You know Nothing Jon Snow (Play-calling)

[jday]

"You know Nothing, Jon Snow" sounds warm and even sexy coming from the lips of GOT's Ygritte. But in the world of football forums the constant berating of "know-nothing" coaches and GMs can be as shrill as it is mindless.

The biggest aspect of football that the average fan loves to attack is play-calling. "He's not imaginative!" "He's too cute" "Just run the damn ball." "Open it up." "Get more aggressive"

What's particularly funny is when fans blame Jason Garrett--who neither designs the offense nor calls the plays. Our offensive coordinator is Scott Linehan so if you don't like the offense at least direct your venom in the right direction.

How has Linehan done? The ultimate test is points per drive. This is what the Boys on offense, under Linehan have achieved.

2016, 2.54 points per game (4th in all NFL)
2017, 2.59 points per game (1st in all NFL)

Despite featuring a tight end past his prime, a #1 receiver that can't separate and a talented but still maturing quarterback...the results are elite.

Maybe our Jon Snow OC knows a few things about calling plays.

Solid write-up, T-Ro.

I would just add that I think it is odd how often people immediately assume a bad play was called because it didn't work, when, in general, the problem was not the play, but the execution of 1 (if not more) of 11 players.

 

[T-RO]

Solid write-up, T-Ro.

I would just add that I think it is odd how often people immediately assume a bad play was called because it didn't work, when, in general, the problem was not the play, but the execution of 1 (if not more) of 11 players.

Yup. Many fans are so twitchy. A play gets dumped for a loss and fans say, "What is our damn coach doing. Frikn Idiot."

Then when similar plays enjoy success the fan says, "It's about time we got aggressive. Why weren't we doing this sooner!? Idiot coach!"

LOL

 

[jday]

Yup. Many fans are so twitchy. A play gets dumped for a loss and fans say, "What is our damn coach doing. Frikn Idiot."

Then when similar plays enjoy success the fan says, "It's about time we got aggressive. Why weren't we doing this sooner!? Idiot coach!"

LOL

Exactly!

 

[dfense]

What about opposing defenders that declare our offense is simple and not imaginative? Now I get it, even if you know it's coming and can't stop it then it doesn't matter BUT what happens when we play teams that can stop our "basic" offense. Does our coaching staff have the imagination/schemes/adjustments to off set the other teams efforts?

Kind of a silly argument when the Cowboys run up more offensive yardage than almost anyone, isn't it? So it's vanilla and predictable but still one of the best? Sounds like a compliment to me.

 

[T-RO]

Kind of a silly argument when the Cowboys run up more offensive yardage than almost anyone, isn't it? So it's vanilla and predictable but still one of the best? Sounds like a compliment to me.

Whatever works.

Opposing players will say anything in the middle of the game to get in a player's head. Who cares what opposing players say.

What matters is we have the best offense in the league right now.

 

[robbieruff]

"You know Nothing, Jon Snow" sounds warm and even sexy coming from the lips of GOT's Ygritte. But in the world of football forums the constant berating of "know-nothing" coaches and GMs can be as shrill as it is mindless.

The biggest aspect of football that the average fan loves to attack is play-calling. "He's not imaginative!" "He's too cute" "Just run the damn ball." "Open it up." "Get more aggressive"

What's particularly funny is when fans blame Jason Garrett--who neither designs the offense nor calls the plays. Our offensive coordinator is Scott Linehan so if you don't like the offense at least direct your venom in the right direction.

How has Linehan done? The ultimate test is points per drive. This is what the Boys on offense, under Linehan have achieved.

2016, 2.54 points per game (4th in all NFL)
2017, 2.59 points per game (1st in all NFL)

Despite featuring a tight end past his prime, a #1 receiver that can't separate and a talented but still maturing quarterback...the results are elite.

Maybe our Jon Snow OC knows a few things about calling plays.

