A play by play analysis of our offensive struggle yesterday

[Warhead36]

So I went ahead and looked at every drive yesterday before the score went 20-9(because after that it was obvious pass only downs the rest of the way). On all those drives we went:

First drive:
3rd and 12-converted jd running
3rd and 7 incomplete after 1st down 3 yard completion and 2nd down 0 yard completion

Second drive:
Had really good consistent 1st and 2nd down plays. But on a 2nd and 4 we only get 2 running, then 3rd down i complete and missed FG.

Third drive:
3 and out. Incomplete passes on 1st and 3rd down. Minimal gain passing on 2nd down

Fourth drive:
Two first down plays: 3 yard completion and a sack. Had a nice 2nd down play in between. 3rd down incompletion.

Fifth drive:
Interception on first down after a nice 2nd down catch and run.

Sixth drive:
Two good second down completions make up for two bad first downs. But lost a yard on the third second down and then…yep another 3rd down incompletion.

HALFTIME

Seventh drive:
Only one good first down, but two good second down completions. Both third down conversions were Jd running, resulting in a touchdown.
(From here is where it gets BAD)

Eighth drive:
3 yard run, incomplete, incomplete

Ninth drive:
4 yard pass, 1 yard run, incomplete

Tenth drive:
Two 3 yard runs, incomplete

Eleventh drive:
Bates fumble after our first 10 yard completion on first down all day

From here on out we were down double digits and had to pass the rest of the game basically, but you get the gist of it.

Our biggest issue was constantly getting into third and short to medium and literally not being able to complete a single pass on any of them.

But the next biggiest issue was we also couldn't generate big plays,specifically on first downs. The Bates completion fumble was the ONLY 10+ yard pass completion on first down all game(until we were down 20-9). Other then that, there was a Mcnichol run for 13. We didnt have a single play of more than 10 yards on first down up to that point. We actually werent half bad on 2nd down(considering we had quite a few 2nd and longs) better than I thought, as we actually had a few nice 10+ yard plays on 2nd down to keep drives alive.
But in the first half our inability to complete a pass and convert on 3rd and short-medium crippled us. Here are the yard requirements for all of our missed 3rd down passes:
7, 2, 7, 9, 9, 7, 7, 4
Not a single 3rd and 10+. 9 might be a bit long but you have to convert at least a few of those other ones. The 3rd and 2 was particularly bad as it resulted in a missed 51 yard FG. We had a 2nd and 4 there too. We should have went for it on 4th and 2. Daniels was money converting 3rd downs with his legs(and the 2 pointer ad well which is like converting a 4th and 2 essentially). Funny enough, we didn't face a single third down once we were down 20-9 and in must pass mode. Funny how that works…

So we need to start being more aggressive in early downs. I get wanting to run but we need to try to generate explosives. We had no explosive plays, literally NONE(more than 20 yards), until down 20-9 when Dallas started playing softer. Our longest play before that was JDs rushing Td. But the execution level needs to be upped on 3rd down. You cant be 0-for on 3rd down pass plays with not even a single completion. Thats on the entire offense.

We need JD to run more too. He converted three third downs with his legs including a 3rd and 12. He looked healthy and explosive. The 2 pointer was great too. We need to use his legs like the weapon they are. If he sees man coverage and Terry doesnt get open Id just run, because noone else can beat man coverage consistently.

Here is the actual playcall breakdown(again I am stopping once we fall behind 20-9 because after that its obviously passing the rest of the way which distorts the playcall ratio as well as the ypp since Dallas will clearly be playing softer coverages and the flow of the game is way different)

FIRST HALF-FIRST DOWNS:

Handoff -2. Handoff +3. QB run 7. WR run +14. Handoff +6. Incomplete pass. Pass +3. Sack -1. Handoff 0. Interception(screen pass blown up and bobbled). Handoff +3. Pass +6. QB run +2.

Breakdown:

Five handoffs for 10 yards. 2 YPC.
Two QB runs for 9 yards. 4.5 YPC.
One WR run for 14 yards. 14 YPC.
Four passes for 8 yards. 2 YPP(and if the interception was caught by Robinson there's a guy right on top of him and he'd lose yards).

Overall: 12 plays for 41 yards and a turnover. Atrocious.

FIRST HALF-SECOND DOWNS:

Incomplete pass. Pass 0. Run +7. Handoff +2. Pass +3. Pass +13. Pass +2. Pass +11. Pass +11. Pass +8. Sack -1.

Breakdown:
One handoff for 2 yards. 2 YPC.
Nine passes for 48 yards. 5.33 YPP.

Overall: Ten plays for 50 yards. Below average. But we had a few nice pass completions.

FIRST HALF-THIRD DOWNS:

QB run +16. Incomplete pass. Incomplete pass. Incomplete pass. Sack.

Don't even need to break it down. It was obviously trash. Ironically the one time we converted was our longest 3rd down and it was a QB run. We just could not complete a pass.

SECOND HALF-FIRST DOWNS:

Handoff +3. Handoff +2. Handoff +3. Handoff +13. Handoff +3. Handoff +3. Pass +4. Handoff +3. Pass +13(the Bates fumble).

Breakdown:

Seven handoffs for 30 yards. 4 YPC. But 13 were on one play. Take that away and it was 6 for 17 yards. Pretty bad.
Two passes for 17 yards. Way too small of a sample size. See the problem here?

Overall: 9 plays for 47 yards. Mediocre.

