What happened to the dink and dunk?

DandyDon52

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The dink and dunk, which many didnt like, is what ate up so much time if we drove for td or FG then they got away from that,
and we still had long drives, but not as many, and not as time consuming.
Remember when cole got 5 catches a game?

To me it seemed like linehan got away from the offense that was working, which was dink and dunk and run elliot a lot.
Then he tried to make Dak a down field passer, and they ran less.
This led to some long drives too, but they didn't consume much time.
Which means more possessions for both teams.

I think they listened to the media, and wanted to show dak could make the longer throws,
plus I think jones boys wanted dez more involved and to get more targets.

The problem was they were winning and doing good with dink and dunk , and run alot, and the other
stuff could come later much later, meanwhile stick with what is working.

If you look at the GB game, the dink and dunk offense might have worked better, if anything
just add throwing to elliot in the flat and elsewhere if he is open, just dump it off to him alot.

That was something smith got a lot of yards with, even when a team had stopped the run , aikman
would just dump off to emmitt, and away he would go, usually 5 yards or more.

But to me the Dallas team that won the first 7 games in a row, wasnt the team that played GB.
Again this comes back to coaching errors, or as some say trying to get cute.

They started changing things, and then the team won but struggled, and then lost to giants.

Elliot did not look pumped up for the GB game, I think he was down about not getting the chance
to break dickersons record, and not playing that last game.
He played ok , but look at his face, he was not the same.
maybe he knew he wasnt going to get many carrys, but I doubt that.

Many said dont risk him for the record, we need him for playoffs, ............well turned out we
needed him for one game in which we didnt use him much lol.

My thoughts at time was help him get the record and it would energize him and the team!!
JG went the other way and made sure he didnt get the record, and then no NFCC Game no SB,
just the div champ hats, hope they didnt give them away.

Then they dont play him the last game and dak only a little, finish season with a loss,
So all motivation and momentum was just cast aside. then they have to weeks off
to just ponder on no record, no win in philly, season ends on sour note, didnt get reps,
now 2 more weeks, and now need to find something to get the team pumped up
for GB ??
Well nothing there, they were not pumped up or ready, and started 3-21 , which they
came back from, but GB scores last as time runs out.
and of course more coaching errors led to this ending.

Dak was good on down field throws, but he also missed alot, he was much better at the short passing game.
That just fit him better. and it meant more running.
And speaking of running , many of us wanted dak to pull the ball down and run more, but he doesnt do it !
Why not ?? I wonder what the coaches tell him in this regard.
To me it is like they are trying to make him be something he isnt ready to be yet. a pocket passer only.
And if that is what you want why not just play romo?

So anyway it just seemed to me we had a good thing going, and then due to fan and media criticizing,
and comparisons to romo, they made changes that not only were not needed, but eventually hurt the team.
The I think not going for the record , and not playing last game to win were both mistakes,
Those 2 things could have pumped up the team, instead it let the air out.
 

DandyDon52

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In GB game, I saw EE wide open in flat, but Dak threw inc downfield, I have seen that many times in past games too.
So apparently dak was not told or encouraged to look at dak as a receiver unless it was a screen or designed play.

To me this could have gotten a lot of yards , he would have broke a few of them for long runs.
And it could have been used in the GB game.
 

Ring Leader

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In GB game, I saw EE wide open in flat, but Dak threw inc downfield, I have seen that many times in past games too.

So apparently dak was not told or encouraged to look at dak as a receiver unless it was a screen or designed play.

To me this could have gotten a lot of yards , he would have broke a few of them for long runs.
And it could have been used in the GB game.

Good advice.
 

DandyDon52

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They had to avoid the game plan because the offense left points on the field and got in a hole 21-3
Well if they did it was not the right move, you play your strengths, and especially early on in the game.
The key would be to score points and eat clock with long drives even though your behind.
 

Boyzmamacita

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Well if they did it was not the right move, you play your strengths, and especially early on in the game.
The key would be to score points and eat clock with long drives even though your behind.
I agree that they got away from the run too soon. Even down 21-3 you keep running it. Zeke average almost 6 yards a pop and he would've broken one against GB's suspect defense. They played it wrong. We got away from our strengths on offense and our defense reverted back to the non-playmaking bunch they were early on. The scary thing is we can improve the roster talent, but the coaches (Linehan in particular) will probably be the same. I hope they learned a lesson about sticking to your identity. We have a whole offseason to think about it.
 

jazzcat22

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Yes they did get away from the run. And too many plays that they used too often. GB was waiting on them. Like that quick out pass to Beasley or whoever. And GB sat on it and picked it. Took away a FG or TD.

I knew it was going to happen. So why didn't Linehan see this. The jet sweep, wasn't working so well later in the year.

I think he drank his own kool-aid as well, the D thought since they stopped them in GB, they can stop them here...of course a 3 man rush always stops an offense playing well....:rolleyes:
 

SDCowboy

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Once the team got down, the playcalling had to switch to more passing. And it worked as they came back from a large deficit. The problem was the shortage of running earlier on. Especially in short yardage situations.
 

ABQcowboyJR

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IMO the offense stopped rolling once Swaim went down. Teams weren't going to let us not threaten the deeper field and let us play that kind of offense all year. We had to start throwing down the field.
 

CATCH17

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Every game unfolds differently....

When you're down 21-3 you're not going to be doing a lot of running and dinking and dunking. You're by default put in catch up mode and chewing clock with short passing and running the ball is going to get tossed out the window.
 

Doomsday101

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Dallas drive killing penalties in the 1st half and a defense who gave up 3 straight drives for TD in the 1st half was a big reason Dallas opened up more on offense. Cowboys falling behind early threw any ball control option out the window as we played from behind. I have no issues with the overall offense they went out in the 2nd half drove the field and got the team back into the game with a chance to win. Yes we did not dink and dunk as much but game plans must change when a team is forced to play from behind. Funny thing Dak critics said he could not attack down field and yet he did and did so successfully
 
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