Breaking Down the Offense - Week 2

Here we go with looking at the play calling in Week 2 versus Philadelphia - For help on the formations, scroll to the bottom:

New Packages for week 2! These 2 formations from the mind of Jason Garrett:

“31” = New for the Philly Game – 3 RB’s and 1 TE. Jones, Barber, and Anderson.

They ran a running play out of the “31” twice for a total of 6 yards.

“S01” = Shotgun, 0 RB, 1 TE, 4 WR – with Austin healthy.

They ran this package once – Tony Romo’s only Interception. So Garrett did not go back to it.

One other observation before we get to the raw data, the “13” package, which utilizes all 3 of the Tight Ends was used 7 times. 3 runs and 4 passes, including 3 passes to Witten. In fact, both plays down the seam to Witten in the 4th Quarter (the one he almost caught and the one he did catch on identical plays were both from “13”). I find this extra interesting given that in the “13”, Owens is the only WR, and he draws free safety attention, which leaves Witten with the strong safety in a foot race, which Witten seems to win – especially when Romo sells the play action fake.

55 offensive plays against those Eagles – here is the breakdown:

1st Down plays (25 = 10 different packages):

“11” – 1 (1 pass for 0 yards)
“12” – 3 (3 passes for 6 yards)
“13” – 6 (3 runs = 3 yards/3 passes = 41 yards, FD)
“21” – 3 (3 runs = 17 yards, FD)
“22” – 4 (3 runs = 6 yards / 1 pass = 5 yard TD to Owens)
“23” – 1 (1st and goal, Barber 0 yard run)
“31” – 2 (2 runs = 6 yards)
“11H” – 2 (2 runs = 20 yards, FD)
“S11H” – 2 (2 pass = 19 yards, FD)
“S12” – 1 (1 pass = 6 yards)

2nd Downs (19 plays):

“12” – 4 (1 run = 4 yards/3 pass = 45 yards, 2 FD = both on screens)
“13” – 1 (1 pass to Barber for 7 yards)
“21” – 4 (2 run = 0 yards, 2 pass = 7 yards)
“22” – 5 (5 runs = 14 yards, 2 FD)
“23” – 1 (1 run, 1 yard TD run to Barber)
“S01” – 1 (1 pass, Intercepted)
“S11” – 2 (2 pass = 48 yards, FD)
“S12” – 1 (1 pass = 2 yards)

10 3rd downs for the Cowboys (6-10) – every time the Cowboys were in Shotgun.

“S11” 8 times (1 run/7 pass) 3 yards rushing, 112 yards passing – 5 for 8 with 2 Touchdowns (72 yards to Owens and 16 yards to Barber).
“S12” 2 times (2 pass) 12 yards, 1 first down.

And now, before your head explodes, regardless of Down and Distance, here are the yardage results for each personnel package:

“11” – 1 (1 pass for 0 yards)
“12” – 7 (1 run = 4 yards, 6 passes for 51 yards, 2 FD)
“13” – 7 (3 runs = 3 yards/4 passes = 47 yards, FD)
“21” – 7 (5 runs = 17 yards, FD, 2 passes = 7 yards)
“22” – 9 (8 runs = 20 yards, 2 FD/ 1 pass = 5 yard TD to Owens)
“23” – 2 (1st and goal, Barber 0 yard run, 2nd and goal, Barber 1 yard TD run)
“31” – 2 (2 runs = 6 yards)
“11H” – 2 (2 runs = 20 yards, FD)
“S01” – 1 (1 pass = intercepted)
“S11H” – 2 (2 pass = 19 yards FD)
“S11” – 10 (1 run = 3 yards, FD, 9 pass = 160 yards, 7 FD)
“S12” – 4 (4 pass = 20 yards, FD)

So, in 2 weeks, Jason Garrett and Tony Romo have demonstrated that the favorite formation for great results and damage is the simple “S11”. This is Shotgun with 1 RB (Barber beside him) and 1 TE (Witten lined up on Line of Scrimmage). In 2 weeks, they have run the S11 20 times. They have run the ball 2 times and thrown 18 passes for 252 yards and 12 FD’s. This is easily the most productive of the packages to date.


Personnel Packages Defined

“11” = 1 running back and 1 TE
“12” = 1 running back and 2 TE
“13” = 1 running back and 3 TE
“21” = 2 running backs and 1 TE
“22” = 2 RB and 2 TE
“23” = 2 RB and 3 TE
“11H” = 1 RB and 1 TE, but Witten is playing the “H” back – which means he is lined up where a FB might normally be deployed.
“12H” = 1 RB and 2 TE, with Witten playing “H”.
“S11” = Romo in Shotgun, 1 RB, 1 TE
“S11H” = Shotgun, 1 RB, 1 TE, Witten playing “H”.
“S12” = Shotgun, 1 RB, 2 TE
And, new for week 2! These 2 formations from the mind of Jason Garrett:
“31” = New for the Philly Game – 3 RB’s and 1 TE. Jones, Barber, and Anderson.
They ran a running play out of the “31” twice for a total of 6 yards.
“S01” = Shotgun, 0 RB, 1 TE, 4 WR – with Austin healthy, they rolled this out once.
They ran this package once – Tony Romo’s only Interception. So Garrett did not go back to it.