This Season Will Be A Referendum on Dak's Ability

[KMY_Amber]

As I said dating back to last season, this Cowboys offense under McCarthy is never going to be able to create a balanced attack. McCarthy's stretch run concept is not conducive to consistent holes opening coupled with this middling offensive line. That's why I didn't advocate for bringing in a stud RB, only for that money and talent to be wasted with McCarthy's playbook and playcalling.

So, from week 1, this season was always going to be a referendum on Dak and the MM's passing attack. 95% of the offense's successful plays have come and will come through the air. I believe the Cowboys are running way too much, especially on 1st down, and they have been for years. It's so predictable and often sets up 2nd and long.

It's time to abandon the idea of a balanced offense. Never going to happen. So sprinkle it in, maybe more on 2nd down, and 3rd and short (3 or less). Instead, use more WR screens, quick passes...and identify quick reads with way more pre-snap motion, so Dak can find the quick throws on 1st down. Yes, still mix in some play action too. And keep finding ways to get Turpin the ball in space.

But the offense needs to open up, early, from the 1st snap...and they need to stop trying to establish a running game early. It's causing non-productive 1st quarters, ending in predictable punts.

And I found it ironic that the Cowboys were basically scared to put their defense on the field first, so they won the toss and wanted to receive the ball first...to no avail of course, it ended in a punt. I think this was another stupid McCarthy decision, given that the Cowboys came out on that 1st drive, tried to establish the run, and didn't run any new wrinkles as a sense of urgency to try to really score on that first drive. It was the same 'ol early game crap. Then why even take the ball 1st????



DEAD. COACH. WALKING.

 

[FVSTONE]

As I said dating back to last season, this Cowboys offense under McCarthy is never going to be able to create a balanced attack. McCarthy's stretch run concept is not conducive to consistent holes opening coupled with this middling offensive line. That's why I didn't advocate for bringing in a stud RB, only for that money and talent to be wasted with McCarthy's playbook and playcalling.

So, from week 1, this season was always going to be a referendum on Dak and the MM's passing attack. 95% of the offense's successful plays have come and will come through the air. I believe the Cowboys are running way too much, especially on 1st down, and they have been for years. It's so predictable and often sets up 2nd and long.

It's time to abandon the idea of a balanced offense. Never going to happen. So sprinkle it in, maybe more on 2nd down, and 3rd and short (3 or less). Instead, use more WR screens, quick passes...and identify quick reads with way more pre-snap motion, so Dak can find the quick throws on 1st down. Yes, still mix in some play action too. And keep finding ways to get Turpin the ball in space.

But the offense needs to open up, early, from the 1st snap...and they need to stop trying to establish a running game early. It's causing non-productive 1st quarters, ending in predictable punts.

And I found it ironic that the Cowboys were basically scared to put their defense on the field first, so they won the toss and wanted to receive the ball first...to no avail of course, it ended in a punt. I think this was another stupid McCarthy decision, given that the Cowboys came out on that 1st drive, tried to establish the run, and didn't run any new wrinkles as a sense of urgency to try to really score on that first drive. It was the same 'ol early game crap. Then why even take the ball 1st????



DEAD. COACH. WALKING.

Great observation!

 

[khiladi]

Teams just doubling Lamb and sitting in 2 deep shell.. Dak can’t sit back and pick anybody apart..



This scrub was looking directly at 87, his TE who was wide open, but he didn’t take that pass in that territory and it should have been a safety. The guy is a dunce at QB who lacks any real awareness.

 

[Kingofholland]

As I said dating back to last season, this Cowboys offense under McCarthy is never going to be able to create a balanced attack. McCarthy's stretch run concept is not conducive to consistent holes opening coupled with this middling offensive line. That's why I didn't advocate for bringing in a stud RB, only for that money and talent to be wasted with McCarthy's playbook and playcalling.

So, from week 1, this season was always going to be a referendum on Dak and the MM's passing attack. 95% of the offense's successful plays have come and will come through the air. I believe the Cowboys are running way too much, especially on 1st down, and they have been for years. It's so predictable and often sets up 2nd and long.

It's time to abandon the idea of a balanced offense. Never going to happen. So sprinkle it in, maybe more on 2nd down, and 3rd and short (3 or less). Instead, use more WR screens, quick passes...and identify quick reads with way more pre-snap motion, so Dak can find the quick throws on 1st down. Yes, still mix in some play action too. And keep finding ways to get Turpin the ball in space.

But the offense needs to open up, early, from the 1st snap...and they need to stop trying to establish a running game early. It's causing non-productive 1st quarters, ending in predictable punts.

