Just more Dallas Cowboys football under Wade Phillips.
Since the start of 2007, only Oakland has committed more penalties than the Cowboys.
Since the start of 2008, nobody has committed more penalties than the Cowboys.
Since the start of 2009, only Oakland has committed more penalties than the Cowboys.
And for those of you who think "this team had a penalty problem under Bill Parcells, too", let me put that to rest.
From 2003-2006, "the Bill Parcells era", the Cowboys ranked 25th in the NFL in penalties during his tenure. 25th! Only 7 teams in the NFL committed FEWER penalties than the Cowboys did under Parcells. The only teams that had fewer flags than the Cowboys: Chiefs, Browns, Colts, Steelers, Broncos, Seahawks, and Jets.
Times have changed.
Week 5 at Minnesota:
| Wk | Q | Player | Penalty | Yards | Unit | FD |
| 5 | 1 | Austin | Unsportman Conduct | 15 | Off | |
| 5 | 2 | Austin | Pass Interference | 10 | Off | |
| 5 | 2 | Jones | 12 in Huddle | 5 | Off | |
| 5 | 2 | McBriar | Delay | 5 | ST | |
| 5 | 2 | Ware | Offside | Declined | Def | |
| 5 | 2 | Jenkins | Pass Interference | 23 | Def | FD |
| 5 | 2 | Witten | False Start | 5 | Off | |
| 5 | 3 | Gurode | Holding | 2 | Off | |
| 5 | 4 | Free | False Start | 5 | Off | |
| 5 | 4 | Ball | Holding | 10 | ST | |
| 5 | 4 | Jenkins | Pass Interference | 11 | Def | FD |
| 5 | 4 | Romo | Ill Fwd Pass | 0 | Off |
Totals for Minnesota: 11 accepted for 91 yards, 12 total. 7 Penalties for Offense, 3 for Defense, 2 for Special Teams.
Worst Offender: Mike Jenkins accounted for 34 yards worth of penalties (after 43 last week) and Miles Austin had 2 biggies as well for 25 yards (Note: I recognize that Wade told everyone that Sam Hurd was given the penalty for Austin in the end zone, but since the NFL gamebook still says Austin - and because Austin did leapfrog Williams - I say it is still Austin's penalty).
So, most teams have played 6 games in the NFL this season. The Cowboys have played just 5, but still rank 3rd in the NFL in total penalties. Only Detroit and Oakland have more flags this season, but both have played 6 games - so on a per-game basis, the Cowboys are at the top of the league (or bottom of the league depending on how you consider things).
Here are your season totals - Keep in mind, my totals include declined and offsetting penalties. For football reasons, they matter way more than just accepted penalties.
This is through Week 5:
OFFENSE
| Player | Total | Hold | Presnap | Ill Block | Other |
| Austin | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Colombo | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Gurode | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Free | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Barron | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Witten | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Romo | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Bryant | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bennett | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Holland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kosier | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jones | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Davis | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 33 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 9 |
Miles Austin has surged ahead of the OL for his 4th and 5th penalties of the season.
DEFENSE
| Player | Total | Offside | Rough | Pass Inf | Other |
| Jenkins | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Brooking | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Olshansky | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ratliff | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Spencer | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ware | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sensabaugh | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Scandrick | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Bowen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals | 20 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 3 |
Mike Jenkins is on a torrid pace now with 4 Pass Interference calls in 2 weeks. DeMarcus Ware has yet another offside. Many get declined, but only because the QB takes advantage of the penalty by throwing downfield and getting a nice result that has no chance of being picked off.
SPECIAL TEAMS
| Player | Total | Offside | Rough | Ill Block | Other |
| Church | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Buehler | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Scandrick | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hamlin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| L Williams | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| McBriar | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ball | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ladocuer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
As always, Bob, thanks for these fantastic posts. I have a follow-up question:
ReplyDeleteWhat's a normal ratio of Off penalties to Def penalties? This is almost a 7:4 ratio here. Does that mean our offense is less disciplined? Or are there just typically more offensive penalties in the league?
To be fair though Bob, the trend for penalties did start in the Parcells era in 2006, which may be the reason he kept banging his head. I beieve the last year he was here, they finished in top 5.
ReplyDeleteHe made some statements during that year on how his teams don't commit that many penalties.