DAVID MOORE Follow @DavidMooreDMN
DAVID MOORE The Dallas Morning News Staff Writer
dmoore@dallasnews.com
Published: 23 October 2014 08:45 PM
Updated: 24 October 2014 06:56 AM
IRVING — Maybe you remember that third-and-1 inside the San Francisco 5-yard line to open the season.
You might recall the Cowboys unsuccessfully tried to force a pass to Terrance Williams rather than hand the ball to DeMarco Murray.
There’s a chance you threw your hands in the air and yelled to no one in particular, “Will this team never learn?” At least that’s the PG version of what you shouted.
If you have followed the Cowboys since that day, you know they have learned. This team has faced a third-and-1 nine times since that play and handed the ball to Murray every time.
But it’s not just third-and-short. Third-and-8? No problem. Third-and-15, third-and-18, third-and-20? The Cowboys have converted them all. There have been nine occasions when the offense has converted a third-and-10 or more.
“Third-and-3 feels the same as third-and-8 or 9 for us right now,” quarterback Tony Romo said. “That is a testament to everybody.”
A Cowboys offense that has fallen below 44 percent in third down conversions in the previous seven seasons now leads the league at 57.4 percent. Only three other teams are over 50 percent, and all are well behind the Cowboys’ pace.
The team’s improvement in this area has transformed a good offense into a dominant one. Murray’s ability to run the ball behind an overpowering offensive line has made a dramatic difference. But so has Scott Linehan’s play-calling and his willingness to feature a variety of options.
“Teams can really take away a player on third down,’’ Linehan said. “I mean they can go in and say, ‘OK, we’re taking him away,’ whether you move him around or not. They can literally have two guys on him so the other players are going to have to step up and make plays.
“I think for us, that’s not quite as hard because we have so much confidence in whoever is on the field for us.’’
Dez Bryant leads the way for the team on third down. Murray and Jason Witten are close behind. No surprises there.
But nine different players have converted a third down for the Cowboys this season. Seven different players did so in the road win over Seattle, including Williams spectacular catch for 23 yards on third-and-20.
“We have been very successful getting through the progressions and getting to the right guys, and guys winning on their routes,’’ Romo said
Linehan doesn’t go exotic. He expands the package of plays run on third down but keeps it simple.
“I just think you call plays that are very familiar for the players, that they feel very comfortable, plays they have a lot of history with,’’ Linehan said. “Tony, he’s going to find the guy who has the best matchup.
“I think that’s more it than anything, having confidence in those players being able to perform and do their job. This competition within the group, knowing the ball is going to be spread around, they’re going to be doing the best they can to get their limited opportunities to make the most of them.’’
Example: the Cowboys have one particular play they like to run on third down. Easy to defend, right?
Well, what if the slippery Cole Beasley is in the slot vs. a powerful receiver like Bryant or a tall, matchup nightmare like Gavin Escobar? Throw in the threat of the outside receivers and the presence of Witten and where does a defense turn?
“That’s a big part of it, and you know, if you keep repeating these plays you get better at them,’’ Linehan said. “I’ve never felt like you’ve got better plays that you run one or two times in a season.’’
Romo raves about Linehan’s ability to adjust during the game and change what he calls on third down to get multiple players involved.
Head coach Jason Garrett believes being good on first and second down has put the Cowboys in more manageable situations. But he also recognizes this team is picking up big chunks of yardage to convert on third-and-long.
“I think part of it starts with what’s going on up front,’’ Garrett said of the offensive line. “Protect against these guys.
“I think we have a lot of different weapons to throw the ball to. Tony’s done a really good job reading things out and throwing it to the right guy. If you want to take that guy away, that’s fine. I’m going to throw it to this guy.
“When you have a variety of guys stepping up, I think it really challenges the defense.’’
