Cowboys By The Numbers: Offense

Over the next several weeks, I want to do what I attempt to do every summer, which is to take a good look back at the previous season.  There are enough people on the interweb speculating about what could happen in 2013 and what they learned from OTA's.  That is great sometimes, and I enjoy their work.  But, I usually have enough time for that at Training Camp and with the preseason games - especially this year with an elongated camp and an additional preseason game.

So, the bridge from OTA's until Oxnard is best filled by examining the previous season both from a macro view and a micro view.

First, the macro view.  The NFL keeps a few hundred different team statistics which are sorted from top to bottom for all 32 teams.  They are separated and averaged both by "All 32" and then by "playoff teams".  The second ranking is a good way to compare yourself to the 12 teams that made the NFL postseason.

So, today, I thought we could examine the offensive statistics from these files and pick out the best and worst stats from the Cowboys offense - relative to the rest of the league and to the playoff field.  Then, next time, we will give the same treatment to the Cowboys defense.

Here we go:

5 Great Stats from the Cowboys Offense in 2012

1st Down Efficiency:  Rated 2nd in NFL with 53.6% Success Rate.  NFL Average was 47.3% and Playoff Teams averaged 48.6%

3 and Out Drives:  3rd best in NFL with 17.2%.  NFL Average = 22.7%, Playoff Average = 20.6%

3rd Down Conversions:  43.9% was 5th in NFL.  NFL Average = 38.2%, Playoff Average = 40.2%

Net Passing Yards Per Game:  295.6 per game, ranked 3rd.  NFL Average = 231.3, Playoff Average = 237.1

1st Down Passing (4 yards or more):  2nd in NFL, 59.8%.  NFL = 50.9%, Playoffs = 53.2%


This group is certainly propped up with the fantastic accumulation of numbers that were the Cowboys calling card in the latter part of the season where they abandoned all hopes of balance and power and simply let their weapons do their work.  This is where Dez Bryant emerged as a dominant player and where Tony Romo unleashed his stable of weapons that will only improve this season.  Net passing yards are way above where they need to be (and are certainly not indicative of winning football), and 1st down efficiency combined with 3rd down conversions are all where you want to be.

3rd Down conversions don't say everything, but when the top teams are all playoff teams: New England, Atlanta, Denver and the bottom 3 teams are Jacksonville, Arizona, and Cleveland - you can at least see that there is some indicator of who has elite QBs and who doesn't by how 3rd Down goes.  So, it is nice to sit at #5 in that stat.


5 Good/Average Stats from the Cowboys Offense in 2012

Yards Per Play:  5.71, 11th in NFL.  NFL Average = 5.41, Playoff Teams Average = 5.62

Times Sacked:  36, 15th in the NFL.  NFL Average = 37, Playoff Teams = 35

Explosive Plays (Plays of 20 yards or more): 61, 16th in NFL.  NFL = 60, Playoffs = 64

Offensive Points Scored:  348, 15th in the NFL.  NFL Average = 333, Playoff Teams = 385

Time of Possession:  30:33 for 13th in NFL.  NFL Average = 30:00, Playoff Teams 30:37

The one that jumps out at you here is the issue we always discuss - 15th in points scored for all those big yardage stats above.  That is one characteristic of the Jason Garrett offense that seems to be consistent most years.  This team under performs on the scoreboard for all of the stats they put up.  This is why hearing that they have high yardage rankings doesn't mean much to people that suggest they can move the ball between the 20s all day long.  It is also interesting to see that they are only league average in explosive plays.  You would think that with Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray, this number should be way higher.  The Saints led the league with 77 and that is the neighborhood that you want to reside in soon with all of the weapons.


5 Poor Stats from the Cowboys Offense in 2012

10 Play Drives:  Cowboys had 21, 32nd best in NFL.  NFL Average = 27, Playoff Teams 29

Giveaways:  29, which ranked 25th.  NFL Average = 25, Playoffs = 19

Penalties Called:  117, ranked 30th.  NFL Average = 100, Playoff Teams Average = 100

Rush Plays Called:  33.8%, 31st.  NFL Average = 42.3%, Playoff teams = 45.2%

Yards Per Play in Red Zone:  2.43, 28th.  NFL Average = 2.86, Playoff Teams = 2.92


Ah, the killers.  The stats that must be focused on.  And you can argue that they have all been addressed with personnel changes and coaching initiatives in this offseason.  Their drives were too short, too penalized, too many turnovers, no runs, and inefficient in the red zone.

