Decoding Kellen Moore: Old habits reemerge as Cowboys offense plays too safe for too long (again)

Link: https://theathletic.com/1295003/2019/10/15/decoding-kellen-moore-old-habits-re-emerge-as-cowboys-offense-plays-too-safe-for-too-long-again/

Week 6 vs. NYJ

Date published: Oct. 15, 2019

Cowboys offense struggles, but have to be fair and take into account:

• No Tyron, no La’el Collins, no Cobb, and Cooper gets injured early

• Jets def coord. is Gregg Williams, who loves to blitz anyways

From Week 2-5, Cowboys saw 19 total blitzes. Against NYJ, Cowboys saw 17. Without starting tackles and minus top 2 WR spells a tough day for the DAL offense.

Solution: Before fourth quarter, Moore called a running play on 70 percent of first downs

Crazy stat: 15 red zone snaps, 12 run plays

Offensive numbers:

0 giveaways

32:03 TOP

10-17 third down conversion

2-4 red zone conversion

Dak: 28/40, 277 yards, 0 TD

Only three play-action passing plays, which is concerning since DAL planned to just run the ball as much as possible. Need to use play-action more in games like this.

Depressing Quote of the Day:

“The Cowboys were more worried about playing it safe, and that approach bit them. There will be many more road battles ahead, and it is important that they do not drop into a risk-averse, conservative shell at the first sign of adversity. Yet, under Jason Garrett’s leadership, they always do.”