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Cowboys chat recap: Put heat on coaches
July, 10, 2014
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- After a little break, we were back chatting on SportsNation on Wednesday and touched on a number of topics.
If you want to read the full chat, click here, but I want to delve more into one topic.
To me, the coaches have been too reactive to the defense, despite Jason Garrett saying they want to dictate the action. They haven’t. Now, they have been productive in yards and points and sometimes both over the years. But could they have been better? A lot better? There didn’t seem to be a lot of innovation to the offense because the answer was always, ‘trust the system.’ Well, the system sometimes should bend for the players in it. I don’t believe the Cowboys have done that enough.
But here’s a guess: Scott Linehan will help change that, especially on game day.
July, 10, 2014
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- After a little break, we were back chatting on SportsNation on Wednesday and touched on a number of topics.
- Why the Cowboys go to Oxnard, California, for training camp
- Why Kyle Orton will be at training camp
- Why the way Scott Linehan and Jason Garrett manage the game matters
- Why Calvin Johnson helps Dez Bryant this year
If you want to read the full chat, click here, but I want to delve more into one topic.
Cris A. (Dallas TX): What prevented Gavin Escobar to see so little playing time last year, his poor pass blocking or the coaches not finding a way to fit him in the offense?
Todd Archer: I'd say both. But here's where I think we'll see a difference with Linehan: he will coach to guys' strengths. It won't be about what Escobar can't do, but what he can do. It won't be about what Beasley can't do but what he can do. I think the Cowboys coached a little scared in the past when it came to things like that. Do I think Escobar will be a great on-the-line tight end? Not really. He just doesn't have the body type to play the line. He's not that kind of player. But I think he can be an effective player if used right.
This was just a stream of consciousness in the chat, but it got me to thinking about the Cowboys’ offense the past few years. I think the coaches got bogged down into things guys couldn’t do as opposed to what they could do. Escobar is a good example of that. They knew he wasn’t much of a blocker when he was picked but they really didn't do anything to put his skills to work as a rookie. If he couldn’t block, he couldn’t be counted on. Despite their professed love for “12 personnel,” they ran the same stuff they did whenAnthony Fasano, Martellus Bennett or John Phillips was the backup tight end. They didn’t invent ways to use Escobar differently. So what is the natural reaction? Well, Escobar is a bust. That’s not exactly fair to the kid. The coaches bear some responsibility for not utilizing his talents. To a smaller degree, they have done the same with Dez Bryant. They haven’t moved him around because they were unsure he could play different spots or get in the slot. This offseason Bryant has moved around more. We saw Cole Beasley line up some outside. We’ve seen running backs line up in the slot. Todd Archer: I'd say both. But here's where I think we'll see a difference with Linehan: he will coach to guys' strengths. It won't be about what Escobar can't do, but what he can do. It won't be about what Beasley can't do but what he can do. I think the Cowboys coached a little scared in the past when it came to things like that. Do I think Escobar will be a great on-the-line tight end? Not really. He just doesn't have the body type to play the line. He's not that kind of player. But I think he can be an effective player if used right.
To me, the coaches have been too reactive to the defense, despite Jason Garrett saying they want to dictate the action. They haven’t. Now, they have been productive in yards and points and sometimes both over the years. But could they have been better? A lot better? There didn’t seem to be a lot of innovation to the offense because the answer was always, ‘trust the system.’ Well, the system sometimes should bend for the players in it. I don’t believe the Cowboys have done that enough.
But here’s a guess: Scott Linehan will help change that, especially on game day.