How many of these stats are connected?  You have to pass to move the ball, you can't hold linebackers or safeties with play action, therefore you are throwing into more coverage - more giveaways.

Also, when the field gets shorter, the gaps in the secondary get smaller, and it gets harder to move the ball.  And, of course, you cannot commit 17 more penalties a season than the field.  That is simply a self-inflicted wound that must be cleaned up.

Next time, we look at these same numbers from the defensive point of view.

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Breaking Down A Great Drive

Tony Romo is on a tremendous roll right now, playing some of the best football of his career over the last few weeks. It sure seemed that if you combine his mastery of the 4th Quarter against Washington to what we saw in the 2nd half against Miami, there is reason to believe that Romo is rounding into a form that makes him a big threat in the NFC to put the Cowboys in a great spot. The sequence we want to review from the Miami game is all about Romo making play after play at a crucial moment of the contest.

Let's review the 9th Drive of the game here today. At this point, the Cowboys are trailing, have been out-gained badly, have lost momentum, and need to make a statement before this must-win game gets totally away from them. They have barely touched the ball in the 3rd Quarter and now take the ball after the Dolphins have taken a 16-10 lead.



Play #1: 1/10/23 - (3:48) T.Romo pass short left to M.Bennett to DAL 31 for 8 yards (K.Burnett). Pass complete on a "Crossing Pattern."

Cowboys start in "12" personnel. This is worth noting because they never leave "12" the entire rest of the quarter. This is an odd and enlightening idea for Jason Garrett. Seldom does he stay in the same personnel package for any extended period of time, but this time he saw they were getting in a rhythm and stayed with it. 1st Down and the Cowboys have the two tight ends lined up off each tackle in a double wing look. Dolphins are in a man-under coverage so Romo picks out Martellus Bennett going across the field with a LB - Kevin Burnett - in a trail position. Bennett has a step but is tripped up after 8 by a nice ankle tackle.

Non Play: 2/2/31 - (3:08) PENALTY on DAL-D.Free, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at DAL 31 - No Play.

Play #2: 2/7/26 - (2:43) (Shotgun) Romo pass short right to Witten to DAL 35 for 9 yards (K. Burnett)(R.Starks)

This play goes poorly because Kyle Kosier is getting trucked into the backfield by Randy Starks. This causes Romo to throw the ball into a bad area and if there is a moment he would like back, it would have to be this. Vontae Davis very likely should have picked off this pass to Witten, but the jump ball falls into the hands of the trusty Tight End after Romo held the ball for nearly 4 seconds (3.9). Protection and the QB just about ended the drive right here, but instead the Cowboys move the chains and get a fresh set of downs after Romo made a play under duress.





Play #3: 1/10/35 - (2:04) T.Romo pass short left to D.Murray to MIA 48 for 17 yards (V.Davis) [C.Wake]. Pass complete on a "Wheel" route.

Here it is all about Romo being Romo. Pass protection is a mess here as the Dolphins run a double LB blitz from the QB's right side and Tyron Smith guesses wrong in his assignment. He ends up helping Kosier for no apparent reason and the flank is unguarded. This leaves John Phillips to try to block two blitzers, and he doesn't touch Cameron Wake on the outside. Trouble is, Karlos Dansby is blowing him up on the inside, too. Romo is dead here and actually decides to run from Wake to the left and somehow sees Murray out of the corner of his eye on the wheel route and a sure sack turns into a 17 yard gain. There is no way he should be able to make this pass after such a poor protection breakdown. Murray takes the pass in full gallop and gets into Miami territory. Sensational play by the QB.

Play #4: 1/10/48 - (1:41) D.Murray right guard to MIA 44 for 4 yards (K.Dansby).

