What kind of team is Garrett building?

[jnday]

The RKG label has been used many times by Garrett to explain the type of player that he wants. My question is, what type of team is Garrett building? Some teams are known for a tough, physical defense such as the Ravens. Some are known for a pass happy offense such as the Packers. Some of the signals out of Dallas are confusing. Last year, a small , athletic oline was wanted. The two free agent linemen signed this year are larger, mauling linemen. Smart play is called for, but dumb penalties remain a problem. Garrett has a plan. This I don't doubt. Is it a balanced offense or a pass-first offense? What will the defense be known for? Anybody want to take a guess on the direction and end product? Many different types of teams win games. I don't know what type the current version of the Cowboys will be.

 

[Risen Star]

The right kind of team?

~Furley sniff~

 

[Lonestar94]

I remember being a thread about this last year.

I think Garrett wants a balanced run/pass game with a short/intermediate passing attack.

For the defense I'm not sure about.

 

[xwalker]

Good question.

I can hear Garrett's answer to this question.

"We want to be excellent in all 3 phases. We want to be balanced on offense, run and pass. We want to be balanced on defense, defend the run and defend the pass."

I think Garrett will try to be balanced on offense, but it appears that he will always lean towards the passing game. His draft picks this year on offense were a slot receiver and a TE with much more upside as a pass catcher than run blocker. The OLinemen from last years draft/udfa are better pass protectors than run blockers. The 2 FA OLinemen are bigger, but in game footage appear to be more move type guys than road-graders.

On the other hand, they did draft Murray last year and wanted to draft a RB in the 6th this year. They did sign a Fullback in the offseason.

On defense, it appears that they want to be dominant against the pass. Drafting Claiborne after spending 50 mil on Carr, 28 mil on Scandrick, and already having Jenkins already on the team seems to answer that question. Also, Crawford appears to be more of a passrusher than run stopper. Rob Ryan talked about how Wilber's best trait compared to other 3-4 OLB types was his ability to defend the pass. They say that Ratliff is staying a NT which indicates that they prefer a pass rusher at the position vs a run stuffer.

Having said all the above about defense, it was the pass defense not the run defense that killed them last year, IMO. Carr is better against the run than either Newman or Jenkins and Claiborne will give more effort against the run than Newman/Jenkins.

My conclusion:
They will be most known for a prolific offense. They will be good in both the passing game and running game, but it won't be a grind it out type of running game that kills the clock.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I get the question, but we shouldn't have to speculate... It's been his offense for the last four years at least.

But on the topic, several of us have pointed out over those years that we don't seem to have a real identity. The few times he's been asked, he's only said that we want to be aggressive, which isn't much of an answer. That's his style not to say anything to the media, but we should be able to tell from what we see on the field. When you think of the Saints or Patriots or Packers, you immediately know what they want to do.

And on defense, it's Ryan's defense.

 

[jnday]

I remember being a thread about this last year.

I think Garrett wants a balanced run/pass game with a short/intermediate passing attack.

For the defense I'm not sure about.

Good guess. That is my point. I have seen many comments about the direction of the team and many about liking the type of team that Garrett is building. Unless I have missed something, only the coaching staff has a ideal of what type of team they want. This team has no identity. You know the type of team that the Ravens, Steelers and Giants are going to have. None of has a clue about the team that Garrett wants to build. This is not a knock on Garrett and shouldn't be took that way, but this team needs an identity. There are some very good players on this team, but it is anybody's guess as to what type of team to expect.

 

[WoodysGirl]

In Parcells, we had a conservative, smash mouth team. You could almost guarantee a low-scoring, blood pressure filled game.

Then we went to Romo.

Under Romo, we became a big play, foot on the pedal team. We always seem to have a slow start, but as soon as we got our first big play. Big catch, big run, big catch for TD, then it's like a switch came on with the team.

For the most part, I feel our defense played up to the level of the offense. Be it during the BP years, the Wade years, and now the Ryan years. If the offense was rolling, the defense played with much more confidence and aggression.

So, IMO, this team is a big play team. That's the Cowboys identity.

 

[Hostile]

A contender. One to make us proud of the players and the play.

 

[perrykemp]

I get the question, but we shouldn't have to speculate... It's been his offense for the last four years at least.

But on the topic, several of us have pointed out over those years that we don't seem to have a real identity. The few times he's been asked, he's only said that we want to be aggressive, which isn't much of an answer. That's his style not to say anything to the media, but we should be able to tell from what we see on the field. When you think of the Saints or Patriots or Packers, you immediately know what they want to do.

And on defense, it's Ryan's defense.

Well expressed.

I've said it more than a few times... I have no idea what Garrett's offensive philosophy is.

It's not that I care that it is a "Passing Team", "Running Team", "Balanced" or whatever.... I just think it would be evident by this point....

What do the Cowboys want to hang their hat on - on offense?

 

[jnday]

I get the question, but we shouldn't have to speculate... It's been his offense for the last four years at least.

But on the topic, several of us have pointed out over those years that we don't seem to have a real identity. The few times he's been asked, he's only said that we want to be aggressive, which isn't much of an answer. That's his style not to say anything to the media, but we should be able to tell from what we see on the field. When you think of the Saints or Patriots or Packers, you immediately know what they want to do.

