05-17-2021, 07:55 PM
Paul Alexander and Dallas.
PA was a very poor fit for what and who Dallas had. JJ brought in PA because of his reputation as a quality pass protection guru without realizing everything he teaches is not what Dallas had been using for years. In the prior year Prescott took far to many sacks and hits (mostly of his own making, but I digress)
1. PA teaches independent hands (outside high, inside low). Dallas uses the two hand punch. Dallas’ players whined incessantly about it, didn’t take to it in any way.
2. PA doesn’t use a traditional vertical set saying it is too passive. It is and plenty of successful coaches have gotten away from it, preferring the more aggressive ‘shorty’ set - Howard Mudd’s term. The thing is Dallas was full of athletic players who are right at home in that set. Bad fit.
3. PA was used to a rhythmic QB who stays in the pocket and delivers the ball out very quickly. That isn’t Dak’s game. At all. So the sacks and hits went up not down. Credit JJ for listening to someone who knew better and go back to what his players liked and were comfortable in.
Now that the o-line is older and more susceptible to injury, PA’s methods would serve this version of Dallas much better, but that ship has soared.
PA was a very poor fit for what and who Dallas had. JJ brought in PA because of his reputation as a quality pass protection guru without realizing everything he teaches is not what Dallas had been using for years. In the prior year Prescott took far to many sacks and hits (mostly of his own making, but I digress)
1. PA teaches independent hands (outside high, inside low). Dallas uses the two hand punch. Dallas’ players whined incessantly about it, didn’t take to it in any way.
2. PA doesn’t use a traditional vertical set saying it is too passive. It is and plenty of successful coaches have gotten away from it, preferring the more aggressive ‘shorty’ set - Howard Mudd’s term. The thing is Dallas was full of athletic players who are right at home in that set. Bad fit.
3. PA was used to a rhythmic QB who stays in the pocket and delivers the ball out very quickly. That isn’t Dak’s game. At all. So the sacks and hits went up not down. Credit JJ for listening to someone who knew better and go back to what his players liked and were comfortable in.
Now that the o-line is older and more susceptible to injury, PA’s methods would serve this version of Dallas much better, but that ship has soared.