A standard run/pass option that turns into a Fullback lead play with Phillips helping Murray shoot up for 4 yards on 1st Down. This is a play you will see from many different personnel groupings and formations about 5-6 times per game.

Play #5: 2/6/44 - (1:06) T.Romo pass short left to L.Robinson ran ob at MIA 30 for 14 yards. Pass complete on a "Square Out."

I wanted to point out this play to whatever remains from the "Jon Kitna should start faction". There was a time in the last 12 months where some well-meaning Cowboys fans actually thought Kitna should start in front of Tony Romo. I know they may be hard to identify right now, but trust me, they existed. Anyway, this, right here, is a throw Kitna cannot make. In fact, this, around draft time, is what they call "the NFL throw". It is an out from the far hash mark of his own 48-yard line to the 30-yard line of the Dolphins on a frozen rope to Laurent Robinson from the slot with a corner trying to undercut the route. If the pass doesn't get there, it is a Pick-6 the other way. Romo fires it and verifies his arm strength with ease. Not easy, but it looked easy and the Cowboys are now at the Dolphins 30 as the clock is running down in the 3rd Quarter.

Play #6: 1/10/30 - (1:06) (No huddle) Murray to left end to Mia 30 for no gain. (C.Clemons)

It looks like the Cowboys are hurrying to the line of scrimmage to get a snap off to insure there is no challenge on the pass to Robinson. It is simply a zone play to the left with Phillips in a lead FB spot. The Dolphins string out the play wide, and Murray has to fight to just get back to the 30. Not the smoothest looking run play of the day as Doug Free loses his fight at the point of attack. The Dolphins have DBs crashing hard and there is no gain to be found.

Play #7: 2/10/30 - (:11) Romo pass to short middle and Robinson to Miami 23 for 7 yards (C Clemons) Pass complete on a drag route.

The last play of the 3rd Quarter is a route that we were wondering about a month ago. Where had all of the shallow crosses gone in the Jason Garrett offense? It looks like Laurent Robinson is bringing them back. Still in "12", Tight Ends clear out the shallow linebackers, and now Robinson from the slot takes his man coverage across the middle. Just like the Bennett completion, this is all a matter of leading the man and giving him a chance at a big play, but again Clemons is sound on the tackling and it is just 7 yards.

4th Quarter

Play #8: 3/3/23 - (15:00) (Shotgun) T.Romo pass short middle to J.Witten to MIA 18 for 5 yards (M.Mitchell) [K.Dansby]. Pass complete on a "Crossing Pattern."

At the Quarter break, the Cowboys change personnel packages for the only time in the drive. They switch to "11" personnel and take off a TE in exchange for a WR. Kevin Ogletree and Witten both run shallow routes while Robinson and Bryant head down the field. Again, the Dolphins are in a man-under coverage with 3rd and short. This play is not that far from the play that broke Romo's collarbone against the Giants in 2010. Like that play, they have a check-release call on for the RB. Felix Jones checks for a blitzer and then releases into his route. But, like Chris Gronkowski last year, he didn't see and pick up the blitzer as Karlos Dansby comes free and tries to knock Romo out. Romo keeps his cool and delivers a duck as he is being hammered and Witten barely gets to it and moves the chain before taking down an unsuspecting cheerleader. Surely, this is not something you want to have happen much, but full marks to Romo for hanging in there and making a huge 3rd Down. This is a field goal drive if this play doesn't happen.



Play #9: 1/10/18 - (14:37) (Shotgun) T.Romo pass deep left corner of end zone to L Robinson for 18 yards and TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on roll left for Romo.

Just a superb play, once again from "S11". Romo stays alive for 5.1 seconds with the ball as the protection is strong against a Dolphins 4 man rush. He then rolls to his left which obviously where he feels most comfortable these days (how many times have we seen it recently?) Robinson comes all the way across the field and Romo is feeling so good that he fires the ball over the head of Witten into the back of the end zone. Again, this requires a very strong arm and pin point accuracy. If the ball is not caught for a TD, then nobody is catching it. Simply phenomenal QB play on this play and the entire drive.

9 Plays - 73 yards - and the Cowboys took the lead again. They would need even another drive later to secure the win, but I just thought this was such a thing of beauty that we should take a harder look at it. Romo was on fire here as the ball never hit the turf.