And on defense, it's Ryan's defense.

I can tell by your post that you understand. This being a Cowboy forum, I will use Landry as an example. With Landry's teams you knew what to expect. The names may have changed, but the Cowboys played the same complicated, smart football year after year. The Flex would be played in the same manner and the offense had the same complicated shifts and shotgun every year. I just can't figure Garrett out. When he first took over, I thought he might bring back some of the Jimmy Johnson style based on some of his comments. I am not knocking him without giving him a fair chance. I just don't know what the heck defines his type of team.

 

[JBS]

I can tell by your post that you understand. This being a Cowboy forum, I will use Landry as an example. With Landry's teams you knew what to expect. The names may have changed, but the Cowboys played the same complicated, smart football year after year. The Flex would be played in the same manner and the offense had the same complicated shifts and shotgun every year. I just can't figure Garrett out. When he first took over, I thought he might bring back some of the Jimmy Johnson style based on some of his comments. I am not knocking him without giving him a fair chance. I just don't know what the heck defines his type of team.

Is it necessary for us to be able to pin point this?

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I can tell by your post that you understand. This being a Cowboy forum, I will use Landry as an example. With Landry's teams you knew what to expect. The names may have changed, but the Cowboys played the same complicated, smart football year after year. The Flex would be played in the same manner and the offense had the same complicated shifts and shotgun every year. I just can't figure Garrett out. When he first took over, I thought he might bring back some of the Jimmy Johnson style based on some of his comments. I am not knocking him without giving him a fair chance. I just don't know what the heck defines his type of team.

Yep, when you think of all the great coaches and great teams, an image of the style they play immediately comes to mind. The average teams are just sort of a meh collection of parts.

I've posted in the past on this topic, years ago even, that Garrett seems to want to do everything equally well so that it stresses the defense in all areas. But that's one of those things that sounds great in theory but is impractical in reality. You simply can't be great at everything.

That's another reason Garrett should never be compared to Landry. He doesn't have enough experience to really know what he's doing yet.

And it hasn't helped that before, we basically had co-head coaches. It was very clear from 2007 to 2010 that Wade and Garrett often weren't on the same page and at times seemed to not even communicate that much. If Ryan stays here for a few years, maybe that will improve.

 

[jnday]

Is it necessary for us to be able to pin point this?

Necessary? No. Just some off season discussion. It would be nice to recognize the style that is considered "Cowboy Football".

 

[theogt]

Hopefully one that wins.

 

[Eskimo]

I get the question, but we shouldn't have to speculate... It's been his offense for the last four years at least.

But on the topic, several of us have pointed out over those years that we don't seem to have a real identity. The few times he's been asked, he's only said that we want to be aggressive, which isn't much of an answer. That's his style not to say anything to the media, but we should be able to tell from what we see on the field. When you think of the Saints or Patriots or Packers, you immediately know what they want to do.

And on defense, it's Ryan's defense.

I think the answer for Garrett's offense is pretty obvious, CL. When he came here he had a veteran OL that had all members except Flo locked up in longish contracts. That OL played well in 2007 and you could see a power running game and a vertical passing attack that was doing very well with a fairly green QB in only his second year of football.

By 2008, that OL was showing signs of major weakness.

By 2009, that OL was a definite weakness.

We quickly went from a good veteran OL to an immobile, slow-footed, mistake-prone one. Even though they were large they routinely could not pick up a single yard on third and short.

I really think this whole offense has been majorly handicapped 2009-2011 by a bottom-third OL in this league. If you look at how he has rebuilt it he obviously places an emphasis on intelligence, mobility and pass blocking skills.

It doesn't really matter what you want to do on offense if your OL is constantly getting blown up on slow developing plays.

The OL this year is still a bit of a ragtag group on the interior but I do feel they should now be around league average. Smith should be a good LT this year and I hope Callahan can get Free back in his 2009-10 form where he looked like a top 10 OT in the league. I really do hope we make good use of all these mobile OL to use more misdirection plays and multiple types of screen passes.

I think we are going to be very good this year and it'll be interesting to see what Callahan/Garrett/Robinson come up with as those are 3 pretty good offensive minds.

 

[lane]

a team that is going 14-2 ..

maybe 13-3.

but a superbowl winner regardless.

this is our year.

 

[Lonestar94]

a team that is going 14-2 ..

maybe 13-3.

but a superbowl winner regardless.

this is our year.

I hope so, we're long due.

 

[Hagman]

A team of dedicated, committed, hard-nosed football players who put the team ahead of their own inflated egos. A team, as a result, that keeps working to improve, fights through adversity, that will believe in itself (and not give two hoots in hell what the media and posters on internet forums have to say about them).

You know, a winner.

 

[lane]

A team of dedicated, committed, hard-nosed football players who put the team ahead of their own inflated egos. A team, as a result, that keeps working to improve, fights through adversity, that will believe in itself (and not give two hoots in hell what the media and posters on internet forums have to say about them).

You know, a winner.

 

[Bulldog]

A team of dedicated, committed, hard-nosed football players who put the team ahead of their own inflated egos. A team, as a result, that keeps working to improve, fights through adversity, that will believe in itself (and not give two hoots in hell what the media and posters on internet forums have to say about them).

You know, a winner.

^^ THIS ^^