DMN Blog: Breaking down Witten's big night
Pro Bowl TE Jason Witten's role in the Cowboys' passing scheme is pretty simple.
"He's going to work that middle like no other," T.O. said.
How the Cowboys get Witten open over the middle is a bit more complicated. One of Jason Garrett's goals is to move Witten around a lot, allowing the Cowboys to create favorable matchups for him.
The Cowboys like the matchup of Witten against most safeties. They love the matchup of Witten against any linebacker.
The Giants made things easier for Witten by rolling a safety over to help on T.O. in the first half. And they paid dearly for it, even though Witten (six catches, 116 yards, TD) wasn't the primary receiver on several of his catches.
Follow the jump for the breakdown of where Witten lined up and what routes he ran on the eight passes thrown his way.
*Lined up at TE on right side on third-and-7. Ran hook, beating a jam by OLB Mathias Kiwanuka off the line and settling in a soft spot between defenders in the zone.
*Lined up as H-back and motioned to right slot (just outside of T.O.) on third-and-6. Had clean release and was wide open on seam route for 23-yard gain.
*Lined up in right slot (inside of T.O. with Patrick Crayton motioning outside) on third-and-7. Got wide open on simple crossing route for 18-yard gain.
*Lined up at TE on left side on first-and-10. Got wide open between LB and safety on seam route, but Romo overthrew him after escaping pressure. Play negated by holding on Flozell Adams.
*Lined up at TE on left side on third-and-11. Ran hook route, getting clean release and sitting in soft spot for 10-yard completion.
*Lined up at TE on right side on first-and-10. Ran hook, breaking off route early because of blitz. Illegal shift on T.O. negated 5-yard gain.
*Lined up at TE on right side on third-and-11. Ran slant for 12-yard TD, catching the ball. Romo threw it to Witten's back hip, away from the LB.
*Lined up at TE on right side on first-and-10. Ran crossing route and was wide open after LBs got sucked up by play-action. Most of 38-yard gain came after the catch.
"He's going to work that middle like no other," T.O. said.
How the Cowboys get Witten open over the middle is a bit more complicated. One of Jason Garrett's goals is to move Witten around a lot, allowing the Cowboys to create favorable matchups for him.
The Cowboys like the matchup of Witten against most safeties. They love the matchup of Witten against any linebacker.
The Giants made things easier for Witten by rolling a safety over to help on T.O. in the first half. And they paid dearly for it, even though Witten (six catches, 116 yards, TD) wasn't the primary receiver on several of his catches.
Follow the jump for the breakdown of where Witten lined up and what routes he ran on the eight passes thrown his way.
*Lined up at TE on right side on third-and-7. Ran hook, beating a jam by OLB Mathias Kiwanuka off the line and settling in a soft spot between defenders in the zone.
*Lined up as H-back and motioned to right slot (just outside of T.O.) on third-and-6. Had clean release and was wide open on seam route for 23-yard gain.
*Lined up in right slot (inside of T.O. with Patrick Crayton motioning outside) on third-and-7. Got wide open on simple crossing route for 18-yard gain.
*Lined up at TE on left side on first-and-10. Got wide open between LB and safety on seam route, but Romo overthrew him after escaping pressure. Play negated by holding on Flozell Adams.
*Lined up at TE on left side on third-and-11. Ran hook route, getting clean release and sitting in soft spot for 10-yard completion.
*Lined up at TE on right side on first-and-10. Ran hook, breaking off route early because of blitz. Illegal shift on T.O. negated 5-yard gain.
*Lined up at TE on right side on third-and-11. Ran slant for 12-yard TD, catching the ball. Romo threw it to Witten's back hip, away from the LB.
*Lined up at TE on right side on first-and-10. Ran crossing route and was wide open after LBs got sucked up by play-action. Most of 38-yard gain came after the catch.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:00 PM
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