Day After Thoughts (day early)- Week Five

[theoneandonly]

3) Bengals have some really good DL, our OL pretty much made them all disappear. Dunlap made a couple of plays but I don't remember Geno Atkins doing anything. Ronald Leary, Fred and Martin had dominating performances. Awesome to have T Smith back out there as well. Still think we might see Chaz Green start getting some reps at RT at some point. Needless to say though, I'm impressed with how our front handled their front 7.

Yeah, you are right, Broaddus also commented on this, Atkins was erased and dominated. BTW that wasnt chopped liver that the O Line dominated, Atkins is one of the best in the game. I am big La'el Collins fan but the flood gates for the run game opened up when Leary started at LG.

 

[theoneandonly]

8) Hey Garrett, Lance Dunbar is not needed. Please don't waste anymore plays this year having him out there.

Dunbar is another Jerry man crush. Must have photos of him banging a goat.

 

[cockstrong]

1. What do you do? My main job is FedEx but I'm the Assistant Linebackers Coach/Football Operations/Film Coordinator for a junior college football team.

2. What "film responsibilities" do you have? Download two angles (sideline and endzone) from our games, mark them, intercut it, and then defensive stats for our team. Then I share it with our staff and players before publishing it in the league pool. Last, I have to download all of of our opponents' games, break down their offenses, and put together scouting reports for the staff.

3. Who is your team? Mesa Community College.

What are your measurments? Large, Athletic, slim

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

The coaching is part Linehan because the offense looks a lot more like Linehan's motion, formations and misdirection that he had in Detroit than what they do with Romo playing Garretts "vanilla"- "just beat the guy in front of you" offense. Remember Garrett disapproved of such variation for many years saying that the more basic the formation "the more they could do from that formation".

Oh, there's no doubt it's mostly to all Linehan anymore. Said it before, but all these bootlegs and misdirections would have been perfect for Tony, too, when he was younger. Parcells did it. But Garrett never did.

But that's been true since 2014, I think. There's a reason Garrett never talks into his headset, which I haven't seen from any other head coach, even ones who don't call plays. He's more like a fan at a Nascar race just listening as a passive observer.

 

[yimyammer]

1. What do you do? My main job is FedEx but I'm the Assistant Linebackers Coach/Football Operations/Film Coordinator for a junior college football team.

2. What "film responsibilities" do you have? Download two angles (sideline and endzone) from our games, mark them, intercut it, and then defensive stats for our team. Then I share it with our staff and players before publishing it in the league pool. Last, I have to download all of of our opponents' games, break down their offenses, and put together scouting reports for the staff.

3. Who is your team? Mesa Community College.

Awesome, thanks for sharing. It sheds a brighter light on your perspective knowing this. I've never broke down one iota of game film and am pretty much clueless to whats taking place on game day beyond the obvious

 

[yimyammer]

But (until that series with the fumble) the plays were simple with the reads and varied to preserve Dak.

Can you elaborate?

What changed here?

I thought Dak started to look a little off toward the end but assumed it was because they were playing super conservative

The play were Dak just ran right into the guy that clocked him was strange, especially considering he could have easily slid or thrown the ball out of bounds. It left me wondering if Dak had his bell rung previously that I didn't see

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Don't know if it was Lawrence's presence, a great game plan from Marinelli, a bad Bengals O-Line, or the combination of all of those factors but the pass rush was present. My only criticism is that they kept letting Dalton step up and escape which means either we were too aggressive or that someone wasn't holding their gap.

I think it's a combo of having both our safeties deep and that our LB crew leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

A writer made mention of the fact that our DBs are being very physical, copying the Seahawk way of defending WRs because they are so confident in the offense. Looks very true as Claiborne is up in every receiver's grill. A far cry from that wimpy zone that kept having him get turned around in coverage.

 

[Doomsday]

I didn't get to see the game yesterday but I would be interested to know from those of you that did - does Dak audible out of plays as much as Romo does? Because maybe that's why the play calling seems better (Dak running the play Linehan called rather than Romo forever outsmarting himself with his incessant 'KILL! KILL! KILL!').

Not anything like Romo's propensity, but more and more he is checking into running plays and also adjusting protection more. Really haven't seen him check into a pass play yet.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Not anything like Romo's propensity, but more and more he is checking into running plays and also adjusting protection more. Really haven't seen him check into a pass play yet.

Dak was audibiling a lot more in the Bears game I thought. He was looking like Peyton out there.

He didn't have to do it much this Sunday because the Bengals were staying in their base defense most of the game.

 

[Omegasupreme]

Can you elaborate?

What changed here?

I thought Dak started to look a little off toward the end but assumed it was because they were playing super conservative

The play were Dak just ran right into the guy that clocked him was strange, especially considering he could have easily slid or thrown the ball out of bounds. It left me wondering if Dak had his bell rung previously that I didn't see

The 2 minute offense look of either empty backfield or with one RB as a blocker goes back to the "take what the defense gives" because it's based on checking the coverage on the WRs and making a determination of the most probable open WR at the LOS. Romo has this mastered between the 40s but with the limited space in the red zone, the routes are limited if the WR is not immediately open off the LOS and the advantage goes to the opposing DL who just needs to overwhelm some part of the OL while the QB waits. Haslett and Capers have this down to a science now. That's Romos whole offense unless there's a running play or there is an actual play called.

Dak was given the Romo offense that was neither strategic nor effective at that point in the game. Up until that point, Dak was given a play that manipulated the defense to isolate a primary target and then checkdowns. He quickly reads the progression and either throws or protects the ball (running or throwing away unless sacked). Just made no sense to throw when the point was to use up the clock and get a FG. They would be kicking to the Bengals in the 4th quarter at the worst.

