Vanilla

[Hoofbite]

Wow, has this little word taken off. I haven't seen this much "vanilla" since those goombas at ExtremeSkins used it religiously a few preseasons ago.

"Vanilla" schemes, "vanilla" plays. It's all "vanilla".

Well, not everything. I haven't seen many people say "man, this defense will be so great when they stop using their vanilla plays".

Seems like "vanilla" is only popular when talking about a rather disappointing aspect.

Redzone?

Oh, the redzone plays have been vanilla. Don't worry about it.

What about the OL? Been a couple too many ugly plays by the OL.

Vanilla. No doubt about it.

Just a little self-serving to excuse poor play as being not a part of the normal game plan. Don't worry about the failures now because all the work that is supposed to go into the games now doesn't mean crap.

I don't buy it.

Even if the "vanilla" theory was true, it's true for both teams which makes execution the determining factor. Sorry if I don't like the idea of the Raiders executing better than Dallas. The Dallas Redzone offense looked pitiful again. Same story as last season and last game. Moved the ball a little bit but failed to do a damn thing once in the Redzone. Seriously, does anyone really think that the coaches and players are happy with consistent failure in an area that they failed at last season?

I don't.

I'll gladly admit that the team isn't showing their entire hand. No team does. But I highly doubt that teams go into these games without trying to establish something. I highly doubt that teams go into these games without a sense of purpose. Given the failures in the Redzone last year, I'd think a little success inside the 20 would rank a little high on the grocery list.

Halfway through the preseason for Dallas and there hasn't been an offensive TD, primarily because the Redzone offense has sucked.

Guess that's what "vanilla" is. Moving the ball efficiently until getting into the same area of the field that presented struggles last season.

That's "vanilla".

Definitely not time to panic but lets just hold back on dismissing everything as "vanilla".

 

[7footer]

Nice read...

There is certainly some truth to your observations.

While I will certainly concede that the troubles of the starting O-Line tonight had nothing to do with "Vanilla", I wouldn't worry too much yet because they only saw two series.

The back-up O-Line doesn't look too great, but most of those players will never see the light of day in the regular season (hopefully), so I wouldn't worry there either.

As far as the defense...They have been impressive. They have made plays across the board using very "vanilla" play calling...which is a further compliment to their abilities.

As far as the red-zone struggles...I will take their word that they are working on certain plays, at least with the first team, and not just trying to score. Plus, we are missing Dez and Martellus right now...both of whom will be big players for us in the red-zone in the reg season.

Our team was very limited tonight...especially offensively. We had to use McQuistan as our 2nd TE even with our first team...That really limits our offense! We are also coming off a short week...I know, more excuses right? But really, I wouldn't be saying these things if I didn't think they had a substantial impact, which I do.

Take comfort in the fact that our starting offensive unit has still been able to move the ball with relative ease...even if we didn't score. Regardless of hearing about our so-called red-zone struggles last year, we have never had a problem putting up points in the past few years, and I doubt it will be an issue for us this year either.

 

[TNCowboy]

The things that seem most apparent to me from the 2 games thusfar are that this is, overall, a very talented team, and that inconsistent OL play may undermind it all.

"Vanilla" is no excuse for Marc Colombo. The guy simply looks awful right now. Romo's health could be on the line on every single play, and the guy simply can't block him man.

 

[Hostile]

Okay, so I had to know how the use of this word had taken off. Did a quick search. I guess I am the culprit in my Touch of Hostility thread. That is the word taking off. I had no idea I had such avant garde use of vocabulary. I wish it was true.

The word vanilla, used as an adjective to describe something as bland or lacking color (like white ice cream), has been around for a long time. It got its start in the finance industry where options trading were either described as vanilla, meaning bland or expected outcomes from investments, or exotic, meaning tantalizing the imagination and having outcomes that could be anywhere.

It has transferred over to football since the 1980s at least. I remember Pat Summerall using it as far back as then.

In other words, you're really just pissed off that I used the word because you think it is making excuses, and you don't agree with it, and this is much ado about nothing that could have been added as a commentary in my thread.

That amuses me. 2nd game of the pre-season on 4 days rest where the team had to travel from one city to another to accomplish these games, plus holding 13 players out with injury and using an OT as a TE, and you think we had "exotic" play calls in the game plan and we just couldn't pull them off? Seriously?

Believe that all you want. When the Press Conferences start happening, you'll hear Wade mention that they are running just basic stuff, not trying to get too exotic. Uh, that'd be vanilla for you non finance types.

Try not to let that hurt your feelings.

 

[CCBoy]

Ask the third string, both offense and defense how tiring going vanilla gets. You might start with Kevin Ogletree who embraced the concept...:starspin

 

[zrinkill]

I am so glad I did not get on the board during that game ...... the same dip***** are acting the same way about a preseason game once again.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

I don't know why Vanilla got such a bad rap. Why not call it Tofu? Now that stuff is bland!