Catch David Moore on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM) three days a week with The Musers (Mon-Wed-Fri) at 9:35 a.m. and twice a week (Tues-Fri) with The Hardline at 4:15 p.m. during the regular season
DAVID MOORE The Dallas Morning News Staff Writer
dmoore@dallasnews.com
Published: 23 October 2014 08:45 PM
Updated: 24 October 2014 06:56 AM
IRVING — Maybe you remember that third-and-1 inside the San Francisco 5-yard line to open the season.
You might recall the Cowboys unsuccessfully tried to force a pass to Terrance Williams rather than hand the ball to DeMarco Murray.
There’s a chance you threw your hands in the air and yelled to no one in particular, “Will this team never learn?” At least that’s the PG version of what you shouted.
If you have followed the Cowboys since that day, you know they have learned. This team has faced a third-and-1 nine times since that play and handed the ball to Murray every time.
But it’s not just third-and-short. Third-and-8? No problem. Third-and-15, third-and-18, third-and-20? The Cowboys have converted them all. There have been nine occasions when the offense has converted a third-and-10 or more.
“Third-and-3 feels the same as third-and-8 or 9 for us right now,” quarterback Tony Romo said. “That is a testament to everybody.”
A Cowboys offense that has fallen below 44 percent in third down conversions in the previous seven seasons now leads the league at 57.4 percent. Only three other teams are over 50 percent, and all are well behind the Cowboys’ pace.
The team’s improvement in this area has transformed a good offense into a dominant one. Murray’s ability to run the ball behind an overpowering offensive line has made a dramatic difference. But so has Scott Linehan’s play-calling and his willingness to feature a variety of options.
“Teams can really take away a player on third down,’’ Linehan said. “I mean they can go in and say, ‘OK, we’re taking him away,’ whether you move him around or not. They can literally have two guys on him so the other players are going to have to step up and make plays.
“I think for us, that’s not quite as hard because we have so much confidence in whoever is on the field for us.’’
Dez Bryant leads the way for the team on third down. Murray and Jason Witten are close behind. No surprises there.
But nine different players have converted a third down for the Cowboys this season. Seven different players did so in the road win over Seattle, including Williams spectacular catch for 23 yards on third-and-20.
“We have been very successful getting through the progressions and getting to the right guys, and guys winning on their routes,’’ Romo said
Linehan doesn’t go exotic. He expands the package of plays run on third down but keeps it simple.
“I just think you call plays that are very familiar for the players, that they feel very comfortable, plays they have a lot of history with,’’ Linehan said. “Tony, he’s going to find the guy who has the best matchup.
“I think that’s more it than anything, having confidence in those players being able to perform and do their job. This competition within the group, knowing the ball is going to be spread around, they’re going to be doing the best they can to get their limited opportunities to make the most of them.’’
Example: the Cowboys have one particular play they like to run on third down. Easy to defend, right?
Well, what if the slippery Cole Beasley is in the slot vs. a powerful receiver like Bryant or a tall, matchup nightmare like Gavin Escobar? Throw in the threat of the outside receivers and the presence of Witten and where does a defense turn?
“That’s a big part of it, and you know, if you keep repeating these plays you get better at them,’’ Linehan said. “I’ve never felt like you’ve got better plays that you run one or two times in a season.’’
Romo raves about Linehan’s ability to adjust during the game and change what he calls on third down to get multiple players involved.
Head coach Jason Garrett believes being good on first and second down has put the Cowboys in more manageable situations. But he also recognizes this team is picking up big chunks of yardage to convert on third-and-long.
“I think part of it starts with what’s going on up front,’’ Garrett said of the offensive line. “Protect against these guys.
“I think we have a lot of different weapons to throw the ball to. Tony’s done a really good job reading things out and throwing it to the right guy. If you want to take that guy away, that’s fine. I’m going to throw it to this guy.
“When you have a variety of guys stepping up, I think it really challenges the defense.’’
Catch David Moore on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM) three days a week with The Musers (Mon-Wed-Fri) at 9:35 a.m. and twice a week (Tues-Fri) with The Hardline at 4:15 p.m. during the regular season