Word of Muth: Cowboys' Growing Pains

[TonyRomo17]

Ben Muth is covering the Cowboys O line this season and he analyzed the Falcons game in his last article, thought what he said about frederick was interesting

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/word-muth/2015/word-muth-cowboys-growing-pains

The only guy that really needs to step it up in my opinion is Frederick. In his defense, he's asked to do a lot by the coaching staff (he's get less help from guards than just about any center in league). But he handled it well last year and he was a big reason why the rest of the line looked so good last year. If he's going to struggle with some of the more difficult blocks, the staff needs to adjust how much help they're coaching their guards to give. Any advantage you get releasing your guards early to linebackers is moot if the center can't consistently handle the nose by himself.

 

[xwalker]

He claims that Randle should have immediately cut back behind Fred in Gif 1 below because too much of the defender is showing on Fred's front side; however, he then says that in the 2nd Gif below that Randle should have stayed front side.

That is an odd conclusion because Fred's block is very similar on both plays.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

I am elated someone else has noticed how stout the Cowboys have been in pass blocking. Granted, Tyron Smith took the worst possible moment to have a breakdown, but in the aggregate, they haven't surrendered much pressure.

 

[burmafrd]

it is arguable that while the run blocking is not as good the pass blocking is better.

 

[Wood]

what is up with Tyron Smith unable to stay on his feet in both examples. At 6'5 312 lbs I want this guy upright and driving his defender.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

it is arguable that while the run blocking is not as good the pass blocking is better.

Yes, I've noticed that.

 

[xwalker]

what is up with Tyron Smith unable to stay on his feet in both examples. At 6'5 312 lbs I want this guy upright and driving his defender.

Those are intentional, by design cut blocks. It's common in Zone Run blocking.

If Tryon tries to block the defender the angle would easily result in him being call for a block in the back. If he tries to get in front of the defender then that could allow the defender to get back towards the runner.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

He claims that Randle should have immediately cut back behind Fred in Gif 1 below because too much of the defender is showing on Fred's front side; however, he then says that in the 2nd Gif below that Randle should have stayed front side.

That is an odd conclusion because Fred's block is very similar on both plays.

Not even close to being similar.

In the 1st gif the defender clearly has his body and helmet to Fred's right and a cutback was needed.

In the 2nd gif the defender is blocked far better and Randle is late hitting that crease.






YR

 

[xwalker]

Not even close to being similar.

In the 1st gif the defender clearly has his body and helmet to Fred's right and a cutback was needed.

In the 2nd gif the defender is blocked far better and Randle is late hitting that crease.






YR

He is saying that in the 2nd Gif that Randle should have gone front side (between Fred and Free).

At the time Randle has to make the decision, the red is showing on Fred's right side in both Gifs. The writes says that if red is showing to one side then the RB should cut to the other side. That statement does not match the direction that he says Randle should have gone in Gif 2.

 

[JIGGYFLY]

He is saying that in the 2nd Gif that Randle should have gone front side (between Fred and Free).

At the time Randle has to make the decision, the red is showing on Fred's right side in both Gifs. The writes says that if red is showing to one side then the RB should cut to the other side. That statement does not match the direction that he says Randle should have gone in Gif 2.

No he is saying he should have hit the crease between Fred and Ty trusting that Ty would get that cut block.

I think that it was nitpicking but if he had hit that crease there was something there.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

He is saying that in the 2nd Gif that Randle should have gone front side (between Fred and Free).

At the time Randle has to make the decision, the red is showing on Fred's right side in both Gifs. The writes says that if red is showing to one side then the RB should cut to the other side. That statement does not match the direction that he says Randle should have gone in Gif 2.

In the 2nd gif the defender is not anywhere near as out to Fred's right as in the 1st gif. He's dead on with his assessment.

Where I disagree with him is that he thinks it is a trust factor of the LT doing the job. He might be right, but I think Randle lacks the power and is having an issue with that.

Perhaps Murray would have ran off to the right on the first gif instead of cutting back (he wasn't always precise with his reads)...but, he had the speed/power to peel off 3 or 4 yards even without a correct read. Randle can't do that and to me it looked like he was trying to take out well to the outside lane (bouncing out) because he doesn't have the confidence to run thru the crease. But, that's purely conjecture on my part (as it is conjecture on Muth's part about trusting the LT).

I think we're going to find that Randle is exactly what he was last season...a really good 2nd string RB because he can do a lot of the things a #1 RB can do, plus play special teams coverage. Get him on some worn down defenses and he's nicely effective. But, if you get him as the starter it's a whole new ballgame and I don't think he has the power or the speed to be a good 16-game starter.

It's probably why McFadden got a little more time and why they are looking at Michael.






