do need some speed at WR. But if you look at SEA passing offense, they always have guys running open down the field. And that a without an OL or running game.

Fixing this offense should not be that hard. I just hope someone can see that we need a new passing system.

Preach

It is like we have to fight for every inch and the other teams are running free
It is the worst parts of the West Coast offense, mixed with Norv Turner's conservative plays

The only one we send on GO routes is Dez and that is his worst route

 

[Kevinicus]

Dak, for now, has lost the ability, the instinct to see a receiver that is going to break into a Open zone before it happens, he doesnt trust what the scheme is giving him (clearout routes etc).......he either has lost confidence in the scheme or in himself.........

Many stories of Romo "sandlotting" inside the scheme to get what he wanted.......

He didn't lose it. He never had it. All last year he needed to see the player already open.

He hasn't had that extreme luxury as much this season and can't handle it.