Troy Aikman Does Not Like Dallas' WR Route Running

[Mikexike]

Even when Dak doesn't stare a WR down, he still hesitates to pull the trigger when he picks one, giving the defense a half second to adjust, and then doesn't see it when they do.

I think the diminished oline play is really getting to Dak.

He's definitely not getting a return on those watches he bought for them after his big contract signing.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Not saying Troy is wrong, but he's always defending Dak and making excuses for him.

Just to be clear (don't want to misunderstand you), you're saying that Dak is 100% responsible for missed throws, interceptions, etc.? That CeeDee, et al, never run bad routes, never get held up at the LOS so that they're not able to get to the spot Dak is throwing to? And that Dak is never supposed to get fooled by a dc or that good defenders never just make great plays on the ball?

I didn't want Dak extended, never said he wasn't doing what the Cowboys need for them to win SBs or that he didn't contribute to losses, sometimes in a big way.

But he has plenty of help in losing games like this.

 

[Jack Burton]

I also don't like our WR route running, or much else about the team, except for our FG kicker.

 

[CowboyFrog]

I also don't like our WR route running, or much else about the team, except for our FG kicker.

Facts! hell promote bones to HC he found the kicker...

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Also, how many times do we see other WR's from other teams WIDE OPEN, but yet, we RARELY see that from our WR's.

True, just would note that at least some of that is play design.

Which brings up an interesting point - fans were screaming to get rid of Kellen Moore and Dan Quinn.

Well, Jerry did that, and how are our Cowboys doing this year? Can't score, can't stop the run and have tons of stupid penalties.

Worse than last year and guess who's the quarterback?

Gee, the same one as last year.

So, for those who want Dak gone, just remember to be careful what you ask for...

 

[RonnieT24]

This is what I have been saying in recent years. 3 years ago, I even said the WR coach needed to be fired for these same reasons Troy Aikman just pointed out. Troy even said he also had noticed such horrible route running by our receivers and poor designs by our receiver's coach and O-Coordinator prior to this season. There in lies a huge problem affecting our offense.

One way to scheme guys open is with pick plays and by flooding zones. It's hard to flood zones when you have to keep two eligible receivers, a TE and RB, in to block because your line is struggling. That forces you to run fairly vanilla formations and route combinations. At least not anything new and sexy. Further I don't trust the refs not to call OPI on us when we run "rub routes." I suspect neither does McCarthy. He may need to just run 20 of them a game and dare the refs to flag every one of them like other teams do.

 

[OGSixshooter]

yeah blame Dak for the wr's being lazy. lol

It's warranted. Kurt Warner, Troy Aikman, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning...ALL have well-documented incidents of them going ape-you-know-what on receivers that weren't executing precisely. Half of the 90s Cowboys clips are Troy, Michael and Jimmy getting on Alvin Harper about being consistent. How can you spend all off-season with Tolbert this year and not come away with precision? What about last year with CeeDee Lamb? He has to enforce it.

Case in point: The long pass play that sealed the deal in 92 Championship game in SF. Michael switched sides on a play designed to go short to Harper but Michael wanted the ball. The defense actually adjusted and now Harper would be open on the slant. Troy said, "I knew Michael would get across the safeties face, but I said OK I'm gonna go ahead and trust him...". What does that tell you? Harper was on soft boycott with Troy for his lack of precision! It was a constant battle keeping him on time.

I do agree that CeeDee should own this and it's disappointing to hear. But Dak has to enforce it.

 

[DillusionalFans]

Is anyone surprised by this? Lamb is a selfish athlete who only cares about his stats so he can self-promote. This is the culture JJ has built — everyone for himself before the team, and this does NOT win championships.

 

[Chasing6]

Ugh.

Here's a metric of "not getting it done" for Dak and Ceedee.
Ceedee's QB Rating When Thrown to: 75.6
I think it's the 3 Ints.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2024/receiving_advanced.htm

Success% and Catch% way down this year too.
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LambCe00.htm

Dak's OnTarget% has collapsed too. 22nd in the league.
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2024/passing_advanced.htm

Sunk all the team's cap into these guys, and right on cue, their performance tanks.

Even Martin is looking mortal this year. And the dropoff from Tyron and Biadasz to Guyton and Beebe has been even worse than expected. At least Steele has bounced back to average from his mediocre play last year.

Too bad Jerry doesn't follow me here. I thought his sabotage of the team was *designed* to deliver a mediocre year for Dak, so that he'd be cheaper next year. And it certainly has delivered on that. Could have saved 25mil this year *and* been free to move on from Dak next year if he hadn't extended him.

This year is giving me end of Landry Era vibes. Expensive old guys getting worse.

News flash football is a team sport.

 

[AmericanCowboy]

This team has slow WRs, who are tiny, and run poor routes.

The entire WR room except for CeeDee and Tolbert need to go.

And CeeDee needs to be much better. He isn’t even close to a player like Jamar Chase he is closer to Cole
Beasley right now

 

[Risen Star]

So the highest paid QB and the 2nd highest paid WR just arent getting it done. Perfect. We have an amazing GM.

Maybe a few more first round OL and a first round RB will fix it. Ah heck, lets add in another first round WR. Second round too.

This team in general is a dumpster fire with hobo Jones just pouring on more gas, year after year.

At least you can admit we're close.

 

[cowboyed]

All the post 90s head coaches we have had even going back to Parcells have not gone deep with this team in the playoffs.

At some point you have to irrefutably think it is the incestuous executive management team led by Jerry and Stephen, that is jointly imbued with a low football team development IQ and selectively distracted with other major business ventures.

 

[stinkface]

I think Troy and Michael were so in sync most of the time Troy could and would release the ball before Michael was coming out of his break.

 

[Coogiguy03]

One way to scheme guys open is with pick plays and by flooding zones. It's hard to flood zones when you have to keep two eligible receivers, a TE and RB, in to block because your line is struggling. That forces you to run fairly vanilla formations and route combinations. At least not anything new and sexy. Further I don't trust the refs not to call OPI on us when we run "rub routes." I suspect neither does McCarthy. He may need to just run 20 of them a game and dare the refs to flag every one of them like other teams do.

Have you seen us do pick plays, FLAG ON THE PLAY!!!

 

[Coogiguy03]

I think Troy and Michael were so in sync most of the time Troy could and would release the ball before Michael was coming out of his break.

Would take dak another 9 years to learn this

 

[Cmac]

Complete breakdowns all around on the offense.......and we have a QB standing up and taking all the blame and bashing. Troy Aikman gave us something to watch going forward to add to the mess. And we have bad coaching to go with it.
Jerry, as usual, set this up by the late but inevitable signing of Cee Dee.......should have ensured he'd be in camp.