Interesting point...in 2014 (with D. Murray at RB and Linehan's first year on the staff as "passing game coordinator") the same stat was 2.61. And in 2015 it fell to 1.6. Common denominator in 2014, 2016, 2017? A dominant running game with a featured RB. 2015 was by platoon with ishy QBs. So was that Scott the play caller or personnel? The year he didn't call plays primarily but likely influenced them (2014), we exceeded the 2016-17 levels. Thoughts?

 

[DFWJC]

"You know Nothing, Jon Snow" sounds warm and even sexy coming from the lips of GOT's Ygritte. But in the world of football forums the constant berating of "know-nothing" coaches and GMs can be as shrill as it is mindless.

The biggest aspect of football that the average fan loves to attack is play-calling. "He's not imaginative!" "He's too cute" "Just run the damn ball." "Open it up." "Get more aggressive"

What's particularly funny is when fans blame Jason Garrett--who neither designs the offense nor calls the plays. Our offensive coordinator is Scott Linehan so if you don't like the offense at least direct your venom in the right direction.

How has Linehan done? The ultimate test is points per drive. This is what the Boys on offense, under Linehan have achieved.

2016, 2.54 points per game (4th in all NFL)
2017, 2.59 points per game (1st in all NFL)

Despite featuring a tight end past his prime, a #1 receiver that can't separate and a talented but still maturing quarterback...the results are elite.

Maybe our Jon Snow OC knows a few things about calling plays.

You had me until you stated anything relating to personnel on offense as some kind of handicap.
If you take (personnel-wise ) our starting 11 vs all other 11s you'll find them very near the top.
Our offense --when we account for the 5 olineman, the RB, QB, WRs, TE ...is flat out loaded as a whole

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Garrett absolutely plays a role in helping design plays. And he also directs Linehan from time-to-time with regards to playcalling (looking for run or pass or conversing on possible plays to run) and plays a larger role in the offensive gameplan.

The positive from this is that overall, the offense has been great since Linehan's arrival and there's a good mesh between Garrett and Linehan. The issues on offense have usually been short lived or were due to the injuries to Tony and Dez in 2015. I think we ran way too much on 1st down in 2014 which was a Garrett directive. However, it worked.

Now I tend to think we go to shotgun and pass way too often on 2nd down instead of more under center and throwing or running along with using the RPO's on 2nd down to threaten the pass, but then run the ball more often.

I was severely ticked off at the play calling against the Broncos where we abandoned the run and seemed to have a gameplan to use shotgun and dink-n-dunk the entire time. That went away from Dak's strengths like his bootlegs. But again, it was short lived as we got back on track.

And I still have some issues with the passing offense as we are still very dink-dunk-ish and not exactly great against the blitz unless Dak makes a play. That's been our issue with Garrett since he's been here...we don't respond well to a blitz that is getting in on the QB by hitting a quick hitter and getting YAC or hitting a quick fade for big yards. Our hot reads are often weak or nil and we usually end up either relying on Tony or now Dak to extend the play in order to go deep.

I think the KC game is a real good test for this.





YR

 

[T-RO]

You had me until you stated anything relating to personnel on offense as some kind of handicap.
If you take (personnel-wise ) our starting 11 vs all other 11s you'll find them very near the top.
Our offense --when we account for the 5 olineman, the RB, QB, WRs, TE ...is flat out loaded as a whole

Of course we have some good players on offense...4 all pros. All top offenses have talent rich rosters. That doesn't mean there aren't personnel weaknesses. We were thrust into replacing two lineman...Tyron hasn't been the same with his back problems. Witten clearly isn't the same threat he was four, five years ago. Dez has limitations.

Our offense is producing better than...
-Oakland, who has great line, athletic receivers and Carr
-New England, with Brady, Gronk, great line, Brandon cooks
-Better than EVERYONE

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Silly me I thought Garrett was the Head Coach.

 

[T-RO]

Garrett absolutely plays a role in helping design plays. And he also directs Linehan from time-to-time with regards to playcalling (looking for run or pass or conversing on possible plays to run) and plays a larger role in the offensive gameplan.

I'm happy to tweak my view if you can provide a source. Bob Sturm has weekly evaluations on Marinelli and Linehan...but none on Garrett. That's for good reason...Garrett has a very limited role with either unit.

