With the draft complete, now is a good time to try and make some sense of the Cowboys off-season. It's hard being an objective Cowboys fan because whenever u criticize this team other fans want to take your head off. As if this team has won a super in the last 20 years. Seeing Philly win the super bowl last season lite a fire under their ass, and it should have. The Cowboys had some clear points of emphasis that needed addressing this off-season. I believe they did a great job of addressing them.
I am one of those Cowboys fans who believes losing Zeke for those 6 games derailed the Cowboys chances of making the playoffs. This teams plays differently when Zeke is on the field, and let's face it he is the Cowboys best offensive weapon. That's not a knock on Dak but Zeke forces teams to play the Cowboys differently. He can single-handedly wreck a defense. When Zeke is clicking, Dak feeds off that and the passing game is more effective. Cowboys fans must face that reality. Thus the “Dak Friendly" offense!
Dak friendly offense!
You want to know what a “Dak Friendly” offense is, the modern offense that you see every other team run in the NFL. Sean McVey and the Rams showed everyone that you can use spread concepts, short passes, and an explosive running back to create an amazing offensive attack. The Philadelphia Eagles showed you that simplifying the offense using high low reads, RPOs, misdirections, and a strong rushing attack can help the quarterback have an MVP season.
The Cowboys offense was tailored for Tony Romo. Romo was a gunslinger that had enough experience to anticipate throws and the guts to take those chances. Dak isn't at that point in his career. He also isn't a “gunslinger” QB. Dak is accurate, efficient, and moves the chains. Some may call that a game manager, so what! The biggest job for Prescott is to protect the football and make the right reads.This Cowboys coaching staff has to simplify those reads for Dak. High/low concepts will allow Dak to use his legs to push the ball down the field. It also gives him a check down on every play. In the Rams case that check down is Todd Gurley! Offense is so much simpler when the quarterback can get the ball to a player and that player picks up 8-10 yards.
RPOs (run/pass options) are another way to allow Dak to use his athleticism. The run pass option has a built in read. This is something we see a lot in college football. It allows athletic quarterbacks to call their number more. It also allows them to manipulate the defense. The RPO is an extension of the play action pass. Linebackers will read run, push toward the line of scrimmage allowing the Quarterback more space in the middle of the field. If the linebackers stay home the quarterback can hand the ball off an give the running back a chance against a softer front. With the Cowboys offensive line and Zeke, this is the best concept for the Cowboys to utilize in order to get this offense going.
It's clear, “Dak Friendly” means get the ball in the hands of Zeke more! There isn't anything wrong with that. Putting the ball in the hands of your best player is a recipe for success. Altering the scheme to do some of the things Dak did in college while building on what he has already done well at the pro level will give them a more comfortable quarterback. Removing Dez also removes the notion from the quarterback that, “I have to get this guy involved.” No, Dez didn't have a physical or verbal influence on Dak. It was a mental approach of a good young quarterback that wanted to get his best wide receiver involved in the game. That wasn't the wrong approach from Dak, but it’s a good thing that Dez is gone now and Dak can just find the open receiver.
In summary, “Dak friendly", means having a modern offensive scheme in place, that is used around the entire league and in college football. Using simple concepts that will help get the ball out the quarterback hands and will allow him to use his athleticism. Use Zeke more in the passing game. Surround Dak with players that can hit the home run when the ball is in their hands. All this sums up to a Dak Friendly offense. The question is what took them so long?
In my next post I will discuss the importance of adding the speed element to this offense!
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