Kellen Moore is a first-time coach after transitioning from being a player to the new quarterbacks coach, and in a recent interview, he broke down how the Cowboys create their playbook.
“For the most part, the installation of the playbook is organized by play styles. Certainly, the run game and the play action (which begins with a fake-handoff to the running back before the quarterback passes the ball) and the screen (short pass, usually to a running back) are all lumped together into certain concepts.
”From there, as it evolves, you install things for certain situations. Those situations could include goal-line plays, two-minute drill, red zone plays, or 3rd-down plays. Whatever the situation, those things are installed specifically for those days of practice.
”The thing is, if you spend all your time trying to learn everything at once, you’re never going to learn much. So, you focus on each day. Use each day to learn what is installed that day. And then, as you progress through each day, your knowledge base gets bigger and bigger.”
Ask the QBs Coach: How Many Plays Are in the Cowboys’ Playbook? - Kristi Scales, 5 Points Blue
In the original article, Moore explains how many plays are in the playbook, and how those vary from week to week.
MOORE: It can be a light week where there are 70-80 plays, or it could be a week in which you have 100-plus plays. I kind of varies. Each week is its own deal, and it can vary depending on your opponent. Sometimes there is some overlap depending on how their defense plays and what you’re looking to attack based off your own personnel. Sometimes there is no overlap at all.
But as for the overall playbook, it almost feels unlimited because of all the moving parts and different variations you can do within plays.
The newest odds for the 2018 NFL MVP award were released by Bovada on Tuesday, and while Rodgers, Brady, and Wentz are unsurprisingly at the top, Dak and Zeke also appear on the list.
Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott among NFL’s MVP favorites (via Bovada) pic.twitter.com/ei1e1uTBqq
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) June 26, 2018
Ranking the NFC East quarterbacks: Carson Wentz, best or worst? - SportsDay Staff
QB Rankings are a staple of offseason reporting, and the DMN gathers its roundtable of writers to each give his or her ranking of the NFC East QBs. David Moore plays the contrarian with a unique take on the NFC East QBs:
David Moore: Interesting question. Each of these quarterbacks has contacted me in recent weeks to ask what I thought of them and where they rank in the division. Here's what I told them.
1) Alex Smith. He's been the most productive quarterback in the bunch over the past three seasons. Of course, since Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz are just now entering their third seasons you can call that an unfair advantage. What Smith won't have in Washington are the explosive skill players he had in Kansas City.
2) Dak Prescott. Let's clarify one point: he wasn't bad last season. The second half of the season was bad and there are reasons for that decline. The point to remember here is that Prescott is 22-10 in his first two seasons.
3) Nick Foles. He ended the season leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl title. He'll open this season as the starter. He has the hot hand.
4) Eli Manning. The only multiple Super Bowl winner in the group. He'll be surrounded by an explosive cast this season. But his play in recent years has been erratic at best.
5) Carson Wentz. He was playing at a remarkably high level last season before a devastating injury. He and Prescott have the highest ceilings in this group, but the injury Wentz suffered is too significant to expect him to pick up where he left off.
Move The Sticks Podcast: Dak Prescott may be able to do some Brady-like things this year - NFL.com
Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks discuss why "DAK IS BACK", and why the Cowboys are "the team that doesn't get talked about enough". Starts at the 37:20 mark of this podcast.
"@dak Prescott might do Tom Brady like things this year." @BuckyBrooks at the 37:50 mark #Dallas #Cowboys
— NFL Podcasts (@NFL_Podcasts) June 26, 2018
FULL LINK TO THE BRAND NEW #MTS PODCAST: https://t.co/FTTL15q6Lq @MoveTheSticks pic.twitter.com/VR1CGnsWgo
Disagree that the Cowboys are the NFL's most popular team? Ask science... - SportsDay Staff
Need more proof that the Cowboys are America's team?
A recent study published by the Goizueta Business School at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, proves the Dallas Cowboys are the most popular team in the NFL. The study uses fan-based metrics to rank the teams, and Dallas came out on top. No surprise.
[In the] study, the Cowboys ranked first in fan and road equity and second in social equity, making it pretty easy to see how Dallas is the most popular team in the NFL.
The other teams with great fanbases?
The Patriots... Obvious.
The Steelers... Rightfully so.
And... The Giants and Eagles?
Well maybe those last two were just bad arithmetic.
Philadelphia Eagles talk: Recent list screws up NFL fan rankings - Geoffrey Knox, Insidetheiggles.com
Predictably, Eagles fans go on a rant as a reaction to the study. No science, just a lot of hot air.
Mailbag: Are NFL players allowed in the team facility during this month off? - Bryan Broaddus and David Helman, DallasCowboys.com
While others are busy getting worked up about offseason rankings, Cowboys players continue to work out at team facilities during their time off.
