What happened to Linehan's playcalling?

[CyberB0b]

Last year, it was pretty dynamic. Lots of screens, natural picks, moving guys around. This year, he seems to have gone to the Jason Garrett method of playcalling. Jason Witten runs the same 2 routes, a curl/out option. Terrance Williams mostly runs slants and posts. Dunbar was mostly running digs and drags. I haven't seen many Beasley screens this year, maybe 1-2.

I find it hard to believe that they can't run a more dynamic offense, even with the limited weapons that they have at the moment. If Brandon Weeden is that much of a limiting factor, you have to wonder why they have put so much faith and time in trying to develop him. Any thoughts?

 

[coult44]

Last year, it was pretty dynamic. Lots of screens, natural picks, moving guys around. This year, he seems to have gone to the Jason Garrett method of playcalling. Jason Witten runs the same 2 routes, a curl/out option. Terrance Williams mostly runs slants and posts. Dunbar was mostly running digs and drags. I haven't seen many Beasley screens this year, maybe 1-2.

I find it hard to believe that they can't run a more dynamic offense, even with the limited weapons that they have at the moment. If Brandon Weeden is that much of a limiting factor, you have to wonder why they have put so much faith and time in trying to develop him. Any thoughts?

The Tripletts disappeared. Romo, Dez, Murray are all gone. It's that simple.

 

[perrykemp]

Linehan is a pretty good OC. He has been around a while and has never been known as a <great> OC.

As many others have indicated, a lot of it comes down to the talent.

Without the bludgeoning power running game he had in his arsenal last year, his offense probably doesn't look that much more different (dynamic, innovative, fresh, etc) than he ran in the Detroit for 3-4 years.

 

[xvendettax914]

What happened to his playcalling? His playmakers are sitting next to him, is what happened.

 

[lukin2006]

Well he's calling plays with a backup QB, without the number 1 receiver and a suspect running game, yet they managed 28 and 20 points in the last 2 games ...

 

[Fletch]

Last year, it was pretty dynamic. Lots of screens, natural picks, moving guys around. This year, he seems to have gone to the Jason Garrett method of playcalling. Jason Witten runs the same 2 routes, a curl/out option. Terrance Williams mostly runs slants and posts. Dunbar was mostly running digs and drags. I haven't seen many Beasley screens this year, maybe 1-2.

I find it hard to believe that they can't run a more dynamic offense, even with the limited weapons that they have at the moment. If Brandon Weeden is that much of a limiting factor, you have to wonder why they have put so much faith and time in trying to develop him. Any thoughts?

Any team that loses two All Pro weapons, a top 10 QB, top 5 WR, will be very limited. It sucks.

 

[bayeslife]

Is this a real question?

His play calling has been fine but he's working with garbage right now.

 

[conner01]

The Tripletts disappeared. Romo, Dez, Murray are all gone. It's that simple.

Seems simple to me
Your starting QB is out so that dynamic changes everything

 

[LandryFan]

Is this a real question?

His play calling has been fine but he's working with garbage right now.

I initially thought the thread title was a rhetorical question leading into a thread about how the loss of key players affected the play calling...oh well.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I hope this was not a serious question.

 

[CyberB0b]

Well he's calling plays with a backup QB, without the number 1 receiver and a suspect running game, yet they managed 28 and 20 points in the last 2 games ...

So Weeden can't throw a screen? The wideouts can't run a pick?

 

[Junglist]

One of only complaints about last season was the predictability in his playcalling. You knew on 1st down we were running, and if Dunbar was in it was a screen - type play. We were lucky that we could run well. Now that we can't run the ball for jack, and have a limited QB, you'd think he'd game plan around that. So far, I don't see it. Maybe I'm just frustrated, but I think the playcalling could be a bit more creative. It's time for a lot of coaches to step out of their comfort zone, especially against a team like NE.

 

[CATCH17]

Linehan is a pretty good OC. He has been around a while and has never been known as a <great> OC.

As many others have indicated, a lot of it comes down to the talent.

Without the bludgeoning power running game he had in his arsenal last year, his offense probably doesn't look that much more different (dynamic, innovative, fresh, etc) than he ran in the Detroit for 3-4 years.

Disagree about it coming down to talent..

We don't do anything special with Romo available.

Game on the line and we're heaving the ball downfield in hopes we can catch it.


This staff gives us no edge and we are completely player dependent.

 

[AzorAhai]

I don't have a problem with the plays called, well not exactly. I have a problem with the formations he's calling them from. If it's as simple as under center=80% run and shotgun=80% pass you're putting the team in a pre snap hole.

 

[CATCH17]

So Weeden can't throw a screen? The wideouts can't run a pick?

Sean Payton put on a clinic of route combos and different things you can do with a QB who,can't throw downfield.

Simple high percentage passes that spread the ball around.


What do we do? Downfield stuff that has Weeden going through reads.

It's just disgusting.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

So Weeden can't throw a screen? The wideouts can't run a pick?

Weeden has thrown plenty of screens and other short dump off passes to Dunbar and others.

Our players have tried some pick plays....Witten attempted to do one in the last game.

 

[MRV52]

Last year, it was pretty dynamic. Lots of screens, natural picks, moving guys around. This year, he seems to have gone to the Jason Garrett method of playcalling. Jason Witten runs the same 2 routes, a curl/out option. Terrance Williams mostly runs slants and posts. Dunbar was mostly running digs and drags. I haven't seen many Beasley screens this year, maybe 1-2.

I find it hard to believe that they can't run a more dynamic offense, even with the limited weapons that they have at the moment. If Brandon Weeden is that much of a limiting factor, you have to wonder why they have put so much faith and time in trying to develop him. Any thoughts?

He was using Callahan's Playbook last year.

 

[the_h0wey]

Last year, it was pretty dynamic. Lots of screens, natural picks, moving guys around. This year, he seems to have gone to the Jason Garrett method of playcalling. Jason Witten runs the same 2 routes, a curl/out option. Terrance Williams mostly runs slants and posts. Dunbar was mostly running digs and drags. I haven't seen many Beasley screens this year, maybe 1-2.

I find it hard to believe that they can't run a more dynamic offense, even with the limited weapons that they have at the moment. If Brandon Weeden is that much of a limiting factor, you have to wonder why they have put so much faith and time in trying to develop him. Any thoughts?

Might have something to do with Tony and Dez not playing.

 

[Staubacher]

Tony Romo collarbone happened. Tony should market a deodorant with all the stink he's covered up in Dallas.

 

[Future]

His playcalling last year wasn't nearly as dynamic as the OP suggests, not after about week 3.