"I'm not kidding you, that is one of the best drives a QB in the NFL will have this season" - Phil Simms

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The Morning After: Cowboys 44, Bills 7 (5-4)

Something very important has happened with the Cowboys over the last few weeks.

No. The important occurrence was not the 44-7 thumping of Buffalo and a rather underwhelming, but commanding win over Seattle. Although, those wins were both imperative and necessary and have the Cowboys off to a nice start in this stretch where they would play 5 very beatable opponents and would need to go 5-0 to have a chance at the NFC East entering the final stretch in December.

No. The important occurrence was not the continuing breakout and dominance of rookie RB DeMarco Murray. Although his 4-game stretch in games that he has started since Felix Jones went down in New England is easily the best yardage total of any 4-game stretch of any Cowboys Running Back EVER. Murray has 601 yards in 4 starts, and as a reference point, Emmitt Smith's biggest 4-game yardage pile is 550 yards from 1993. Nobody is saying that Murray is Emmitt, but, um, we must be saying he is pretty good.

No. The important occurrence was not Tony Romo finally resembling the QB that he has been since 2006 with a nearly perfect passing performance against the Bills. Only Peyton Manning and Tony Romo have a streak of the last 5-straight years of over a 90 passer rating. He is sure to make it 6 in a row, it would seem, now that he has bounced back from his broken rib/punctured lung episodes from Week 2 and finally looks the part of a QB who is in charge of his offense.

And, No. The important occurrence was also not the defense suddenly making opposing QBs look helpless against various blitz concepts. Although it was sure pleasant to see some invention and execution meet on the field after the debacle in Philadelphia where Rob Ryan's bravado seemed to lack a whole lot of substance when his poking-with-a-sharp-stick routine fizzled on Sunday Night 15 days ago. Now, the blind-side hits on unsuspecting QBs are adding up and so are the takeaways. That is a very key development as well, but not the most vital.

The very important occurrence that has happened for the Dallas Cowboys 2011 campaign might have taken place in a meeting room in Valley Ranch or perhaps on the team chartered airplane as it flew quietly from Philadelphia back to Dallas. Wherever it happened doesn't matter. But it happened. Jason Garrett decided to challenge and trust his offensive line and return to attacking offense. And when that happened, the Cowboys offense received a facelift that it needed terribly.

Anyone who watches the Cowboys on a week to week basis with a very careful eye will see that the Cowboys problems are not nearly as delicious as people want you to believe on the national pre-game shows. While they argue that Jason Garrett doesn't trust his QB Tony Romo to make smart throws at big moments, the reality was right in front of everyone's face. The head coach would love to be put in a spot where he had to trust his QB again. But, the issue never got that far as he stopped believing in his offensive line, one could argue, in the Metrodome back in the 2009 playoffs when Ray Edwards tossed Marc Colombo around the dome while Doug Free and Jason Witten were trying to handle Jared Allen. Then, in the middle, the Cowboys had their hands full with the "Williams Wall" and Romo was running for his life. As for the running game that day, well, there wasn't one. Romo was sacked 6 times and the Cowboys were spanked 34-3, leaving a bad taste in the mouth of those were were feeling pretty good about the 2009 season to that point.

From there came a 2010 season where the Cowboys started the year with Jason Garrett allowing the offensive line to prove itself. Within a month, the line was caving in on all running plays (who can forget the way Tennessee destroyed the Cowboys' front all day) and Romo was under pressure constantly. Leonard Davis and Colombo looked like they were done and the Cowboys had nobody behind them that they were willing to put on the field. New left tackle Free was being given help on nearly every occasion as Dallas was wisely making sure he was ready for primetime. They left the training wheels on Free through another trip to the Metrodome last season in Week 5 as the Cowboys threw 22 of 32 passes at or behind the line of scrimmage. They threw the ball because they had to, but the passes were all short and quick because they did not want to see if the OL could hold up. It was arguably the least aggressive game plan of Garrett's career and the Cowboys lost late without ever really throwing their best punch for fear that the punch might expose them to a counter they couldn't handle. It was textbook careful coaching.

