Dallas Cowboys: 3 Ways to fix the offense in 2018
By Joel W. Cade
Cowboys should do what Dak does best
The Cowboys need to run more RPOs. RPOs are becoming more a trend in the NFL. They are becoming more popular not as a central philosophy of an NFL offense. Instead, they are being used as constraint plays to keep defenders locked up on receivers and tight ends thereby taking those defenders out of the play. As a constraint, an RPO package should be in every NFL playbook. But for the Cowboys, an RPO package will help Dak Prescott for two reasons.
First, Prescott is comfortable running RPOs. Last season the Cowboys ran RPOs in red zone situations. It allowed the run option to force linebackers to come up in support thereby gaining more separation for receivers. Wide receiver separation was a major issue in the Cowboys offense. They creatively solved it with RPOs. Prescott looked comfortable and confident running those plays. RPOs are a piece to build on for Prescott’s future.
Second, Dak’s ball placement issues are mitigated against by running RPOs. Wide receiver separation is necessary when Prescott is the quarterback. Prescott’s ball placement is very often less than ideal. As a result, he will need receivers to have separation. If there is no separation, his passes become contested. In that scenario, wide receivers need to be able to win contested catches.
The Cowboys have a choice to make, do they want to get a bunch of receivers who can make contested catches. This is not a good option to take. Or do they want to adapt the scheme to get receivers open to help with Prescott’s ball placement struggles? Creating an offense around the Prescott’s ball placement concerns makes more sense long term.
Second, expand the offensive scheme.