Targets - Week 5 - Minnesota

Target Distribution: - Week 5 at Minnesota

Name	Targets	Catches	Yards	FD/TD/INT	QB Rating
Austin	5	2	11	0/0/0	47.9
Bryant	2	1	30	0/1/0	135.4
Witten	5	3	52	2/0/2	55.8
Williams	3	3	36	1/2/0	156.2
Jones	10	10	63	2/0/0	92.9
Barber	3	3	15	0/0/0	87.5
Choice	0	0	0	0/0/0	0
Bennett	1	0	0	0/0/0	39.5
Gronkowski	3	2	9	0/0/0	70.1
Ogletree	0	0	0	0/0/0	0
Hurd	0	0	0	0/0/0	0
Totals	32	24	220	5/3/2	98.4

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Another week where we look at Roy Williams and his production and have nothing to say beyond amazement at his 2010. His numbers compare well with Miles Austin, and if anyone saw that coming this season they might have also expected the Rangers to be one win from the American League Pennant. I am not sure which event was more unlikely back around Easter, but here we are.

Once again, another week where the ability to throw to the Tight End has completely disappears. It is so very shocking to see this staple of Dallas Cowboys offense completely disappear.

3RD/4TH Down Targets - Week 5 at Minnesota

Name	Targets	Catches	Yards	FD/TD	QB Rating
Austin	2	2	11	0/0/0	47.9
Bryant	2	1	30	0/1/0	135.4
Jones	0	0	0	0/0/0	0
Williams	1	1	15	0/1/0	158.3
Witten	3	1	17	1/0/2	13.8
Bennett	0	0	0	0/0/0	0
Hurd	0	0	0	0/0/0	0
Barber	2	2	15	0/0/0	97.9
Totals	10	7	88	1/2/2	97.1

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Perhaps the trend that is most alarming is this: the Cowboys only threw to their WRs out of complete necessity. Almost every single completion to Bryant, Williams, and Austin was on 3rd Down. On early downs, there appears to be no reason to cover the Cowboys WR group. To call the Cowboys game-plan conservative and careful would be a bit of an understatement.

And now, your season in a nutshell:

Target Distribution - Season To Date

Name	Targets	Catches	Yards	FD/TD/INT	QB Rating
Austin	46	33	485	21/2/1	111.2
Bryant	28	18	210	10/1/0	98.8
Witten	38	23	270	11/1/3	58.0
Williams	31	21	314	10/5/1	126.9
Jones	19	18	118	3/0/0	92.5
Barber	9	6	21	0/0/0	70.1
Choice	4	3	5	0/0/0	77.1
Bennett	20	13	97	4/0/2	36.9
Ogletree	1	0	0	0/0/0	0
Hurd	3	3	22	2/0/0	97.2
Gronkowski	3	2	9	0/0/0	70.1
Totals	206	143	1555	61/10/7	93.4

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For the season, the two lowest rated targets for Romo are his tight ends - Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett. Of the 7 interceptions that Romo has thrown, 5 are to Witten and Bennett. We all have theories on why this is, but isn't it somewhat shocking? It should be a rather high percentage throw to the TE given that many of their routes are hardly to be considered "downfield".

3RD/4TH Down Targets - Season To Date

Name	Targets	Catches	Yards	FD/TD/INT	QB Rating
Austin	12	11	200	7/1/0	146.5
Bryant	12	8	108	5/1/0	122.9
Williams	7	5	83	4/1/0	150.6
Witten	14	5	83	2/0/3	8.6
Bennett	2	2	7	0/0/0	81.3
Choice	2	1	7	0/0/0	58.3
Jones	1	1	3	0/0/0	79.2
Barber	2	2	15	0/0/0	97.9
Hurd	1	1	11	1/0/0	112.5
Totals	53	36	487	19/3/3	92.3

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And once again I shall repeat: No, that is not a misprint under QB Rating to Jason Witten. It really is "8.6".

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DB Targets vs Minnesota

This may drive you crazier than anything from this game; the fact that the Vikings secondary - which is largely undermanned - was never challenged. I can only find 8 passes the entire game where you could actually make the case they were looking at a defensive back to attack. There was not an attack in the Cowboys game plan it would appear.

Targeted DB	Times
29 - Lito Sheppard	3
21 - Asher Allen	3
26 - Antoine Winfield	2

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