And I found it ironic that the Cowboys were basically scared to put their defense on the field first, so they won the toss and wanted to receive the ball first...to no avail of course, it ended in a punt. I think this was another stupid McCarthy decision, given that the Cowboys came out on that 1st drive, tried to establish the run, and didn't run any new wrinkles as a sense of urgency to try to really score on that first drive. It was the same 'ol early game crap. Then why even take the ball 1st????



DEAD. COACH. WALKING.

It's early in the season, but it does look like McCarthy's last season here. Sure he's delivered 3 straight 12 win season , but he's just not the xs and os guy to out scheme an opposing head coach. We've fielded talented rosters, but when facing an equally talented roster he fails to provide the coaching edge.

For Dak, he's a good not great QB under McCarthy. We should have waited on handing him out a big contract to see how the season plays out. Right now Dak hasn't carried this offense and he has a big task in front of him to try to do it with a weak running game.

 

[KMY_Amber]

Teams just doubling Lamb and sitting in 2 deep shell.. Dak can’t sit back and pick anybody apart...

It's early in the season, but it does look like McCarthy's last season here. Sure he's delivered 3 straight 12 win season , but he's just not the xs and os guy to out scheme an opposing head coach. We've fielded talented rosters, but when facing an equally talented roster he fails to provide the coaching edge.

For Dak, he's a good not great QB under McCarthy. We should have waited on handing him out a big contract to see how the season plays out. Right now Dak hasn't carried this offense and he has a big task in front of him to try to do it with a weak running game.

Yes, I agree, I think JJ should have waited one more year to pay Dak (hec, he waited this long already so...), and JJ should have just handed Dak the keys to this offense this year. Let him direct all the traffic, and throw as much as he wants. Even if it doesn't work, and it likely won't since this offensive line can't consistently pass block (especially against blitzes), it's still the best chance for this offense to move the ball. Expecting the run game to produce even a semi-explosive play is just wasting downs. Never going to happen, not with these McCarthy predictable runs with this set of average RBs, where there's often only a crevice for the RB to get through.

Once McCarthy is gone and there's a new OC with a new run-game philosophy, then revamp/tweak the o-line, bring in a solid RB, and then establish a running game.

For now, like it or not, Dak and the passing game with CD gives this offense the best chance to score, from the first snap. No need to wait to open it up once they get behind, the Cowboys should start the game as if they're down 14 and must score NOW. A sense of urgency. Hec, maybe even run some early no-huddle. Screw the running game, just sprinkle it in to get some 1st down on 2nd or 3rd and shorts, not on 1st down.

 

[Cmac]

Teams just doubling Lamb and sitting in 2 deep shell.. Dak can’t sit back and pick anybody apart..



This scrub was looking directly at 87, his TE who was wide open, but he didn’t take that pass in that territory and it should have been a safety. The guy is a dunce at QB who lacks any real awareness.

Is OL breakdowns part of the equation or is immunity granted for poor pass protection. Just wondering?

 

[Brax]

Teams just doubling Lamb and sitting in 2 deep shell.. Dak can’t sit back and pick anybody apart..



This scrub was looking directly at 87, his TE who was wide open, but he didn’t take that pass in that territory and it should have been a safety. The guy is a dunce at QB who lacks any real awareness.

The refs called the game in Dallas favor, that should have been a safety and the tackle on Dak called roughing the passer was a joke, at least we shouldn’t hear any more about the refs against them, even with all the help they couldn’t get it done.

 

[acr731]

The guy is a dunce at QB who lacks any real awareness.

Well, yes, but he played better in the 4th quarter after the Ravens D took their foot off the gas. That has to count for something, right? RIGHT??

 

[khiladi]

Is OL breakdowns part of the equation or is immunity granted for poor pass protection. Just wondering?

Had zero bearing on the fact Dak was starting at the wide open TE and he panicked and didn’t throw the ball….

So to answer your question, no because he’s had 9 years to learn and all-pro blocking to bail his mediocre play out for years and as part of the Jason Garrett of QBs training experiment. Now they have two starting rookies that are going to need time to gel. I’m pretty sure they don’t take 9 years though like this scrub at QB.

 

[CowboyoWales]

And I found it ironic that the Cowboys were basically scared to put their defense on the field first, so they won the toss and wanted to receive the ball first...to no avail of course, it ended in a punt. I think this was another stupid McCarthy decision, given that the Cowboys came out on that 1st drive, tried to establish the run, and didn't run any new wrinkles as a sense of urgency to try to really score on that first drive. It was the same 'ol early game crap. Then why even take the ball 1st????



DEAD. COACH. WALKING.

