CFZ Why the Cowboys needed to move on from Moore

[CalPolyTechnique]

Get ready for Jerry’s attempt at hiring a young and innovative offensive play-caller:

Norv Turner

 

[goshann]

Someone commented in another thread that fans had no real reasons for wanting to move on from Moore and it was mostly driven by a reaction to losing.

Even if you ignore the fact that well respected coaches like Parcells and Johnson have come out questioning the Cowboys offense, it really is obvious at this point that what the Cowboys have been doing has not been working when in matters .. the playoffs.

I do not blame Moore for all of the offensive problems in the playoffs because the players still have to play the game and Prescott throwing two game-changing interceptions against the 49ers is not Moore's fault, at least not directly.

That said, I have had some issues with Moore's playcalling for a while such as ..

• the constant comeback routes, especially when playing against zone defenses.
• the short of the line-to-go throws on third downs.
• the slow developing out routes.
• the quick wide out throws without any misdirection or attempt to hide the play.
• the lack of attacking downfield, especially early in the game to keep the safeties honest.
• the lack of attacking the middle of the field.
• the badly designed trick plays.
• the trick plays called when there is no reason to call them.
• the lack of misdirection plays to keep the defense honest and guessing.
• giving the quarterback too much control over audibles when it's clear he's not great at it.

At times, Moore's play calling can be impressive while other times it looks like he's spinning a playbook randomizer wheel to select the plays he calls.

I think the biggest reason the Cowboys need to move on from Moore though is the fact that his offense, whether his fault or not, has simply not produced in the playoffs.

When you combine that with the fact that the NFC East teams are quite familiar with the Cowboys play calling as they have been running a similar offense for years, it makes sense to change offensive systems to see if that can improve the team's performance.

I do not hate Moore and as long as he ends up with an AFC team I hope he does well.

I really think he needs to spend some time under another offensive minded coach because it's not his fault he was trapped in Jason Garrett's offense for a lot of his playing and coaching career.

Going forward though, I think the most important part of this move is that the 2023 team will be all on McCarthy and his chosen staff.

That means any failures now will be all on him and since he was with the team when it signed Prescott to his current contract, Prescott's successes and failures are all on McCarthy as well.

For better or worse, with Moore leaving and Quinn returning, at least Cowboys fans have something to grasp on to for optimism for next season.

It’s much simpler
We had to make a change to see if the 40m investment has a chance of working. Dak was not progressing. He needs a new voice. It may not work but a change had to happen at OC because they weren’t getting a new qb

 

[Kingofholland]

Someone commented in another thread that fans had no real reasons for wanting to move on from Moore and it was mostly driven by a reaction to losing.

Even if you ignore the fact that well respected coaches like Parcells and Johnson have come out questioning the Cowboys offense, it really is obvious at this point that what the Cowboys have been doing has not been working when in matters .. the playoffs.

I do not blame Moore for all of the offensive problems in the playoffs because the players still have to play the game and Prescott throwing two game-changing interceptions against the 49ers is not Moore's fault, at least not directly.

That said, I have had some issues with Moore's playcalling for a while such as ..

• the constant comeback routes, especially when playing against zone defenses.
• the short of the line-to-go throws on third downs.
• the slow developing out routes.
• the quick wide out throws without any misdirection or attempt to hide the play.
• the lack of attacking downfield, especially early in the game to keep the safeties honest.
• the lack of attacking the middle of the field.
• the badly designed trick plays.
• the trick plays called when there is no reason to call them.
• the lack of misdirection plays to keep the defense honest and guessing.
• giving the quarterback too much control over audibles when it's clear he's not great at it.

At times, Moore's play calling can be impressive while other times it looks like he's spinning a playbook randomizer wheel to select the plays he calls.

I think the biggest reason the Cowboys need to move on from Moore though is the fact that his offense, whether his fault or not, has simply not produced in the playoffs.

When you combine that with the fact that the NFC East teams are quite familiar with the Cowboys play calling as they have been running a similar offense for years, it makes sense to change offensive systems to see if that can improve the team's performance.

I do not hate Moore and as long as he ends up with an AFC team I hope he does well.

I really think he needs to spend some time under another offensive minded coach because it's not his fault he was trapped in Jason Garrett's offense for a lot of his playing and coaching career.

