Over on another post, which is a very nice post, this comment was made: "we are, and always have been, a pass first team."
And I responded with some of what you read below:
It may work out that way, but Garrett's offensive scheme is predicated on the pre-snap read by the QB.
Two plays are sent in from Garrett to Romo. One is a pass and the other is a run. On some downs the pass is the primary play, and on others the run is.
Romo gets to the line of scrimmage. The first thing he does is help with the line blocking assignements that are all based upon who/where the "Mike" linebacker is, so Romo will point to a player and call out something like this…."Mike 57", which tells the blocking assigment o-lineman (Kosier) to set the oline blocking asssignments based upon the guy wearing the number "57." Which means he is the "Mike" or Middle Linebacker.
Next Romo will look for the Safeties and count how many defenders are "In the box."
If the play called was a "run" play and there are too many in the box, you will hear Romo next call out…."KILL, KILL" which means to go to the other play….a "pass" play.
Since most teams try to take away the run, then if they put 8 or 9 in the box much of the time, you will see Romo go to more pass plays and when they drop more into coverage, then you will see us run the ball more. And that is what will decide what that pass/run ratio turns out to be.....60/40.......50/50......or whatever for the most part.
UPDATE:
I should also mention as I did in a response below:
On almost every play, the "Down and Distance and the location of where the ball is" is the biggest influence on whether the "primary play call" is run or pass.
When you look at the OC or DC, they have a big plastic laminated card that has "areas" blocked of by "Down and Distance."
First and 10, 2nd and 10, etc.
And of coarse if you are near your own goal line, you will normally see the run play be the primary call.
Now, there are times when Garrett will only send in one play, but it is not the norm. And there may be more plays called by Garrett where the primary play is a pass and if the defense is not trying to take it away, then that also will partly determine the ratio, and to be fair to the other side of the coin, would be the best argument against my post, but the "Take what the Defense gives You" is still the main philosopy of Garretts offense.
To further illustrate, here is a comment by OCC:
"Perhaps you should have titled the post "Pick Your Poison Time For Opposing Defenses". This is what has me excited about this offense:"
And he was Quoting another comment in the post:
2 Plays Later the Seahawks decide to keep an 8th man in the box, you know to stop Murray from happening again, leaving Dez Bryant, streaking down the sideline.
The comment by OCC is an example that makes it clear that Romo and Garrett are in a certian way... "Picking their Poison" for them.
Because there is so much said about how Garrett is "pass happy", I thought I would point out that Garrett does not go into a game with a game plan of any set amount of passes and/or runs.
He would love to have 30 pass and 30 runs to be "balanced" (There are normally about 60 plays and 12 or so series on Offense), but the defensive alignments do most of the dictating of what that ratio turns out to be.
And I happen to agree with that philosophy.
"Take what the Defense gives you", is what you will hear from Romo and Garrett when questioned about the amount of pass plays or run plays.
What do you guys think. Should Garrett send in just run plays more often even if there are 8 or 9 in the box and try to force the action?
