Why our offense has struggled lately

Bobhaze said:
The Cowboys still have a good offense. Pretty obvious that defensive coordinators have sold out trying to take away Javonte Williams and the running game. Dak MUST play better when defenses take away the run game.

It’s not uncommon for offenses to struggle more at midseason once DCs have had time to study tendencies and adjust. Now it’s time for our offense to make some adjustments.
Click to expand...
Nice post. The only thing I would add is around the running game. If you can’t run, you have to find a way to supplement down and distance challenges with shorter, high percentage plays.

As a general rule, “selling out” against the run should open up shorter lanes and YAC opportunities but I don’t consider the Cowboys particularly strong or creative in that area. CeeDee is good…others meh.

We suk at screens, are pretty generic with our RB’s, have #1 & #2 TE’s who can’t separate, and 2 blazing “little people” who we don’t how to incorporate. Would Turpin have 15 receptions and Blue have 1 if Reid were our coach?

If teams are going to sell out against the run, something else has to give. With an increased prevalence of 2 deep, middle open looks, there should be increased opportunities for shorter, YAC opportunities. Does anyone feel like Dallas leverages those opportunities?

Everyone complains about “dump off” Dak but average depth of passes have been trending down for a while. If it worked more consistently and we were able to break some plays, there would be fewer complaints. But IMO, we aren’t very creative in our use of different receiver types or play calling. Instead, we too often get behind the chains, either through a negative play or penalties, and our options become too limited and predictable.

Just my opinion.
 
Spottswoode said:
Nice post. The only thing I would add is around the running game. If you can’t run, you have to find a way to supplement down and distance challenges with shorter, high percentage plays.

As a general rule, “selling out” against the run should open up shorter lanes and YAC opportunities but I don’t consider the Cowboys particularly strong or creative in that area. CeeDee is good…others meh.

We suk at screens, are pretty generic with our RB’s, have #1 & #2 TE’s who can’t separate, and 2 blazing “little people” who we don’t how to incorporate. Would Turpin have 15 receptions and Blue have 1 if Reid were our coach?

If teams are going to sell out against the run, something else has to give. With an increased prevalence of 2 deep, middle open looks, there should be increased opportunities for shorter, YAC opportunities. Does anyone feel like Dallas leverages those opportunities?

Everyone complains about “dump off” Dak but average depth of passes have been trending down for a while. If it worked more consistently and we were able to break some plays, there would be fewer complaints. But IMO, we aren’t very creative in our use of different receiver types or play calling. Instead, we too often get behind the chains, either through a negative play or penalties, and our options become too limited and predictable.

Just my opinion.
Click to expand...
The Cowboys have been playing from behind a lot this year especially lately. When that happens they become 1 dimensional having to pass all the time to catch up. The running game becomes non-existent. You’ll lose most of those games. Look at KC who has the best QB in the NFL is 5-4. You have to have both a good defense and a good offense. You can’t just have one.
 
erod said:
Elite ones do.
Click to expand...

Mahomes and Lamar Jackson are elite quarterbacks.

Mahomes team is 5-4 and Jackson's team is 4-5.

If elite ones do, then how come they don't have better records and are currently fighting to stay in playoff contention?
 
Bobhaze said:
One of the most common questions we have as fans centers around the idea, “What happened to our offense?”, especially if it started strong and then has a fade. Or the common misconception that most “bad plays” are just “bad play calling”.

The Cowboys offense started out the year on a tear, averaging over 30 points a game and with our bad defense, the offense carried the team’s chances to win and compete for a playoff spot.

But in the last two games vs the broncos and cards, the offense has averaged 21 points per game and the defense averaged giving up 35 points per game. The offense has seemingly been unable to maintain their ability to out score people, and the defense has been bad all year.

Why is this offense struggling?