Bryan: Golf and fishing are two other things as well. Yes, players are allowed to be around and a number of them take advantage of the facility to maintain their conditioning.
David: Considering how many players live in the Dallas area year-round, you might be surprised at how many guys are around the facility right now. Whether they’re working out, grabbing meals or just passing the time, there are plenty of guys hanging out here during the summer.
Pro Football Weekly's 2018 Running Back rankings - Hub Arkush, Pro Football Weekly
More rankings: In this one, Ezekiel Elliott, who out-rushed Emmitt Smith in their first two NFL seasons, comes in at No. 4.
As a rookie in 2016, Elliott won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and led the NFL in rushing, with 322-1, 361-15. He secured the rushing title by amassing 318 yards more than his closest pursuer. His sophomore campaign could have been even better, were it not for a six-game personal-conduct suspension, as he still managed 243-983-7 in just 10 games. With Dez Bryant and Jason Witten both gone, the Cowboys' offense will be all Elliott's. At 6-0 and 225 pounds, Elliott has never missed a snap to injury. He’s been effective in the passing game, with 58 receptions for 632 yards and three touchdowns in his 26 games, so the only question is, can he stay out of trouble?
Factoid of the Day:
— One Cool Customer (@OCC44) June 26, 2018
Over his first two NFL seasons, Ezekiel Elliott has more rushing yards (2,614) in 25 games than Emmitt Smith did (2,500) in 32. And on TDs, Elliott (22) is just one shy of Smith (23).
Ezekiel Elliott has played two seasons and had exactly one game of single-digit fantasy production.
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) June 26, 2018
Other high-floor notes: https://t.co/9ub5wD3J6H pic.twitter.com/UinwtAdsBv
Jaylon Smith had a dream that Dez Bryant returned to the Cowboys... seriously - RJ Ochoa, Blogging The Boys
A few months later, there are still mixed feelings from fans and analysts alike on the Cowboys’ divorce from Dez Bryant. Linebacker Jaylon Smith recently had a dream that this decision was undone, though.
Why I had the craziest dream last night. OG @DezBryant was back on the squad before the season started! ✊ #ClearEyeView
— Jaylon Smith (@thejaylonsmith) June 24, 2018
Predicting the Dallas Cowboys' 53-man roster - Drew Davison, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
No Dez Bryant on this roster projection, though Davison has six wide receivers projected, but just three tight ends:
WRs (6): Allen Hurns, Tavon Austin, Cole Beasley, Terrance Williams, Michael Gallup, Cedrick Wilson
The Cowboys are remaking their receiving corps with the departure of Dez Bryant in the off-season. Hurns and Austin are the two highest-profile additions, with holdovers in Beasley and Williams.
Third-round pick Gallup is going to make the roster, too, leaving a battle for the final spot among Wilson, Deonte Thompson and Noah Brown.
The early guess is that Wilson wins a spot.
TEs (3): Geoff Swaim, Blake Jarwin, Dalton Schultz
Replacing Jason Witten isn’t going to be easy, but the Cowboys like the crew they’ve got competing for playing time.
Swaim is the veteran of the unit and should get first-team reps. But the Cowboys had nothing but good things to say about Jarwin, and they like the potential of Schultz.
While Jaylon Smith is dreaming of where Dez Bryant will sign, apparently the receiver isn’t too worried despite reports that interest in Bryant is cooling.
"The last problem I have is finding a team."@DezBryant is quietly prepping for the 2018 season.
— NFL (@NFL) June 25, 2018
(via @NFLTotalAccess) pic.twitter.com/ZAQztmNC7E
Source: Seattle's Earl Thomas 'will be in an NFL training camp in July' - Mike Fisher, 247Sports.com
Mike Fisher keeps his and Earl Thomas' name in the headlines.
The whispered view from somebody close to the Earl Thomas situation?
"He'll be in somebody's training camp at the end of July.''
From the FanPosts
Our FanPost section is where Blogging The Boys members have the opportunity to write their own posts about the Cowboys. Take a little time to write a post about your thoughts regarding the Dallas Cowboys, and there’s a chance it will be linked right here in our morning News roundup.
Worst players in the Cowboys Super Bowl drought era - goose916, Blogging the Boys FanPost
In the time since the Cowboys’ last Super Bowl win, Dallas has had a ton of players come in and out of the team facility. Some have been very good, and some have been very bad. Goose916 has come up with a list of the 20 worst players on the Cowboys during the Super Bowl drought era.
There’s no criteria here as to what makes a bad player - as players can be “bad” for a lot of reasons. I’ll limit the pool to players who have suited up for the ‘Boys since the Cowboys last won the Super Bowl in 1995. I’ll also leave off players who are still on the Cowboys, as they could always turn things around - hence the reason Chaz Green misses the cut here.