I was severely ticked off at the play calling against the Broncos where we abandoned the run and seemed to have a gameplan to use shotgun and dink-n-dunk the entire time. That went away from Dak's strengths like his bootlegs. But again, it was short lived as we got back on track.

Dallas wasn't just inefficient running the ball in that game...we were LOSING yards. That makes it almost impossible to not abandon the run game. Despite that game...and despite the rain in Washington...we still average more points per drive in the NFL than anyone.

 

[T-RO]

Silly me I thought Garrett was the Head Coach.

So you are eager to praise Garrett for our #1 offense?

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

So you are eager to praise Garrett for our #1 offense?

Yea when it's working. I also criticize him for the awful defense and the fact our offense has to score over 30 points a game to have a chance to win. And I gave him plenty of credit last year until the playoffs. Liked how he handled the Dak and Romo controversy. He's the HC. We can criticize the coordinators too but it doesn't take him off the hook.

 

[T-RO]

Scott Linehan takes firm control of the Cowboys’ offense

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...an-takes-firm-control-of-the-cowboys-offense/

Even when Callahan was here it was Linehan who called the plays, ran the meetings with O players.

DallasCowboys.Com team site says Linehan calls the plays.

 

[T-RO]

As the architect of the Dallas offense Linehan explains his philosophy for the team:
https://www.all22.com/dallas-cowboys/scott-linehan-taking-deep-shots-not-cowboys-main-focus

 

[T-RO]

..He's the HC. We can criticize the coordinators too but it doesn't take him off the hook.

Garrett gets
-too much credit for good
-and way, way, way, way, way too much blame for things that go bad.

His role gets clipped down in all ways imaginable. Jerry plays head coach half the time, clipping him from the top... and unlike Bilichik who has his hands in everything...Jason's responsibilities laterally w/offense, defense and special teams are very limited.

I don't say this to defend him or belittle him. It just is what it is. Outwardly he doesn't impress greatly, but given what his trimmed-dow role is...maybe he's OK.

 

[gmoney112]

The offense is elite by any measure.

It's not 100% perfect and there can still be a weak gameplan from time to time, but that's the NFL.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Dallas is 17-6 since the beginning of last season.

The offense was ranked #4 last year and #1 this year. In the one playoff game during that span the offense piled up 429 yards and 31 points.

It is just inconceivable that anyone would have anything but praise for what the coaches and players on that side of the ball have done. Credit also must go to those in the draft department and front office for building that part of the team.

The special teams are also generally good. Our field goal kicker and punter are stout. We haven't allowed much in returns.

Obviously the defense has held us back...but there are some hopeful signs. The #1 problem was our pass rush and that's dramatically improved. Attention is still needed to upgrade 3 positions. If Awuzie can get healthy....maybe he can address one of those spots.

You still don’t get. All this talent, #1 this and #3 that and all you can brag about Is regular season wins?

That’s the point. Maybe you will never get it.

 

[haleyrules]

Come on, we can still hate on Garrett. He is the "Boss"...He is the boss and I have no idea what he does??

 

[T-RO]

Interesting point...in 2014 (with D. Murray at RB and Linehan's first year on the staff as "passing game coordinator") the same stat was 2.61. And in 2015 it fell to 1.6. Common denominator in 2014, 2016, 2017? A dominant running game with a featured RB. 2015 was by platoon with ishy QBs. So was that Scott the play caller or personnel? The year he didn't call plays primarily but likely influenced them (2014), we exceeded the 2016-17 levels. Thoughts?

The common denominator is that in '14, '16 and '17 the Cowboys enjoyed having a real quarterback in the pocket. In 2015 we had journeymen backups after Romo went down.

In my opinion just as one cannot diminish Dak's brilliance as a rookie QB...one cannot diminish a coordinator who's offense was #4 in the entire league--with a rookie Quarterback.

I'm glad you brought up the previous two years as it gives us more history to think on:
2014-5th in Points Per Drive
2015-Romo out, - 26th Points Per Drive
2016-4th in Points Per Drive
2017-1st in Points Per Drive