Decoding Kellen Moore: Explosive passes become routine as Cowboys offense transforms before our eyes

Link: https://theathletic.com/1390490/2019/11/19/decoding-kellen-moore-explosive-passes-become-routine-as-cowboys-offense-transforms-before-our-eyes/

Week 11 vs. DET

Date published: Nov. 19, 2019

“Dallas is No. 1 in total yards. In fact, Kansas City has played one more game, and the Cowboys still have more yards than the high-powered Chiefs. Dallas is also No. 1 in passing offense, No. 2 in total offensive points per game, No. 1 in third-down conversion rate, No. 1 in first downs per game, No. 1 in fewest sacks per pass attempt and No. 1 in yards per attempt.

“From 2017 through 2018, the Dallas Cowboys produced 73 20-yard pass plays in 32 regular-season games. That total was 31st in the NFL. If you roll the sample size back to the day of the Amari Cooper trade, the Cowboys produced just 50 explosive passes in 24 regular season games — dead last in the league! As we sit here today, on a per-game basis, almost nobody has more.”

Following this game, here’s Dak’s last 16 games:

69.3 comp pct

4,968 yards

8.5 YPA

37 TD (32 pass, 5 rush(

12 INT

104.8 passer rating

11-5 record

2019 is a full season with Cooper, Gallup, and Cobb - team went from worst team in offensive football to the top with new receivers for Dak to throw to.

Cowboys offense:

509 yards

26 first downs

30;54 TOP

7.2 YPP

9.2 YPA

8-14 3rd down

3-5 RZ

Dak:

29-46, 444 passing, 3 TD

Offense ran 16 play action passes, completed on 9 for 132 yards

Dagger play: Perfectly executed screen pass to Zeke, with Dak letting the safety get all the way home before letting the pass go. Martin, Frederick, Witten all nail their blocks.

10 games in, Cowboys have just one offensive performance with less than 399 yards.