Reminded me so much of those 8-8 year games where if Jason went home sick at half time chances are Dallas would win because conventional play with the lead strategy that everyone from Pop Warner to Lingerie league does the same...except Garrett who thinks it's "aggressive" to throw and lose than run and win.

 

[Doomsday]

Dak was audibiling a lot more in the Bears game I thought. He was looking like Peyton out there.

He didn't have to do it much this Sunday because the Bengals were staying in their base defense most of the game.

True dat. But even vs. Chicago, he wasn't checking into pass plays that I noticed. Of course we don't know what the original play calls are, so it's a shaky assumption.

 

[Midswat]

God, please forgive me. I will say it. Maybe Red knows what he is doing. Maybe he lucked into two great players. Many coaches have. He is also bringing out the best in the team. The defense is playing way beyond their predicted level, as is the offense. Dez, aka knucklehead, still hasn't figured it out.

 

[yimyammer]

The 2 minute offense look of either empty backfield or with one RB as a blocker goes back to the "take what the defense gives" because it's based on checking the coverage on the WRs and making a determination of the most probable open WR at the LOS. Romo has this mastered between the 40s but with the limited space in the red zone, the routes are limited if the WR is not immediately open off the LOS and the advantage goes to the opposing DL who just needs to overwhelm some part of the OL while the QB waits. Haslett and Capers have this down to a science now. That's Romos whole offense unless there's a running play or there is an actual play called.

Dak was given the Romo offense that was neither strategic nor effective at that point in the game. Up until that point, Dak was given a play that manipulated the defense to isolate a primary target and then checkdowns. He quickly reads the progression and either throws or protects the ball (running or throwing away unless sacked). Just made no sense to throw when the point was to use up the clock and get a FG. They would be kicking to the Bengals in the 4th quarter at the worst.

Reminded me so much of those 8-8 year games where if Jason went home sick at half time chances are Dallas would win because conventional play with the lead strategy that everyone from Pop Warner to Lingerie league does the same...except Garrett who thinks it's "aggressive" to throw and lose than run and win.

Good stuff , thx

Did they do this most of the 4th quarter?

Did you notice Dak looking a little off all of a sudden too or am I dreaming?

 

[English Cowboy]

Romo is set to come back after the bye week against the Eagles. If you were the Eagles (heaven forbid) who would you rather face right now, Dak or Romo? I suspect they'd love the chance to go against a rusty Romo. Romo's offense is more advanced but Dak is the more dynamic player. Dak can always pick up Romo's offense as he learns on the job, but Romo will never be the athlete Dak is. Not now anyway.

 

[Omegasupreme]

Good stuff , thx

Did they do this most of the 4th quarter?

Did you notice Dak looking a little off all of a sudden too or am I dreaming?

I only saw the change in playcalling (from actually calling them to the Garrett 2-minute drill) in the last few plays before the fumble. I have heard Jason describe this offense as "having the defense on its heels" and "liking the matchups". If all the WRs were Calvin Johnson and Alshon Jeffreys then yes it would make sense. But with a WR without size and height in Bease and a WR who does not highpoint in TWilly, the matchup advantage goes to the defense unless the offense creates pre-snap and post snap misdirection (like a WCO or the Patriots EP offense does).

Years ago during the 8-8 years Romo would go into the 2 minute drill right before halftime and in the waning moments of games. Jason would note how many yards were gained but the score totals did not match the yards gained. Most opponents at that time were in prevent defense and were just keeping Dallas out of the endZone, eating the clock, and not worried about losing large gashes of yards (much like Kellen Moore in last years Redskin finale). Jason convinced Jerry that the offense was potent based on the amount of yards they could gain in those specific 2:00/prevent defense settings.

It's a facade and requires very little actual coaching. Romo is really his own OC during those times which Garrett apparently likes. So several times during games, usually at the worst possible times, Garrett will empty the backfield and believe his own lie that it's a viable strategy.

No I didn't notice Dak appearing groggy or off.

 

[yimyammer]

So Linehan is just doing his thing and apparently kicking ass (according to Sturms article) and the red gilding just arbitrarily decides to jump in and start calling plays?

kind of like jeri is prone to do every so often where he forces a TO or Hardy on his staff in order to remind everyone who is boss and lay claim to finding the last key piece to success (aka trying to "repeat" his delusions of finding & landing Haley which put those teams of the 90's over the top)?

 

[ZeroClub]

I noticed it in 2014 when Rolando McClain started popping people and other plays stepped up and see it again now. Great defensive play is contagious. It's hard to be soft when your teammates are flying around making plays. Claiborne has found himself, Carr being solid, hell even JJ Wilcox looked like a professional player.

I agree, it definitely is contiguous. And it isn't restricted to the specific unit.

When the Dallas offense crushed and rolled over the Cincinnati defense, the Dallas defense played inspired football.

We saw this in the early 1990's too. There is something about a truly dominant rushing game that gets a team going. The rushing game also demoralizes the opponent. When E. Smith and his OL were in their prime, opponents knew that an ass-kicking was almost inevitable.

I realize we aren't in the 1990's now, but I do believe that we are on the verge of seeing another truly dominant rushing team. If that happens, these Cowboys will be legitimate contenders.

 

[Iamtdg]

Awesome, thanks for sharing. It sheds a brighter light on your perspective knowing this. I've never broke down one iota of game film and am pretty much clueless to whats taking place on game day beyond the obvious

Yeah, he knows his football, no doubt. He and I don't always agree, but he knows his shit.

P.S. I taught him most of it.

 

[bbgun]

Zeke Elliott, worth every bit of the 4th pick overall. Bengals had 1 or 2 plays they slowed him down and he finally busted one for 60 yd TD. Knew it was a matter of time.

was waiting for a long run and finally got one. nice to know he can turn on the jets when he has to.