YR

 

[xwalker]

No he is saying he should have hit the crease between Fred and Ty trusting that Ty would get that cut block.

I think that it was nitpicking but if he had hit that crease there was something there.

That's not how I interpret what he said. He talks about Free's block but that wouldn't matter if he wanted Randle to take the cutback.

He says Randle should have played off of Fred's block after describing it as a good-enough reach block. If he's going to cutback then it shouldn't matter if the reach was good enough because the reach is what would allow him to go between Fred and Free but shouldn't be important in regards to the cutback.

That play is very well blocked. Free does a nice job of handling the play-side defensive end; he widens the defender 3 yards and doesn't allow too much penetration. Martin gets up to the play-side linebacker and blocks him. Frederick does a much better job covering the shaded nose; it's not a full-blown reach block, but he's covering him completely and giving the back a decent two-way go. Collins does a great of blowing up the defensive tackle's shoulder (which makes Smith's job much easier) before climbing to a linebacker. And Smith comes in and cuts down the defensive tackle. This is exactly you draw it up.

But rather than stick his foot in the ground and get up right off Frederick's block, Randle tries to dance all the way out the backdoor. He gets spooked by the backside defensive tackle, I think, but again, he has to trust that one of the best left tackles in football is going to get there.

 

[xwalker]

In the 2nd gif the defender is not anywhere near as out to Fred's right as in the 1st gif. He's dead on with his assessment.

Where I disagree with him is that he thinks it is a trust factor of the LT doing the job. He might be right, but I think Randle lacks the power and is having an issue with that.

Perhaps Murray would have ran off to the right on the first gif instead of cutting back (he wasn't always precise with his reads)...but, he had the speed/power to peel off 3 or 4 yards even without a correct read. Randle can't do that and to me it looked like he was trying to take out well to the outside lane (bouncing out) because he doesn't have the confidence to run thru the crease. But, that's purely conjecture on my part (as it is conjecture on Muth's part about trusting the LT).

I think we're going to find that Randle is exactly what he was last season...a really good 2nd string RB because he can do a lot of the things a #1 RB can do, plus play special teams coverage. Get him on some worn down defenses and he's nicely effective. But, if you get him as the starter it's a whole new ballgame and I don't think he has the power or the speed to be a good 16-game starter.

It's probably why McFadden got a little more time and why they are looking at Michael.






YR

So you think that in Gif 2 that Randle should have gone between Fred and Free? I think there is a great chance that he gets less yards if he does that.

 

[JIGGYFLY]

The last paragraph says it all.

But rather than stick his foot in the ground and get up right off Frederick's block, Randle tries to dance all the way out the backdoor. He gets spooked by the backside defensive tackle, I think, but again, he has to trust that one of the best left tackles in football is going to get there.

 

[NEODOG]

In the 1st GIF-if Free kicks out his defender, instead if getting planted.... Randle is running or the endzibe
Free completely botched this play.....if he moves the DE right, just like the rest were doing, look at the hole. If Free, simply blocks the guy, Randle has cutback open for at least 7yds

 

[xwalker]

The last paragraph says it all.

I took that as him saying that after Randle didn't go where the writer thought he should have, then he needed to trust his LT.

I think he was seeing what he wanted to see an what he had probably already expected to see before he reviewed the game footage.

 

[Macnalty]

In the 2nd gif the defender is not anywhere near as out to Fred's right as in the 1st gif. He's dead on with his assessment.

Where I disagree with him is that he thinks it is a trust factor of the LT doing the job. He might be right, but I think Randle lacks the power and is having an issue with that.

Perhaps Murray would have ran off to the right on the first gif instead of cutting back (he wasn't always precise with his reads)...but, he had the speed/power to peel off 3 or 4 yards even without a correct read. Randle can't do that and to me it looked like he was trying to take out well to the outside lane (bouncing out) because he doesn't have the confidence to run thru the crease. But, that's purely conjecture on my part (as it is conjecture on Muth's part about trusting the LT).

I think we're going to find that Randle is exactly what he was last season...a really good 2nd string RB because he can do a lot of the things a #1 RB can do, plus play special teams coverage. Get him on some worn down defenses and he's nicely effective. But, if you get him as the starter it's a whole new ballgame and I don't think he has the power or the speed to be a good 16-game starter.

It's probably why McFadden got a little more time and why they are looking at Michael.






YR

I agree and have my fingers crossed that Michaels does not get so antsy in the hole. There is yardage their with this Oline.

 

[CF74]

Meet on the bone...

 

[Rockport]

Who's Ben Muth?

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Who's Ben Muth?

Former All Pac-12 offensive tackle at Stanford who has been doing this column on different O-Lines for the past few years for FO.com






YR