Decoding the Cowboys Offense - Week 1

Ok. This entire post will likely give you tired head. Heck, it pretty much did that to me as I put it together, but this year I want to take football dorkdom to an all new level. I am now obsessed with defining what a certain offense is all about and to do that, you must track personnel packages.

So, in 2008, I am going to put a lot of time and effort into breaking down Jason Garrett. Will we learn anything at all? Not sure. But, I am going to try.

First, a quick break down of the personnel packages that the Cowboys, and pretty much any team will roll out:

“11” = 1 running back and 1 TE
“12” = 1 running back and 2 TE
“13” = 1 running back and 3 TE (are you figuring this out?)
“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

By the way, as a helpful tip, add RB + TE and the difference between that number and 5 is how many WR’s are on the field. The Cowboys always have a TE on the field. Always.

Now, here are how the 63 plays from the Cleveland Game break down:

11 = 2 plays for 5 yards
12 = 14 plays (6 run, 8 pass) for 175 yards, 7 FD’s, and 2 TD’s
13 = 2 plays(1 run and 1 pass) for 15 yards and 1 FD
21= 12 plays(6 pass and 6 run) for 56 yards and 3 FD’s.
22= 9 plays (9 runs) 24 yards and 1 FD
23 = 3 plays (3 runs) 2 yards and 2 TD’s.
11H = 4 plays (2 runs and 2 pass) 61 yards and 2 FD’s.
12H = 2 plays (2 pass) 12 yards and 1 FD.
S11 = 10 plays (1 run and 9 pass) 92 yards and 5 FD’s.
S11H = 2 plays (1 run and 1 pass) 5 yards and 1 FD.
S12 = 3 plays (3 pass) 41 yards and 2 FD.

By Down:

33 First Down Plays

11 – 1
12 – 6
13 – 2
21 – 7
22 – 5
23 – 3
11H – 2
S11 – 4
S12 - 3

18 Second Down Plays

11 - 1
12 – 7
21 - 4
22 – 2
11H – 2
12H -1
S11 – 1

11 Third Downs:

12 – 1 (3rd and 2) converted
21 – 1 (3rd and 5) converted
22 – 1 (3rd and 3)
12H -1 (3rd and 6) converted
S11 – 5 (3rd and 8) converted
(3rd and 8) converted
(3rd and 15)
(3rd and 5) converted
(3rd and 6) converted
S11H – 2 (3rd and 4)
(3rd and 4) converted

1 Fourth Down

22 – 1 (4th and 1) converted

Ok. Now, here is every play, sorted by personnel packages. I am not sure it will make sense, but see what you can do, and I will see if I can make it easier to read as the season goes on. As our sample size continues to grow, we should begin to learn what they like to do, what they do well, and what they don't do well. And then we can really party!

The first number "C-1" means "C" for Cleveland and "1" for the 1st offensive play. C-25 will be the 25th offensive play of the Cleveland game, so you can follow along on your tivo if you choose.

Game-Play Down Dist Yard Line Personnel Play Result

C-1 1 10 20 11 Pass to Barber 4
C-4 2 9 39 11 Run Barber left 1

C-8 1 10 O11 12 Run Barber 2
C-2 2 6 24 12 Pass to Barber 14 FD
C-7 2 2 O33 12 Pass to Witten 22 FD
C-11 1 10 31 12 Pass to Crayton 18 FD
C-14 2 12 O35 12 Pass to Owens 35 TD
C-16 2 8 31 12 Pass to Crayton 4
C-19 1 10 46 12 Run to Barber right 12 FD
C-20 1 10 O42 12 Pass to Witten INC 0
C-29 2 15 15 12 Run to Barber right 0
C-33 2 5 30 12 Pass OB INC 0
C-40 1 10 O11 12 Run to Jones 11 TD
C-42 1 10 33 12 Run to Jones 18 FD
C-45 3 2 O41 12 Pass to Crayton 17 FD
C-55 2 13 34 12 Run to Jones right 22 FD

C-56 1 10 O44 13 Run to Jones 4
C-23 1 10 O27 13 Pass to Owens 11 FD

C-24 1 10 O11 21 Pass to Owens INC 0
C-6 1 15 O46 21 Pass to Owens 13
C-9 2 8 O9 21 Pass to Witten 8 FD
C-15 1 10 29 21 Run Barber 2
C-21 2 10 O42 21 Run Barber left 2
C-35 1 10 49 21 Pass to Witten INC 0
C-37 1 10 O21 21 Run to Barber 1
C-41 1 10 20 21 Pass to Witten 13 FD
C-43 1 10 O49 21 Pass to Owens INC 0
C-50 2 7 23 21 Run Jones Left 1
C-57 2 6 O40 21 Run to Jones 1
C-58 3 5 O39 21 Run to Choice 15 FD

C-25 2 10 O11 22 Run to Barber 4
C-32 1 10 25 22 Run to Barber right 5
C-47 1 G O6 22 Run Jones 1
C-49 1 10 20 22 Run Jones Right 3
C-52 1 10 32 22 Run to Jones right 1
C-59 1 10 O24 22 Run to Choice 3
C-60 2 7 O21 22 Run to Choice 4
C-61 3 3 O17 22 Run to Choice 2
C-62 4 1 O15 22 Run to Choice 1 FD

C-10 1 G O1 23 Run Barber 1 TD
C-27 1 G O1 23 Run to Barber 1 TD
C-63 1 10 O14 23 Knee 0

C-12 1 15 44 11H Run Barber delay 23 FD
C-28 1 10 20 11H Run to Barber 5
C-36 2 10 49 11H Pass to Crayton 25 FD
C-44 2 10 O49 11H Pass to Stanback 8
C-26 3 6 O7 12H Pass to Owens 6 FD
C-38 2 9 O20 12H Pass to Barber 6

C-3 1 10 38 S11 Run Barber 1
C-5 3 8 40 S11 Pass to Witten 18 FD
C-18 1 10 31 S11 Pass to Witten 15 FD
C-22 3 8 O40 S11 Pass to Barber 13 FD
C-30 3 15 15 S11 Pass OB INC 0
C-34 3 5 30 S11 Pass to Witten 19 FD
C-48 2 G O5 S11 Pass to Owens INT 0
C-51 3 6 24 S11 Pass to Crayton 8 FD
C-53 1 20 27 S11 Pass to Choice 3
C-54 1 28 19 S11 Pass to Stanback 15

C-17 3 4 35 S11H Pass to Crayton INC 0
C-39 3 4 O15 S11H Run to Barber 5 FD

C-13 1 10 O33 S12 Pass to Curtis 8
C-31 1 10 14 S12 Pass to Crayton 11 FD
C-46 1 15 O28 S12 Pass to Owens 22 FD