Well despite the easy targeting of the HC and his play calling, the QB, or the injuries we’ve had, it really boils down to these common issues most NFL teams face:
  • Defenses are catching up. As the season progresses, most defensive coordinators are able to get a better handle on how to stop your offense. They learn through film study what an offense does well, doesn’t do as well, then tries to take away what you do well.
  • Execution matters more than anything in playcalling. Quite simply, if one or more offensive players blow a block or run the wrong route, the play will likely not work. Sure there are bad calls but many calls don’t work because of a blown assignment more than just a poor play selection.
  • The Cowboys OL has struggled lately. The OL has had several injuries and done well at times, struggled in others. Even the great Tyler Smith has struggled lately with a nagging injury and he has a whopping 7 penalties called. Terance Steele has allowed 25 pressures and 4 sacks. Tyler Guyton has given up 29 pressures, 2 sacks and 5 penalties.
The Cowboys still have a good offense. Pretty obvious that defensive coordinators have sold out trying to take away Javonte Williams and the running game. Dak MUST play better when defenses take away the run game.

It’s not uncommon for offenses to struggle more at midseason once DCs have had time to study tendencies and adjust. Now it’s time for our offense to make some adjustments.
Click to expand...
Why has KC offense struggled lately?
 
Rockport said:
The Cowboys have been playing from behind a lot this year especially lately. When that happens they become 1 dimensional having to pass all the time to catch up. The running game becomes non-existent. You’ll lose most of those games. Look at KC who has the best QB in the NFL is 5-4. You have to have both a good defense and a good offense. You can’t just have one.
Click to expand...
I don’t disagree…I was responding to just the offensive side of the ball and Bob’s point that teams are taking away the run game.

Even if you can’t run, you still need a way to supplement those lost rushing yards with higher percentage plays due to down and distance problems. You can’t have 3rd and 8+ every series and expect to consistently convert.

Since you brought up Mahomes, Dak averages more air yards per attempt and air yards per completion than Mahomes.

However, YAC yards are way higher for Mahomes than Dak. Last year, almost 60% of Mahomes passing yards were YAC yards. Dak was about 47% YAC yards.

KC (and many other teams) gets players the ball on the move in space. That’s one adjustment to middle open defenses. We do ineffective screens, 5 yard curls, and occasional RB swing passes…boring and predictable.
 
This offense is as good as the oline plays. If oline has a bad day then its pretty much a wrap on getting a beat down with this horrible defense. How in the world is Terrance Steele a starter or even allowed in the stadium is beyond me. The offense has to maintain drives and score a minimum of 40 points to even have a chance to win.
 
Last edited:
Spottswoode said:
I don’t disagree…I was responding to just the offensive side of the ball and Bob’s point that teams are taking away the run game.

Even if you can’t run, you still need a way to supplement those lost rushing yards with higher percentage plays due to down and distance problems. You can’t have 3rd and 8+ every series and expect to consistently convert.

Since you brought up Mahomes, Dak averages more air yards per attempt and air yards per completion than Mahomes.

However, YAC yards are way higher for Mahomes than Dak. Last year, almost 60% of Mahomes passing yards were YAC yards. Dak was about 47% YAC yards.

KC (and many other teams) gets players the ball on the move in space. That’s one adjustment to middle open defenses. We do ineffective screens, 5 yard curls, and occasional RB swing passes…boring and predictable.
Click to expand...
You can’t find a way to supplement the lost rushing yards because the defense can ignore the run and play strictly the pass.
 
Rockport said:
You can’t find a way to supplement the lost rushing yards because the defense can ignore the run and play strictly the pass.
Click to expand...
I think either you are misunderstanding my point or you just want to be a contrarian.

Is it easier to convert on 3rd and 10 or 3rd and 3? If you can’t run to shorten down and distance, you have to find a higher percentage way to replace the run yards elsewhere. A 4 yard pass gets you the same yards as a 4 yard run.

We have no creativity on the short passing game. We don’t use our RB’s well, have slow footed TE’s, have speedsters who we can’t incorporate, etc.

Here are some stats for you.

Dak percentage of YAC yards by year from ‘18-‘25:

48%, 40%, 44%, 45%, 42%, 43%, 47%, 44%
During this time, his completed air yards have only dropped slightly and was the same in ‘24 as it was in ‘18. In other words, Dallas hasn’t adjusted their air yards much since his rookie season.

