Garrett DOES Have a Running Problem (cont.)
by DavidH22 on Dec 16, 2009 3:20 PM CST
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About a month ago, I wrote a FanPost in which I noted that the Cowboys rarely ran the ball in a certain situation - after running the ball on first down for 5 yards or less.
In other words, Garrett hardly ever calls two running plays in a row. Particularly on 1st and 2nd downs. Some may think that it could be worth it to run twice in a row on those downs, at least on occasion. Even if you only gain a total of 4-5 yards total on thos two plays, that is still a manageable 3rd down. And chances are that Barber, Jones or Jones or a combination thereof would gain 6-8 yards on two straight carries, further opening up possibilities on 3rd down.
But I digress.
Just in case anyone was wondering whether Garrett reads this blog, or cares what any of us twits think, I am pleased to report that in the four games the Cowboys have played since my original post, the offense has had 22 opportunities to run the ball on second down after gaining 5 yards or less on first down (not counting plays inside the opponents 5-yard line or in run-out-the-clock circumstances), and the team has run the ball on those second downs a grand total of ZERO times. That's right...0-22.
Even on the now infamous drive against San Diego, where the Cowboys ran the ball down the Chargers throat all the way down to the goal line, the Cowboys faced a second and five after a 5-yard run by Felix to the 31 yard line - and passed on second down (incomplete).
To be fair, on those 22 plays on which the Cowboys forsook another run and passed, there were 10 "positive plays," i.e., first downs or completions that were short of a first down but still made forward progress.
I just thought it was funny that Garrett completely eschews the run in those situations, making it utterly and completely obvious what the offense is going to do next.
(On another note, while reviewing the play-by-play of the Redskins game, I was reminded that the Cowboys had a drive early on that was all runs in big chunks (6-41 yards) until....Barber fumbled and DeAngelo Hall recovered and kneed Romo in the back. No point really to bringing this up, except that's Barber's 3rd serious gaffe in the last four games).
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Ironically enough
I am at a point where I’d prefer the Cowboys to throw nearly every down. But maybe throw occasionally to the running backs, especially on screens…
Dude!
You can’t ‘first’ your own post. It’s against the ‘first’ rules.
Especially if it’s the third comment.
by One.Cool.Customer on Dec 16, 2009 3:41 PM CST up reply actions
LOL!
But DavidH22 is on to something. It’s hard to believe in a league this competitive that play calling can be that predictable. Several regulars here have spent a great deal of time obsessing over Garrett’s pass/run ratio, but that’s too generic a statistic to have any great meaning. Knowing a coordinator can be counted on to pass in certain situations with virtual certainty does a huge favor to the defensive coordinator. And does the players a great disservice.
Hate it..
I hate it when we throw an incomplete on 1st down and try to run it on 2nd down knowing the defense is going to stack the line. After an incomplete pass on first down, the defense know we are going to run it on second down because if second down was an incomplete pass too, we are going to have to pass on 3rd down too, meaning 3 straight passes when were still in the game..more runs on 1st down PLEASE….
This is one ugly stat nugget David
and kudos for picking it up. There is only one explanation that comes to my mind why this type of playcalling makes any sense: With our dismal 3rd down conversion rate (38.5%, 16th in the NFL), Garrett is so afraid of third down situations, he’ going for conversions on second down!
by One.Cool.Customer on Dec 17, 2009 3:21 PM CST reply actions
making third downs that much harder if we don't make it...
which leads me to wonder how often we convert off of a 2nd down…??? OCC a little help?
aw man ....
that’s a lot of work, but yeah, I’m intrigued, I’ll look it up.
by One.Cool.Customer on Dec 17, 2009 4:17 PM CST up reply actions
OCC, I'm wondering....
Are you one of the posters that Skewered me for saying our problem on offense is playcalling and Garrett? I’ve got to go back and look. Let’s see…
There’s Terry, Joey, aperfectstar, bishopwest to think of a few bloggers here that disagreed with me vehemently and angrily about how playcalling has nothing to do with it, and Garrett is doing a fine job. If you saw the ranting, demeaning, namecalling, and belittling that these individuals (and some others not named here) took the debate to, it was beyond ridiculous.
But I ask you one question OCC….
How do these individuals explain away the stat and point for debate that David makes here on this post? I notice none of them even have come here to read, much less post, on this topic. I happen to find this topic to be the real culprit behind why we don’t have success on offense in general the way we would expect this talent to perform. Sure, you can talk O-line till your blue in the face, and although we can stand some upgrade there, it’s not like they have been called on to run bluck alot this year since Garrett calls so few run plays OTHER than the draw, so how can the O-line get into a rythym run blocking?
My points of debate have always circled around the run game. The issue is not only run-pass ratio oriented. To think all there is to a run game is to handoff is shallow thinking. The real questions of how good are the run plays designed, what running back is used, how good is the coach evaluating run blocking, and teaching. This is were Garrett is weak- and thus, this is were the Dallas Cowboys are weak as a result. If alot of people respond to that questioning by saying “well, these are the lineman that he has to work with, so….” I don’t buy that. i’ve been watching the draft fervently for 3 years to see what the Cowboys do at offensive line drafting, as well as free agency. Garrett has had enough time to adress that problem, so if people say that, i believe that to be a cop out.
"Amongst the enemy's Lair, there will always be a DallasPalace!"
by DallasPalace on Dec 17, 2009 7:15 PM CST up reply actions
The Support for Garrett Here
Is so relentless and strident, it takes on the appearance of a coordinated public relations campaign. Nowhere else will you find such unconditionally militant advocacy of him. It takes on an almost religious character—regardless of what we see, Jason’s still doing a great job. When the game mattered, his offense manufactures 10 points at home against an average defense, and a fanpost appears a few days later, making the case for him as head coach. Utterly surreal, you can only get that kind of support with a public relations blitz.
I don't think I 'skewered' you, DP
I’m not sure that I’ve even replied to more than handful of your comments, but feel free to look it up – I’d be happy to apologize if you felt wronged.
Having said that, yes, I think I lean more into the Garrett camp than out of it, but my comment above was initially meant to be sarcastic. Then Mac_24 queried me on 2nd down conversions, and I actually looked it up. By my count, we’re converting 35% of 2nd downs into 1st downs, which is only slightly lower than our 3rd down conversion rate of 38.5. I’ll look at this in more detail in a post next week.
by One.Cool.Customer on Dec 19, 2009 10:12 AM CST up reply actions
point taken
Now that the Cowboys have beaten the Saints, The offense has discovered something about itself it forgot- Running the ball is good! just as important (if not more) as the pass.
Keeping the ball away from your opponents is good Jason Garrett.
This defense is good enough, just don’t undermine it with too many 3 and outs.
Keep mixing the playcalling. Too many passes- not so good. Run!
Too much Barber still, but it’s OK- he seemed more motivated than other games.
funny what happens to players when they are threatened- they execute.
If Jerry wouldn’t have said what he said, Cowboys loose.
There is a coaching problem.
Too bad it’s taken so long for so many people to see.
"Amongst the enemy's Lair, there will always be a DallasPalace!"
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