Going forward though, I think the most important part of this move is that the 2023 team will be all on McCarthy and his chosen staff.

That means any failures now will be all on him and since he was with the team when it signed Prescott to his current contract, Prescott's successes and failures are all on McCarthy as well.

For better or worse, with Moore leaving and Quinn returning, at least Cowboys fans have something to grasp on to for optimism for next season.

Agreed and I definitely think it was the right call to part ways. Situational football was often not good with Moore the Cowboys were 0-2 in OT games this season and just saw last week what happens when a playoff game is on the line.

To your list I would also add the RB screen, WR quick slants. The RB screen was just a puzzling one when they had Pollard.

Ready for a change and different offensive approach.

 

[Cowboys93]

I’m not sure how you can truly gauge McCarthy’s value without allowing him at least a year of autonomy from the input of the brass. He deserves the opportunity to sink or swim by his own decisions/staff

 

[DanTanna]

Moore starting Zeke over Pollard for even ONE GAME should have been a firable offense! And then playing Zeke as much as he did warrented firing. What was the stat last week - out of 60 qualifying RBs, Zeke was ranked 43rd and Pollard was 4th??? That is like starting Alex Smith over Mahomes for 2 years. When your JOB IS ON THE LINE you gotta play your best players or even the dumbest GM will fire you. Now Big Mike is on the clock. If he's going to get fired, it damn for sure better be because of HIS decisions, not some green "OC in training" fault.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Moore starting Zeke over Pollard for even ONE GAME should have been a firable offense! And then playing Zeke as much as he did warrented firing. What was the stat last week - out of 60 qualifying RBs, Zeke was ranked 43rd and Pollard was 4th??? That is like starting Alex Smith over Mahomes for 2 years. When your JOB IS ON THE LINE you gotta play your best players or even the dumbest GM will fire you. Now Big Mike is on the clock. If he's going to get fired, it damn for sure better be because of HIS decisions, not some green "OC in training" fault.

I’ll take it a step further. I think any fans that thought Zeke should be starting over Pollard should be banned.

 

[mahoneybill]

This is where I disagree. And all fans have to do is LISTEN. The previous year when Zeke was CLEARLY banged up..and then we find out after the season he was playing on a torn PCL....anyway...after he got injured....Jerry said out his own mouth....Zeke is fine and I EXPECT him to carry the load.

Translation: Zeke beat me at the negotiating table, and now I want what I paid for. I don't care if he has a flat tire, drive him anyway.

The core issue with this franchise is what it has always been....he will tell you exactly how he operates....some fans just can't or don't what to accept or believe it.

Jerry is stubborn. He is still trying to gain “ street credit” after the Jimmy Johnson debacle...

 

[Cowboys5217]

Moore starting Zeke over Pollard for even ONE GAME should have been a firable offense! And then playing Zeke as much as he did warrented firing. What was the stat last week - out of 60 qualifying RBs, Zeke was ranked 43rd and Pollard was 4th??? That is like starting Alex Smith over Mahomes for 2 years. When your JOB IS ON THE LINE you gotta play your best players or even the dumbest GM will fire you. Now Big Mike is on the clock. If he's going to get fired, it damn for sure better be because of HIS decisions, not some green "OC in training" fault.

I think that it was Jerry that insisted on Zeke playing so much even though it is obvious to just about everyone else that it's over for Zeke.

 

[khiladi]

This is all most likely BS, as Mike McCarthy will supposedly be calling plays in the SAME OFFENSE and Brian Schottenheimer was brought in by MM last year and BS also coaches in the Air Coryell tree and his style is very similar to what Garrett’s is as far as passing, though he actually ran the ball.

EVERY move for this offense ever since Dak has been here was done to keep CONTINUITY for him.

 

[WillieBeamen]

Romo and Dak have pretty much the same post-season record

Romo started one full season under Linehan and played at a mvp level

 

[GMO415]

When your 7 year veteran $49 million dollar QB throws a league high 17 INTs in just 12 games, yo arse gets fired.

 

[WillieBeamen]

I think the big thing with the offensive numbers that you are missing is who they are playing against.

I keep seeing here Dak beats up on bad teams. Well. One thing I have noticed and I am damn sure many others have as well is when we play a team with a good/great defense. We go very vanilla. This is a Garrett thing. Go into a shell on the road and be conservative.