SECOND HALF-SECOND DOWNS:

Pass +6. Pass +14. QB run +4. Incomplete pass. Handoff -1. Handoff +3.

Breakdown:
Three passes for 20 yards. Just about 7 YPP.
One QB run for 4.
Three handoffs for 2 yards. Trash.

Overall: 7 plays for 26 yards. Terrible. But the passing was effective.

SECOND HALF-THIRD DOWNS(run away this is where it gets uuuugly):

QB run +5. QB run +17. Incomplete. Incomplete. Incomplete.

Breakdown:
Two QB runs for 22 yards.
lol passing

The obvious issue is the inability to execute on 3rd downs. But we aren't getting chunk yards on early downs either. Our biggest non Daniels plays of the day were runs by our 3rd string RB and #4 WR and a completion to our 2nd string TE(who then fumbles).

TLDR: The offense was not explosive and couldn't generate enough yards on 1st down(or would get yards on 1st down but not enough on 2nd down) and the 3rd down passing game was literally non existent.

 

[Chris]

It is said that with a meal of bacon & eggs…a chicken is involved but the pig is committed.

You, Warhead36, are committed.

 

[DixieFlatline]

Haven't gone to the game thread yet to see the reaction from the masses. I had to record and watch the game later. Afterwards my main thoughts came down to two things.

1. For all the excitement at the end, we didn't deserve to win the game. The offense only started moving the ball when Dallas played softer and we went into 2 minute mode.
2. This was the first time in our recent losses that I started to have concern about coaching (play calls, adapting, etc) rather than JD's ribs or playing a good defense. I don't know if teams have figured out the offense now, if Kingsbury isn't adapting, or if it's player execution. I'm starting to think it's a little more of the first two rather than the third. I think this analysis points to that as well.

 

[Commander Wraith]

Passing-wise, feels like we have a fundamental personnel problem. Teams can bracket Terry, Noah Brown isn’t great vs man, and Ertz is slow (and won’t get YAC). Our backs are solid out of the backfield, but teams can get consistent pressure and so play to the quick passes. So, I guess what I don’t really get is where are McCaffrey, Zaccheus and Sinnot? I’d think these 3 would be among our best options to win quickly and pick up YAC. McCaffrey and Zaccheus have averaged 3 targets per game combined over the last 5 weeks.

 

[Blaze Thunderball]

Thanks for the breakdown. First down runs are becoming predictable, especially on the first play of the first drive. Teams are successfully stopping the run and taking away the quick passing game. It worked when the offense was on fire earlier in the season, but it has gone stale through the past several weeks.

Unless Kliff adapts, it feels like the rest of the season will continue to play out this way. If Dallas can effectively neutralise what had been working to this point, then so can most of the league. That's not to say they should abandon what has worked, but they need to show opposing teams that they'll take mid to deep shots if they take away the short to mid game. Most importantly that they're not afraid to go downfield on first down.

I'd love to see them open with a play action deep shot next week if tennessee come out keying in on the run. I won't hold my breath, though.

 

[DWinzit]

Passing-wise, feels like we have a fundamental personnel problem. Teams can bracket Terry, Noah Brown isn’t great vs man, and Ertz is slow (and won’t get YAC). Our backs are solid out of the backfield, but teams can get consistent pressure and so play to the quick passes. So, I guess what I don’t really get is where are McCaffrey, Zaccheus and Sinnot? I’d think these 3 would be among our best options to win quickly and pick up YAC. McCaffrey and Zaccheus have averaged 3 targets per game combined over the last 5 weeks.

I've been trying to figure the same. I keep expecting to hear McCaffrey and Zac's names in the quick game. And then there's Sinnott. He is exciting with the ball in his hand, we need to see more of him and he can play all over the field. Getting these guys more involved should loosen up the D for a more productive run game and for Terry and Noah

My thoughts on why this isn't happening are either those 3 can't separate when given an opportunity, JD isn't looking at them or they are 3rd options in KK's plan. When I see Sinnott on the field he is mostly just used as a blocker. I did have a giant lock in JD's big TD run!

Nice job Warhead!

 

[Kel Varnsen]

One thing to keep in mind is that TEs usually take some time to develop. I think fans around the league have been spoiled the past few years with LaPorta, Kincaid, and now Bowers coming out of the gate so strong. But that’s not normal for tight ends. You can also see LaPorta and Kincaid coming back to the pack this year. So be patient with Sinnott. It’s going to take time. I’d like to see him more involved, but Ertz is playing well even if he falls down after he catches it. He still knows how to get open and usually catches the ball.

 

[formerly4skins]

Unless Kliff adapts, it feels like the rest of the season will continue to play out this way.

Kliff has me a little worried...

Dude was Mr. Cool through the first few weeks when we were rolling...and a three game slide turned him into a crybaby that walks out of press conferences when the media dare question why our offensive output has diminished.

If that's how he handles adversity with cameras in his face...makes me really wonder how he is in meetings and working with guys 1on1.

 

[Chris]

To be fair that was the last question as announced by the media relations person prior. Though he did indeed seem to leave in a bit of a huff.

 

[formerly4skins]

To be fair that was the last question as announced by the media relations person prior. Though he did indeed seem to leave in a bit of a huff.

Definitely left in a huff, and just acted so overly indignant that such a question could even be asked of him...gave me strong Jason Wright defending Caron Wentz vibes

 

[redskins1963]

hope kk is rethinking his 2 runs and then a pass routine.it is always better to mix things up imo.