Decoding The Offense Week 6

At Arizona

This game featured plenty of protection issues and that saw the Cowboys move to plenty of Shotgun.

Also, I believe we had a first on Sunday where the Cowboys ran 26 1st down plays and never gained a first down. They did get a TD on 1st down to Crayton, so that leaves 25 1st downs where 2nd down followed. Far and away the worst 1st down production of the year. Not evern close.

Worst formation on Sunday? “21” which is Barber, Anderson, and Witten on the field. Tony Romo suggested that he thought defenses are sitting on one formation and I am saying that this is the one. The Cowboys ran it 16 times and passed out of it 4 times. In those 4 pass plays, Tony Romo got sacked 3 times. Obviously, the defense sees Anderson, and blitzes an extra man and gets to Romo. He was not sacked at all in any other personnel package, although he got hit plenty in all looks.

Partly because Romo was getting killed and partly because the Cowboys were behind they ran the shotgun 34 times in 63 snaps. Romo threw for 28 yards from under center, and 287 from the shotgun with 3 touchdowns. WOW.

No new looks again in Week 6, although one of the “21” plays started as “21” with Marion and Felix in the backfield, but Felix went in motion to WR so I am not sure how to notate that one. We will continue to follow that if they roll it out more...

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Here is what the Cardinals game gave us:

63 Offensive plays – (22 runs/41 passes) Here is how we break it down:

1st Down plays (26 = 5 different packages – 10 runs/ 16 passes)

“12” – 4 (1 run for 0 yards/3 passes for 12 yards)
“13” – 4 (3 runs for 3 yards/1 pass for 6 yards)
“21” – 8 (6 runs for 28 yards/ 2 passes for 2 sacks)

Shotgun

“S11” – 9 (9 passes 6-9 for 85 yards – including 55 yard TD to Crayton)
“S12” – 1 (1 pass for 0 yards)

2nd Downs (21 plays – 5 looks):

“12” – 3 (2 runs for 1 yard, FD/1 pass for 10 yards, FD)
“13” – 1 (1 pass for 0 yards)
“21” – 8 (6 runs for 26 yards, 2 FD/ 2 pass for -2 yards, Sack)
“22” – 1 (1 run for 6 yards – Owens reverse)

Shotgun

“S11” – 10 (2 runs for 6 yards/ 8 passes, 5-8 for 112 yards, 2 FD, and 70 yard TD to Barber)

12 3rd downs for the Cowboys – 2 looks (6 for 15, 40%)

Shotgun

“S11” – 12 (11, 7-11 passes 90 yards, 5 FD, and 14 yard TD to Austin) 6 of 12, 50%
“S11H” – 3 (3, 0-3 passes for 0 yards) 0-3, 0%


Regardless of Down and Distance, here are the yardage results for each personnel package:

22 runs - 41 passes

UNDER CENTER (29 – 19 runs/10 passes)

“12” – 7 (3 runs for 1 yard/ 4 passes for 22 yards)
“13” – 5 (3 runs for 3 yards/2 pass for 6 yards)
“21” – 16 (12 runs for 54 yards/ 4 passes, 0-1, 0 yards and 3 Sacks)
“22” – 1 (1 run for 6 yards)

SHOTGUN (34 – 2 runs, 32 passes)

“S11” –31 (2 runs for 1 yard/ 29 passes 18-28 for 287 yards, 3 TDs, Fumble)
“S11H” – 3 (3 pass, 0-3 for 0 yards)
“S12” – 1 (1 pass for 0 yards)


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Personnel Packages Defined

“11” = 1 running back and 1 TE
“12” = 1 running back and 2 TE
“12w” = same as 12, just with both TE’s in the backfield in front of Barber
“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” of “F” 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
“S21” = Shotgun, 2RB, 1TE
“31” = 3 RB’s and 1 TE. Jones, Barber, and Anderson.
“S01” = Shotgun, 0 RB, 1 TE, 4 WR –