Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Football 301: Targets and Sacks - Week 9

Where did Tony Romo go with that ol' pigskin against the Eagles on Sunday Night? And who do we blame for the 4 times he was sacked? Read on, young champion...

Target Distribution:

Targets - Week 9 vs. Philadelphia
NameTargetsCatchesYardsFD/TD/INT
Witten87434/0/1
Williams85754/0/0
Barber43200/0/0
Crayton42741/0/0
Ogletree22382/0/0
Austin41490/1/0
Choice1180/0/0
Bennett2000/0/0
Anderson1000/0/0
Totals342130711/1/1

Table Tutorial



When 5 different receivers have at least 38 yards, you have a balanced, dangerous attack. Who knew that the Cowboys had a plan up their sleeve for Kevin Ogletree, but that WR screen that converted 2 3rd and longs was most effective. And, look! Roy Williams with a reasonable contribution. It was a major step forward for #11.

Season Target Distribution To Date:

NameTargetsCatches%YardsFD/TD/INT
Witten564377%39121/1/2
Austin462759%61215/7/1
Crayton432251%36510/2/1
Williams451942%32311/2/0
Choice191474%1236/0/0
Bennett19947%905/0/0
Hurd10660%1253/1/1
Barber11981%772/0/0
Jones5480%562/0/0
Anderson3133%50/0/
Ogletree33100%573/0/0
Phillips11100%00/0/
Totals26115961%221581/13/5

Table Tutorial



When a guy has 600 yards and nobody else has 400 and when that same guy has 7 TDs when nobody else has more than 2, you know who your #1 WR is, right? Miles Austin is an amazing playmaker right now.



3rd Down Target Distribution:

3RD Down Targets - Week 9 - Philadelphia
NameTargetsCatchesYardsFD/TD
Witten44252/0/0
Williams21201/0/0
Austin11490/1/0
Ogletree22382/0/0
Choice1180/0/0
Barber1000/0/0
Totals1191435/1/0

Table Tutorial



The Cowboys feasted on the Eagles and their 3rd Down blitz on Sunday night. Tony Romo made it look easy, completing 9 for 11, 143 yards. Romo and Garrett made the Eagles pay on the Austin TD, and the 2 WR screens to Ogletree which pulled the Eagles pants down. A masterful performance indeed for the Cowboys.


3rd Down Targets - Season Totals
NameTargetsCatches%YardsFD/TD/INT
Crayton14857%786/0/1
Austin14857%1874/2/0
Witten1313100%1258/1/0
Williams13323%493/0/0
Choice8675%513/0/0
Hurd5240%632/0/0
Bennett4125%151/0/0
Ogletree33100%573/0/0
Barber100%00/0/0
Totals754459%62830/3/2

Table Tutorial



So, on 3rd down, when the world knows that Tony Romo is looking for Jason Witten, the tandem is 13 for 13? Jason Witten is underpaid. And that 3rd down to close the game on Sunday night was a fitting testament to what those two guys are all about.


SACKS

Sack #1 - 1Q - 1/10/44



Cowboys take a sack with 21 personnel, but the 21 with Felix and Marion instead of a TB and Deon Anderson. It looks like the first read for Romo is to take a shot to Austin, who is covered. The secondary option seems to be Barber with a dump off on the left, but Romo doesn't have time to look that way as Witten doesn't hold his block long enough. To place blame on someone here seems subjective, but I think Witten is the culprit. 75 Parker is on Romo very quickly.

Sack #2 - S12, 3/9/47 - Babin Sack



This is 5 plays after Andre Gurode left the game, so Cory Proctor is playing center. The Eagles show blitz, but only rush 5 and the Cowboys have plenty of guys blocking. The one problem with protection schemes is that you have to win your blocks - or at least don't get beat easily. In this spot, Kyle Kosier shows us a rare loss as Jasin Babin throws him out of the way for a fairly easy sack.

Sack #3 - 2nd Q - 1/10/17 Huge Blitz



The one thing you must credit the Eagles with is that they don't just blitz on 3rd down. They will blitz in any situation. This is a spot where they are sending the house on 1st and 10. 8 in the box, and while only 7 of those come, so does the FS on a delay blitz. Romo has no chance, and although Barber's guy gets Romo, 3 other guys were about to get him here. There are times when you just can't get everyone blocked. Roy looks open on his hot route, but Romo is running for his life. Not sure who to blame here. Ideas?

Sack #4 - 3rd Q - 3/17/39 - Cole beats Adams



Pretty straight-forward. Flozell beaten by a speed edge rusher, Trent Cole. Flozell is good at what he does (seriously), but this is his kryptonite.



WeekOpponentSackBlame
Wk 1TampaBarberRomo awareness
Wk 3CarolinaDavisAdams?
Wk 3CarolinaBeasonFelix/Colombo
Wk 4DenverDumervilAdams
Wk 4DenverHillGarrett?
Wk 4DenverWilliamsRomo
Wk 4DenverDumervilAnderson
Wk 4DenverHolidayAdams
Wk 5Kansas CityGilberryDavis/Choice
Wk 7AtlantaDeCoudDavis/Choice
Wk 7AtlantaNicholasAnderson
Wk 8SeattleHawthorneColombo
Wk 8SeattleHawthorneGurode
Wk 9PhiladelphiaParkerWitten
Wk 9PhiladelphiaBabinKosier
Wk 9PhiladelphiaJones???
Wk 9PhiladelphiaColeAdams

Table Tutorial

2 comments:

Jay Beerley said...

I think sometimes "blame" can just be a credit to the other team. You don't always have to do something wrong to get beat.

Unknown said...

On the Witten blamed sack, it looks to me like the play was designed for Witten to block down for a two count.. the slide out to the short flat that Barber cleared out. The end didn't bite on the motion right and was really fast on Romo. I wouldn't say Witten didn't hold his block long enough, the defense just blew up a play that took a long time to develop.