Ever since it was announced that Mike McCarthy would be taking over the crime plays from Kellen Moore, the question on everyone’s lips has been what the offense will look like in 2023. He answers, but he gives hints that we can now incorporate glimpses of the team in OTA and minicamp to get an idea. approximate.
Duck Prescott has it He called this new offense the Texas coast offense, a combination of what the team ran under Moore and the West Coast offense McCarthy cut his teeth throughout his career. It’s a catchy name, but it’s still not entirely clear what we can expect on Sunday. Here’s everything we know so far about this crime and how it’s changing.
Speed, before and after the snap, will be essential
One thing that seems crystal clear is that McCarthy wants crime to be faster in 2023. That will show in a number of ways, but most notably the addition of speedster Brandon Cox. Likewise, elevating explosive Tony Pollard up the depth back chart serves the goal of being faster.
The Cowboys also drafted two highly skilled athletic players in Luke Schoonmaker and Deuce Vaughn. While it remains to be seen how big a role each of these two will play in year one, their additions are indicative of the new focus on speed. Then there’s Simi Fehoko and Jalen Tolbert, both scoring elite scorers in college proportional athletes, who are off to a hot start so far in the off-season.
But that’s not the only way McCarthy hopes to speed things up. While the Cowboys pulled off a lot of 11v11 action in OTA and minicamp, a common refrain was getting in and out of the rally with great efficiency. McCarthy has hinted at the expanded use of plays with one or two word calls, allowing the offense to play at a faster pace. This was a staple of McCarthy’s Green Bay offense, and often resulted in offside penalties from the defense that allowed the quarterback to take a riskless deep shot.
The show is run by Duck Prescott
McCarthy has mentioned several times that he spends more time with Dak Prescott than ever now that he’s called the plays. Part of these conversations revolved around Prescott taking full responsibility for the crime, even if it was as simple as how to pronounce the word “Duquesne”.
One of the reasons for getting out of the huddle faster also has to do with giving Prescott – known for his ability to pre-diagnose defenses – more time on the line to set the call before catching the ball. This was another thing McCarthy did in Green Bay, where Rodgers would often make audible snaps or pinches at the line of scrimmage based on what he saw. While McCarthy eventually caught on because of it – with some suggesting he was a bad player who needed Rodgers to clean up – the results on offense were amazing, and they leveraged Rodgers’ football IQ as a weapon against defences. Now, McCarthy would try to do the same with Prescott.
Changes approved by the player
McCarthy remained adamant that he would not completely reform the offense, but rather make adjustments and adjustments when needed. The head coach, as well as other coaches and players, estimated that approximately 70% of the original offense remained.
However, the changes being made seem to be universally agreed upon changes as necessary. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer mentioned recently The modifications they implement to the offense have garnered approval from veterans like Zach Martin and Tyrone Smith, as well as Prescott and Pollard. If players believe in the changes that McCarthy & Co. are installing, that should bode well for the entire operation.
Scroll protection will look different
If the input and approval from Martin and Smith weren’t enough to tip already, the offensive line is set to see many adjustments in the way they operate this new offense. McCarthy has highlighted pass protection schemes several times already, especially when discussing efforts to reduce Prescott’s turnover after leading the league in interceptions last year.
New offensive line coach Mike Solari is still figuring out who his five offensive linemen will be, but he is said to have introduced some new techniques in pass protection. Another focus was on reducing the time Prescott spent in the pocket. In true West Coast fashion, the goal for Prescott will be to get the ball out quickly. If it’s not there right away, Prescott says, it’s time for a scramble:
“Guys are in place faster and cleaner,” Prescott explained, allowing them, when that’s not playing, to go scrambling and create a play. It just allows that when first reading and second reading aren’t there for everyone to be on the same page for this scramble drill.”
Prescott had one of the longest putout times last year on all dropdowns, including sacks and scrimmages, but it’s historically been One of the best teams in the league when scrambling. Despite this, Prescott was constantly in the lower half of the league on scrambles throughout his career. Increasing his run rate should result in better production from Prescott while also helping out on the offensive line.
The Cowboys have also been shown to be placing a greater emphasis on pass protection with their running backs this season. Freshman linebackers coach Jeff Blasco was the assistant offensive line coach last year, and he appears to be beefing up his pass protection options in the new position.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said the team is asking more running backs in pass protection than in years past. New RB head coach Jeff Blasko has an O-line coaching background. Tony Pollard “did a great job in the lead role, and I really like the guys” in Room. pic.twitter.com/uC2KV34KUn
– Michael Gilken (GehlkenNFL) June 6, 2023
Run the game overhaul?
Speaking of running, the Cowboys are looking to get more effective results from their running game this year. Schottenheimer has been known as a running game expert throughout his coaching career, and the time he spent with Solari in Seattle provides common ground for the new approach.
McCarthy alluded to this extent in a recent press conference when he said the approach to the offense in the Outfield District Operating System would be markedly different. For context, the Cowboys have been one of the leading practitioners in the overseas area scheme since 2014, but they have been horribly ineffective in this aspect in the past year.
That’s why it was interesting to promote Schottenheimer to the offensive coordinator role. As we discussed at the time, Schottenheimer was a fan of the inner zone as his primary rushing scheme, with the outer zone serving as a variation that breaks the tendency to keep defenses off balance.
It would be a meaningful departure from what the Cowboys have been running for nearly a decade now, but after a year of running the ball (ranked 18 in yards per carry), it would make sense as a goal of change.