NFL Outsiders

[Statman]

A great site with very interesting statistical data that is more meaningful than the typical stats.

One of their most impressive analysis is on the offensive lines. They divide yardage into categories that include 2nd level and open field, which they attribute more to the quality of the RB. They also asign values for power which include 3rd and short, goal line runs etc.

They asign sack numbers based on both protection and amount of time quarterback keeps the ball too long.

The have an overall rank for both run blocking and pass protection.

In 2014 the Cowboy offensive line was ranked 1st in running the ball, 16th in pass protection. They were ranked 4th in power, 2nd in 2nd level and 2nd in open field. This indicates that their RB's were ranked 2nd in contribution to the success of the running game.

They were ranked 30th in sacks. Their youth and inexperience was taken advantage of on occasion, particularly late in the season when DC's would try to confuse them with multiple looks.

In 2013 they were ranked 4th in running and 10th in pass protection. In 2012 all 5 of their starters never played their position as a Cowboy before, they were ranked 22 in running 11 in pass protection.

In 2011 they were ranked 9th in running mostly due to open field and 2nd level, it was Murray's rookie year .They were very low in power. No matter the year they have consistantly ranked in the top half for pass protection.

Prior to Murray's arrival they were ranked very low in power and open field.

From 2006 to 2009 they were typically ranked very high in both run and pass, in 2009 they were #2 in the run.

 

[JBond]

Staman, I am enjoying your contributions to the forum. Thanks.

 

[Omegasupreme]

In 2014 the Cowboy offensive line was ranked 1st in running the ball, 16th in pass protection. They were ranked 4th in power, 2nd in 2nd level and 2nd in open field. This indicates that their RB's were ranked 2nd in contribution to the success of the running game.

If there were more effort put into play action, including keeping the RBs on the field and, gasp, tricking the defense into thinking there was a run coming, I would guess that the pass protection might be better because, theoretically, the play action loosens coverage. Also there is this notion of, gasp, deceptive and unanticipated play calls as well as the use of short passes which, as Parcells taught but Jason ignores, prevents the blitz from being effective. There is no offensive line that is truly good enough to block 6-7 players with only 5 O-linemen like Jim Haslett and Dom Capers have proven over and over while waiting 6 seconds for 1 route to fail, Romo to elude a rush, and the skills players to get open.

It's really kind of a misleading compliment of the O-line that the RBs did most of the work and yet the pass protection at 29 sacks was ranked 16th. Looks more like the play design and overall orchestration of the running game was just much better than the passing game. In the theory of the element of surprise being a factor in beating an opponent, the run game had never had that much emphasis so there was very little game film on what the Callahan run game would do given the amount of reps it had available. However, the Garrett playbook that has been around unchanged from 2007 (and really from 1995) has years of film to chart Jason's tendencies - even with Linehan calling plays. This year Linehan needs to orchestrate his own running plays and although Pollack is still there, Pollack was not calling the plays.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

Staman, I am enjoying your contributions to the forum. Thanks.

:nsis

 

[Doomsday]

If there were more effort put into play action, including keeping the RBs on the field and, gasp, tricking the defense into thinking there was a run coming, I would guess that the pass protection might be better because, theoretically, the play action loosens coverage. Also there is this notion of, gasp, deceptive and unanticipated play calls as well as the use of short passes which, as Parcells taught but Jason ignores, prevents the blitz from being effective. There is no offensive line that is truly good enough to block 6-7 players with only 5 O-linemen like Jim Haslett and Dom Capers have proven over and over while waiting 6 seconds for 1 route to fail, Romo to elude a rush, and the skills players to get open.

It's really kind of a misleading compliment of the O-line that the RBs did most of the work and yet the pass protection at 29 sacks was ranked 16th. Looks more like the play design and overall orchestration of the running game was just much better than the passing game. In the theory of the element of surprise being a factor in beating an opponent, the run game had never had that much emphasis so there was very little game film on what the Callahan run game would do given the amount of reps it had available. However, the Garrett playbook that has been around unchanged from 2007 (and really from 1995) has years of film to chart Jason's tendencies - even with Linehan calling plays. This year Linehan needs to orchestrate his own running plays and although Pollack is still there, Pollack was not calling the plays.

+1

 

[w8lifter]

Staman, I am enjoying your contributions to the forum. Thanks.

Ditto. Keep up the great posting.