The next week, the Cowboys saw why Garrett was so scared of his offensive line. Tony Romo was decked because of a faulty blitz pick-up and broke his collarbone. He was gone for the season and whatever remained of the Cowboys season and the Wade Phillips coaching regime was discarded that evening. The last two games Wade likely ever coached as a head coach in the NFL were two of the most embarrassing displays in Cowboys history as they were laughed at in front of their home fans by the Jacksonville Jaguars - a team that seldom laughs at anyone. Wade was put out of his misery in Green Bay in early November, 2010, as Clay Matthews and Dom Capers put a clinic of blitzes on a Cowboys offense that looked like they couldn't wait for the season to end.

In the offseason before 2011, the Cowboys knew they needed to gut their offensive line. They knew if they were ever compete again at a high level again, it would not be with Davis, Colombo, and even center Andre Gurode still holding down unchallenged spots on the offensive line that was no longer capable of even being called average. Their performance handicapped the offensive play calling and while fans wanted Romo and Garrett's heads on platters, the truth was that they were both doomed because of protection and blocking issues every single Sunday. Garrett's only advantage was that he did not suffer physical pain from the OL's lack of performance. Romo was the man who had to wear a sling because of it.

They bid those 3 highly-compensated veterans a farewell, and replaced them with kids. Tyron Smith was highly regarded and promising for any team in the NFL. Phil Costa and Bill Nagy were unregarded and Dallas was really gambling that they were right while the rest of the league missed on two young jewels who were ready for primetime. Change is good. But, change without proper replacements is reckless. It was most curious that the Cowboys seemed so sure of themselves and even talked about their new love for "zone blocking" and smallish type fighters in the trenches that surely did not agree with Hudson Houck's career resume of road-graders and pulling guards.

In the first 5 games, it was different but not better. The interior of the line was very bad. The running game was not going anywhere and the passing game was not stretching anyone. 3 and 5 step drops as Romo was trying to get rid of the ball quickly to save his body from another cast or sling. Garrett was not calling games to attack, he was calling games to just stay alive and hope for a play late. He was playing the cards he was dealt.

Something happened in New England as the Cowboys played another protective, conservative offensive game. Bill Nagy was hurt - forcing the Cowboys to bring back Montrae Holland. Felix Jones was hurt which forced DeMarco Murray into the group. Tony Fiammetta recovered from his injuries giving the Cowboys a true fullback. The zone running was almost completely scrapped for the familiar G-power and larger man blocking that the Cowboys know. Suddenly, the running game returned against the Rams. It gave the defense something to consider and opened up a little more space. At the same time, Romo was healing and returning to a QB who didn't look spooked.

Then, the massacre in Philadelphia hit, and that is when the details get fuzzy about Garrett's thinking. He hides his cards very well and talks for 30 minutes without saying much at his media press briefings. But, his actions speak loudly.

And upon the team's return to Arlington for Seattle and Buffalo, we are seeing the results of his actions. The offensive line has been granted a helping of belief from the play-caller and the Quarterback. They are being asked to block and protect. This allows the running game to feed the passing game and vice versa. And when that happens, things open up. Safeties creep up and get burned over the top. This is possible because the QB and play caller are willing to risk a 7-step drop and believe in pass protection again that is required for deep passes. Blocks are opened and swagger returns. And suddenly, we see that the Cowboys offense, for the first time in nearly 2 years, is back to attacking.

Is Phil Costa ready? No. Is Kyle Kosier healthy? Doesn't seem so. Is Holland any better than he has always been? Probably not. But, the group has a coach that has decided to put some responsibility back on their shoulders. That is easier at home against Buffalo than it is in Philadelphia or New York, but it is a welcome start. As they continue to show that they can be counted upon, I believe Garrett and Romo will continue to feed more their way.

The offensive line is proving it can carry some weight again and that is the story here. That certainly won't entertain a national audience like a Romo/Dez/Garrett/Jerry debate, but sometimes the truth doesn't attract ratings like fabrications.

All that matters from the Cowboys perspective is that they are back on the attack. Let's see if it continues in Washington.

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