One week we are running misdirection, motion pre snap etc.

Next week we are running slow developing go routes the entire game. It was insane to watch. When you get to the playoffs you need to be creative. And if you watch the film of that San Fran game. The scheme was horrible. It makes no sense why they didnt run the same game plan they had against the Eagles who also play a lot of zone. Its disgusting that with even OK QB play we are playing Philly yesterday. However the scheme did him Dak no favours in that game. Throwing on 2nd and 2 in the redzone? Multiple curl routes and come backs against a zone defense?

Its crazy.

Oh so now we want to acknowledge Dak plays poorly against good teams?


Its one thing to play poorly against the good defenses, but its another when you look like the worst QB in the league…


Kellen’s route concepts arent the reason for the QB to throw most of the INTs he threw this year.


If someone wants to argue that Kellen had to go because the QB is unable to consistently play “big boy QB” then fine. But to blame him for what we saw against San Fran is insane

 

[jazzcat22]

I do not think Moore understands how to design run plays, run blocking either.

This is where they need a top notch OL coach. To develop a better blocking scheme to help the run game.

 

[G2]

Very good to great post season teams have a consistent running game and a defense that can consistently stop the run.
There isn't a single team left that expects the QB to "carry them." A fan made that up.

If you're content with the game plan, play calling and "adjustments" made by Moore, you will never except any other factors but "Dak sucks."

 

[Runwildboys]

Well thought out post but I think it will take a McVay or Shanahan level OC to get this team any further than the last one did with the current QB. They arent going to get that level OC.

I think they'll be fine using the same playbook. The new play caller just has to have better judgement as to when a particular play is used. Except for having everyone doing a comeback route. That crap can be torn out of the playbook altogether.

 

[blueblood70]

If you're a it's all Moore's fault guy or an it's all Dak's fault guy. I think we are going to find out next season who was the bigger problem. Personally I don't have an issue with Moore going.

How so what if MM or the new OC is worse then Moore.. theres no way to know anything for sure. easily given the team game aspect of say other parts of the Offense that didn't show up to play in the 9er game

OL was not good at all..
Run game.
Skill players outside of Lamb
16 run plays total called and no use of Davis after pollard went down.
Diggs not making the big hit on kittles or the easy INT
schultz 2 mental mistles on the last real drive
Gallup not making and effort to run that out gave up on the pay allowing the defender to finish the route and get the INT. this is paramount to plays like Crayton made in the 2007 loss to NY..
Maher missed XP

you trying to tell me that none of the above could have contributed to 7 point loss to great defensive team?

so dak has to be perfect to win, that flawed way of looking at close loss.

I dont think anyone here think Moore sucks but Change was necessary, and he was the easiest one to make.

 

[phildadon86]

Oh so now we want to acknowledge Dak plays poorly against good teams?


Its one thing to play poorly against the good defenses, but its another when you look like the worst QB in the league…


Kellen’s route concepts arent the reason for the QB to throw most of the INTs he threw this year.


If someone wants to argue that Kellen had to go because the QB is unable to consistently play “big boy QB” then fine. But to blame him for what we saw against San Fran is insane

I can most certainly blame him for a lot of that San Fran game. As can Kurt Warner, and many others. Curl routes against a team known to sit on routes is a dumb game plan. Period. Dak should have seen the coverage and not gone there obviously. But he shouldn't have been in the position in the first place.

 

[blueblood70]

This is where they need a top notch OL coach. To develop a better blocking scheme to help the run game.

we will get all the above ie new OC, QBC, and others to help figure out, install, and teach this to our offense.
i believe many fans believe them announcing MM as the new play caller somehow precludes them from changing their mind in the next 3 months IF they feel a better option is available.

who we get as the offensive coaches and once they settle on the type of offense, they will run will determine this and in no way are they pigeonholes into sticking with MM as the play caller.

 

[goshann]

When your 7 year veteran $49 million dollar QB throws a league high 17 INTs in just 12 games, yo arse gets fired.

Yup

 

[Chuck 54]

Romo started one full season under Linehan and played at a mvp level

And still failed in the postseason. That’s the point. This offense has been ultra successful in at least 3-4 different years during the season, but no matter who was calling plays, coaching, or playing QB, it has failed miserably in the playoffs.