Snap Counts For The Cowboys’ Offense: An Efficient Devastation Of The Lions

Who played, and who produced, for the Dallas Cowboys offense? In our weekly look at the snap counts, we’ll evaluate whether Dallas is using its players well, and how well each of them is producing.

By VAfan@vafanbtb Dec 28, 2016, 11:00am CST

Offensive Overview

On Monday night, the Cowboys had their most efficient offensive showing, with six touchdowns on their first eight drives. Detroit put up a fight in the first half, which ended tied 21-21, but it was all Dallas in the second half. Final Dallas 42, Detroit 21.

Dak Prescott only needed 15 pass completions to rack up 212 yards and three touchdown passes. Ezekiel Elliott carried 12 times for 80 yards and two touchdowns, including a 55-yard romp to the pylon. Dak also ran four times for 35 yards, and Darren McFadden ran 14 times for 49 yards. Dez Bryant also threw a TD pass, the first pass of his career.

Offensive Line

There were 57 snaps on offense this week.

Player	Pos	Games	Gms 1-9	Gm 10	Gm 11	Gm 12	Gm 13	Gm 14	Gm 15	Total	Season	Percent
Travis Frederick	C	15	627	71	56	52	66	74	57	1003	1003	100%
Zack Martin	G	15	627	71	56	52	66	74	57	1003	1003	100%
Doug Free	T	15	623	71	56	52	66	73	57	998	1003	100%
Tyron Smith	T	13	475	71	56	52	66	74	42	836	1003	83%
Ronald Leary	G	13	428	71	56	52	66	74	57	804	1003	80%
La'el Collins	G	3	186	0	0	0	0	0	0	186	1003	19%
Chaz Green	T	4	151	0	0	0	0	0	0	151	1003	15%
Joe Looney	C	15	43	12	6	5	11	10	12	99	1003	10%
Emmett Cleary	T	7	5	0	0	0	0	0	15	20	1003	2%

Tyron Smith ended up with a sprained MCL, which gave fans a scare, but Jerry Jones and Jason Garrett have said he’ll be fine. He’ll miss the Philadelphia game, and get the bye week to heal, and that’s good. Emmett Cleary stepped in for 15 plays and was fine. The four other starters played 100%. Joe Looney was in for 12 plays as an extra blocker.

The line did a great job opening holes for Zeke, who rushed for 80 yards on 12 carries. Darren McFadden added 49 on 14 more. Dak was sacked only once for 11 yards, but otherwise had time to pass the ball down the field.

Rumor is that La’el Collins will be activated off IR in time for the playoffs, presumably to strengthen Dallas’s backup positions.

Quarterback

Player	Pos	Games	Gms 1-9	Gm 10	Gm 11	Gm 12	Gm 13	Gm 14	Gm 15	Total	Season	Percent
Dak Prescott	QB	15	622	71	56	52	66	74	57	998	1003	100%
Mark Sanchez	QB	1	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	1003	0%

Dak had his best game, with a passer rating of 148.3, and adjusted net yards per attempt of 12.42. Overall, Dak was 15 of 20 for 212 yards, three touchdown passes, and four carries for 35 yards, only one of which ended with a slide. See the Dak and Zeke report for more details.

Running Backs

Player	Pos	Games	Gms 1-9	Gm 10	Gm 11	Gm 12	Gm 13	Gm 14	Gm 15	Total	Season	Percent
Ezekiel Elliott	RB	15	443	50	46	43	44	58	29	713	1003	71%
Keith Smith	RB	15	69	9	8	10	4	10	13	123	1003	12%
Lance Dunbar	RB	12	63	15	5	5	19	5	4	116	1003	12%
Alfred Morris	RB	13	99	5	5	1	2	0	0	112	1003	11%
Darren McFadden	RB	2	0	0	0	0	0	12	21	33	1003	3%

Zeke had 80 yards rushing on 12 carries for a 6.7 yard average. He also caught one ball for 12 yards, and ran for two touchdowns. Details in the Dak and Zeke report.

Darren McFadden was the backup running back. He had 21 plays, with 14 carries for 49 yards, including an 18 yard run to get Dallas out from it’s own end zone. Lance Dunbar had four plays, but no carries or targets. Dak Prescott ran four times for 35 yards.

Interestingly, Keith Smith passed Alfred Morris (who was inactive again) for second most snaps among the running backs.

Wide Receivers

Player	Pos	Games	Gms 1-9	Gm 10	Gm 11	Gm 12	Gm 13	Gm14	Gm 15	Total	Season	Percent
Terrance Williams	WR	15	441	43	36	38	52	50	38	698	1003	70%
Dez Bryant	WR	12	362	62	43	37	61	63	42	670	1003	67%
Cole Beasley	WR	15	346	44	35	25	42	45	27	564	1003	56%
Brice Butler	WR	15	291	18	12	14	16	15	21	387	1003	39%
Lucky Whitehead	WR	14	106	6	6	5	0	6	4	133	1003	13%
Vince Mayle	WR	5	0	0	10	7	4	7	1	29	1003	3%

Dez Bryant, like Dak, had a highly productive night on only a few plays. He caught two touchdown passes, of 25 and 19 yards, and threw a 10-yard TD pass to Jason Witten, all on only four catches in five targets. He also drew a pass interference call for 31 yards to the Detroit five, setting up another TD. Dez also broke his tie with Michael Irvin for touchdown receptions, and remains only a few behind Bob Hayes for the Cowboys’ team lead.

Terrance Williams had four catches on four targets for 61 yards. Cole Beasley had four catches on five targets for 25 yards. Brice Butler was targeted once and caught it for 21 yards and a touchdown. Lucky Whitehead and Vince Mayle were not targeted.

Tight Ends

Player	Pos	Games	Gms 1-9	Gm 10	Gm 11	Gm 12	Gm 13	Gm 14	Gm 15	Total	Season	Percent
Jason Witten	TE	15	624	67	56	52	66	74	56	995	1003	99%
Geoff Swaim	TE	9	203	0	0	0	0	0	0	203	1003	20%
Gavin Escobar	TE	15	46	17	12	18	9	16	17	135	1003	13%

Jason Witten missed a snap this week. He caught two passes on four targets, for 33 yards and a touchdown from Dez Bryant. Gavin Escobar was not targeted.

Offensive and special teams snap counts Game 2 - Washington

Offensive snap counts Game 3 - Chicago

Offensive snap counts Game 4 - San Francisco

Offensive snap counts Game 5 - Cincinnati

Offensive snap counts Game 6 - Green Bay

Snap counts at the bye

Offensive snap counts Game 7 - Philadelphia

Offensive snap counts Game 8 - Cleveland

Offensive snap counts Game 9 - Pittsburgh

Offensive snap counts Game 10 - Baltimore

Offensive snap counts Game 11 - Washington

Offensive snap counts Game 12 - Minnesota