 

[CoCo]

I'm not "worried" about our read zone or other 1st team results simply because of the 1st team's sample size. Very, very small.

I don't count anything the 2nd or 3rd team offense does simply because I already know our O-line with those groups is very subpar.

Would I be worried if we sustained any injury to our starting O-Line? Absolutely! Do I share the same concern about our RZ abilities at this point? No. It's probably more of an unanswered question than proven concern.

 

[casmith07]

 

[Doomsday101]

To me the team just looked sluggish all night long. Not sure if it has anything to do with playing 2 games in 4 days but what ever the problem was the guys need to to a better job of executing. I don't see a need to panic over this if anything coaches will get more out of this game than they will the Cinn game.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I don't know why Vanilla got such a bad rap. Why not call it Tofu? Now that stuff is bland!

:stupid:

I actually like Vanilla! :laugh2:

...Tofu, not so much. Well, unless you cook it with something extremely flavorful!

 

[dbair1967]

I am so glad I did not get on the board during that game ...... the same dip***** are acting the same way about a preseason game once again.

you and me both...I wont be posting during games anymore

 

[sbark]

so how does Vanilla fit in with the old football adage: Its not what you run...its how you run it.....

 

[YosemiteSam]

so how does Vanilla fit in with the old football adage: Its not what you run...its how you run it.....

I you referring to the Emmitt Smith lead draw from the mid 90s?

 

[ravidubey]

The problem is the OL. They decided as a unit not to show up last night leaving Jason Garrett completely hosed.

Tried runs. On the plays where they weren't getting blown up outright there was no push. RBs had to do it all themselves.

On passing downs Gurode, Davis, and Columbo just got manhandled. Free and Kosier were just OK. Exhaustion can't explain all of it. The OL is getting old all at once, and that's on team management.

Garrett will have to adjust his schemes, but because of the OL ineptness and not because he can't call plays.

Think end-of-2006 kind of reigning in. It's going to be an ugly, hit or miss season with not much consistency. 10-6 at best with this OL and schedule.

No chance to beat Green Bay and Minnesota, each of whom has young, strong OLs and DLs.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

Yeah the backups have struggled. The backups.

 

[dbair1967]

The problem is the OL. They decided as a unit not to show up last night leaving Jason Garrett completely hosed.

Tried runs. On the plays where they weren't getting blown up outright there was no push. RBs had to do it all themselves.

On passing downs Gurode, Davis, and Columbo just got manhandled. Free and Kosier were just OK. Exhaustion can't explain all of it. The OL is getting old all at once, and that's on team management.

Garrett will have to adjust his schemes, but because of the OL ineptness and not because he can't call plays.

Think end-of-2006 kind of reigning in. It's going to be an ugly, hit or miss season with not much consistency. 10-6 at best with this OL and schedule.

No chance to beat Green Bay and Minnesota, each of whom has young, strong OLs and DLs.

wow...just wow

I think somebody should make a thread and sticky it with these kinds of posts so we can all go back during the season and remember it...

I'm not slamming you, but to draw these kinds of conclusions from one preseason game is over the top...and you arnt the only one

 

[SMCowboy]

I'll gladly admit that the team isn't showing their entire hand. No team does. But I highly doubt that teams go into these games without trying to establish something. I highly doubt that teams go into these games without a sense of purpose. Given the failures in the Redzone last year, I'd think a little success inside the 20 would rank a little high on the grocery list.

Tony Romo even said as much during the interview during the game, that they do not game plan for these games. But you are right, the coaches do have a purpose for these games. To get plays on tape that they want to see, and to work on things that still need work. As well as to put players in positions that the EXPECT them to struggle to see how they react, and how they perform.

Fans need to realize something, coaches use preseason games for evaluation, get getting the rust off. Not to get warm fuzzy feelings about how good they will be....

 

[zrinkill]

wow...just wow

I think somebody should make a thread and sticky it with these kinds of posts so we can all go back during the season and remember it...

I'm not slamming you, but to draw these kinds of conclusions from one preseason game is over the top...and you arnt the only one

Its the same guys year after year.

 

[TNCowboy]

Was Tony Romo out there? Is the possibility of Romo getting injured significantly greater while playing in the exhibition, or standing on the sidelines, hat crooked to the side of his choice, checking out the ladies? If the games don't "matter" for any reason whatsoever, then what must you think of our stellar coaching staff playing our stars?

Preseason games matter. I think you'd have to be an idiot to think otherwise.

If Romo is in the game, it matters (Ware and so forth for that matter as well). Every second he's on the field, our season is on the line. If "vanilla" is the issue, they need to consider putting in a little chocolate. Or get a new OL.....