Mahomes percentage of YAC yards by year from ‘18-‘25:

51%, 48%, 48%, 56%, 54%, 61%, 59%, 50%
During this period, his completed air yards have consistently dropped by a good amount. In other words, they are throwing shorter routes more frequently and YAC yards have increased significantly.

In ‘21, you saw a big drop in Mahomes air yards and a big jump in YAC yards. It so happens that is around the time that 2 high defense usage rates started spiking.

To me, it looks like KC adjusted to a trend. Looking at Dak’s numbers, when would you say Dallas adjusted?
 
krs1bro said:
This offense is as good as the oline plays. If oline has a bad day then its pretty much a wrap on getting a beat down with this horrible defense. How in the world is Terrance Steele a starter or even allowed in the stadium is beyond me. The offense has to maintain drives and score a minimum of 40 points to even have a chance to win.
Click to expand...
It is...always has been, always will be...the trenches.
 
Spottswoode said:
I think either you are misunderstanding my point or you just want to be a contrarian.

Is it easier to convert on 3rd and 10 or 3rd and 3? If you can’t run to shorten down and distance, you have to find a higher percentage way to replace the run yards elsewhere. A 4 yard pass gets you the same yards as a 4 yard run.

We have no creativity on the short passing game. We don’t use our RB’s well, have slow footed TE’s, have speedsters who we can’t incorporate, etc.

Here are some stats for you.

Dak percentage of YAC yards by year from ‘18-‘25:

48%, 40%, 44%, 45%, 42%, 43%, 47%, 44%
During this time, his completed air yards have only dropped slightly and was the same in ‘24 as it was in ‘18. In other words, Dallas hasn’t adjusted their air yards much since his rookie season.

Mahomes percentage of YAC yards by year from ‘18-‘25:

51%, 48%, 48%, 56%, 54%, 61%, 59%, 50%
During this period, his completed air yards have consistently dropped by a good amount. In other words, they are throwing shorter routes more frequently and YAC yards have increased significantly.

In ‘21, you saw a big drop in Mahomes air yards and a big jump in YAC yards. It so happens that is around the time that 2 high defense usage rates started spiking.

To me, it looks like KC adjusted to a trend. Looking at Dak’s numbers, when would you say Dallas adjusted?
Click to expand...
Very fine line on using stats and abusing stats for your agenda.

I do not use "agenda" as an insult here. You have a point to make...a business meeting with a clear agenda...is a good thing.

And you did excellent. You cited appropriate stats, and how you are using them to make your point.

And asked a question to see what your readers interpret from them.

Well done sir!
 
Spottswoode said:
I think either you are misunderstanding my point or you just want to be a contrarian.

Is it easier to convert on 3rd and 10 or 3rd and 3? If you can’t run to shorten down and distance, you have to find a higher percentage way to replace the run yards elsewhere. A 4 yard pass gets you the same yards as a 4 yard run.

We have no creativity on the short passing game. We don’t use our RB’s well, have slow footed TE’s, have speedsters who we can’t incorporate, etc.

Here are some stats for you.

Dak percentage of YAC yards by year from ‘18-‘25:

48%, 40%, 44%, 45%, 42%, 43%, 47%, 44%
During this time, his completed air yards have only dropped slightly and was the same in ‘24 as it was in ‘18. In other words, Dallas hasn’t adjusted their air yards much since his rookie season.

Mahomes percentage of YAC yards by year from ‘18-‘25:

51%, 48%, 48%, 56%, 54%, 61%, 59%, 50%
During this period, his completed air yards have consistently dropped by a good amount. In other words, they are throwing shorter routes more frequently and YAC yards have increased significantly.

In ‘21, you saw a big drop in Mahomes air yards and a big jump in YAC yards. It so happens that is around the time that 2 high defense usage rates started spiking.

To me, it looks like KC adjusted to a trend. Looking at Dak’s numbers, when would you say Dallas adjusted?
Click to expand...
How come Mahomes can't win when the D give up 21+ points? Why does he get a pass?

How does he consistently gets his pick sixes called back?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Staff online

Members online

... and 108 more.
Total: 33,441 (members: 208, guests: 33,233)
Robots: 1,937

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
471,654
Messages
14,358,871
Members
23,876
Latest member
Cowboy54
Back
Top