We're not dinking and dunking

[Baileyneverfailey]

I see a lot of comments online about how the Cowboys offense isn't throwing the ball downfield, suggesting that it's a dink and dunk offense, and it's nonsense.

What's true: We're not throwing a ton of deep balls, so don't have as many 40+ and 20+ yard passing plays as the top half of the league.

What's true: Dak's 7.7 YPA is in the top 10 in the league amongst passers with 50+ attempts, and one long pass would push him top 5, as most of the guys in the top 10 are between 7.7-8.0.

What I think a lot of people are failing to understand is that the Cowboys running game is working so well, their 3rd down distance is the lowest in the league. When you're constantly facing 3rd and 2 and 3rd and 3, you throw a lot of intermediate passes to move the chains.

If the Cowboys can run the ball and be successful passing between 11-20 yards, move the chains, control the clock, and score TDs in the red zone then that's much better for the team than chucking 50+ yard bombs in the hopes that you get big plays.

 

[DogFace]

I see a lot of comments online about how the Cowboys offense isn't throwing the ball downfield, suggesting that it's a dink and dunk offense, and it's nonsense.

What's true: We're not throwing a ton of deep balls, so don't have as many 40+ and 20+ yard passing plays as the top half of the league.

What's true: Dak's 7.7 YPA is in the top 10 in the league amongst passers with 50+ attempts, and one long pass would push him top 5, as most of the guys in the top 10 are between 7.7-8.0.

What I think a lot of people are failing to understand is that the Cowboys running game is working so well, their 3rd down distance is the lowest in the league. When you're constantly facing 3rd and 2 and 3rd and 3, you throw a lot of intermediate passes to move the chains.

If the Cowboys can run the ball and be successful passing between 11-20 yards, move the chains, control the clock, and score TDs in the red zone then that's much better for the team than chucking 50+ yard bombs in the hopes that you get big plays.

All excellent points.

 

[Craig]

16th in air yards per attempt. 550 in the air 450 after catch.

They havent needed to go down the field much but when they try to, dak overthrows. A lot. He needs a lot of work in that regard.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Same as Dak's TD passes. Who cares. He gets us down to the 1 yard line and then we run it in. A TD is a TD. Some of the media just gets on my nerves.

 

[Jarv]

16th in air yards per attempt. 550 in the air 450 after catch.

They havent needed to go down the field much but when they try to, dak overthrows. A lot. He needs a lot of work in that regard.

I can recall a few that were either dropped (Williams) or there was PI but not called (Butler) that can skew the stats on the limited attempts. Personally I'm not worried.

 

[erod]

I see a lot of comments online about how the Cowboys offense isn't throwing the ball downfield, suggesting that it's a dink and dunk offense, and it's nonsense.

What's true: We're not throwing a ton of deep balls, so don't have as many 40+ and 20+ yard passing plays as the top half of the league.

What's true: Dak's 7.7 YPA is in the top 10 in the league amongst passers with 50+ attempts, and one long pass would push him top 5, as most of the guys in the top 10 are between 7.7-8.0.

What I think a lot of people are failing to understand is that the Cowboys running game is working so well, their 3rd down distance is the lowest in the league. When you're constantly facing 3rd and 2 and 3rd and 3, you throw a lot of intermediate passes to move the chains.

If the Cowboys can run the ball and be successful passing between 11-20 yards, move the chains, control the clock, and score TDs in the red zone then that's much better for the team than chucking 50+ yard bombs in the hopes that you get big plays.

Dak has thrown exactly 8 passes that went 20+ yards down the field. He's competed one of them.

 

[NextGenBoys]

I see a lot of comments online about how the Cowboys offense isn't throwing the ball downfield, suggesting that it's a dink and dunk offense, and it's nonsense.

What's true: We're not throwing a ton of deep balls, so don't have as many 40+ and 20+ yard passing plays as the top half of the league.

What's true: Dak's 7.7 YPA is in the top 10 in the league amongst passers with 50+ attempts, and one long pass would push him top 5, as most of the guys in the top 10 are between 7.7-8.0.

What I think a lot of people are failing to understand is that the Cowboys running game is working so well, their 3rd down distance is the lowest in the league. When you're constantly facing 3rd and 2 and 3rd and 3, you throw a lot of intermediate passes to move the chains.

If the Cowboys can run the ball and be successful passing between 11-20 yards, move the chains, control the clock, and score TDs in the red zone then that's much better for the team than chucking 50+ yard bombs in the hopes that you get big plays.

Great points. We all like to see the deep ball though, especially to Dez. It's like a dunk in basketball or a home run in baseball, or a long drive in golf. Just gets the juices goin' a bit, but I'll take production in any form.

 

[Doomsday101]

I will sit and watch Brady and the Pats and the vast majority of his passes are dinks and dunks, hell that is how Welker, Amendola and Julian Edelman have made a living. I'm not concerned about Dak hitting the open man, it works.

 

[NextGenBoys]

Dak has thrown exactly 8 passes that went 20+ yards down the field. He's competed one of them.

Ouch. Still though, he's getting the job done. However, with all the stacked boxes we face, you'd think we'd take some more shots.

 

[erod]

Ouch. Still though, he's getting the job done. However, with all the stacked boxes we face, you'd think we'd take some more shots.

He's doing tremendously well. I love how he stands in the pocket and doesn't just take off like a typical panicked rookie.

One day, he'll see the field better, and that ball will get down field more.

 

[Clove]

Dak has thrown exactly 8 passes that went 20+ yards down the field. He's competed one of them.

We are 3-1. Just saying...

 

[Doomsday101]

Dallas is avg 25 points a game. in 4 games the offense has turned the ball over 2 time (both fumbles) and 0 Ints. I think what Dallas is doing on offense is working.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

Halfway decent YPA does not mean you're not dinking and dunking. When Cole Beasley takes a 1/2 yard pass 47 yards it doesn't mean you threw a bomb.

We're a dink and dunk team led by a dink and dunk quarterback... that was the book on him in college and it's still true. BTW, there's nothing wrong with dinking and dunking, Romo does it like crazy sometimes. It's just not all he can (or does) do.

 

[aikemirv]

Dak has thrown exactly 8 passes that went 20+ yards down the field. He's competed one of them.

I just looked at that stat as well and honestly it surprised me. I now want to see those passes.

 

[Doomsay]

16th in air yards per attempt. 550 in the air 450 after catch.

They havent needed to go down the field much but when they try to, dak overthrows. A lot. He needs a lot of work in that regard.

Better defenses will take away the shorter passes.

 

[aikemirv]

Dak has thrown exactly 8 passes that went 20+ yards down the field. He's competed one of them.

I also think the sample size of 8 is too small to get a reading. I also doubt the NFL average is much higher than 40% so 2 more completions would make him average and I believe Dez dropped 1 of them. I truly don't remember the others.

 

[NextGenBoys]

We are 3-1. Just saying...

Valid. But 1/8 on passes over 20 yards in the air is something to improve on regardless. Only so much time before teams gameplan for it. He missed two deep balls against NYG that would've been TD's. He's getting better every week though...

 

[Clove]

Valid. But 1/8 on passes over 20 yards in the air is something to improve on regardless. Only so much time before teams gameplan for it. He missed two deep balls against NYG that would've been TD's. He's getting better every week though...

You don't think he knows how to throw the deep ball? Did you happen to watch the preseason games?

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

Great post.

 

[erod]

We are 3-1. Just saying...

Bears, Commanders, and 49ers.

I'll get excited if this thing gets to 5-2.