We need to score first: for Dak and to make the opposition play to our strengths .....pass rush. Dak struggles when teams play the Blueprint (as Jimmie Ward stated two play-off wins in a row). Sensible, for us to play to our strengths early......most of time taking the ball in the second half is too late, game's over.

 

[khiladi]

Yes, I agree, I think JJ should have waited one more year to pay Dak (hec, he waited this long already so...), and JJ should have just handed Dak the keys to this offense this year. Let him direct all the traffic, and throw as much as he wants. Even if it doesn't work, and it likely won't since this offensive line can't consistently pass block (especially against blitzes), it's still the best chance for this offense to move the ball. Expecting the run game to produce even a semi-explosive play is just wasting downs. Never going to happen, not with these McCarthy predictable runs with this set of average RBs, where there's often only a crevice for the RB to get through.

Once McCarthy is gone and there's a new OC with a new run-game philosophy, then revamp/tweak the o-line, bring in a solid RB, and then establish a running game.

For now, like it or not, Dak and the passing game with CD gives this offense the best chance to score, from the first snap. No need to wait to open it up once they get behind, the Cowboys should start the game as if they're down 14 and must score NOW. A sense of urgency. Hec, maybe even run some early no-huddle. Screw the running game, just sprinkle it in to get some 1st down on 2nd or 3rd and shorts, not on 1st down.

The data about “running” doesn’t support what you think. They actually were passing out if the gate and they were running enough to be effective and putting Dak in manageable situations. I just started a thread on this.

 

[Grenic]

Im sorry but they cant run the ball, the oline is terrible, the D is terrible. Dak has issues but man this team is a mess

 

[CowboyoWales]

Well, yes, but he played better in the 4th quarter after the Ravens D took their foot off the gas. That has to count for something, right? RIGHT??

Yep, it's just like the Packers game.....when we're out of sight, the pressure (in effect) is off. The pressure's applied when we're in a position to win/tie (ala the two SF play-off losses).....indeed the one game Dak pulled us back to a score behind, but couldnt go the extra yard.

We need this all out approach to 1ST Q......especially defensively, to let Dak play his game.

 

[Cmac]

Had zero bearing on the fact Dak was starting at the wide open TE and he panicked and didn’t throw the ball….

So to answer your question, no because he’s had 9 years to learn and all-pro blocking to bail his mediocre play out for years and as part of the Jason Garrett of QBs training experiment. Now they have two starting rookies that are going to need time to gel. I’m pretty sure they don’t take 9 years though like this scrub at QB.

With all due respect.....in comment on the replay in question....I'm lost on your comment with use of the following......."all-pro blocking" or ''.....9 years to learn". Those catch phrases are completely irrelevant to what my eyes saw.....a pocket crumbling fast.

 

[ChronicCowboy]

No it won’t be. Dak fans will defend him till the end. There is no referendum and even if there was, it doesn’t matter because we’re stuck with him until 2028 at least.

 

[khiladi]

With all due respect.....in comment on the replay in question....I'm lost on your comment with use of the following......."all-pro blocking" or ''.....9 years to learn". Those catch phrases are completely irrelevant to what my eyes saw.....a pocket crumbling fast.

The issue is whether Dak had a man open and enough time to get the ball out. And that is clearly what the tape shows. 87 was open, Dak even raised his arm for a second likes he’s gonna throw, but slow as molasses pulled back.

it doesn’t matter if the “pocket was crumbling fast” on a third and 10, pinned against his own end zone with Dak having 9 years to know the situation. It doesn’t matter even if his other WRe were covered. Or if Jerry went to the bathroom during that play.

 

[JW82]

I don't agree completely. Its s referendum on Dak/Mike and Jerry. And it ain't looking good for any of them.

 

[links18]

I don't agree completely. Its s referendum on Dak/Mike and Jerry. And it ain't looking good for any of them.

Dak sucks, Mike Sucks, Jerry really sucks!

 

[Cmac]

The issue is whether Dak had a man open and enough time to get the ball out. And that is clearly what the tape shows. 87 was open, Dak even raised his arm for a second likes he’s gonna throw, but slow as molasses pulled back.

it doesn’t matter if the “pocket was crumbling fast” on a third and 10, pinned against his own end zone with Dak having 9 years to know the situation. It doesn’t matter even if his other WRe were covered. Or if Jerry went to the bathroom during that play.

No problem.....I simply disagree, respectfully, when a pocket breaks down rapidly. Beauty of the Board. I'm mystified if some think we have a good OL too.

 

[JW82]

Dak sucks, Mike Sucks, Jerry really sucks!

I think your detailed synopsis is 100% accurate.